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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:
Original poster
Merryoldgoat · 14/12/2020 18:29

@busymomtoone

New Years Day is a bank holiday. Presumably you will be offering double pay if you expect her to turn up. Why can’t you simply change the day?!
New Year’s EVE
OP posts:
Original poster
Merryoldgoat · 14/12/2020 18:30

@tigerlilly22

If it's bothering you could you give her the choice of working either the day before maybe or even come in earlier ?? However NYE is not a bank holiday. Business as usual everwhere else tbf!!
She doesn’t have capacity except for Thursdays and Fridays.
OP posts:
retired60 · 14/12/2020 18:44

All service workers work on NYE and Christmas Eve.
Go out and let her clean. She’s a cleaner and it’s the job.

Cleaners in my area Berkshire are pricy, princessy, precious and keen to say what they will not clean. My mother has a weekly cleaner who every so often says she will do a deep clean and charges more. She’s an old lady who is clean in her habits.
IMHO let her clean, it’s not a bank holiday.
If she had the day off then don’t pay.
So sad some here miss the point saying that the family could clean - that’s not the point. We have cleaners because we want/need them.

Biscuitybiscuit · 14/12/2020 18:56

I am a self employed cleaner in a country house and I was expecting to work Christmas eve as its a normal day but my family asked if I could come earlier in the week as well as my usual Monday. Most cleaners like myself have several families to look after during the week and may not be able to change their hours, its only because of losing work because of Covid that I can.
I do my very best for my families as I know they appreciate what I do and would be a nice gesture to give her the choice of having those days off and give her a cash present or bonus which she can spend how she wants.

MollyMinniesMum · 14/12/2020 19:07

It’s a normal working day, as is Christmas even I think you’re being over generous tbh, surely if she doest want to work those days it’s up to her to book them off?

ShirleyPhallus · 14/12/2020 19:09

@Merryoldgoat I get the feeling you want to respond to 90% of these posts with “READ MY FUCKING POST AND THE FUCKING THREAD” Grin

WhatACovidNightmare · 14/12/2020 19:10

Maybe I’m unreasonable but I would expect my cleaner to come on both days unless I was away (in which case I would pay her). What do you imagine she would be doing on NYE this year anyway?! If she hasn’t asked for it off and you don’t mind her being there then get her in. If it’s a pain to have her there then give her it off but pay her

riceuten · 14/12/2020 19:14

Does she want to come ? Yes ? Then pay her and let her clean

Does she not want to come ? Yes ? Then don't pay her

Simple as that, really

GlobBer9 · 14/12/2020 19:17

Give her the day off too it would be a great gesture (she may pay you back doing you a favour in the future). You can refer to covid too in order for her to not expect it in years coming. She will put your family at risk too if she is in your house for a longish time no matter whether she wears a mask or not and your family will put her at risk-better have the cleaner in when noone is around (for both parties currently).

Original poster
Merryoldgoat · 14/12/2020 19:21

@ShirleyPhallus

I’ve been told that I’m quite easy to read...

OP posts:
Commonwasher · 14/12/2020 19:24

What @StillCoughingandLaughing said

Nobody lectures people who buy their turkey ready prepped. We pay for the privilege of not doing those things we do not relish.

Original poster
Merryoldgoat · 14/12/2020 19:25

@retired60

All service workers work on NYE and Christmas Eve. Go out and let her clean. She’s a cleaner and it’s the job. Cleaners in my area Berkshire are pricy, princessy, precious and keen to say what they will not clean. My mother has a weekly cleaner who every so often says she will do a deep clean and charges more. She’s an old lady who is clean in her habits. IMHO let her clean, it’s not a bank holiday. If she had the day off then don’t pay. So sad some here miss the point saying that the family could clean - that’s not the point. We have cleaners because we want/need them.
I can’t guarantee being able to go out for 3 hours.

My cleaner is about as far from ‘princessy’ as possible and will clean whatever I ask.

OP posts:
Invisimamma · 14/12/2020 19:32

I don't have a cleaner but I do like my house to spotless for Christmas and New Year. I do a really big clean on Xmas eve, so if I had a cleaner I'd want them to come and clean on Xmas eve and new years eve if that was the days they were meant to come.

Avondklok · 14/12/2020 19:35

This thread has reminded me that my cleaner comes on a Friday. I asked her what she wanted to do, take holiday, or come another time. She will come Xmas Eve instead and the following Wednesday. I normally give her a card with a week's wages plus in cash at Xmas as she works via an agency. During first lockdown we weren't charged when she couldn't come, but we gave her extra in cash every week for the first month when she came back. To me this is someone you trust in your house and with your possessions and if you find a reliable person who does a good job, they should be treasured and not treated like an expendable skivvy.

Elle8344 · 14/12/2020 19:43

I say give her both days off, pay her & say it's her Christmas box. From what I understand most cleaners get a Christmas bonus & depending on the amount you can always get her a gift as well. Unless she wants to work of course then that's different 😊

roxanne119 · 14/12/2020 20:08

What ? Self employed the come and clean they get payed the don’t clean they don’t New Year’s Eve is ok to clean unless it’s midnight when she cleans duh !

roxanne119 · 14/12/2020 20:08

They

pinkdragons · 14/12/2020 20:14

I usually have to work both xmas eve and NYE. I think it's nice if you could give her one of those off. But no need for both (unless she specifically asks).

Ddot · 14/12/2020 20:44

Why can't she come the day before

Starseeking · 14/12/2020 20:48

@roarfeckingroarr

My cleaner comes on a Friday - Christmas Day and NYD this year - and I've just text her about this. Interested in responses for right thing to do. I've suggested she just comes once during this time and asked if there's any time between Christmas and NYE she could squeeze us in.

Same here.

Mine is doing this Friday, 18 December as normal, then coming Tuesday 29 instead of Christmas Day(!), then Friday 8 January as back into normal routine. She'll effectively miss one week of cleaning, but as I'm planning to pay her that anyway as a Christmas bonus, she won't lose out on any money.

Ddot · 14/12/2020 20:48

Just read not available

theantsgomarchin · 14/12/2020 20:57

Is no one in your house able to clean?

These responses are ludicrous. It's quite literally her job, it's not insulting to expect her to do the job shes paid to do.

Original poster
Merryoldgoat · 14/12/2020 21:42

Is no one in your house able to clean?

Goodness no - we’d never consider cleaning ourselves. How novel. Cleaning is for the minions Hmm

OP posts:
gertiesgoldfishgone · 14/12/2020 21:50

Presumably you will be 'on holiday' (paid)
Your cleaner deserves a paid break too, especially if they have children/family
Surely, for once, you can appreciate what they do for you throughout the year and manage on your own?
Especially in current climes, numbers, distancing and so on.
It seems to be a real first world problem that certain people treat others as 'servants' and can't possibly cope without them.
Obviously cleaners need employers, but please treat them as equals, show them care and consideration.
TELL them that you WANT them to have the time off and hope they enjoy a lovely Christmas.
Be human.

Original poster
Merryoldgoat · 14/12/2020 21:50

Just in case anyone wants to know and didn’t see my updates I’ve told her not to come as I’d rather mitigate the risk.

I’ll be paying her for both Christmas Eve and NYE as I’d always intended to, plus her usual Christmas extras.

I may even get us croissants for this Thursday
Morning.

Thanks for the helpful posts which crystallised the risks and made my mind up.

For those who think I’m an arsehole, lazy, or any other unpleasant adjective, in the words of a previous poster, have a fucking pineapple (and a lovely Christmas).

Xmas Wink
OP posts: