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Original poster

Caught cleaner shortening hours

36 replies

alwayslovingtim · 22/04/2017 08:38

I work full time and we have a cleaner 4 hours a week on a Friday, I have noticed that over the last few months things have not been cleaned properly. She comes in and has to turn the alarm of and on again when she leaves.
I started to become suspicious as I have come home early a couple of times from work and she should be there until at least 5.30 pm and she was gone. Yesterday I came home at 5pm and she was leaving she went bright red and rushed off saying she was late for an appointment. I checked the alarm and she had turned it off at 1.30pm so she cut me 1/2 hour short !! I feel that trust has been abused. Should I confront her or just sack her !!

OP posts:
Whisky2014 · 22/04/2017 08:40

Id just make sure she made her time up next week :/

KellyBoo000 · 22/04/2017 08:44

I'd definitely say something to her!

I personally don't mind too much if my cleaner clocks off early as long as everything is done to the same standard as always. But then I look at is as I'm paying for the end result, not her time. But understand that others may not have thr same view, and it sounds like your cleaners standards are slipping, so you need to address it with her. It's not on!

leghoul · 22/04/2017 08:52

If she does the job in less time, then that's surely alright - it is the end result that matters
If things arent being cleaned then that's different
Half an hour is not that big a deal - but if it carries on and things are not being cleaned properly I'd have a chat about it

KateDaniels2 · 22/04/2017 08:55

Clocking off early wouldnt bother me. The not doing the work would.

I wouldnt have bothered trying to catch her out. Feels veey childish. I would have just discussed i wasnt happy with the standard of work.

EssentialHummus · 22/04/2017 08:56

Speak to her - she's cutting corners, she needs to up her game and spend the full x hours there.

QuiteLikely5 · 22/04/2017 08:58

If she isn't cleaning properly and leaving early I would get rid

Original poster
alwayslovingtim · 22/04/2017 08:59

Was not trying to catch her out, just can't understand how she managed to go everything done in 3.5 hours. We have a large house and there are places left untouched.

OP posts:
TheWindowDonkey · 22/04/2017 09:05

Then that is what you need to talk to her about. I'd mention that there were areas left undone this week and that as you notice she left 1/2 an hour early for her appointment you are assuming those areas will get an extra good clean this week.

ItsOut · 22/04/2017 09:08

I would speak to her and tell her that you want her to always work her full hours and I'd also ask her to make up the time.

Whenever I take on new cleaners I always tell them that I am fussy about the time and I don't want them arriving late or leaving early. I'm perfectly happy for them to take a break or for them to leave early if they have an appointment and let me know.

Mu current cleaner of nearly 8 years is literally NEVER late and NEVER Leaves early. She's great.

MuncheysMummy · 22/04/2017 09:08

Ok so those saying 30 mins finishing early wouldn't bother them.. that's the equivalent of more than a full day a week off work for the average 5 day week! How many people's bosses would be ok with them skiving off every week a full day?? Oh and that's what it is.. time stealing! You are paying her by the hour and she's not working some of that time your paying her for,that's called time stealing and is a reprimanible offence in most jobs. I'd warn her if she does it again you will sack her and make a point of saying standards have slipped which is why you checked the alarm and then saw she's done it before.

greenlavender · 22/04/2017 09:12

How is 30 mins a day equivalent to a whole day out of a 5 day working week? 2.5 hours?

LucieLucie · 22/04/2017 09:14

I had similar issues with a cleaning company who charged based on 2 cleaners but would only send one.

I'd pay for the hours you know she worked and tell her if she needs to leave early she can but she won't be paid for it.

She's self employed so what she's doing is dishonest and is tantamount to theft in my opinion.

I would get indoor cctv before I employ the services of any cleaner in the future.

Gizlotsmum · 22/04/2017 09:15

If the work is done to a good standard then the time taken shouldn't matter ( muncheys it's 2 and a half hours a week in your example but I get your point). If the work isn't being done to the expected standard then I would raise the time issue. It's not really about the time as such but the amount /quality of work that isn't being upheld

Starlight2345 · 22/04/2017 09:16

yes you should confront her.. If it all can be done in 3.5 hours why not charge for 3.5 hours.

user1492287253 · 22/04/2017 09:17

If there is stuff that she has not done then address that with her. Like others the hours thing isnt a huge issue for me. Its when i walk ibto the house has it been cleaned to the correct standard? I would speak to her or text " the cloakroom hasnt been cleaned, nor the small bedroom. Please can you pay special attention to this next week? " gibe it a week if no improvement bin it!

Oly5 · 22/04/2017 09:20

Actually the hours thing IS a big thing for me. There's always more that can be done.
You are paying by the hour.
I've sacked cleaners who skimp on hours. If I left work early all the time I'd get sacked!

CosmoKlit · 22/04/2017 09:25

Are you paying her per hour or per clean?

legoqueen · 22/04/2017 09:27

If you pay her an hourly rate, rather than an agreed amount for the work, then she should work those hours. If it's taking her less than 4 hours to complete the work then fair enough, but thats not the case here,

worriedme04 · 22/04/2017 09:29

I worked as a cleaner after my first sons birth.
I charged by the hour but found in lots of houses I was finishing way before the time they expected.
So,I would do extra jobs(cleaning windows,washing paintwork down etc)
I was bloody good though lol.
I agree if the work is not up to standard and you are paying for this service-tell her you have noticed "X" room needs a spring clean and can she do this.
Or cut her hours.
If things are not better then find another cleaner.
There are ones who will be able to clean in a faster time but not cut corners-so you can then get them to do extra or cut hours to suit.(and if you find one better,who will do extra-give her a pay rise lol)

NotMyPenguin · 22/04/2017 09:31

You say that you've noticed over the past few months things that haven't been cleaned properly. Now you know why!

I would get rid of her and find somebody with a better work ethic.

NotMyPenguin · 22/04/2017 09:33

Anyone in an office/location-based job would quite clearly be sacked for showing up half an hour late every day, or leaving half an hour early.

MiltopMighty · 22/04/2017 09:33

I am always at home when our cleaner is here and they don't cut their hours short. I make sure they know that I am paying by the hour, not the job.

I wouldn't be happy with this situation and I'd give her one opportunity to set it right.

CocoLoco87 · 22/04/2017 09:41

I could have written this post :( I pay my cleaner by the hour and she regularly sacks off early. It's so annoying!

I think either she should ask what else she could do or she should use her intuition! I hate confrontation so reduced her hours by half an hour a couple of weeks ago (after catching her leaving half an hour early). I stayed at home yesterday doing laundry while she cleaned and she still left early!!

Ahhhh! Makes me cross at her and at myself for letting it continue!

InvisibleKittenAttack · 22/04/2017 09:41

If she was getting all the work done in less time, that wouldnt be such a big deal, but as you don't feel the clean is being done as well and you are pretty sure she's been repeatidly not doing the full 4 hours you are paying for, then you're going to have to get a new cleaner. She doesnt want to do the work.

loverlybunchofcoconuts · 22/04/2017 09:41

How is 30 mins a day equivalent to a whole day out of a 5 day working week? 2.5 hours?
I don't see that it is either. Its an eighth of her total time, equivalent to 5 hours off, if you worked a 40 hour week. Which is quite a big part of her time...but not the equivalent of a day off a full time week of work.