How to treat a cleaner fairly

[zazzyzaz]

We are looking to hire someone to clean our house on a weekly basis. I want to do it in (how I feel) is a more ethical way than just paying someone in cash for the hours they work. I'd like to have a contract with them which builds in holiday and sick pay and also pays a decent wage.

My husband thinks I'm being over-the-top. He says cleaners are self-employed so we shouldn't be taking responsibility for any extras. He says if we essentially become employers we're opening ourselves up to legal problems and more responsibility than we want to take on. I think it's only right to treat someone who is working in our home in the same way as we are treated (in our professional industries). More selfishly I also feel that we're more likely to have a higher standard of work my way!

I'm really interested to hear peoples' thoughts on whether me or my husband have the right idea and also any tips for treating cleaners fairly.

@hibbetyhob you are what I aspire to be! So did you discuss the holiday/ sick pay situation from the off or did these discussions happen organically over time?

I kind of have a problem with the whole tipping / bonus thing. I'd rather pay them a decent wage to begin with, rather than them relying on my "generosity" to make up their wages for time off or sickness etc.

Comments from self-employed cleaners have been really helpful and you have made me see that actually the cleaners will have a lot more experience than me and maybe I should just be guided by them and what they want.

I pay our cleaner every week even if she is sick (very rarely) on holiday,or we are on holiday and right through lockdown
I believe in doing what I believe to be the right thing
Other people can do as they please

I kind of have a problem with the whole tipping / bonus thing. I'd rather pay them a decent wage to begin with, rather than them relying on my "generosity" to make up their wages for time off or sickness etc.

You can pay a decent rate and still give a bonus. Again lots of professions get bonuses, it's not unusual.

A self employed cleaner would usually present you with a contract for their services and you agree to their conditions rather than the other way around. In my experience they decide their rate, not you.

I think you're agonising about nothing tbh. I personally wouldn't go to an agency as I've heard horror stories about badly treated workers by the agencies.
I much prefer a self employed individual who has decided their own rate and on their own working conditions rather than perhaps being paid a pittance of what you pay the agency or being forced to work in homes they're not comfortable in.

Our cleaner comes when we’re away, so does things that may need more time to do, washes/ dries and changes all the bedding so it’s fresh. Often clears the fridge and does bins, windows, moved furniture to do extra dusting etc. The only tome she wouldn’t come is if she was ill.

We treat ours fairly and pay in cash with a Christmas bonus.

The next way to treat them fairly is to see what they can do in the time allocated, see how it goes over 3/4 weeks and then start asking for certain areas to be done or ask if they need more time. Them being left to manage their time and clean well without criticism and too much direction is important to having a long term positive relationship.

Just pay the cleaner a fair rate. We pay a set amount for the job (£80). I don't clock watch. Some weeks it takes longer, some shorter. My cleaner is excellent. We provide all products, and the house is relatively tidy ready for them to actually clean.

Just pay the cleaner a fair rate. We pay a set amount for the job (£80). I don't clock watch. Some weeks it takes longer, some shorter. My cleaner is excellent. We provide all products, and the house is relatively tidy ready for them to actually clean.

My mum had a very cluttered house which was a mindfield to clean. However she overpaid her cleaners by about 20-25%. So it was never a problem. Ime all cleaners have a couple of clients they want to drop, these clients tend to pay poorly and pay late.

How about rather than overthink it you treat them as any other professional that comes to your house - your kid's tutor or piano teacher for instance. They tell you their terms. You stick to them.

Why do you think there's something intrinsically different about a cleaner?