To wonder why every cleaner I've ever had leaves early?

[N0rfolkEnchants]

Do you have a cleaner? Is this normal?

I have one as a treat I suppose. Although I work from home for the most part, I have 2 hours a week to do bathrooms and kitchen and floors. It's a big help

Anyway I had to ditch my last cleaners as they were sloping off early, bringing children with them and not doing a good job. So I've found a new one and she comes highly recommended

We chatted about what I wanted and she asked to do 3 hours as an initial clean, it'll be just the 2 hours I want afterwards. Fine I said. So why oh why did she arrive at 8.35am and leave at 11.10am? A shortfall of 25 minutes. I'd left the cash for her as she's asked for this for the first week or two and then we will do it via bank transfer

I was at home when she got there and I then went out to give her space and I cane back at 11.10am and she'd left. She had done a good job but I've paid for 25 mins that she didn't do

Is this normal? Do I just suck this up? Or when you're paying an hourly rate should they actually stay for the time you're paying them for?

OP
I've decided I'll not say anything for now. I will see what happens on Friday as that is when she next comes

Sorry OP but that is a completely wet way of dealing with this. Just talk to her about it and stop being so silly. There is nothing rude about double checking how long she intends to work in future. It might feel a little awkward to speak to her about it but so what? At least you will both know the situation.

You are paying the cleaner - she is doing a job for you not a favour. You should be polite and respectful but you shouldn't be embarrassed to speak to her.

Honestly, I can't believe how wussy some posters are 😆😆😆

Rookie, thanks for that. I think I'd be fine with the set up you describe too. She's a long standing cleaner

No angst I promise just chatting away on here

Am I a bit wet over this ? Guilty as charged

I've hired a cleaner on two separate occasions (with a view to a permanent arrangement). 2 hours twice a week was my aim. Both times I used a cleaning company. Both times I went off to work as they arrived. Both times I came back an hour later. Both times they'd already gone. The second time I rang the agency to complain. They said that they'd sent two people for one hour = 2 hours. They hadn't.
Only one person had arrived, and I was over the road having a cup of tea with a neighbour. I've given up now.

I pay my cleaner to do 2.5 hours a week. She sometimes finishes early and I don't care as long as she's done a good job. I used to have her round for 2 hours (tiny one bed flat which is kept tidy) until one time, I came home after 2.5 hours and she was still cleaning and but refused to accept any recompense for the over time. I prefer someone who did a thorough job and left early over someone who worked longer but did a shoddy job.

OP ,you should pay her when she's finished ,don't leave the cash out , if you pop out say you'll be back in time to pay her.

I have a cleaner and often work from home , she has to put up with me there , OP don't go out next time stay.

My cleaner is scrupulously honest and hard working during the heat I told her to leave early , tried to ply her with cold drinks and she was
having none of it , she's only 18yrs old as well !

So she could have done far less than you estimate?

Slithy- yep. Got it in one. I just don't know

I have just sacked our cleaner partly because of this, partly because standards were slipping and didn’t improve after a chat and partly because, thanks to competition in the area, the hourly rate was far too expensive.
Perhaps OP have a chat with your cleaner next time she is in and say that you missed her last time as she left early so didn’t get to have a debrief after her first clean at your home. Ask whether she would appreciate you sharing a list of added specific little things you would like doing. For example, I have a messy toddler who likes to snack on the sofa. I have asked my cleaner if she wouldn’t mind hoovering under the sofa cushions. (I do brush it every day for he record. I just like habing it properly hoovered on a weekly basis.). It’s a professional relationship. So I unless you voice any feedback and / or concerns, your cleaner won’t have a chance to address these. And it just sets the tone for your relationship going forward. Good luck!