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?

The government advice says "Only go outside for ... work (but only if you cannot work from home)". Does that mean that cleaners could still work for someone who is disabled and can't clean for themselves, for example?

Really missing our cleaner here and have told her so, have been paying her in full. We are both transport workers so having to fit the cleaning in around work and kids but at least we are still on full pay ourselves.

We live in quite a ‘naice’ area and many of our cleaner’s clients are wealthy, however she said that the only ones who are continuing to pay her are the working class ones like us so that’s interesting. I believe there was a Sunday Times article yesterday suggesting similar.

She’s an absolute gem anyway and has a son the same age as ours, I worry about how she will manage until the self employment payments come along in June.

I have insisted we pay our cleaner for this month, next month it’s going to depend on whether we can afford it. I feel awful about it. We will of course have her back. She has cleaned for DP for years and four years with me here. She is wonderful and makes my life much easier even though I am quite happy to clean and during lockdown have finally learnt to iron. I’ve been blitzing the flat so hopefully her job will be far easier after all this!

My cleaner phoned to tell me her husband insisted on her giving up all her jobs (she cleans for a few people in the area) so that was her decision. She did offer to do shopping/post office for me but Ive got that covered.

It did not occur to me to pay her for work she has not done as it was her decision not to come. She is self employed and its up to her to keep tax records etc. I run an online business and dont expect my customers to pay for services I do not or cannot provide.

@YE42003c I’d be more worried that she’d given up her income because her husband told her to, tbh.

@superduper I did read that it's fine to help someone if they're elderly of disabled so I am still cleaning for a few elderly but that's their choice. They don't see anyone but me so the danger is more for them really which I have explained but they seem happy.

Yes, and yes.
I’m hoping she will come and do a deep clean when she can. I am doing what I need to but not more than I have to and it definitely shows. She’s been with us for 14 years and I am very fond of her. I’m also very fond of her cleaning skills.

The government guidance suggests to me that cleaners can continue working if they abide by social distancing ie do it in an empty home or empty part of the house. Cleaning work is going on in many other areas that outside of domestic cleaning. There is no reason for domestic cleaning work to stop unless it is not practical to continue (ie if everyone works from home and cannot be kept to one part of the house for instance). No relevance with whether the client is elderly/disabled.
My cleaner cannot come as she has young children at home.

My elderly parents are still having their cleaner. I wasn’t very happy about it tbh but they have an arrangement with her - they leave a key hidden under a rock and go out in the car to somewhere VERY close by (don’t start) where they then sit and read their books or have a walk then return home after she’s finished (only 2 hrs). So they don’t interact and she’s wearing fresh gloves and shoe protectors each time apparently. Risk is small I guess. She’s doing this for a few households, it gives her income and makes their life easier. They aren’t seeing anyone else. She even wipes the door key before posting it back through the letter box!

We sent a lump sum to our cleaner when it became clear that she wouldn’t be eligible for the government self employed scheme (less than half her earnings are from self employment). It felt more than a bit awkward, and she clearly get weird about a cash gift, but we were speaking to her as we were helping her with the application and it was clear she is struggling financially on universal credit. Wish we had kept paying her week by week as it would have get less awkward but it feels a bit late to start this now.

I miss my cleaner so much op, I’ve been paying her and I really hope she wants to come back afterwards.

@oblada but surely we've been told time and time again 'to stay at home!' unless its for essential things only. Cleaning Is hardly essential. I've continued with a few cleaning jobs for my elderly clients who are on their own, partly because I feel a little sad for them and of course the money is always nice.

It's their choice and they know the risk but are happy for me to continue.

I'm sacking two regulars who've I've cleaned for for years and the others I'll gladly go back as soon as we have the go ahead.

Dalamala - this misinterpretation of the guidance is getting tiresome. The government has not restricted working to essential jobs. So no there is no need to determine if cleaning is 'essential'. Every job can continue to be done 'on site' (ie not home working) if indeed it is not possible to home and as long as safe distancing can be put in place. Building work is continuing. Delivery work (incl the likes of Ikea - under gvt guidance they are even allowed to be 2 men per van again) can continue. Only non essential shops were told to shut and of course every desk-based work has been moved to home working. If you don't feel you can work safely that's a different assessment and it is of course up to you.

Oh and of course cleaning jobs are definitely continuing in the non-domestic sector (I have a few clients doing that) generally. Domestic sector is left up to individual cleaners and individual 'employer' to decide but there is certainly nothing banning it continuing as long as safe distancing can be respected.

I have now carried on cleaning for two of my clients-They are the only ones comfortable with me doing so.
I was wearing gloves but do feel this does lead to a false sense of security and would then pick up my phone etc...
Now I am just washing my hands lots, before I start and after I finish and again once I reach home.
Of course my hands are constantly in water/soap during the course of the job
I also stay in seperate parts of the house as much as possible and stay 2m apart!

Yes I would have her back like a shot, I miss her! We've both been furloughed but are still paying her the full amount for as long as we can afford to.

I don’t know anyone who has reacted to their cleaner not coming by saying ‘hey, this cleaning lark is actually quite ok!’

Most folk who have cleaners used to clean their own places and got a cleaner when they could afford it so they already know they don’t like cleaning.

I’m paying mine in full. We’ve lost a bit of income but can still afford it more than she can. She’s lovely and hardworking and I miss her.

Yes will have her back and yes have been paying her. I think most people who have cleaners will not have spent lockdown thinking.... now I have all this wonderful time it turns out that cleaning is totally fine. I think most, like me, will be thinking.... crikey she's worth every penny and more.

My cleaner has gone back to her home country for the duration of lockdown and doesn't know if she'll be coming back. We're not paying her as she told us she was leaving. We won't be replacing her as I can handle it, but if she decided to come back, we would welcome her with open arms! She is a godsend.

I'm paying my cleaner half she's very happy with that as I pay her very well , she's definitely coming back ! I usually have her twice a week & seasonally she splits massive spring \summer /autumn /Xmas clean over 2 \3 days where she helps me organise and take down curtains and do a deep clean ,everything is sparkling it's amazing , she did a massive one just before lock down in preparation of Easter /spring , I miss her so much we get on really well have she has a paid lunch with me and my youngest on the one day as we are home in the afternoon, it's lovely to see her she's great and far better at cleaning than anyone , I'm so smug about my amazing cleaner id cry if she left us ! X

Yes and yes - full pay. Neither of our own job situations have changed.

It is great that so many of you are still paying.
Out of my 13 clients, two are paying me( not the full amount)
I feel very grateful to those, and slightly undervalued by the rest.
I know I do a good job and work bloody hard

Ours went on mat leave in Feb and we were yet to find anyone else decent come lockdown. But I’d still be paying my old one had she not gone on mat leave - we’re still able to carry on wfh so would seem fair.

And bloody hell yes I’ll be having a cleaner back, can’t flaming stand doing it myself - just don’t have any time working 4 days with a toddler.

@pinksoda35 I started for a new elderly client yesterday and she offered to help me! I told her she needed to go Into a different room and we will swap about.

Not one of my former clients are paying me a penny, so I've been with 6+ years. One of my clients who I'm still cleaning for is giving me an extra £10 a week. Even if I ever give up cleaning I will always find time to clean for her. She's been so kind.

A few others are sacked!

I can’t wait to have mine back- however I will be making some changes. They bring their own cloths and hoover etc. I will ask that they use mine as so we don’t cross contaminate from another house. I might get them to come longer every 2 weeks instead of every week.