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AIBU?

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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:
C8H10N4O2 · 19/12/2018 15:25

She’s self employed and we have given her a Christmas bonus but doesn’t amount to what she gets in the week, I’ll let her work overtime in the new year.

Bugger me, you are really full of the generous Christmas spirit. Reduced pay for Christmas week but she can do overtime to try and claw some back and you call it a bonus!

My cleaner doesn't come for anything like those hours but it wouldn't occur to me not to pay her for Christmas/NY (which I always tell her to take off as hols).

As PP says - whatever you call it at 30hrs a week and her main employer HMRC may not take kindly to the avoidance of NICs.

macarenaferreiro · 19/12/2018 15:27

Surely Harry, William and Kate can help out? Give Meghan the Christmas off though, seeing as she's pregnant.

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 19/12/2018 15:31

I feel sad for her...I can't imagine you are nice to work for, frankly Xmas Sad

m0therofdragons · 19/12/2018 15:31

If you cancel you pay, if she cancels you don't. Simple! So in this instance you pay her.

WilburforceRaven · 19/12/2018 15:32

1/10

SilverySurfer · 19/12/2018 15:34

Are you Kate Middleton? You can't be the Queen because Buck House has 78 bathrooms Grin

If you can afford to pay her for 30 hours a week, you can afford to pay her for Christmas week.

I'm more worried about how your antigues, seven bedrooms and wooden floors are going to cope without being cleaned for a week.

I’ll let her work overtime in the new year.

Wow, you're all heart Hmm

Reastie · 19/12/2018 15:38

See if she wants to be self employed rather than employed then she has to deal with the no pay. So long as you have her sufficient warning of not needing her services I think it’s ok. Might be worth discussing the issue with her so you don’t have this problem next time (eg will you need her to come when you’re on holiday?). If you’re having guests over on Friday you could always get her in on Thursday to do a clean ready for the guests so it’s all set straight but I don’t think the expectation is that you pay for Christmas Day holidays for a self employed person. Dh works for clients visiting for regular work and if they suddenly decide they don’t want him at the last minute because it’s raining/they have guests etc then dh doesn’t get paid.

1forAll74 · 19/12/2018 15:38

I think you should pay her, and as she is alone, perhaps invite her round for Christmas dinner, then she could do all the washing up afterwards.
Although you probably have seven dishwashers as well as seven bathrooms,! that was a joke re the dishwashers,!

cheekaa · 19/12/2018 15:39

I am self employed and have two helpers both self employed. They come in to work at mutually suitable times and work for other people as well. Their timings for work can sometimes be the same and also change. I don't pay them for holidays or sick leave. They help with my business and my personal life. Approximately 50/50. Every Christmas since they have worked with me I have given them a bonus of roughly a month's earnings and also take them out to a meal somewhere expensive as a treat. As my business over the years has gone stronger I now give them nearly two months' bonus every Christmas.

AcrossthePond55 · 19/12/2018 15:39

Do you live in the Smithsonian?

No, she's talking about her little holiday cottage in Norfolk. Starts with 'S' though, so..........

amusedbush · 19/12/2018 15:40

I’ll let her work overtime in the new year.

Overtime? OVERTIME? You have a cleaner 30 hours a week - how bogging is your house that there is the possibility of overtime?

Seniorcitizen1 · 19/12/2018 15:43

Is she really self employed or is this an arrangement to get out of paying holiday pay, pension employer NI? HMRC may have a different view if you are her only client

Aridane · 19/12/2018 15:45

cheesenpickles · 19/12/2018 15:46
fiorentina · 19/12/2018 15:49

We don’t need our nanny next week and she’s used her holiday allowance, but still pay her. As others have said, technically if you are her only employer I really would check she isn’t technically employed and you should be paying her anyway.

MrsDesireeCarthorse · 19/12/2018 15:50

And today, in things that didn't happen....

Wondered how long it would take for the snidey bitter little posts like this to crop up. God forbid someone with a lot of money post on MN. Amazingly, some people do have a shitload and massive houses with staff. Get over it.

OP, your cleaner is not self-employed and you need to sort this out.

ellenanora5 · 19/12/2018 15:50

Is it a bed and breakfast/small boutique hotel op, have you been on four in a bed, I think you should apply for four in a bed, they'll rip the cleaning standards to shit and then you can give her loads of overtime.

ChristmasPudding2018 · 19/12/2018 15:51

Is this a reverse? And you are employed in Norfolk...?

LL83 · 19/12/2018 15:54

My childminder is self employed I still pay holiday pay.

GhostSauce · 19/12/2018 15:55

Is this Crumbs with a name change?

ShadyLady53 · 19/12/2018 15:55

@ChristmasPudding2018

Do you have seven bathrooms and a lot of antiques Wink?

BedraggledBlitz · 19/12/2018 15:56

House diagram required!

WWYDhelpplease · 19/12/2018 15:56

She’s not self employed. I suggest you need to research employment law and may be speak to an accountant.

didihearthatright123456 · 19/12/2018 16:00

She’s not self employed. I suggest you need to research employment law and may be speak to an accountant

This is soooo true!! If your cleaner is only working for you then she really isn't self employed. You actually should be paying for her NI and her pension.

Hoppinggreen · 19/12/2018 16:00

How is she self employed? Who else does she work for?
IF she is self employed ( unlikely) then you shouidnt pay her, not getting paid for holidays is part of being self employed.
But then so is the opportunity to set yiur own rates, choose when to work and work for multiple employers amongst other things
Sounds like she is your housekeeper - wonder what HMRC would think?

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