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

[Dalamalama]

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?

YES! I’m paying her too.
I just cannot imagine doing her job for the rest of my life. I hate cleaning but need a clean house

I paid the cleaners for one month worth of work after they stopped coming, but I've stopped now. There is a significant chance I will not have a job to go back to at the end of my maternity leave, so I couldn't justify continuing to pay for the cleaner at the expense of savings we might need to live off.

If I have a job after this I will have a cleaner again, but I will hire a different group. Now that I'm cleaning my own house, I'm more aware of what a lazy job they were doing. They never moved anything to clean, even light objects like the children's play kitchen. When I moved it to mop I found mould and insects under it 🤢

I so want my cleaner back. Every time I hoover the stairs, clean the bathrooms or iron anything I miss her.
I have been paying her.

To those thinking it morally questionable not to pay their cleaner - that's your view but ultimately I don't feel morally bound to pay for a service I don't receive. I'm not paying the hairdresser/restaurant/petrol I'm not buying/childcare I'm not getting. I'm trying to support the local community in other ways but by paying for actual services. Many people are being inventive to earn money and I'll support that. But I'm also saving money as I don't know how long we'll be in this and the impact on our jobs long-term. I'm also working bloody hard at the moment with both of us in busy FT roles at home + kids + cleaning of course so I'm knackered. If I was on furlough in a VERY secure role then I wouldn't mind although I'd probably more likely donate more to the local food bank and other community schemes etc.

Yes and Yes

I will definately be having my cleaner back. We have her for 4 hours each week and can't wait for her to return. I paid her half in March, then she text to say she is going to use government scheme for self employed so we do not need to continue to pay her. I will be giving her pay rise too as I have been doing it and it is very hard work, especially as I have a bad back.

And yes I'd expect anyone solely self employed to have some savings. I know my cleaner isn't solely self employed and I know she's currently not in hardship otherwise I'd help just like I'd help anyone suffering real hardship.

Not paid as have no spare income. Also, I’ve realised it’s not hard at all cleaning a little bit each day and as I go. Have found some areas that haven’t been touched in a long time so I probably wasn’t getting the cleaner over enough. Won’t be able to afford that luxury again.

@oblada I see your point. It is odd to pay for a service you are not receiving. I guess I just (probably patronizingly) feel like she's much less well off than me, what I pay her weekly is less than an hours wage for me, so if it helps her survive through this then I'm happy to keep paying.

Oh yes and I miss her so much. It's the opposite of what you described: now that I have to do all the cleaning I value her job even more.
I offered her to pay while away in lockdown and she declined, then I offered to give her a little more every week until the end of the year when she comes back.

don't worry i have never appreciated my cleaner more than now. i cant wait for her to be back. we are paying her whilst she cant come.

Not paying the one I had previous, no.
She came a couple of times, did an OK job, then started sending me proselytising and conspiracy theory videos. She also insists on cash in hand. Also DH is on furlough so our income has dropped a lot.

We will resume a cleaner when it is safe to do so and our income has recovered, but we will get a different one. In the meantime I don't actually mind doing it myself too much, and DH will be able to do most of it.

Asked my mother's cleaner not to come. DM is 80 but still wanted her. I am paying by bank transfer in the hope she will come back to mum and I feel it is the right thing to do.

Yes definitely have her back - I've bad arthritis and DH a very full on job outside the house (currently wfh). And yes I am paying her until she can come back - been with us for years, really lovely lady - apparently we were the only clients to offer that!

Mylittlepony - fair enough. Im reassured knowing that I pay her well normally (above the average for my area) and if I can afford it I'll give her both more work (a bit of deep cleaning) and extra pay (on top of what's required for more work of course) for a couple of months when we're back.

Yes we’re paying, but only two thirds. It’s not great for her dignity - I’m pretty sure she would much rather work for her money than not, but we can afford it and we hate to think of her struggling through lost income.

apparently we were the only clients to offer that

My cleaner says only 2 of hers did ( us being one). I know her finances are on a knife edge anyway and there is no way she could hang on til the Govt money appears, if it ever does.

At least I know she can afford to buy food for herself and her pet during this awful time. I couldn't live with my conscience to have cut off a substantial part of her income.

* Yes we’re paying, but only two thirds. It’s not great for her dignity *

I doubt it. Just like being furloughed, of which millions have been.

I offered to pay my cleaner even if she didn’t come. But she wanted to come still so I just sit on the balcony when she comes.

God yes, can't wait for her to come back!

And yes, she's being paid, although now that I'm furloughed, I'm considering 80% for the second three weeks

No, not paying. They'd only been twice before lockdown and didn't contact us to let us know they wouldn't be coming to the last one that would have been possible before lockdown began, so haven't bothered contacting to offer to pay.

We are both fortunate to have reasonably secure jobs. It's not our cleaners fault that she can't earn and I know she will be facing some hardship. So of course I'm paying her- and I help her other clients are too.

Still paying mine- she keeps our home ticking over and deserves that basic courtesy. Can’t wait to have her back- text her this morning to say I hope she’s ok and we all miss her (DS loves her to bits).

If we were made redundant, obviously the situation would change.

Yep still paying and can't wait til she can come back. I hate cleaning with a passion!

Mine wouldn't let me pay her. Which upset me as I still have the money coming in and wanted her to not too suffer financially. I'd happily have her back. I hate cleaning.