Self isolated cleaner, WWYD?

[BurningRed]

Hi MNers,

Quick poll please. Cleaner has been self isolated and will miss one cleaning date for our home.

Would you pay her still?

YABU - Yes
YANBU - No

Thanks!

@olympicsrock

On mums net people always talk about being hugely generous to cleaners. At the end of the day they are self employed and the usual thing is that they only get cleaned when they work. I have had a lady clean for me for over 10 years. We have a great relationship. If she is on holiday or unable to work she tells me and I don’t pay. If we go away we tell her and don’t pay. Very much 50:50 , everyone happy.

@olympicsrock

What does 'on Mumsnet' mean? Do you mean you don't believe it?

No. You don’t come to work you don’t get paid

I’d not have them again either after that update.

I would because I feel those of us privileged enough to afford cleaners should be exceptionally nice to those whose lot in life is cleaning our homes, which is probably the last thing they actually want to do.

I paid my cleaner throughout lock down but told her not to come.

@WaterBottle123

I'm sure you mean well, but your post is SOOOOOOO insulting.

@DontDrinkDontSmokeWhatDoIDo

It wasn't meant to be. I think it's disingenuous to pretend that having a cleaner isn't a massive privilege. Cleaning is a very vulnerable occupation- largely self employed so at the mercy of clients with no protection and low hourly rates.

I get it's more comfortable to pretend otherwise. And I know some cleaners will love their work but find me one who loves the poor pay and conditions?

No: she has chosen to risk isolation by choosing not to be vaccinated.

I’m a cleaner- double jabbed since late June.
My DS tested positive this week so I contacted all my customers to give them the option.
50% cancelled & I would in no way expect to be paid by them.
The joy of being self-employed but I completely understand from their perspective.

@WaterBottle123

I know it wasn't meant to be, but it is. Not the bit about it being a privilege to be able to afford a cleaner, but the part that insinuates how cleaners are lowly people who dread their jobs.

My cleaner earns £15 per hour. She chooses to be a cleaner as she names her hours, works around her children and prefers it to lower paid retail or care work. She's cleaned for us for nearly 10 years as we are bloody grateful she bestows her time on us!

In many areas, good, reliable cleaners are like gold dust.

You came across as Lady Bountiful, to be honest.

@DontDrinkDontSmokeWhatDoIDo I think what has really rubbed me up the wrong way is that although we are relatively well off, we live in historically, one of the poorer areas of the UK and recently our cleaner has put her prices up to £18 an hour. More than happy to pay this when I don’t feel like she’s being a CF.

I’m still incredulous over the stupidity of her SM post last night.

My cleaner & I.discussed this early on & we agreed if she cancels for any reason (including holidays) I don't pay her. If I cancel her, I pay.

She has that agreement with all her clients

@DGFB

I don’t pay my cleaner sick pay or holidays so no. I pay her a higher rate week on week though

This.

My cleaner also charges well over nmw. We do still pay her a Christmas bonus of £100, plus pay her if we’re away (don’t ask her to clean then).

We did pay her for the whole of both furlough periods, so about 6 months when we paid and I did the cleaning anyway! She recently had covid in her household, which ended up being three weeks of not being in with isolations (other family members with covid, then herself) and we didn’t pay as by then we had had enough of not paying her when she isn’t cleaning.

I would have paid her, because I don't want Covid in my house, and I'd rather people were cautious around me.

However, after your other post showing she hasn't actually been self-isolating, I'd let her go.

A cleaner is someone you need to be honest, or it just doesn't work.