Would you expect a cleaner to work all the hours paid?

[letdownalittle]

My friend has a large house and kindly lets me use an office for study as there isn't the space in mine. I've had a lot to do and lately have been in a day her cleaner works. The first time I mentioned it because she asked me to stay and lock up after the cleaner, the cleaner went about an hour and fifteen min earlier so I left early too. She pays for a 6hr clean.

Friend spoke to agency but the next week cleaner said she was going about 1hr ten min before expected time (she wasn't early, friend let her in). This time the agency said she had finished all the jobs so was off.

Today the cleaner stroppily entered the office multiple times, it isn't part of the cleaning. Asked with an hour and half to go what she was meant to do- I suggested clean windows or fridge quite neutrally. She left soon after without comment but told the agency I prevented her having breaks! I didn't even leave the office!

Agency is saying you pay for a clean with x hours and if finished early she'll go, but friend is annoyed to pay an extra hour if it's really a 5 hour job as it seems to be. I haven't watched her work, but she looks fairly unflustered at the end, not like she's been tearing jobs up.

Who's right?

You should get what you pay for - if that’s a 5 hour clean then she should get a 5 hour clean.

She should do the five hours. However your friend needs to manage this herself and you really shouldn't be getting involved.

I don't think it's very respectful to have a friend who is not actually party to her employment/contract ordering her about. By all means tell your friend if she is leaving early, but don't tell her what to do, it's not your place.

You should get what you pay for.

However, I've had quite a few cleaners and would never have someone for over 3 hours; I think 2 hours at a time is optimal. It's hard and boring work so it's a lot to expect someone to keep going with gusto for 6 hours.

Overall, I would definity reconsider this arrangement.

I haven't ordered her about, she came in and out. She otherwise wouldn't even see me as she doesn't clean the office, she asked expressly what to do and I just gave an honest answer of what I'd do in the situation. I'd rather keep the office door shut and crack on. I wouldn't have been involved at all if I hadn't texted to say I'd locked up safely earlier than my friend expected me to.

I cleaned for a while and I'd much prefer it to the 2 hour- travel- hang around- work 2 hour thing that wasted time. 6 hours work stretched over a long day!

You should have said it’s nothing to do with you and to call her employer or your friend. Keep well out of it.

Of course she should get six hours if it's what she's paying for.
So, she either says "thanks, as it only takes five hours to do the cleaning, and I am happy with it, please only send Flossie for five hours and I'll pay for five, I won't ask for the previous over payments back".
Or
She should leave a list of one off jobs to be done in the last hour. Not part of the routine. Like, as you say, clean windows, clean fridge, clean oven, wash down drive, I dunno, whatever.
Or, what I would actually do, is have two cleans a week of three hours each, even if it meant the odd room was done on a rota at least the kitchen and bathrooms could be done twice.

If she is completing the work set to a high standard, she is maybe just an excellent worker and the alternative is to get someone who is slower but will fill the hours. Your friend could add things like cleaning cupboards out to bulk up her time, but if she is good I wouldn't do this every week to get your money's worth, it's a bit harsh imo

I think that for cleaning it makes more sense to think of paying for the jobs you want done to the standard you want them rather than per hour.

I am suprised by the agencies attitude. Are they a big agency? If her work is up to standard then perhaps your friend should ask her if she only needs 5 hours to do it. If so pay accordingly.