CF cleaner

[sidesplittinglol]

We have a cleaner that comes every week for 3 hours. She's always late and will never let you know that she's running behind. (We are her first job for the day). I'm always having to chase her up and have told her on several occasions to be on time as we have plans for the day and her being late delays us and if we cut the hours short, the work isn't done and end up finishing the job myself. Her cleaning standards have also gone down and isn't as good as it was.

Today, she hadn't turned up and when I called her she told me she was sorry she had to go to the office and would be with me an hour and half later. Had I known this, I could have taken DC's to a class and be back by the time she came.

When she did arrive, she had a relative in tow who had just come from abroad to stay here for a couple years to work as a cleaner. She said she would 'help' with he cleaning and would only do two hours as she had help. I told her she hadn't passed this by me beforehand and therefore I could not pay her. Not to mention she hasn't a work permit.

She left after 2 hours and my DH accidentally paid her for 3 hours instead of 2. The cleaner didn't say anything and took the money and off she went.

She was obviously expecting to be paid for 3 hours even though she had only worked 2 hours.

Before leaving she had asked my DH if it were ok if her relative could do our cleaning on some weeks instead of her.

Would IBU to not pay her the extra hour the next time she comes?

AIBU to expect her to give me notice that she is late and that she would be bringing someone else along with her to help with the work and expect payment?

To answer above I think she thought I was lazy for not cleaning my own home whilst on mat leave. As it was I did after that as she made me feel rubbish. In the end she lost out financially for not wanting her client to be at home whilst she was doing the job, I hadn't been before as was at work but obviously it ruined her "timing" as she couldn't leave before the 3 hrs were up if I was there.

Another vote here for sacking the cleaner. I would be really uneasy having her around. Cleaning is a difficult job sometimes but there's no excuse for not doing it well. I clean a public building and work up a right sweat doing so! It's just a few hours and I get paid above NMW, supplies are supplied so there no reason to cut corners.

Yes, I'd have her back next week, let her clean for 3 hours, pay her for two and take the keys back. In fact, I'd be out when she arrived to be sure she doesn't come up with some excuse like she hasn't got the keys with her this week.....

Our cleaner makes our life easier. Has never changed arrangements in the two years we've employed her other than earlier last month when she didn't come because of he snow. Arrives dead on time, even though we don't care. Friendly and chatty ween we're there but works hard. Doesn't even have a coffeeunless I make her one

I miss having a cleaner, but the one I had was so bad that even I couldn't keep them on. They would turn up for a week and do a reasonable job, but refuse to do the living room (because my desk is there and I WFH- I have no idea why that made a difference!). Also wouldn't use the dishwasher. But the clincher was not turning up for the next 2 weeks because they were on a bender after they spent the wages I gave them on booze. That and they were also a gossip and details of my home life were being spread all over the place.

I'll get another cleaner when I get assertive enough.

Unregulated cleaners are gd unless someone recommendd one and they are great at what they do just remember u are the employer and urd finishing the job would u still have a job if u left it to ure boss no u would work the extra time for free to finish ure work cd

Sorry what?

Where do people find all these amazing cleaners? I'd love to know!

Word of mouth, plus knowing what you want and saying thanks but no thanks early on to anyone who doesn't suit.

We have certainly been lucky with ours. I answered two 'cards in newsagents windows' in the 90s. First was not very nice, so terminated after the first week and struck lucky with the second advert. When she moved way, she passed on details to a friend, who has been with us ever since. When we moved house, I checked whether the new location would work for her (and with the GP practice) before putting in an ofer.

We know we are lucky and make a point of treating her decently, the way we are treated at work. She has a key and comes either side of the weekend, (mon or tuesday) and (thurs or Friday), and leave as much as possible to her judgement. With our blessing, She subcontracts out the ironing. If we ever make a mistake, we fess up, we get whatever materials she asks for and we pay promptly. We also pay when we are on holiday and trust her to do more deep cleaning activities when we are away. She makes the beds and stocks the 'fridge for our return. Bliss.

Would not want to be without her.

I think ours put a card through the doors in our street as she'd recently moved into the area