To think people shouldn't be guilted into still paying their cleaner, tutor, gardener etc?

[selfemployedconfused]

I've seen a lot of threads on here lately debating whether or not you should still pay for your cleaner, gardener, tutor etc. If you haven't been furloughed / financially affected and can genuinely afford it then fair enough, but AIBU to think that you shouldn't feel guilted into having to pay when you aren't receiving a service?

I am a self employed tutor and approximately 50% of my clients have stopped lessons as they aren't happy to continue online and they have stopped paying me. They have all said they are happy to continue tutoring once school resumes. I didn't once question or think about their finances, my attitude was that they aren't receiving the service for the time being so why should they continue to pay me every week?

I also employ a cleaner and I haven't been paying her as she obviously hasn't been able to clean... we were both fine with this and it didn't occur to me that I might be being unreasonable. I don't feel hard done by for my own clients not paying for a service they aren't receiving, and I didn't feel bad for not paying my cleaner until I read some threads on here. Everyone is in a difficult position at the moment and I think some of the judgement and making people feel guilty on here is strange!

YABU = Yes people should feel guilty about no longer paying.
YANBU = No people shouldn't feel guilty about no longer paying.

[multivac]

Is private tutoring your sole family source of income, zingally, out of interest?

[Bflatmajorsharp]

Puzzled in terms of cleaners protecting clients' money. I think using the money to keep a roof over your head and keep in good health is all they can do.

Larger concerns like holidays lets... they're unlikely to be able to claim on their insurance (force majeure and all that) so will be waiting to see how things pan out.

In the meantime, they're usually offering reshedules rather than refunds in order to try to protect their business. This in turn will hopefully protect the clients money.

If they go under now, the money is lost for good anyway.

Nurseries.. if you're not happy with what your nursery is charging you then hand in your notice and you can look for somewhere else in due course. If you've experienced a drop in income, speak to them. They may be able to reduce fees. They won't want to lose customers at the moment as they won't be able to fill up places that aren't actually available.

But they are unlikely to have the reserves to offer reduced or no costs to all customers, unless people are happy for them to go under in a month or so.

[Stuckforthefourthtime]

If anyone IS paying less than the living wage I'll agree, but I can't think of many cleaners who charge less than £9.30 an hour - round here, double that is more common

In which case that's great. I know there are plenty of cleaners in our area of London getting £10 an hour, more on £11-12 - which is only just above the living wage at £10.75, and below once you factor in that compared with someone in a more regular job their short jobs mean they have higher travel costs and can do fewer hours per day.

[Tc83]

I’m not. They are coming back on the 1st June but not been paying them

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

in terms of cleaners protecting clients' money. I think using the money to keep a roof over your head and keep in good health is all they can do

And that's fine, just so long as they're straightforward about it and don't pretend it's some sort of "retainer" for future service which may never be possible

[Bflatmajorsharp]

It's not 'pretending' - don't be so silly.

Of course cleaners will go back to work when they are able to and, I assume, prioritise clients who have continued to pay.

If their service isn't possible in the future, that won't be the cleaners fault. And they certainly won't be able to provide a service if they're homeless, will they?

[multivac]

don't pretend it's some sort of "retainer" for future service

It isn't. HTH.

[OublietteBravo]

I’ve been paying my cleaner as usual throughout lockdown. She’s gone over and above for me several times over the years. (In fact I’m her only original client still on her books). Most notably when a power cut during our holiday meant that all the food in the freezer defrosted and she sorted it all out - even though the smell must have been unbearable (rotting fish 🤮). We’ve agreed this week that she’ll start back at the beginning of June (her suggestion).

I’m still paying DD’s French tutor and she’s still having weekly lessons even though her GCSEs were cancelled (and she’s not taking French for A-level).

We’re also still paying for several other activities we usually do. Because we can afford it and we want the businesses to survive. One of them has offered to give us vouchers for the total of all the payments we’ve made to spend in their cafe/shop when they reopen.

[londonscalling]

We have not continued to pay our cleaner. My husband is self employed so his salary has dropped. He has been fortunate to claim 80% under the government scheme. Our cleaner has her own company and will also be claiming the 80%. I'm therefore uncertain why we should still be paying her. My husband isn't getting paid by his clients whilst his work has dried up. Are people still paying their hairdressers etc?