WWYD Cleaner still not back

[PleasePassTheCoffeeThanks]

I need some advice please! I hired a new cleaner shortly before lockdown, highly recommended by a friend, she came one time, did a great job. Fair hourly rate. All good, scheduled to do 4h/week.

Then the week after that she sent a group text to all her clients saying she was self isolating for two weeks. Fair enough, I sent her a message to say we would continue to pay her.
This was almost 3 months ago... I asked her two weeks ago if she believed she would be back soon and she said yes in a week, then the next week came and she said actually she is not comfortable taking the train so doesn’t want to come back yet. She has other clients in my neighborhood and I know she doesn’t clean for them either.

WWYD? I don’t really want to continue paying her to stay at home when the guideline is to go to work if you can’t WFH. I don’t want to go without a cleaner for longer, I hate cleaning the house and work hard do be able to afford to have someone do it for me. But then I don’t want to loose her as she seemed really good.

I paid my cleaner all the way through. But she has been with us for 4 years, does an amazing job and was champing at the bit to come back. She's been back a month now and I'm really happy I paid her during the time she didn't come

*l Hi! I have an amazing idea for you that will really help you!

Clean your own bloody house.

Hth.*

Yeah there's always one🙄 Like it's a moral high ground or something.
Do what you want with your own money OP. I expect the cleaner was pleased for the job.

You've done the decent thing and more OP. Ask for a return date and if they can't fulfill that Draw a line under it and look for someone else.

I saw loads of threads on here at the beginning of lockdown where people were berated for not continuing payment for services they stopped receiving. Child care, lessons, clubs, cleaners, etc
You've been generous but now it's time to stop.

Stop paying get ffs!

Wow. I used to domestic cleaning with lots of clients in a past and nobody ever paid me when they cancelled or went on holidays.
I would never even suggested it or ask for it. Perhaps I was a mug in those days.
I remember one August I literally earned nothing as they all went on holidays into their summer homes..

I would have stopped paying her a few weeks ago when it was okay to go back to work. You can't keep paying her forever! This virus will be around for a long time! Just stop paying her and when she realises, she will soon ask when she can return.

OP if you're feeling bad about no longer paying her, I'm skint, I could PM you my bank details? I'm self employed and nobody's been paying me during lockdown!!

In fact if there's anyone on here with plenty of money who wants to scatter largesse to the populous, I really wouldn't say no!!

Wow stop paying her. Who would come back if they are getting paid to sit at home..

Blimey I can't believe you've carried on paying a cleaner all this time! You do realise she was almost certainly able to claim the self-employed grant from the government? And if not, a bounce back loan?

Tell her she comes next week or you stop paying her. And either find another cleaner, or do your own cleaning.

I've cleaned for the same family for 8 years and they have not paid me a penny whilst I couldn't work, maybe I'm the mug! They could easily afford it. 50% would have been nice

Slightly different situation if they were shielding and you were available to work, but if you've been cleaning for 8 years presumably you have accounts and could have claimed the self-employed grant.

I think people that have been paying their self employed staff throughout have been a bit silly. Fair enough to pay for a month or so. Cleaners have been told they can go back for nearly a month. It's different if you have told them you don't want them in your home and then you probably have to pay something to keep your place. I've had builders in this past week. All telling me how ridiculous it is that they are able to claim (and qualify for) the self employed grant whilst continuing to work. In my area they are really busy. My neighbours double storey (huge) extension hasn't stopped for even a day.

Likewise, my local corner type shop responded well to the crisis (home delivery etc) and has never been so busy. My husband is friends with the owner. He is using the money given in various grants as a deposit for a buy to let.

I have a cleaner we had had four times before lockdown. I paid another 8 weeks plus as full pay and she’s back to work now. I have always paid cleaners holiday and sick pay (provided they don’t take the piss). DH and I are very busy and I was so glad she came back.

OP I think now is crunch time. Agree with what you did, but now you have to get serious...

Wow stop paying her. Who would come back if they are getting paid to sit at home..

She might not be sitting at home. As someone suggested upthread, she could be out cleaning the houses of people who refuse to cross her palm with silver without receiving the service.

PLUS collecting the retainer.

PLUS furlough.

I saw loads of threads on here at the beginning of lockdown where people were berated for not continuing payment for services they stopped receiving. Child care, lessons, clubs, cleaners, etc

Not by me. My view was if you don't provide the service, you don't get paid. And unless you started your business last year you could claim the self-employed grant (and carry on working).

I am absolutely astounded you have kept someone on a full retainer after one 4 hour session.

Astounded.

As no doubt she is.

I don’t think she is taking advantage as I know she isn’t back for her other clients either, some are not paying her.

I have been paying cleaner weekly for years so in a sense it seemed fair to continue paying during lockdown. And yes, she only came one time, but I intend(ed) to employ her long time.
Good cleaner are really hard to find here, so I’ll tell her I have to stop paying after this week as I will use an agency but as soon as she is ready I’ll have her back.

Thanks for the advice everyone, I needed the wakeup call!!!

If you are incapable of doing it yourself, there's loads of tips on threads on here.
might be a good opportunity to learn as lots of redundancies on the way.

You can stop paying her if you like - up to you. But I'm not sure cleaning people's homes is an authorised activity so expecting her to come is encouraging her to break the rules. A bit selfish? She will be putting herself and all her clients at risk by taking public transport and entering many different peoples' homes. She may live with people with health issues or have some herself. It sounds quite high and mighty to demand her presence.

I've not contacted my cleaner - I presumed she will come back when she is ready and able.

@BananaChocolateLump you have really pissed me off with your comment. I'm a cleaner and if everyone cleaned their own house I would be out of a job. A job that works really well around my family and studies.
FWIW I also have a cleaner. Being a cleaner I know exactly how to clean my own house but from working and studying full time hours I really don't fucking feel like it. I imagine anyone else hiring a cleaner feels the same way.

I don't have a cleaner but if she is not working I would not pay her. Some cleaners are now working so find another one. I understand why she doesn't want to risk it if she is vulnerable but I don't think setting unlimited pay is a good idea. She has no incentive to return and it is beside the point that you are still getting paid. Are you working?

Ridiculous that you agreed to pay someone weekly for doing zilch when they had been to you ONCE. A long-standing cleaner is different. Someone you met once? Absurd.

It’s a predictable situation though. Why would anyone go back to work if their employer/s kept paying them for staying at home and doing nothing? Same problem will happen with the millions of furloughed staff. Some will be glad to get back to work, others will come up with every excuse under the sun to keep swinging the lead.

If you are incapable of doing it yourself, there's loads of tips on threads on here
I’m capable of doing it, I just don’t like it, and after cleaning my house for the past couple of months I really think having a cleaner is money well spent! I don’t understand why this seem to annoy you?

I will never, ever employ a cleaner after seeing this level of expectation and social pressure.
My house could do with one. My salary could support one. It won’t be happening. Paying the self-employed NOT to do their jobs is nuts, positively feudal. Sorry, OP. You sound nice, but this is bonkers.

You'll never, ever employ a cleaner even though you could do with one, because some people chose to pay them for a few months and some didn't?

Makes...sense?

@Bouledeneige This is what I das thinking initially, but the guidance is to go to work if you can’t work from home. This covers also nannies for example.
As long as you take measures to self distance, ie leave the house when the cleaner comes of at least stay in another room then there is no reason she shouldn’t be working.

Cleaners are self employed you don't need to pay her like an employee

I hope you find someone else