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

[Merryoldgoat]

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.

How do things work with cleaners do they get time off where they say “sorry can’t come that day” or are they paid holiday by their employer? I’ve heard different things but I guess it depends what sort of contract or arrangement you have with her.

I’d ask her to work if she hasn’t voiced any concerns about working NYE. Most people have to work those days if they don’t book them off.

Our cleaner comes in once a fortnight so we won’t see him till 5th January.

I would have thought that for safety's sake you would not want anyone in your home on NYE even if the Tiers allow it- she'll have been mixing and it's adding to your risk.

It depends what her terms and conditions are. These days aren’t public holidays and if I want them off work I need to take them as holiday or unpaid leave. Our cleaner gets a so many paid weeks off per year and gets to choose when she takes them.

So is the cleaner. She might like to book those two days off too.

No one is saying she couldn’t or shouldn’t. But she hasn’t.

It’s kind you are giving her Xmas eve off, I don’t think NYE off is necessary . You sound like a nice employer.

IME, it’s just a flexible working arrangement. If she couldn’t come she’d just rearrange a different time.
I had a wonderful cleaner, I miss her so much since we moved away

@HollowTalk

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

We stopped her coming a week before school closed. She came back in September.

We paid her as normal throughout.

I normally pay her holiday and would pay her if unwell. This is my choice. She doesn’t expect it.

Since September my husband has been here but in one room. Since November I have also been here working from home but we can maintain distance.

I think key is no children are here which is the wildcard.

@PortraitOfAWoman

I would have thought that for safety's sake you would not want anyone in your home on NYE even if the Tiers allow it- she'll have been mixing and it's adding to your risk.

I think you’re right.

@WishIWasSomewhereElse

*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.

Self employed dog carer here... This year will probably be different, but usually we will get at least three calls in the week before Christmas (and Easter and other public holidays) asking us to look after some pets. They always seem to be terribly surprised that we were fully booked months ago!

I'll be working on NYE.

It's not a public holiday.

And this year, no-one will be going out either.

Why would anyone expect any different.

I would probably expect her to take Christmas Eve off, not with pay, but with a decent present. I would expect her to work on NYE as it is not a holiday; however the holiday season seems to get longer and longer every year with some people having nearly a month off now (you would have thought they would have had enough time off this year!). I would not pay her for NYE if she doesn't work.

Well if she's coming the week after NYE she could still have the virus @PortraitOfAWoman so really makes no difference imo.
Op Just go out for a walk and let the cleaner do her job.

It's up to you. It's technically a normal working day so she should expect to come as normal, but if you're all at home then it won't be easy for her to work.

I would give her the day off and pay her.

It's a normal working day, as is Christmas eve. I don't see the issue- if you want her to come then ask her to come. If she doesn't want to work she can ask for the day off and not expect to be paid. Completely different if it was a bank holiday. And you should definitely give her a bonus or gift whatever days she works.

And as for the people who think OP should do her own cleaning, I'm not sure you understand the concept of employment - the idea is you pay people to do the work for you for any number of different reasons.

NYE is a normal working day.

Reading these comments is like stepping into a parallel universe.

So people spend hundreds, thousands even, on tat, excess food, overpriced gifts, gifts for TEACHERS, all in the name of The Christmas Spirit, but heaven forbid a cleaner get a special paid day off.

How miserable you are

As cleaners are self employed, I'd assume they'd say if they weren't going to work around holiday periods. I'd pay them for Christmas eve, but would think they'd be happy to do NYE.

@StillCoughingandLaughing

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.

Those services are not analogous to house cleaning. Your attempt at sarcasm is rather a flop.

@Antst

Good Lord, some of the comments here! This won't be a popular comment, but British people have a reputation for meanness and pettiness and it's clear why. Bunch of beady-eyed mean people looking for a reason to deny someone else something good because they have tough issues in their own lives. I have never seen anything like it anywhere else in the world.

To the original poster, your question is perfectly reasonable. So many people treat cleaners and nannies like dirt and it's great to hear of someone who is trying to do the right thing.

Good on you for giving her a day off at Christmas (even though you should). I think it would be nice to give her a day off at New Year too.

Yes, as many commenters have said, there are other people who have to work holidays, but why require it if it's not necessary? Sounds like you can afford it and the world won't come to an end if the cleaner gets a bit of a break for a day. Also, I agree with you that it makes no sense to risk infection. The streets and shops are more crowded than usual right now and you can minimize your risk by being kind and careful at the same time.

Good on you.

Exactly, thank you.

My view is that perhaps a date after December 31st or double length cleaning the following week should be agreed.

@CrotchBurn

Reading these comments is like stepping into a parallel universe.

So people spend hundreds, thousands even, on tat, excess food, overpriced gifts, gifts for TEACHERS, all in the name of The Christmas Spirit, but heaven forbid a cleaner get a special paid day off.

How miserable you are

The cleaner hasn’t asked for the day off, though. She specifically might not want that day off. Like most people, I am working Christmas Eve and NYE. I work every day over Christmas except the public holidays. That is normal. It’s not about being miserable, it’s about knowing what is normal in the working world.

I’d want her to come both days, but I’d offer her double pay for those two days- Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.

As you've already paid her for Christmas eve (which I think is fair) - paying for New Years Eve as well if she's not required to work seems a lot.
I'd offer her the choice of taking the day off or coming in on a different day if she doesn't want to loose the money.

@StillCoughingandLaughing

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?

And why is it only women who are expected to pay people for not working, and to be willing to pick up their work any time they don't feel like doing it?