New lockdown- do I pay cleaner?

[Bizawit]

I’ve had my cleaner since the summer. Best cleaner I’ve ever had, and she really makes a difference to my well-being. Although it is still allowed in the rules, she
texted me this evening saying that she wouldn’t be coming for the next few weeks because she doesn’t feel safe using public transport and mixing in different households etc, and with schools closed she has her children at home (her youngest is 14 so not small children).

The question is do I need to continue to pay her for the weeks she doesn’t come? I’m thinking that she might be expecting me to offer, and she is such a good cleaner I don’t want to lose her. Plus she’s a lovely person and I don’t want to be an arsehole/ put her in a difficult spot. On the other hand it is her choice not to come to work, and it is a fair amount of money for a service I’m not receiving. My DP says there’s no need to pay her and I shouldn’t , but I’m not sure he is right. So:

YABU - no need to pay the cleaner during lockdown.

YANBU - yes you should pay the cleaner.

Cleaner here. I have just been furloughed by a newish customer (August). She intends to pay me full rate until I can go back - she is very vulnerable.. I am very grateful..

I think because she doesn’t want to, rather than because she isn’t allowed you don’t have to. However, if you can afford it, it would be a nice gesture.

Pay her half, or at the furlough rate (80%)? As it’s her decision I wouldn’t feel obliged to pay the full whack, unless she’s particularly vulnerable.

I think pay as you would have paid her anyway and you’d like her to work for you again when she is able to.

If the cleaner has decided not to come when you would be happy to still have her working then no you dont have to pay her.

Maybe offer workarounds to being able to come to work, everyone out while she is there or something, but if she is choosing not to then she doesnt get paid.

Compromise pay half as a retainer.

@VladimirCutiePutiPie

I think pay as you would have paid her anyway and you’d like her to work for you again when she is able to.

She would have paid her anyway as she would be getting the service... Not sure why she should just write off the money as already spent without the benefit of having a cleaner?

She is able to work for the op. She is choosing not to

She’s not vulnerable at all no. Nor is anyone in her household. But her teenage son does suffer from very intense health anxiety, so covid has not been easy for him mental health wise.

No.

The "rules" allow her to continue to work. She is choosing not to.

Well, she cancelled, not you. Presumably she's also self employed, and can claim against her SE status for furlough / loss of earnings?

As a cleaner, I would hugely grateful and loyal to you afterwards, as I am to those that paid me during the March lockdown.
However since its her choice not to risk it I'm sure a small retainer would also be appreciated.
This time I'm working as normal for any clients that want me to continue, but I walk to jobs so not the transport issues your cleaner has.

Not a victim of covid hysteria here, but you'll be fine using public transport for travel, mixing households, and taking your children everywhere with you. If so, NANBU. If you aren't fine with that, why the hell do you think everyone else should be??

pay at a furlough rate as a retainer. it is also safer for you if she doesn't come to your house at the moment.

I am not paying my cleaner who has informed me she isn't coming

I'm going to spend that money on another cleaner if I can find one. 2 full time jobs, 3 primary kids and also my own cleaning? I'll give gold bars

Retainer to keep her if you value her?... but no obligation if she’s withdrawn her services

Of course you should pay her! And you should be encouraging her to stay at home exactly as we have all been told to. Her service is not essential and going between people's houses at a time like this is a risk

For those saying I should pay a retainer, how would I broach that? How do I explain the rate I’ve decided, and is there a way to put it without it coming across as rude/ condescending - like I’ve just unilaterally decided what to pay you? Or am I over thinking this?

Is she self employed?

We paid my cleaner during March lockdown and if she's not comfortable returning at the moment then we'll pay her again this time.

@Moondust001

Not a victim of covid hysteria here, but you'll be fine using public transport for travel, mixing households, and taking your children everywhere with you. If so, NANBU. If you aren't fine with that, why the hell do you think everyone else should be??

Huh? She doesn’t need to take her children anywhere. As I said the youngest is 14. personally I don’t have an issue using public transport no- especially at the moment- it’s empty! As for household mixing , it’s allowed for the purposes of work in the rules, and no it wouldn’t really bother me either , but I understand others are more afraid of this thing.

The general gist from previous lockdown posts was that if you are being paid and in full, then yes, pay her. If not, that's a different scenario.

@MobLife

Of course you should pay her! And you should be encouraging her to stay at home exactly as we have all been told to. Her service is not essential and going between people's houses at a time like this is a risk

Theres nothing in the guidelines to say that only people providing essential services are allowed to travel for work. It just says that if you cant work from home then you can travel. And specifically mentions that cleaners can still work. Have you read the guidelines?

No. She is choosing not work and I would not pay for a service I was not receiving. Equally, if I chose not to work I would expect not to be paid.
Perfectly fair in my opinion.

If you can afford it, I'd pay her 50pc to 80pc of her usual pay.....making it clear that it's a retainer fee.

I'd ask her to sign a document stating that that fee is returnable if she leaves by x date......only because I've heard others on here mention that during lockdown they had continued to pay their cleansers, who then never returned to clean their home when lockdown ended.

@CoRhona

The general gist from previous lockdown posts was that if you are being paid and in full, then yes, pay her. If not, that's a different scenario.

That makes sense in one way. But in another way it doesn’t, I’m still being paid yes, but I’m still working. If I chose not to work presumably I wouldn’t be paid..