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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To say no to my cleaner coming over Christmas?

347 replies

ettyz · 19/12/2018 14:17

My cleaner who works 5 days a week doing 6 hours a day for us and gets above the average wage for a cleaner, has said that she needs to work next week. I said no to working Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday as obviously it’s Christmas and no to Friday as I have people over. She’s obviously self employed and we are her only cleaning job, but I don’t really fancy someone cleaning when Me and dh not at work, all the kids are at home and we just want to relax without anyone in the home. She said it’s too much money for her to lose out and she won’t be able to afford to not work those days. she hates Christmas and doesn’t have any family to spend it with so was actually asking to do Christmas Day! It’s not my fault she hasn’t budgeted for it but we had told her when we first took her on in April that we don’t need her services over Christmas. Aibu to say no to her working those days next week, I don’t want to upset her. We are hosting Christmas at ours so no time when we won’t be at home next week for her to pop in and clean, plus I’m at home so I’ll be able to do it anyway!

OP posts:
theWarOnPeace · 20/12/2018 13:33

SecretWitch

I am always opposed to being a dick but I was thinking a person who owned such a grand manor and employed a variety of domestic help, might understand how to use of and have correctly.

My sentiments, exactly. I would also assume that such a high-flying woman of mystery could get their head around employment and tax law.

NomsQualityStreets · 20/12/2018 14:01

I'm not sure why so many people have an issue with OP?
She clearly stated that she has advised her cleaner that her service will not be required over Christmas back in April, followed up in November and at the beginning of this month too. At any one of those points she could have said "actually OP I need the hours" or she could have arranged another job elsewhere or factored it into her budget.

She's springing this up on the OP at the last minute and it's not great.

PPs saying OP can clearly afford it... Seriously? Just because she can afford it should she really be throwing money at someone in these circumstances just because?

There seems to be a lot of jealousy going on on this thread and this comes from myself who lives in a tiny terraced house and couldn't afford a cleaner for even an hour a week 🍷

DarlingNikita · 20/12/2018 14:03

kidsatuniemptynester, the OP says she ISN'T the cleaner's only client.

Having said that, I did say earlier that I think the OP might be on thin ice in terms of her being a 'hidden employee'.

user1457017537 · 20/12/2018 14:05

Couldn’t you have her in for 3 hours of an evening to clear up

VI0LET · 20/12/2018 17:45

People have an issue with the Op because she is a rich woman abusing her cleaner and breaking the law.

It’s nothing to do with jealousy. I have more staff that that but I act legally and fairly.

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 20/12/2018 17:56

Nah, not jealousy. Just angry at how abuse of employees is still alive and kicking in 21st century UK.

VanGoghsDog · 20/12/2018 18:04

DarlingNikita

Actually she confirmed she IS the cleaner's only client. The cleaner has another job but it's not cleaning. We don't even know if the other job is 'self employed' or not.

VanGoghsDog · 20/12/2018 18:06

I'm a bit bewildered how dirty a house can get and how much breakfast stuff there is to clean up if the householder is away all week anyway.

TatianaLarina · 20/12/2018 18:14

I’m appalled at the OP’s treatment of her employee. We pay our cleaner for her Christmas week off as well as giving her a whacking present.

DarlingNikita · 20/12/2018 18:21

VanGoghsDog, it doesn't matter what the other job is. The cleaner has more than one job.

VanGoghsDog · 20/12/2018 18:38

It totally does matter that the other job is not the same thing. It's 100% important.

PooBearnow · 20/12/2018 18:41

ettyz. You are her employer effectively. You need to pay her for holiday. And sickness. Does your employer pay you for holiday? YABU

PooBearnow · 20/12/2018 18:44

ettyz what’s way above the average for a cleaner? If you don’t pay pension or NI or holiday then I doubt you are paying way above the average.

Laiste · 20/12/2018 18:53

I'm still struggling with the OPs 'overtime' suggestion waaay upthread ShockConfused

When will she fit in the overtime? An all nighter moping the rotten wooden floors?!

llangennith · 20/12/2018 18:54

Pay her her usual weekly wage for the Christmas period and stop being such a tight-arse.
You risk losing your slave if you continue with your meanness: financial and character.

HolyandWild · 20/12/2018 18:56

Just pay her. Its Christmas ffs and it doesn't sound like you are short of money if you employ a cleaner for all those hours.

Princessmushroom · 20/12/2018 19:07

You all need to go and read up on what being self employed is.

You charge a higher hourly rate because YOU are in charge of tax, NI, holiday pay and more. You get the flexibility to take time off when you want and you run the risk that you don’t have work on all the time.

You don’t see freelance writers asking newspapers to pay them over Christmas.

Get a grip and go and research what being self employed actually is.

Sandbox · 20/12/2018 19:10

You’re not there in the week and she spends 6 hours cleaning 7 bathrooms, floorboards twice and dusting a million antiques, maybe I’m slow but I’d need longer to clean all that and regular house work too

QforCucumber · 20/12/2018 19:11

Princessmushroom you too. Cleaner doesnt set her own rate or hours and doesn't appear to invoice the op for hours worked. Therefore, legally, employed.

oblada · 20/12/2018 19:14

Employed isn't the question.
She provides personal services - she is a worker at the bare minimum (possibly an employee too but it doesn't matter for this purpose). So she is entitled to holiday pay. Even if she asked to be self-employed.
May be best to let her work...
Surely if the house is large she can still do some cleaning whilst everyone is there... And isn't the house going to be disgusting without those 30hrs of cleaning + given that people will be around all the time? Surely she's needed.

Justkeeprollingalong · 20/12/2018 19:14

But I still don't understand what she actually does for 30 hours a week especially as you have said you are away during the week - unless you are leaving behind a brood of children who trash the place everyday?

HolyandWild · 20/12/2018 19:17

Ah yes my faith in human kindness is restored. I love the spirit of generosity at this time of year. The I'll let her do overtime comment [confused is particularly wonderful.

Thank you OP and I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and feel at peace with your choice.

StarlightIntheNight · 20/12/2018 19:18

If you can afford a cleaner 5 days a week, you can afford to pay her during the holidays even when she is not working. I would pay her even if you do not want her to work, as she is willing to do the work. You could always ask her to make up the hours on different days if you are that stingy! For example, do extra ironing, or gardening etc to add to lets say one more hour a day during her normal working days until she has made up the days....but too be honest...i would just pay her those 3 days...and give her them off! It is xmas after all

reetgood · 20/12/2018 19:23

You set her hours, you’re her only cleaning client, she can’t have someone else sub for her.... I think what you have yourself is an employee.

eco1636 · 20/12/2018 19:24

www.gov.uk/calculate-your-holiday-entitlement

Use this to calculate how much holiday you should pay your cleaner.

We have someone 10 hours Pw and she gets all the holiday pay plus a Christmas bonus. We also pay her a high rate (£15 per hour).

As someone asked up thread, are you in the UK?

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