Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect my cleaner to do her contracted hours?

44 replies

DirtyDripSpout · 15/10/2019 19:45

I have a great cleaner who does a good job around the house. We have her for 4 hours and I always pay her a 15% tip. We are normally not in when she comes in, but I do have a security camera at the entrance so I can tell what time she comes in and leaves.

Today I noticed she left 50 mins early. I don't mind if she left 15/20 mins early but AIBU to have expected her to stay for at least 30 mins extra. There is always something extra to do in our house. Personally I wouldn't leave my job that early without prior agreement, and I would have thought if she needed to leave early, she should have told me.

One of the reasons I had to let m last cleaner go was because she always used to leave an hour early. I never said anything as she was really good too - but then the leaving early became a regular occurance. I still paid her for 4 hours and there were still bits that were not done.

OP posts:
CatsOnCatnip · 15/10/2019 19:49

You know you’re not being unreasonable. Have a word!

Nextphonewontbesamsung · 15/10/2019 19:53

Yanbu. We have the same issue with our cleaner. Astonishing thing is, one of us is usually around when she's here and leaving 20 to 30 minutes early. She's good and does a thorough job and just at the moment I cba to find a replacement. But I will fairly soon.

paige789 · 15/10/2019 19:54

That is soo cheeky of her ! I'm guessing she didn't know there was a camera, I would sack her for that she's trusted to work what you pay her !! 5 mins at a push would be the earlier I would leave a job

isadoradancing123 · 15/10/2019 20:50

I would sack her or reduce her hours to three. In most jobs you cannot just leave an hour early

Original poster
DirtyDripSpout · 15/10/2019 21:32

Thanks for all your responses. I didn't want it to become a regular habit like my last cleaner. I really don't mind if they leave slightly earlier IF they have done all they can, but an hour earlier is taking the mick!

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 15/10/2019 21:35

Do you have an agreed list of jobs, and then a supplementary list to work through in addition if there’s time?

To be honest, if she usually leaves 20 minutes early, and your previous cleaner also did, then perhaps you should reduce the hours? 3 hours instead and pay for extra jobs on top?

Moondancer73 · 15/10/2019 21:42

She's very cheeky. I'm a cleaner and I'd only leave five minutes early if I had to be somewhere at a certain time. You definitely need to speak to her.

Original poster
DirtyDripSpout · 15/10/2019 21:42

There are lots of jobs to do around the house - and yes I do have a big list with those that are 'must dos' and tasks that are to be rotated or done on an ad hoc basis.

I suspect if I reduced the job to 3 hours, the cleaner would not be happy and still expect to be paid for 4 hours .

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 15/10/2019 21:48

I suspect if I reduced the job to 3 hours, the cleaner would not be happy

Well, the alternative is you’re unhappy!

I’d mention it in a “Noticed you left quite early today - if you’re finding you don’t need the full 4 hours we can discuss dropping it down if you like?” and go from there.

Pumpkintopf · 15/10/2019 21:49

Agree with no squirrels- I'd drop a quick text 'noticed you left early, is everything ok?'

Shinyshoes2 · 15/10/2019 21:54

I'm a cleaner and a few of my jobs are at the 2 hour mark .. one of them was 3 hours .. I've now sorted problematic areas in this particular home so can now drop this one to 2 hours too as I keep on top of it .
They know this, I've made it clear it's now a 2 hour job and they pay me just for 2 hours
Could this be the same ? It was originally priced for 4 hours , she's cut it to 3 but not said ? ... it still doesn't make it ok though

Skittlesandbeer · 15/10/2019 22:14

Well whatever the reason she’s cut that last hour, it isn’t up to her to make wholesale changes to the terms of her employment, is it? Or take money for the cut hour?

It’s CFery, and I’d be onto it quick smart. I’d prolly say a neighbour mentioned her leaving early, she’s likely to strop and never come back if you tell her she’s being filmed (and you’re checking it). I’d want to keep her coming until I found someone more reliable. But you could be honest and say you checked the camera when you found jobs not done (and you’ve never felt the need to check before). She might believe you and come good.

isadoradancing123 · 15/10/2019 22:19

Dont see why people tiptoe around cleaners, they are paid to do a job and they need to do it, everyone seems reluctant to upset them

vincettenoir · 16/10/2019 00:03

Mmmm in my view the quality of the clean is far more important than the length of time stayed, so my initial thought was that it doesn’t matter if they had done a decent job. However, 50 minutes is significant.

I would still try and focus on what you might have liked to have been done, that wasn’t, rather than the exact time stayed.

Durgasarrow · 16/10/2019 05:45

YANBU

Stuckinanutshell · 16/10/2019 07:05

Let her get on with it and see how much she tries to get away with and then pay her an adjusted rate for 3 not 4 hours. She probably doesn’t know you’re aware of her timings.

CF.

My Nan used to have a cleaner and spent most of her time having a cup of tea with my Nan. She would literally just be sitting there for an hour. Vacuuming wasn’t done etc. Bare minimum completed. So we paid her for the time worked. She tried to use the excuse that my Nan needed company - she didn’t. We went in every day and Nan had 4 carers per day. Cleaner was taking the piss and soon stopped when we only paid her for time worked.

sueelleker · 16/10/2019 07:08

I second the idea of only paying for time worked-don't tell her in advance, and wait for her to comment.

mylifenow27 · 16/10/2019 07:23

We have this trouble with house keepers and cleaners. We pay her to come in 9 hours a week she can do this when she wants as long as the house with clean an it's over 3 days.

We have a 5 bed house but one rooms a guest room so never needs cleaning. The children tidy their own rooms an we are generally tidy. The they come in 3 times the idea is the bathrooms or kitchen are never too dirty and difficult to clean. But I do expect the house keeper to put the washing away that comes from the laundrette and to iron one load of 3-6 months clothes a week.

They always start of great then get there feet under the table and leave early or get sloppy it drives me mad. Last week they forgot to clean the downstairs toilet and put all the sofa cushions on upside down.

We've realised you have to leave a jobs list of what you expect each week. As sad as it is we can't find anyone who can work on there own merit and stick to it.

I'm sure their is people who do though. 😩 if anyone has a good cleaner please point them my way 😂

Original poster
DirtyDripSpout · 16/10/2019 07:26

@vincenttenoir - my feelings exactly! I don't mind her leaving early IF everything is done but 50 mins is too much.

Have texted her and she claims she only left half an hour early because she was unwell. Hmm

OP posts:
Raindancer411 · 16/10/2019 07:33

Out of interest does she know you can see her comings and goings on a security cam?

Letitbegin · 16/10/2019 07:34

I think you should see it as your paying for the job that she's done not the time spent. She may just have gotten quicker at the work she can do. If I was a clearer I'd always price the job at the work done not time because ppl end up think they are being conned out of money if not every minute is used cleaning their home when in fact she could be working really hard to get it done in a quicker time.

Original poster
DirtyDripSpout · 16/10/2019 07:35

I don't think she knows we have a camera. It's not hidden but perhaps she is unaware what the device is..

OP posts:
MintyMabel · 16/10/2019 07:55

I think you should see it as your paying for the job that she's done not the time spent. She may just have gotten quicker at the work she can do. If I was a clearer I'd always price the job at the work done not time because ppl end up think they are being conned out of money if not every minute is used cleaning their home when in fact she could be working really hard to get it done in a quicker time.

That’s not how it works. If you’re cleaning 2 or 3 places in a day you set allocated times to do them. If someone is working hard to get it done quicker, they should be doing that no matter how they are paid.

OP, not sure what you”re having them do but if this, and the last cleaner are leaving early, you’ve got them there too long. Tell her the hours are cut to three as she can clearly do the job in that time - assuming she’d finished (you’ve been asked that lots but not answered)

tashac89 · 16/10/2019 08:05

I run a small cleaning company and have had to let a couple of people go over things like this. As you get to know the client and the house, it does get quicker, but then pay should adjust to reflect that, or there should be additional jobs to get done. Pje client in particular, she has zero clutter, is very tidy and still wants 2 cleaners for 2 hours every week. The set up is if everything is cleaned, get through the laundry pile, clean up after the dog in the garden and a few other jobs to make up the time.

Dustybun · 16/10/2019 08:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Swipe left for the next trending thread