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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want my cleaner to work New Year’s Eve?

335 replies

Merryoldgoat · 13/12/2020 12:04

This is obviously a first world problem - I’m not ‘seething’, ‘in a quandary’ or ‘really concerned’. I’m just not sure so asking for opinions.

My cleaner works for us on Thursdays. This year Christmas Eve and NYE are Thursdays.

I’ve already told her I don’t expect her to work Christmas Eve - I will pay her as normal.

Should I give her NYE off too? If I did I’d pay her.

On the one hand we’ll all be home so cleaning won’t be so easy for her, on the other the hand it will need a good going over by then.

The money isn’t an issue - it’s more will I value the clean or will it be more hassle to get the house in a reasonable state to clean beforehand?

YABU - of course you should give her NYE off

YANBU - NYE is a normal day for most so let her come.

Also concerned about the household mixing - normally no one except for DH is here when she cleans - I don’t want to put anyone at risk unnecessarily.

OP posts:
Donotlikemyname · 13/12/2020 18:48

@RufustheSniggeringReindeer

Christmas Eve and NEw years eve where never normal working days for any of the roles I have held. They probably are for retail workers, people working in nursing, caring and other essential services

Ive worked in banks and insurance companies and retail

All working on Christmas eve and new years day unless annual leave taken (except retail...no holiday for 6 weeks)

Dh has worked in accountancy offices and again has never had Christmas eve off without taking annual leave

Well they weren’t ‘normal’ for me or any of my colleagues. So it’s wrong to assert they are normal working days, when they clearly aren’t normal for all
RufustheSniggeringReindeer · 13/12/2020 19:06

Well they weren’t ‘normal’ for me or any of my colleagues. So it’s wrong to assert they are normal working days, when they clearly aren’t normal for all

They are not bank holidays, therefore normal working days

As in ‘5 working days’ for cheques to clear (in the good old days 😀)

Donotlikemyname · 13/12/2020 19:17

@RufustheSniggeringReindeer

Well they weren’t ‘normal’ for me or any of my colleagues. So it’s wrong to assert they are normal working days, when they clearly aren’t normal for all

They are not bank holidays, therefore normal working days

As in ‘5 working days’ for cheques to clear (in the good old days 😀)

Which many people prefer not to work and I’m guessing are your reasons for using annual leave not to work them. Many business as a minimum close early on these ‘ normal working days’. I think it’s for something called Christmas spirit ? I’m sure there’s a famous book about a very mean spirited man that doesn’t want his staff taking any time off over Christmas. His name evades me, is it Ebenezer ?
RufustheSniggeringReindeer · 13/12/2020 19:20

Im really not sure why you are having a pop 😳

Ive already said that its lovely that the OP is giving the cleaner a paid Christmas eve off

I was only saying that lots of professions expect their staff to work on Christmas eve and new years eve...not just retail and the ‘caring’ professions

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 13/12/2020 19:23

Until I started working in school, Christmas Eve and New Years Eve were always working days. DH has to book the days out of his annual leave if he doesn’t want to work on those days.

If I had a cleaner and they wanted NYE off then I wouldn’t be laying unless they swapped to maybe the day before.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 13/12/2020 19:36

I just let my cleaners come unless they say they want time off. Obviously bank holidays are different but normal working days I’d expect them to work unless they let you know they aren’t.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 13/12/2020 19:38

I also don’t pay for days they don’t come. I do give a bonus at Christmas though.

ginghamstarfish · 13/12/2020 19:39

I don't have a cleaner but if I did I would expect her to work both days as normal, most people do.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 13/12/2020 19:40

I'd give her New Year's Eve off but expect her to do an oil change on my Range Rover or remove the leaves and dead frogs from my swimming pool, and maybe... no it's OK I think I've already allocated rodding out the drains to the paperboy.Grin

Girlyracer · 13/12/2020 19:43

I work in a different field but my office is open Christmas Eve with staff working a half day.

I know my hairdressers is open half day Christmas Eve and NYE too.

What's the difference for your cleaner and why are you paying her not to work? Different if your usual day was Christmas Day or NYD, but in that instance wouldn't she just offer a different day of that week as alternative?

Girlyracer · 13/12/2020 19:44

Sorry, yes to add, what someone else has said, the Eves are normal working days to many who are required to take leave to have off.

copperoliver · 13/12/2020 19:49

I'd pay her for both days and not expect her to work, I think people do a better job if you treat them fairly. Also it won't happen often. X

missmouse101 · 13/12/2020 19:49

New year's eve is a normal working day so I would expect and want her to come.

R3ALLY · 13/12/2020 19:58

Am a bit baffled by the people who are saying just clean yourself ... cleaning is a job like any other! You don’t tell a taxi driver you’ll drive yourself home because it’s Christmas . For many families it’s not some wild luxury , it’s part of what makes the house tick

laidbacklife · 13/12/2020 20:09

Don’t see why you’re bothering to ask us all tbh. Why not just ask your cleaner if she wants to work NYE? If you’re happy to have her there and she wants to work then what’s the issue? If you don’t want her there then just offer to pay and be honest with her. When I don’t want my cleaner around that’s what I do and she seems happy enough.

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 13/12/2020 20:09

@R3ALLY

Am a bit baffled by the people who are saying just clean yourself ... cleaning is a job like any other! You don’t tell a taxi driver you’ll drive yourself home because it’s Christmas . For many families it’s not some wild luxury , it’s part of what makes the house tick
You need to remember that that housework is women's work, and that any woman who forgets that is an uppity bitch who needs taking down a peg or two. Never mind if you're running the UN, or caring for disabled triplets - if you're not doing the dusting, you're failing as a woman.

Note that this is only true if it's your own house, though. If someone pays you to clean her house, she is oppressing you.

PerveenMistry · 13/12/2020 20:19

When I asked cannot the family clean, I meant the week after Christmas so cleaner would not have exposure to additional people given the ongoing pandemic.

No objections to cleaning services and have employed them in the past.

StillCoughingandLaughing · 13/12/2020 20:27

Oh, how generous of you. You have no objection to someone paying for a service and expecting to receive it. Have a fucking pineapple.

Original poster
Merryoldgoat · 13/12/2020 20:29

@laidbacklife

Don’t see why you’re bothering to ask us all tbh. Why not just ask your cleaner if she wants to work NYE? If you’re happy to have her there and she wants to work then what’s the issue? If you don’t want her there then just offer to pay and be honest with her. When I don’t want my cleaner around that’s what I do and she seems happy enough.
Have you read the thread?

She is HAPPY to work.

I’m wondering if I should tell her not to come because a) I’m lazy and don’t want to tidy first and b) covid risk as my whole family will be here.

If she’d said ‘Goat - I’m not working on NYE’ then I’d have said ‘oh lovely! Have a nice break - I’ll pay you up to end December this week.’

Obviously as she’s willing to work hence the thread.

Also, I’ve said a while ago that I was going to tell her not to come owing to distancing issues.

OP posts:
Original poster
Merryoldgoat · 13/12/2020 20:32

Have a fucking pineapple.

I cannot describe how much this sentence made me laugh 😆

OP posts:
Original poster
Merryoldgoat · 13/12/2020 20:33

@MissLucyEyelesbarrow

Grin
OP posts:
StillCoughingandLaughing · 13/12/2020 20:39

Im really not sure why you are having a pop 😳

Because unfortunately that’s how a lot of people on here ‘enjoy’ themselves. I don’t think there was anything wrong with your comments!

StillCoughingandLaughing · 13/12/2020 20:49

I cannot describe how much this sentence made me laugh 😆

Happy to have helped 🤩

mummyofthreemunchkins · 13/12/2020 21:06

I'm a self employed cleaner, my normal working day is a Friday. I've told my clients I'll be working the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Christmas week and then taking time off until the kids go back in the new year, I also work as a cleaner in a school so it's been quite full on this year, and being self employed it does luckily give me the flexibility to enjoy a bit of quality time with the kids before the madness begins again.
They are perfectly happy with my decision, however I wouldn't expect to be paid while I'm not there!

Arthersleep · 13/12/2020 21:09

I'd give her Xmas Eve off paid and then ask her if she wanted to work New Year's Eve or take it off ( unpaid). If she worked during the day on new year's eve, then I would pay her as per usual. If she started after 4-5pm I would pay her time and a half.