Cleaner went through my purse and took money

[AquaAqua]

So to cut a long story short she didn't really steal from us but I still feel really uncomfortable about this. Cleaner comes on a friday morning and I normally leave her money on the table. On the one occasion I forgot in the past I took it round to her that evening. Today I forgot to leave it out when I had to go out for a meeting. I left my bag (by accident!) in my bedroom. When I got back there was a note on the table saying I hadn't left her money out but it was ok as she had taken the payment from my purse and hoped I didn't mind. Now firstly I am in the wrong because I should have left the money out but I feel really uncomfortable that she helped herself, and secondly we have the agreement that she doesn't do upstairs - so I wonder what she was doing even going through my bedroom. She has cleaned for us for quite a while and we have a really good relationship so I don't want to blow this out of proportion but I am not sure how to respond to this.... am I being silly that this is making me worry about trusting her or do I just leave it?

@SilverTimpani

Definitely sack her. It’s a weird and inappropriate crossing of boundaries that makes her unsuitable for the role imo.

Check the date... (or the posts above yours)

You don't just go through somebody's bag. You make a phone call and resolve it that way. The trust has now gone and I would sack them.

I'm not saying she was right but this is the second time you've forgotten to leave money. That must have been frustrating too.

When I lived overseas I had my own business cleaning houses/offices. I would never in a million years go into someone's bag, or purse. If my payment was not there, I would be ringing, or going around to ask for payment. To go into someone's bag, and purse is unthinkable!!

You are both wrong. She is earning a living and you can't keep forgetting to pay her, it's her job - how would you feel if someone didn't pay you?. but that being said, she absolutely should have NOT helped herself. You sort of created the situation by continually forgetting to pay her, I would have an honest conversation and say that you don't feel comfortable with her going through your belongings to retrieve payment and that she should have called you. I don't think she deserves sacking, you don't know what she was relying on that money for.

Deadsouls
Well can you address all this directly with her? Tell her you'd prefer her not to take money from your purse and reiterate that you don't want her going upstairs

I'd do this.

I bet if she hadn't turned up to do your cleaning claiming she "forgot", you'd have been enraged.

Stick to contracts.

Going into someone’s bag and taking money from their purse is an absolute no-no - esp when it’s in an area of the house you don’t go into. You shouldn’t have forgotten to leave out the money but it was a mistake that could have been easily rectified by a phone call - you could have transferred the cash immediately into her account using your banking app.

A quick call to you and the money can be transferred in secs.
Alternatively had she called you and explained she needed it asap you could then have instructed her to take it from your purse.
She was wrong to just go into your purse without permission.
A word in her ear about it and move on if you don't want to lose her.

@CoastalSwimmer
@dancinfeet
@thecatsthecats
@SilverTimpani
@Bazinga007
@Itwasgoodwhileitlasted
@StormOfSekhmet
@Shariotlion

It's been almost 5 years - pretty sure the OP has moved on from this.

Does no-one ever look at the last posts before they post themselves??

ZOMBIE!!!!

LOLZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZOMBIE! oh dear.

She could have called or texted you and arranged for you to transfer the money or her to come back later to pick it up with a little extra for her troubles.
If she prefers cash in hand then that's dodgy and is she really declaring it all for tax??? So she can take a bank transfer every now and then. Grabby and dishonest.
Who knows what else she's doing or claiming whilst working for cash

Good cleaners are hard to come by where I live. She hasn't stolen anything from you technically. In your position I would just say you'd rather she didn't do that in future. And don't forget to pay her again.

ZOMBIE THREAD EVERYONE

@Shariotlion

ZOMBIE THREAD EVERYONE

As no-one reads the last posts before they put in their two-penn'orth I wouldn't bother...

Slightly ironic as Shariotlion didn't check the previous posts before replying at 13:16 after you had twice pointed out that it was a zombie thread.

I'd just say I'd rather you didn't do it again. Any chance you could set up a Standing Order?

@Di11y

I'd just say I'd rather you didn't do it again. Any chance you could set up a Standing Order?

What would be the point?

It happened almost 5 years ago.