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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To think my cleaner shouldn't eat all the biscuits

283 replies

thepurplehen · 01/10/2017 20:36

I've noticed that my cleaning lady is clearing me out of biscuits. She eats an entire biscuit tin whilst she's in my home. So 1-2 packets. She's never asked if it's ok or replaced anything. I've never offered them to her either.

OP posts:
Original poster
thepurplehen · 01/10/2017 22:11

Why haven't I asked her? Because I haven't seen her since I've known for sure.

OP posts:
sizeofalentil · 01/10/2017 22:17

I'd rather buy an additional 14 packets of biscuits a week than go through the social awkwardness of asking another adult if they've been eating two packets of my biscuits a week. Blush

Bitlost · 01/10/2017 22:20

Sounds like she's very hungry. She's probably on not much money, like most cleaning ladies. I would continue leaving biscuits and maybe a sandwich and some fruit, which she could eat before her shift begins or take away with her.

MNHQ
IonaMumsnet · 01/10/2017 22:22

OP We need to know what type of biscuits these are. If M&S Viennese Whirls, for example, I can understand it. Frankly, I'd do the same. If Rich Tea fingers, I'm willing to judge her. I would also be tempted to work this to my advantage if I were you and leave a tempting trail of biscuits up the stairs and into every cobwebby corner to offer her incentive as she works.

ocelot41 · 01/10/2017 22:24

Either she is a cheeky mare or she's desperate - food banks are heaving right now. I wouldn't be too hard on her until you have asked her what's going on. I have had students passing out in class recently because they're hungry. Awful but true.

Original poster
thepurplehen · 01/10/2017 22:26

Iona, you made me chuckle!

Last week they were chocolate digestives and bourbons.

OP posts:
cheesypastatonight · 01/10/2017 22:30

What are you going to do, then?

MNHQ
IonaMumsnet · 01/10/2017 22:34

Oh well. Sorry, thepurplehen but I think that's inviting trouble. Not just a tempting tin contents, but also a selection... PS - can I be your cleaner?

MyBrilliantDisguise · 01/10/2017 22:34

Oh those Viennese Whirls are gorgeous!

MNHQ
IonaMumsnet · 01/10/2017 22:35

Crikey, Ocelot. That's appalling. Sad

MatildaTheCat · 01/10/2017 22:38

I've heard of this before. A friend would leave out a big plate of biscuits for her cleaner each week and was amazed to find them all gone. I fear it may be a culture of 'well they left them for me so I took them'.

Try hiding the biscuit tin and leaving 3-4 biscuits on a plate.

FizzyGreenWater · 01/10/2017 23:00

When she comes next catch her for a chat, get out a completely different tin of biscuits from the back of a cupboard and offer her one making sure to gesture towards the tin she steals from saying 'Have one from here - don't touch that tin whatever you do - they're usually injected with various things so really not edible - long story' with a big smile.

sizeofalentil · 01/10/2017 23:11

She's probably on not much money, like most cleaning ladies. - depending whether she works for herself or for an agency, she could be on £15ph cash in hand. That's just under £29k per year before tax. Enough to afford biscuits.

sizeofalentil · 01/10/2017 23:14

Even if she was hungry, taking two packets of biscuits a session is a bit weird. Why just biscuits? Why not make a sandwich or something, if you don't have a problem with taking food?

It's not like the biscuits won't be missed. It's a bit odd.

JonSnowsWife · 01/10/2017 23:15

Buy some really crap biscuits (is there even such a thing?)

Get the completely undunkable ones. Just in case she's scoffing them with a cheeky cuppa too.

That'll teach her! Wink

Beahun · 01/10/2017 23:16

That is just not on. Seriously who does that? But thinking about it I bet she's taking dishwasher tablets perhaps one by one and washing powder. Maybe even some tea bags. Do you live in a big house? She might think she has wright to take from you as you" rich" compare to her.

IMissSmashHits · 01/10/2017 23:19

She eats 104 packets of your biscuits a year.

Sohurt17 · 01/10/2017 23:23

Maybe she thinks you leave them out for her?

Bourdic · 01/10/2017 23:26

Just talk to her about it - make sure you do see her so you can. Be a grown up - you're an employer. This is exactly why I would never have a cleaner -I couldn't handle dealing with biscuit stealing

Ttbb · 01/10/2017 23:27

Maybe set up cameras next time? I would be curious to see what else she is helping herself to.

CloseToTheBone · 01/10/2017 23:32

Sorry, but I would sack her immediately. It's not the biscuits, which are cheap enough, it's the fact that she has taken them without asking or being offered. As others have said, what else does she think she can help herself to? If you have to start hiding stuff in case the cleaner takes it, the trust isn't there. And if someone has access to your home when you are not there, you need to trust them 100%.

TheMaddHugger · 01/10/2017 23:35

And here I was thinking they were Tim Tams [Aussie choc bickies]

To think my cleaner shouldn't eat all the biscuits
SinisterBumFacedCat · 01/10/2017 23:39

Tim Tam explosion Smile

TheMaddHugger · 01/10/2017 23:41

'As such, they know that the best way to eat one is to bite off opposite corners of the biscuit, use it as a straw to slurp up a hot beverage like Milo malted hot chocolate, and then pop the whole warm, melty treat into their mouth in one go. That, in essence, is the Tim Tam Slam.Oct 23, 2014'
firstwefeast.com/eat/2014/10/how-to-do-a-tim-tam-slam

sizeofalentil · 01/10/2017 23:41

The more I think about it, the stranger it is. Just the vast quantity of the biscuits she's taking. No one could possibly think you were offering them 2 packets of biscuits in a 3hr period, even if you told her to help herself.

And you haven't even offered her any!