Page 4 | To get rid of my cleaner

Lotty456 · 2021-03-03T10:09:52+00:00

I’ve had a self employed cleaner (same person) for about a year now & I’m generally happy with his work but last visit he was on his phone for about half hour. I asked whether calls could be made outside work hours & his response was that sometimes calls are unavoidable as it’s lockdown & childcare is an issue so he needs to take calls, he also said that as he is self employed he may needs to take calls from other potential clients although he will be quick. I don’t know whether I’m over reacting but I feel that he shouldn’t be on his phone when he is supposed to be working (although he doesn’t stop working he just carries on one handed)

cantgetmyheadroundit · 03/03/2021 11:50

@UhtredRagnarson

I don’t see how what the legal difference is has anything to do with him using his phone?

The legal difference is to remind people like you that you don’t own the self employed people that do work for you. Kind of to keep you from getting too uppity. Doesn’t always work. Stubborn streaks run strong.

Again, this.

Original poster

Lotty456 · 03/03/2021 11:51

UhtredRagnarson
It’s irrelevant in my opinion, in this context anyway

OP posts:

FlyingBurrito · 03/03/2021 11:51

@UhtredRagnarson

I don’t see how what the legal difference is has anything to do with him using his phone?

The legal difference is to remind people like you that you don’t own the self employed people that do work for you. Kind of to keep you from getting too uppity. Doesn’t always work. Stubborn streaks run strong.

And neither are you under any obligation to continue with their services if you aren't happy.

Would you continue to pay someone for something if you weren't happy with whatever it was. You clearly have some kind of chip on your shoulder about cleaners but take that out of the equation, do you not have any level of expectation for services you pay for?

TheNorthWind · 03/03/2021 11:52

OP, nobody needs to put in 100% concentration to scrub your bog. It's not a complicated task, it's just not something that anybody wants to be doing.

You pay somebody to cut your hair because it's a skilled job. You couldn't do it to the same standard yourself, because you don't know how. That's also why you might pay an accountant or any number of other people who provide skilled services. Most of those will need to concentrate properly in order to do a good job.

But you don't pay your cleaner because you're incapable of cleaning your house. (Disability exceptions understood, of course.) You know how to hoover the carpet and wipe the surfaces and scrub the bath. But you don't want to do it, so you pay a cleaner. Now that is absolutely fair enough, but it doesn't make it a skilled trade. So if your cleaner does something else to occupy their brain at the same time, in a way that doesn't disturb you or affect the results of their work, then so what? What earthly difference does it make to you?

Why do you really have a problem with this?

UhtredRagnarson · 03/03/2021 11:53

@Lotty456

UhtredRagnarson It’s irrelevant in my opinion, in this context anyway

Clearly. You think you own him regardless.

Original poster

Lotty456 · 03/03/2021 11:53

LittleOwl153
Thank you, sensible suggestions. I will make sure I’m around a bit more & just ask him to keep personal calls to a minimum & use headset.

OP posts:

UhtredRagnarson · 03/03/2021 11:54

I trust that he has but if he’s on his phone he may not have.

So go and check. You’re just assuming that he’s now doing a poor job because you heard him on the phone. I mean cancel his services if you want, but you could at least base it on the quality of his work rather than you just guessing it’s poor.

UhtredRagnarson · 03/03/2021 11:56

Would you continue to pay someone for something if you weren't happy with whatever it was. You clearly have some kind of chip on your shoulder about cleaners but take that out of the equation, do you not have any level of expectation for services you pay for?

OP doesn’t even know whether the service quality has dropped. She hasn’t noticed any drop in quality. All she knows is she heard him on the phone and has now assumed that not only is the quality poor but that he’s also sitting down and helping himself to coffee when he’s supposed to be working.

LaceyBetty · 03/03/2021 11:57

I wouldn't care in the least, especially if I wasn't even there. I want my house clean and however it gets that way is fine with me. This isn't even about him disturbing you. Odd.

Bigtruth · 03/03/2021 11:58

What a nasty thread OP.

Sometimes it's better to just keep things to yourself. Sack him if it makes you happy, justify it however you like but it's just nasty and demeaning.

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 03/03/2021 11:58

I'm clearly in the minority but I do think it's odd that his comment about being self employed makes him think he's not answerable to you to some degree. He's in your house, being paid by you.
There are plenty of people looking for jobs at the moment ..

Anordinarymum · 03/03/2021 11:58

You see I'm a bit on the fence with this one because I was a cleaner for years and had my own business. I did not have the time to make or receive calls as I was busy cleaning.
The calls should be made before or after and not during the time I am being paid to clean. Obviously if it's an emergency or a childcare issue then by all means take the call and make it snappy as I have cleaning to do

LittleOwl153 · 03/03/2021 11:58

I think the issue here is paying self employed cleaners by the hour.
As a self employed contractor I would expect to have a lost of tasks for a fixed fee. Whether those tasks take 10 minutes or 5 hours. I would give or agree a price based on the time I expected the work to take me but not would not see the price specifically linked to times. A time commitment implies an employed relationship to me.

UhtredRagnarson · 03/03/2021 12:00

A time commitment implies an employed relationship to me.

Well it isn’t.

FlyingBurrito · 03/03/2021 12:02

@UhtredRagnarson

Would you continue to pay someone for something if you weren't happy with whatever it was. You clearly have some kind of chip on your shoulder about cleaners but take that out of the equation, do you not have any level of expectation for services you pay for?

OP doesn’t even know whether the service quality has dropped. She hasn’t noticed any drop in quality. All she knows is she heard him on the phone and has now assumed that not only is the quality poor but that he’s also sitting down and helping himself to coffee when he’s supposed to be working.

Yes, so the trust in the working relationship has broken down, why should she continue with it?

I'm truly surprised that anyone would continue to pay someone to come into their home if they weren't happy with the way they behaved for any reason at all. It's a genuine question - why on earth would you?

ItsSnowJokes · 03/03/2021 12:03

God forbid the hired help doesn't know his place and will only clean with 1 hand!!!! Pass the smelling salts.

This has zero effect on you. You are not normally there and you are happy with his standard of cleaning, bugger things to worry about in the world.

UhtredRagnarson · 03/03/2021 12:04

Yes, so the trust in the working relationship has broken down, why should she continue with it?

How has it broken down? He has done nothing to break it. So OP has.

Fair enough, she doesn’t want to continue to use his services but let’s cut the crap about unprofessional and drop in quality.

Viviennemary · 03/03/2021 12:06

The odd couple of minutes call if urgent is fine. But not walking round with your mobile glued to your ear when you are meant to be actually working. Not acceptable. I dont think people should need go be told this.

ArthurBloom · 03/03/2021 12:12

Really depends on length of the call etc, if he's chatting about movies or scrolling instagram then let him go, but if it's for childcare etc, then maybe have some patience.

AnaisNun · 03/03/2021 12:14

This is ridiculous. OP if you want a cleaner that will apply “professional standards” blah blah pay for a proper domestic assistant, not a freelance cleaner- who is doing a perfectly good job and you seem to just want to slap
down for no reason other than because you can

worried3012 · 03/03/2021 12:14

Has he actually got Air Pods? They are quite expensive I think.

I understand where you are coming from in that you worry your house isn't being cleaned to the level you have paid at but I think it's unfair to say he is socialising and with the pandemic, childcare is always a bit difficult to arrange. What was he like before lockdown? If he was fine then surely after this lockdown it will be fine again.

Maybe a proper conversation with him might help, explain how you worry it might affect the standards but if you are genuinely content with the job he does I would just leave it as it is knowing that lockdown will soon he over hopefully and this may mean less phone calls.

UhtredRagnarson · 03/03/2021 12:17

@AnaisNun

This is ridiculous. OP if you want a cleaner that will apply “professional standards” blah blah pay for a proper domestic assistant, not a freelance cleaner- who is doing a perfectly good job and you seem to just want to slap down for no reason other than because you can

This

UhtredRagnarson · 03/03/2021 12:18

Maybe a proper conversation with him might help, explain how you worry it might affect the standards

Before you do that, it might be an idea to actually check the standard of service! By you know, looking. Takes a bit of effort on your part mind.

user1493494961 · 03/03/2021 12:21

I'd get rid of him.

gamerchick · 03/03/2021 12:21

@Lotty456

My point is that you cannot do a proper job whilst on the phone so it’s a possibility that his standards were below par to start.

When it comes to cleaning, you really can. Give it a try sometimes and do your own cleaning in future.