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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

New lockdown- do I pay cleaner?

166 replies

Bizawit · 04/01/2021 22:40

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.

OP posts:
Uhhuhoyaye · 04/01/2021 23:39

You dont want to pay her. You dont have to pay her. You are not going to pay her.

MrsFogi · 04/01/2021 23:40

I think things are different this time - at the beginning of the last lockdown it wasn't clear cleaners could come. It is now clear cleaners can continue to work. If she decides not to work then I don't think you should feel obiged to pay her.

MobLife · 04/01/2021 23:40

@Itsnotlikethiswithotherpeople

I think it’s great where people pay self employed people who can’t come to work. But I don’t know anyone in real life that does. It’s a very Mumsnet thing.
I find this odd-I paid our cleaner throughout the last lockdown, as did all my friends. I acknowledge that our income hadn't changed so we were in a position to do that.

I trust our cleaning lady and she has been extremely hard working and reliable over a number of years-i think it's the decent thing to do to continue to pay if you can

Original poster
Bizawit · 04/01/2021 23:44

@Uhhuhoyaye 🤣 thank you for the helpful summary.

Actually I’m glad I started this thread as I was 70/ 30 leaning towards paying her , but it seems like the general consensus is that it’s not necessary and possibly unwise.

I am considering the “retainer” idea, but not sure how to approach that without it coming across as rude..

OP posts:
NotSorry · 04/01/2021 23:45

I didn’t pay my cleaner last time and I won’t be this time if she doesn’t come - I really don’t understand this “pay them for not working”. My cleaner is self-employed as am I and we both claimed under the gov Seiss grant - that’s what it is for

MovingtoEssex · 05/01/2021 00:06

Just reply saying ok that's fine, we're looking forward to having you back as soon as possible.
Public transport will be super quiet.

My cleaner with primary aged kids texted tonight asking if I was still happy for her to come as she still wants to come. If I'd not been happy, I'd have paid.

MovingtoEssex · 05/01/2021 00:07

P.s. not the public transport bit in a reply!

Edgeoftheledge · 05/01/2021 00:09

I paid mine through first lockdown, as no choice but not to come.
If mine decided not to come I wouldnt pay her and she is great, dint want to loose her

partyatthepalace · 05/01/2021 00:39

I paid my cleaner through first lockdown and will through this one if she doesn’t want to work, as her child is vulnerable, but she’s been with me for years.

I would suss out if she or her family are vulnerable, if they are I’d try and do at least 70% if I could, if they aren’t still nice to try and do it - but no obligation to.

partyatthepalace · 05/01/2021 00:47

@Moblife

We haven’t been told to stay at home, we’ve been told to work from home if possible, or go to work if not. The idea is to reduce interaction to reduce transmission and allow the NHS to cope - not to entirely crash the economy by having everyone jack in work.

thelake · 05/01/2021 00:50

I don't see why you would pay for a service that you aren't getting, especially when it's her choice.

Lovely1a2b3c · 05/01/2021 00:50

If you're financially secure then yes, I think paying her would be a decent thing to do. She is actually protecting your family by not coming too.

If you can't afford it then 50%+ or even 80% might be an idea.

saraclara · 05/01/2021 00:54

I paid mine when she wasn't allowed to work in the first lockdown. But if she was allowed to but hadn't wanted to (especially if she had no vulnerabilities), I wouldn't have

emilyfrost · 05/01/2021 00:55

Of course you don’t pay her Confused She isn’t working.

RollOn2022 · 05/01/2021 00:58

Did you by any chance have a contract with her which details everything? Or texts which outline when and when payment is required?

Our cleaners are through a company and we have a contact so everything is laid out. We will still have them over as they wear masks, the windows are open and they are cleaning, so quite a safe space. We also won’t be in the house when they come. The public transport is a kicker - could she get a taxi?

harrietm1987 · 05/01/2021 01:00

We paid our cleaner half throughout the last lockdown. DH lost some work so our family income was down and we explained that. I’m now on mat leave so money is even tighter but we will continue to offer half.

Notnamechangeday · 05/01/2021 01:02

I’ve not heard from our cleaner yet - I will leave it up to her to decide her own risk assessment. The last time we paid ‘furlough’ wages as a retainer I guess & would pay the same again.

saraclara · 05/01/2021 01:08

I was the only one of my cleaner's clients who paid her anything in the first lockdown. And that was when cleaners weren't allowed to work. So clearly it wasn't the norm to do so.
And now when there are no restrictions on your cleaner working, her decision not to is hers alone. And she carries the consequences I'm afraid.

Pyewhacket · 05/01/2021 01:10

Same here. My cleaner has cried off and told me she’ll let me know when she’s prepared to come back but to be honest the kids ( 18,16 & 14 ) are pretty good with sorting their own stuff and washing so that’s another expense I can save on.

upthekyber · 05/01/2021 01:18

No if she is self employed, But if you employer her then you should furlough as you would have a duty of care, as I am aware cleaners can still clean (obviously this might change) however if you cancel her or she is not allowed to come I would pay her a proportion. I paid my cleaner who is self employed 50% of the normal fee through the lockdown, when she was not allowed to come but not on the weeks she would normally not work (we have a schedule) when it has been she hasn't wanted to work due to being in the higher tier I didn't pay.

If you employ her and you need her to work you could offer to pick up and be out of the house. My cleaner drives but we arranged we would be out on a walk when she cleaned.
If she is employed and you need her to clean you might need to serve her her notice, yes she has a medical condition but if you have offered adjustment such as taxi or driving her, being out when she is working (personally I think this is important then you have exhausted your options and need to find someone else.

For people who think having a cleaner is a option. I have 2 disabled children and a job, a cleaner is easier to find than a carer, my children's conditions mean it is impossible to clean/hoover when they are home, they are home when I am home. Hoovering is impossible due to the pain the noise causes them.

GinAndTonicOnIt · 05/01/2021 02:03

I don't understand why people would pay fir a service that isn't being provided

Aebj · 05/01/2021 02:16

Maybe a silly question but how is a cleaner in a private home an essential worker? I would pay her full price , for being sensible and staying home, hopefully then coming out of lockdown quicker. Just think of how many people she’s exposed to, if she continues to work. Thank your lucky stars she holds your family important.

LoveMyKidsAndCats · 05/01/2021 02:28

She can work but has told you she isn't going to. That's fair enough but why would you pay her.

LoveMyKidsAndCats · 05/01/2021 02:29

My sons music lessons have stopped I'm not going to carry on paying for a service that's cancelled.

happystone · 05/01/2021 02:49

Can you afford to , if your earning 10000 per year which is the advage on MM they don’t be tight and pay. Do it for britian