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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:
HitthatroadJack · 13/12/2020 13:03

[quote Antst]@LondonStone, oh come on. It is not a normal working day. You might choose to work, but you know very well that it's part of the holiday season. You sound awful.[/quote]
why do you say that? It IS a normal working day.

Christmas Eve is different. New Year's Eve is a normal working day, so is the day after Boxing Day.

It might be quieter, people taking time off, but so is August.

No need to be snappy against British People here. Sometimes you have a point, but some countries only have Christmas Day, we have Boxing Day too - reported if they happen to fall on a weekend!

We also treat New Year's Eve as a normal working day 🤷

megletthesecond · 13/12/2020 13:04

Yabu.
Tidy up your own house over Xmas during a pandemic. And pay your cleaner.

Bluebaubles · 13/12/2020 13:04

Alright smallsteps. To get them ready for Xmas and NYE!
And my cleaner coming before Xmas would go a long way to getting me ready for Xmas.

PearlescentIridescent · 13/12/2020 13:05

This is not something I've ever had to think of but I do think if it were me, and if she finished by about 5pm at the latest, I guess I would like her to come but would also give her a tip?

Rosebel · 13/12/2020 13:05

It's a bit hard to clean if you're all there unless you can go out which may not be possible.
I'd give her the day off.

Lemonsyellow · 13/12/2020 13:06

@TaraRhu

Pay her double if you make her work, that's only fair.
No, it’s not. I don’t know anyone who gets paid double for working normal work day. Who gets that? By all means, if you want to give her a present or bonus, do so.
Original poster
Merryoldgoat · 13/12/2020 13:06

@megletthesecond

Yabu. Tidy up your own house over Xmas during a pandemic. And pay your cleaner.
You win the prize.

For being a total bellend. Hmm

OP posts:
Ifyoulikepinacoladaa · 13/12/2020 13:06

Assuming she’s self employed, isn’t it for her to decide and say to you she’s coming the Thursday or ‘would you mind if I came on Wednesday that week, merry?’.
I wouldn’t give her the days off.

StillCoughingandLaughing · 13/12/2020 13:06

Right. Be kind. Why can't the family do the cleaning?

Why order a takeaway? Can’t you cook? Why hire a decorator? Can’t you slap a bit of paint on a wall? Why get the shopping delivered when you could just go to the supermarket?

There’s nothing wrong or ‘unkind’ about paying for a service.

StillCoughingandLaughing · 13/12/2020 13:07

Tidy up your own house over Xmas during a pandemic. And pay your cleaner.

Pay her for what?

BungleandGeorge · 13/12/2020 13:08

Perhaps it depends on your expectations, but I’ve always been expected to work as normal apart from the bank holidays. I’d expect her in unless she’s notified you that she wants to take the day off. I expect most people are fine working this year given that socialising is off. If she’s done a good job this year I’d give her a bonus. Personally I’d much prefer that to time off that I don’t need!

MaHeidsGouping · 13/12/2020 13:08

I'm a self employed cleaner, taking Xmas eve off but I have moved everyone forward 2 days so no one is missed. Last year I offered during Xmas and New year but I wasn't needed. I'm taking Xmas eve off as I have a young family too and I'd rather lose money by not going to work over not being at home.

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 13/12/2020 13:08

My cleaner always wants to come between Christmas and New Year. She says it gives her a break from her family.

LadyCatStark · 13/12/2020 13:08

I think you’re being very reasonable to just ask her to do what you need one New Year’s Eve and still pay her for 3 hours. You should try to go out though, when we had a cleaner pre Covid, it was a nightmare when I was WFH when she came as she’d have to keep moving me out of the room that she needed to clean! It’s not too bad if you can all shut yourselves in the living room though. If she wanted New Year’s Eve off then she could have just told you she wasn’t working.

Clarice99 · 13/12/2020 13:09

Christmas Eve and NYE are regular working days (I will be working both), not bank holidays.

You sound very fair OP. It did occur to me though that your house may need cleaning around that time more than usual as you'll all be home, creating more 'mess', so there will be a need for the cleaner to come on her designated days.

whichwallywhere · 13/12/2020 13:09

Give her the day off and do the cleaning yourself, would you want to be trying to clean a house with the family around- it'd be like you were watching her work.

StillCoughingandLaughing · 13/12/2020 13:10

Also cleaners don’t help people get ready for Xmas. They clean.

Which would help the client get ready for Christmas, as it’s one less thing to do.

TableFlowerss · 13/12/2020 13:10

@Mischance

Yes give her the day off. And roll up your sleeves and all the family's too and get stuck in. Once a year - you can do it!
Exactly
StillCoughingandLaughing · 13/12/2020 13:11

Give her the day off and do the cleaning yourself, would you want to be trying to clean a house with the family around- it'd be like you were watching her work.

It’s her job! How many of us get to choose who we ‘want’ to be on the premises while we’re working?

user1487194234 · 13/12/2020 13:12

Mine comes on a Friday
She won't work Christmas Day of New Year's Day (of course) but volunteered to come in on the 30th
Will pay her for all 3 days and give her £50 tip ,wine and chocolates

WishIWasSomewhereElse · 13/12/2020 13:13

*Right. Be kind.

Why can't the family do the cleaning?*

Scan your own shopping if you go shopping on these days, be kind to the till operators. Walk instead of catching a bus, let the bus drivers have a day off. Even more selfish are those who still expect dog-walkers to give up their Christmas to take pooches out for walks/be fed on Christmas Day (not this year but in previous years).

She is paid to clean, there is no reason to either pay her more (till operators/bus drivers/dog-walkers do not get paid extra for Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve), or let her have the day off. But it is entirely your decision. If you want her to have the day off, and feel more comfortable, then do it.

Charleyhorses · 13/12/2020 13:13

I would have her come.
Either you go out for the hour or 2 or be a bit more specific. E.g. concentrate on kitchen/bathrooms.

HollowTalk · 13/12/2020 13:14

What's been happening throughout the year? Were you paying here often when she wasn't working?

amicissimma · 13/12/2020 13:14

If you're paying her either way and she would expect to come I think you should either let her come and go out for 3 hours or cancel her.

I think it's tough for her to have to spend several hours in someone's house when they are in with her. Unless your house is so big that you can keep well away from her all the time with the windows open.

StillCoughingandLaughing · 13/12/2020 13:14

I see a lot of people on this thread (and any thread about cleaners) being very keen to point out that cleaners are self-employed and that it’s entirely their choice if they work or not. Yet the same people want the OP to pay the cleaner for doing nothing; bung the poor dear a few pennies at Christmas. So which is it - is the OP the big boss who should give the poor worker a paid day off because it’s kind, or is the cleaner an independent freelancer who can simply announce she doesn’t do NYE?