To be annoyed the cleaner travelled abroad while we paid her not to clean?

[MaroonMacaron]

NC for this.

First of all, I know that I can’t ban anyone from travelling but I am annoyed and wondering if I have the right to be.

Our cleaner stopped coming at the beginning of lockdown. We continued to pay her weekly, I know some clients paid a proportion, some nothing at all. She was very grateful, said it was a huge help as she was skint.

As soon as lockdown lifted, she got on the plane to visit family in her home country (on the list with no need to quarantine).

All this time we’ve been super careful, not seen any grandparents, very little travel locally, let alone abroad (dh’s family is from Sweden and we’d love to visit but we are giving it more time). As I said, I know I can’t ban someone from travelling but then she’s clearly not that skint if she can afford plane tickets. I also think she has increased the risk to herself, and everyone she works for, by travelling at this time. I guess it doesn’t sit right with me that the money i was thinking was helping her through lockdown was actually funding her travelling.

YABU - she can spend her money any way she likes
YANBU - I would be annoyed as well

She’s a person you employ to do a service, not a charity case. You paid her because you felt it was fair and right and that still holds. You should feel good about your decision.

Of course YABU - it is none of your business what she spends her money on.

We cannot allow downstairs to enjoy themselves, it's the thin end of the wedge, they'll be wanting the vote next.

Does that mean my employer can dictate what I do with my wages? Or that an ex can tell someone what maintenance is spent on?

No. Thought not.

Been lots of posts removed overnight and tbh I think this is the same poster again??

Wow - do you have any idea how you sound? You do not own her!!!

I somehow don't think OP will be back....

I really hope this isn’t real. That there isn’t someone out there like the op.

It's not like she had hidden this from anyone.
And considering she's not employed solely by you, there will be risks anyway. You don't know the lifestyles of her other clients, she cannot isolate after every clean.

She may have also had a tax rebate that paid for the tickets, and depending where she's going the flight might not have been that much. Paid for by family, a birthday/Christmas gift. But what she spends her money on has nothing to do with you.

Same with anyone you give money to, once in their hands unless given for a specific purpose, up to them how they spend it.

We cannot allow downstairs to enjoy themselves, it's the thin end of the wedge, they'll be wanting the vote next.

As well as paid holidays and days off. The very thought of it!

I'm very sorry, I seem to have taken a wrong turn somewhere and ended up 300 years ago.

Can someone point me back to the modern age?

Bloody hell, do you own this poor woman I hope she's told you to shove your cleaning job where the sun doesn't shine!
Yep who the hell do you think you are, you need taking down a peg or two or more

Fuckin hell.

Her ticket could have been leas than £100 both way. Are you pissed that now you need her she’s away?

Omg

You sound like a nightmare, and a horrible person to work for!

While she's not working for clients she has no contact with them and hasn't put them, or you, at any risk at all.

Maybe her family paid for her trip . Or there was a family emergency.

It's really not your business.

I can see why you NCd

You would not be unreasonable to say "we feel like there is a bigger risk due to her traveling so I worry about exposure"

YABVVVVVU to bitch about her money. Plane tickets can be had for as little as £15 quid🤷🏻

I paid my cleaner because she's amazing

I don't care whether she buys food. Or male escorts. She's good at her job

That's like saying you can only buy food on the money your employer gives YOU!

Ridiculous!

Lol. Nice one OP. Bit bored?

I'm not surprised you have gone NC for this. Do you also ask her to avert her eyes whilst in your presence?

So entitled! YABU

Nice hand grenade post OP. She's a cleaner not your serf. You have absolutely no rights to tell her what to do or what she can spend her money on. She's not breaking any rules or laws.

@MaroonMacaron not even gonna read this - YABU

Her family might have paid.

Plane tickets can be as low as a tenner.

Also you don't own her.

I'm paying my cleaner even though she's not working.

Saw her in Tesco with her toddler the other day buying chocolate. Maybe I should deduct the cost of the chocolate from what I'm paying her.