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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my client could have given me more than one day's notice

137 replies

Pollyxcx · 20/12/2016 23:33

That she won't be needing me for the next 4 weeks?

I'm a cleaner, I cleaned this evening and she left a note next to my money saying "off on hols tomorrow, see you again 17th Jan!"

It has completely fucked my budget for the month and next month (I work 5 hours once a week so that's £200 I'm down)

I'm really bloody pissed off that she didn't think to tell me before

OP posts:
SillyMoomin · 21/12/2016 07:17

Second previous posters about paying whilst we're on holiday, always do. And give a Christmas / birthday tip which I'm guessing she hasn't left you either! Shock

Find a new slot op,you're worth so much more!

Phalenopsisgirl · 21/12/2016 07:25

We also just ask cleaner to do the jobs that she doesn't get time for normally, oven, windows etc when we go away. Would dream of expecting not to pay just because we are away! Where are you, I'm desperate for a cleaner, mine moved away !

MyCatIsTryingToKillMe · 21/12/2016 07:26

I don't pay my cleaner when I'm on holiday or when she is. We have a very flexible arrangement in that if had has something on she doesn't have to come and same with me. We're both quite happy with it and we do t have a contract to say anything else. I do always give plenty of notice if I'm going to be away though.

Phalenopsisgirl · 21/12/2016 07:31

Wouldn't dream that should have said. There are so many desperate mnetters out there looking for help, someone should start a board

BeaveredBadgered · 21/12/2016 07:32

We have the same set up as cats. We pay her more than the local going rate (£12/hour) and give her regular little thank yous (wine, chocs) and a Christmas present plus an extra weeks pay at Christmas. I often wonder if we should pay her when we're away but the flexibility works both ways as she has had a few six week holidays to see family abroad at relatively short notice over the five years she's cleaned for us.

InsertUsernameHere · 21/12/2016 07:34

As above, check she really means you not to come. We always have our cleaner come in when we are away - I like knowing somebody has been in an checked the place and picked up the post. Most of our house is currently inaccessible during the day at the moment because of workmen, so I've asked our cleaner to do ironing instead as I though cancelling coming up to Christmas was mean and I still want her to come when the work is finished!!

Itisnoteasybeingdifferent · 21/12/2016 07:37

Hoping your search for new clients is progressing well....

7to25 · 21/12/2016 07:37

I think that topcat is right.
You are self employed. Yes, she should have given you more notice, but unless she employs you, pays national insurance and offers you a pension, then she takes your services on an ad hoc basis.

60sname · 21/12/2016 07:38

Ours is through an agency and they stipulate that we pay when we're away but not when she is.

It's not cool. But in future you need to write it into your contract as there will always be pisstakers (and it sounds like she's a proper one all round).

LadyVampire · 21/12/2016 07:49

I'd clarify whether or not services are required in this time ie deep clean or nothing.

I'd get a contract.

middlings · 21/12/2016 07:52

Polly where are you? Our cleaner always knows well in advance when we're going away to give her a chance to find fill in agency work. And I pay double for Christmas. Come and work for me!

shinynewusername · 21/12/2016 07:54

I don't think anyone is arguing the OP's "employer" has done anything illegal - it's just immoral.

OneaDay's text idea is good.

KayTee87 · 21/12/2016 07:56

Where are you?? Please come and clean my house before Christmas! I will pay you double.
My last cleaner kept using leather cleaner on the wooden furniture and soaking the hardwood floor in the hall whilst mopping it Sad

MarjorieSimpson · 21/12/2016 08:08

I suppose you have some sort of contract with her (even if it's a verbal agreement)?
Have you ever talked about how much notice she needs to give you?

If you haven't, I would strongly advise you to have a chat with her about it (and with your other clients too!)

MarjorieSimpson · 21/12/2016 08:12

Btw seeing the vast difference between people as to how they are paying their cleaner, I think it does reinforce the fact you DO need some sort of 'contract'
It's not about having something that would legally stand in courts etc... it's about establishing boundaries and how you are going to work together. And it's something that YOU need to establish because it has to be working for you.

So what do you want as a cleaner? Flexibility (on both sides), being payed during their hols, how much notice before cancelling etc etc

purpleshortcake · 21/12/2016 08:13

Hope she at least gave you a big Christmas tip?

EnormousTiger · 21/12/2016 08:14

We are away a week and mine comes in every day to bring in post and papers and check the house when we are away. I pay her. I don't expect any cleaning really when we are away and think she pops in each day or every other day for a very short time but even that is good of her over Christmas. She has been coming here every week for over 15 years however.

Yours sounds a bit mean - surely she realises you need the money?

Yes, I agree though that you are probably self employed so legally if you sued her you wouldn't win, but even so it's mean of her although of course we don't know if she's very short of money herself or something. She should have discussed it with you when you started what happened for holidays. It does not always work like that though as you don't know if someone will just be there for a month or much longer.

Original poster
Pollyxcx · 21/12/2016 08:15

I'm going to text her now and check! Although she didn't leave money so I'm guessing she doesn't need me.

She won't want a deep clean, I do big jobs every six weeks or so and just do a quicky in another room or don't do the beds depending on what she wants.

OP posts:
Ilovewillow · 21/12/2016 08:17

Definitely new clients! I would consider a contract that states you will deep clean and still come during holidays but if you are not needed they have to pay a retainer of st least 50%. You are a professional and they should treat you as such! We always pay our cleaner when we are away, but don't pay for her hols. They should be more considerate!

Original poster
Pollyxcx · 21/12/2016 08:17

And sorry I'm not in any of the places mentioned here Sad

Agree than MN needs a cleaning board though. Tinder for cleaners? They'll just say use the local boards though (that nobody uses)

OP posts:
busyboysmum · 21/12/2016 08:18

You need to let us know where you are. You could have a dozen new clients from this thread.

My cleaner just let us know last minute that she's going home to Poland for Christmas and won't be back until mid January. So we were left in the lurch the other way.

Original poster
Pollyxcx · 21/12/2016 08:19

No Christmas tip, although I don't expect one so that's fine.

And no they aren't short of money given the amount of John Lewis, white company and Fortnum and Mason parcels/hampers I've taken in the last few weeks

OP posts:
Original poster
Pollyxcx · 21/12/2016 08:20

I clean Colchester and outlying villages!

OP posts:
MarjorieSimpson · 21/12/2016 08:24

Btw I don't agree with the attitude of 'surely she knows you need the money'.

I am self employed myself and I am not employed by my clients. I'm there to provide a service, under the terms that I have set up.

There are times in the year that are quieter (such as Christmas because people are away on hols!!) but that has to be taken into consideration by me. So my wage isn't 'what I am earning this month' but what I am earning in the year divided by 12 iyswim. This allows for times when things are quieter and times when I am away on hols myself.

It is then up to you to decide what these terms for the contract are (very lose and flexible but then you don't get notice) or much more set in stone which gives you more reliability income wise but less flexibility for yourself.

You can of course decide that you don't want her as a client. But i suspect that the same problem will happen again if you don't make what you expect clear.

motherinferior · 21/12/2016 08:29

I'm self-employed and don't get paid if I'm not around...

...but we pay our cleaner if we are away, for at least some of it; she is off next week so we paid her double this week. She is a good cleaner and in all honesty what she makes even working flat- out for lots of clients must be a pittance.