Would you mention this or let it go ?

[FearBreedsCompliance]

We’ve had a cleaner a while now and gradually she has been leaving earlier and earlier …..

At first it was just a couple of minutes so I didn’t say anything as tbh I didn’t think anything of that at all as it was literally a min or two.
However, then it was regularly 5 mins early and I’ve noticed the last couple of times it’s been 8-10 mins early. That feels unfair as in that time something else could be done and I really need the help that I’m paying for !

Sometimes I’m not there but can see from the door open time, I’m going to try to be in next time but what do I say ? I feel like 1-2 mins is ok but not more than 5 mins?

I wouldn't say anything directly. But I'd do it in a subtle way.

"I've left a list of extras to do if theres time" type thing. Or "noticed you've been finishing quicker, so if you're looking for things to fill the time this this this can be done"

Luckily i have a very honest cleaner who actually told me she finished 30 mins early last week and tried to pay money back. For that i let her keep it. Tbh it was my fault for not leaving a list of extras to do if there's spare time.

Agree with another poster. Leave a note to say, "Hi if you finish early, please do something off the list below." That should help her to leave at her time and be useful to you.

I think of cleaning more as an ongoing thing – after all, you book them weekly/monthly not as a one-off, and the dirt keeps coming back. It’s not like “2 hours and done, forever!”

So 10 minutes wouldn’t bother me as it will all even out if in other weeks she does a full two hours or more, and so long as my house is cleaner than if I were cleaning it.

Morning Jean! Thanks for Friday. Just wondering if you’d prefer to do an extra half hour next week to make up for leaving early the last few visits or would you prefer to have the 30 mins for the month knocked off the final pay? Up to you!”

She isn't putting the rubbish in the bin is she? I tend to stack all mine by the back door and put it in when I've finished, might take a few minutes to sort recycling etc? Clutching at straws maybe but if I was happy overall I wouldn't say anything unless it gets worse (I have splinters in my arsenal from sitting on the fence!)

I'd avoid confrontation and just get rid of her, then find a more reliable one.

Just wondering if you’d prefer to do an extra half hour next week to make up for leaving early the last few visits or would you prefer to have the 30 mins for the month knocked off the final pay? Up to you!”
This is a GREAT script for ensuring she doesn’t come back. Why go in all guns blazing?

I would say anything for 5 or 10 minutes. She may have another job to get to and whilst I realise that’s not your responsibility, she may not be able to schedule her hours to fit in exactly with each other.

If she is doing a decent job then I would leave it. Times have been hard for cleaners over the past couple of years.

I had a cleaner for years and I would not have cared (and probably wouldn't have even noticed) if they left a few minutes early, as long as they had done everything I asked and had done a good job. Obviously if they finished really early I'd expect them to ask if there was anything else I'd like done, but for 5 minutes, 8 minutes? No.

@Beautiful3

Agree with another poster. Leave a note to say, "Hi if you finish early, please do something off the list below." That should help her to leave at her time and be useful to you.

This.

Just wanted to add a few months ago I noticed my mobile phone was 4 minutes out of time on the clock. So for however long I had been 4 mins behind everything!! So add on a couple of minutes late/early was actually +4 more minutes!! Easy done ime.