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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you're all going to have your cleaners back? And have you been paying them?

242 replies

Dalamalama · 19/04/2020 17:08

I'm a self employed cleaner who's obviously lost all of my jobs for now. I was just thinking, what if all my former clients have started cleaning themselves and finding it's not too bad so don't want me back? Also have you been paying your cleaner? Kept in touch with them? Do you expect them to come back?

I've got new temporary work for now and I'm definitely not going back to few who I was thinking of sacking anyway, and I've not heard anything from them.

Also, when do you think we'll be allowed back? At what point will you have your cleaner back?

OP posts:
Original poster
Dalamalama · 19/04/2020 19:29

@pinksoda35
My fave clients are the ones that treat me like an equal and let me get on with everything and show they appreciate the hard work I do, even if that is just making me a cup of tea and chatting to me like a friend and commenting on how well they think I have done something!

👆 exactly!

I hope you get all the clients you want back.

OP posts:
VanWinkle13 · 19/04/2020 19:31

I didn't have a cleaner before but hope to get one as soon as things get back to normal.

I've had enough of cleaning up after a preschooler now!

Rosebyanothername19 · 19/04/2020 19:34

We are 100% having ours back and I cant wait!!! We haven't been paying her though as I thought she wouldnt be able to claim furlough from the government if we did. Is that not correct?

TooMinty · 19/04/2020 19:40

100% having our cleaners back, I miss them so much! Yes I'm still paying because I'm currently being paid in full myself. Would reassess if that changed.

hoorayforharoldlloyd · 19/04/2020 19:43

Definitely getting ours back. Paid a month full rate upfront. Will speak to her about retainer for the next stage of lockdown, maybe half until things open up again?

lmcneil003 · 19/04/2020 19:44

Paying her and looking forward to her return.
When we told her we'll keep paying her she welled up Grin

Hingeandbracket · 19/04/2020 19:46

Yes and Yes

percentageshelp · 19/04/2020 19:47

Yes, I've been sending a bank transfer for the full amount every week. We're definitely having her back. I was just texting her today actually.

SugarNyx · 19/04/2020 19:48

I can’t wait to have my cleaner back! Have been paying her too

Musmerian · 19/04/2020 19:49

We have a dog walker and we are paying her half what we would normally pay her. She’s brilliant and really reliable si I want her there when this is all over. I’m still being paid though so can afford it.

Nat6999 · 19/04/2020 19:57

I'm going to be looking for a cleaner once I'm better, back home & lockdown is over (I've been at my mum's since Christmas) what is the best way to find a good reliable cleaner?

Newkitty · 19/04/2020 20:00

Yes, paying her. Would love for her to come back but I am freelance and have lost all of my income so it may not be practical.

But I’m hoping to be able to pay her till lockdown is over and she can work again. Otherwise I would just be making her go through exactly what I’m going through, and I don’t want to do that.

Classiccar · 19/04/2020 20:02

I was told by my clients of 5 years who I do cleaning and ironing on a weekly basis not to go in because they were in the office with people showing symptoms & were now at home...& because of my asthma and poor immunity it’s MY decision as to whether I go to them or not.

Obviously I didn’t...but I’ve had no pay, no retainer, nothing. They’re still working for full pay apparently, so they told me in their most recent text. I’ve already resigned from them once and they convinced me to return.

This may be the best time to finally call it quits with them.

Classiccar · 19/04/2020 20:03

Just to clarify, they themselves have not had the virus.

Battenburg1978 · 19/04/2020 20:05

I cannot wait for our cleaner to be able to come back! We’ve used the same agency for 3 years and she’s been cleaning for us for a couple of months and doing an excellent job. Yes we are still paying her weekly, by bank transfer now instead of cash left on the day. The week before lockdown we decided actually we didn’t feel it was right to have someone come into the house so my partner gave her cash at the door when she arrived and said to go home, and also gave her double. I’m not sure whether she’ll be able to claim much in the way of government support and we’re being paid as normal. Having a cleaner is our one extravagance and I appreciate so much her contribution to our family happiness.

caketiger · 19/04/2020 20:05

No because me and hubby are shielding. We are paying her for 12 weeks. She has picked up different work. And is extremely missed :-)

CarolineIngalls · 19/04/2020 20:06

Yes to both.

rhowton · 19/04/2020 20:07

I miss my cleaner so so much! I can't wait to have her back. I'm paying her 50% xxx

MinesAPintOfTea · 19/04/2020 20:08

Cleaner isn't coming. We offered a retainer, but she declined. Will definitely have her back as soon as it feels safe...I don't hate cleaning any less for having had a two year break from it!

Original poster
Dalamalama · 19/04/2020 20:13

@Rosebyanothername19 I don't know about that.
@Nat6999 ask your friends or neighbours, or social media. Most of my work comes from word of mouth. @classsiccar it's so hard for everyone to know what to do but they didnt need to rub your nose in it by telling you they were on full pay! Give them up if you want. Why did you quit before?

OP posts:
Scrumbleton · 19/04/2020 20:14

Yes - she’s been with us fior 10 years - paying her monthly by bank transfer - rather than the usual cash - it’s the right thing to do if you’re still earning

RoseGoldEagle · 19/04/2020 20:15

Yes and Yes.

I think with cleaning it’s not like people will be doing it suddenly for the first time and thinking ‘oh this is actually fine’, most people have done their own cleaning for years and pay for a cleaner for the luxury of having someone else do it for them, so I don’t think many people will suddenly discover they love cleaning after all.

yikesanotherbooboo · 19/04/2020 20:17

Yes and yes.
I am still being paid so it would be massively taking the piss to expect tax system to cover my cleaner.
She isn't great actually but now is not the time to have that conversation .

Secondsop · 19/04/2020 20:18

I’d like to have my cleaner back, but I’m not paying her at the moment. A few days before offices etc started to close down, one of the children came down with symptoms so I told her she shouldn’t come for 14 days, but she replied saying she’d left London and moved to her daughter’s house (outside London) for now - so she’d clearly already made plans that did not involve her being reliant on her cleaning pay. If there’d been any question of her having relied on the possibility of being paid I’d have tried to give her something (although it would have been hard because my husband’s income has completely dried up and we were paying her £50 a week).

fairfat40 · 19/04/2020 20:18

Yes, we have paid a month’s money and will continue to. We haven’t lost our income. If we did, we would have to reappraise. We’re also paying dog walker 50%. Might start asking her to do some ironing though. I’m a bit taken aback by those still on full pay who feel they have no responsibility to those they employ.

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