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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:
Malvinaa81 · 19/04/2020 21:48

I asked the cleaner not to visit until times are safer, and have continued to pay (by bank transfer) in full.

When summer is over, may have to reduce to half pay, but don't really want to do this.

When safe I would dearly like the cleaner to resume.

SquigglePigs · 19/04/2020 21:50

We'll have ours back as soon as we can. Currently doing a half arsed job staying on top of things. Kitchen and bathrooms are clean, everywhere else not so much. We've not been paying but we offered and we're told no, so feel a bit bad but not too much. Our cleaner is awesome and we'd have been more than happy to pay. Think they're covered by Government stuff so hopefully they're ok.

Hannah888 · 19/04/2020 21:57

Yes I certainly Will have mine back at the first opportunity. I don't really understand why you all had to stop. I would willingly go out for the 3 hours she would be here. Denmark have relaxed some of their restrictions - schools are back -fine -but hairdressers and dentists too. Where is the logic in that?
I don't want anyone cutting my hair from 2 metres!

WitchQueenofDarkness · 19/04/2020 22:02

Oh yes - can't wait to have her back. I was not made to do housework!

And yes we are still paying her

REdReDRE · 19/04/2020 22:06

Yes and yes (for now). As long as we are still earning and the lockdown is in place we will pay her - though she is trying to claim some through the self employed scheme so I have to trust her to tell me if she's in a position for me to stop.

I will stop paying her if she chooses not to come when restrictions are lifted a little and most cleaners are back at work.

My 6 year old though is genuinely really helping me - by time she's 8 or 9 I might pay her instead!!

HeyHoLetsGoAgain · 19/04/2020 22:09

I offered but she refused, so helping her out in other ways instead.
The gardener is still turning up, he works outside (obviously) and I pay him via bank transfer.

oblada · 19/04/2020 22:15

Surely it would make more sense to pay those wonderful cleaners a little extra/increase their wages when they are back rather than they pay them not to do the work given they should be able to claim through the self employed scheme. Continuing to pay right now could actually affect their eligibility for the scheme or what they get from it potentially... just saying really.

I'm all for others continuing to pay for things they're not getting and possibly saving the government (and all the taxpayers in turn) some money. It just seems a bit bonkers to me. Especially as many of us don't actually know what tomorrow brings.
My job should hopefully be secure but I'm not sufficiently confident of that fact not to make full advantage of any savings I can make at the moment to put my family in a more secure financial position for the next 6-12months.

Houseyhousey · 19/04/2020 22:18

Unfortunately not in a position to keep paying ours (both SE and work totally stopped up 4 weeks ago) but I do hoe she'll come back when we're back up and running again. Appreciate she might tell us to sod off as we stopped her pay right at the start but we had to put a stop to all luxuries and tighten our budget or we couldn't afford to pay basic bills this month.

TheGlitterFairy · 19/04/2020 22:37

Yes - can’t wait to have her back. No, not paying her, though have asked her several times for bank details for transfer (cash usually) and have been told she doesn’t want to be paid when not earning it. Yes, I’ve sent a few messages to keep in touch - this has served as a reminder for another!

TheGlitterFairy · 19/04/2020 22:38

Should have added that I’m planning on a “bonus” when she returns, and I hope if she doesn’t want to return, she’d just say so.

ilikebigbuttsandicannotlie · 19/04/2020 22:45

Yes I can’t bloody wait for my cleaner to come back. We haven’t been paying and we haven’t been in touch as we’re not friends. Once the restrictions are lifted, we’ll speak again.

percentageshelp · 19/04/2020 22:49

@oblada but why should the tax payer pay when I can afford to?

InvisibleWomenMustBeRead · 19/04/2020 22:57

I'm still paying my cleaner and very much hoping to have her back when this is all over.

Sparklingplasters · 19/04/2020 22:58

I’m paying mine and retaining mine

ceeveebee · 19/04/2020 23:11

I'm taken aback by the idea of paying for a service I don't receive... especially if there is a government scheme in place to support self employed people.

And when do you think they will receive this support? There’ll be no support paid to self employed people until June. Do you think many cleaners have enough in savings to last 3 months?

I’m taken aback that anyone would not pay them unless they have themselves lost their income.

Mintychoc1 · 19/04/2020 23:16

My cleaner sent a group text to all her clients to say she was shutting down the business for lockdown, and would be in touch when it was over. It didn’t occur to me to offer to pay her. Should I have done?

Mintychoc1 · 19/04/2020 23:17

Actually I pay her in cash anyway so I wouldn’t have any means of paying her now. She’s declined bank transfers in the past.

raspberrymolakoff · 19/04/2020 23:19

I've been paying my cleaner of 17 years the whole time not to come. I feel if we stop paying her and all her agency jobs dry up she will be in trouble. Her husband labours on a building site so I doubt he's working either.

TheFallenMadonna · 19/04/2020 23:21

I am still paying. I very much hope she comes back!

ThenSheSaidMore · 19/04/2020 23:23

I'm paying mine, despite the fact that I was soon going to stop using her as our personal circumstances have changed and I'm going to clean my own house. This was partially financial but we've taken the hit and continued to pay her because we are still earning.

Aria2015 · 19/04/2020 23:28

I'm still paying mine and I will definitely be wanting them back!

ladamanera · 19/04/2020 23:32

The people who arent paying their cleaners because they “haven’t asked”...
Omg.Hmm
Fair enough if a) they’ve refused or b) are unlocatable or c) you yourself have lost your job- but the rest of these excuses are appalling- tight nasty excuses. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

Cash in hand people wont get jackshit in a self-employed scheme unless they have reliable books showing income and at least some of you should know that. And no, now is NOT the time to suddenly get self-righteous and say “well they should have ensured their taxes etc were legit then”. Not when you colluded by paying cash in hand.
I bet you dont have insurance for if someone working in your home injures themselves etc either do you?
Not paying a cleaner through a pandemic- I ask you. How grim is that.
Its disgusting the way some people act and still maintain a narrative that they are “good” people.

Merryoldgoat · 19/04/2020 23:38

Yes still paying and am desperate to have her back - I love her. She’s only been with me a year but it’s an absolute godsend having her.

I’m on top of the housework being at he but I don’t like it at all and would rather pay.

MiniMum97 · 19/04/2020 23:46

I can't wait for my cleaner to come back. I hate cleaning my house.

maybegreyhound · 19/04/2020 23:49

Can't wait for mine to come back but I use a company. I haven't continued to pay them as I assume they have furloughed the staff