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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not pay cleaner when sick so we can book a replacement

71 replies

whatkatydid2013 · 23/12/2021 08:33

We’ve had the same cleaner for quite some time & think she does a good job. Over the past couple of years we’ve had a number of times we’ve paid her when she hasn’t been able to come (1st lockdown for a couple of months & then several individual weeks when one of us was isolating as a close contact or when she was poorly). Last week she got in touch to say she couldn’t make it as she was ill & this week she’s been in touch to say she’s in hospital with covid and not sure when she might be back at work. We paid last week & this but I’ve suggested to OH maybe we pay next week but then stop until we hear back from her and sort out a cleaning service to come in the meantime. We can’t afford to pay both and while it’s obviously not her fault she caught covid I don’t want to get in the situation of having to do everything on my own (husband will ignore those jobs which is why we got a cleaner in the first place). AIBU to only cover 3 weeks of sick pay and then stop till she comes back?

OP posts:

Hopeislost · 23/12/2021 13:03

I would continue to pay in your situation but that's because I could afford to, and also my cleaner is an absolute godsend!

Tootsey11 · 23/12/2021 13:07

I'm a self employed cleaner and clients won't pay me when they cancel never mind when I'm sick, which is never.

SpanielsAreMyLife · 23/12/2021 13:15

We employ a lovely young Mum who does our cleaning.

If she cancels, she doesn't expect to be paid.

If we cancel, she does.

NameChangeCity123 · 23/12/2021 13:19

@HardbackWriter

yes they are self employed, but it's also a low paid job done by women

Why do people only ever have this patronising attitude about cleaners?

A few people on here have said they pay £14-20 an hour.... that's not low paid

lisaandalan · 23/12/2021 13:25

I'd pay her four weeks but notify her by message that you will pay four weeks and if she is not able to return you will not be able to continue with payments.
At least that's giving her a months notice. X

2022willbebetter · 23/12/2021 13:44

She's in hospital the week before Christmas. The only message I'd be sending now is that I hope she recovers quickly and asking if there's anything you can do for her.

You don't have to pay her if she can't come but now is not the time to address that with her. Some callous people on this thread.

Branleuse · 23/12/2021 14:19

Id bung her a tenner as goodwill

KittyBurrito · 23/12/2021 14:35

Do as you would be done by. Would you like to be paid sick leave if sick? Of course. So please pay her. Clean your house yourself if you can't afford two payments. Cleaners are on a low wage and will struggle otherwise.

mrsbyers · 23/12/2021 14:37

If they can’t come as you are poorly or isolating then I would pay but if it them unable to come then no I wouldn’t pay them beyond a Christmas bonus if you do thaf

KittyBurrito · 23/12/2021 14:38

For context: our cleaner is paid if she (or we) are sick or isolating, was paid full wages during furlough, and we also pay her if she (or we) are away on holiday. I'm a union member, so the principles that go for me also go for her.

HardbackWriter · 23/12/2021 17:17

@KittyBurrito

But she's not your employee - ask your union rep, they'll be able to explain the difference between being an employee and being self-employed!

Original poster

whatkatydid2013 · 25/12/2021 05:40

@KittyBurrito

While you may well be prepared to do that indefinitely and it’s very nice of you I don’t think I am. I suspect it will be many weeks before she can return to work and I don’t think I’m willing to take on her 4 hours of work indefinitely while continuing to pay for her services (it will also inevitably take me longer as I’ll never get a 4 hour or every a couple of 2 hour blocks to tackle it. I used to end up spending an hour a day to get it all sorted before).

OP posts:

LethargicActress · 25/12/2021 05:54

Three weeks of paying for a service you aren’t receiving is more than generous. It’s generous to the point of being too much.

NextChristmas · 25/12/2021 06:11

I pay my cleaner if i cancel her. If she cancels I don't pay.

Goldiemummy · 25/12/2021 07:40

I’m a self employed cleaner and wouldn’t expect to be paid if I was off sick. I think you’ve been very generous so far.

underneaththeash · 25/12/2021 07:46

We've never paid an ill SE cleaner. Just as me (SE) doesn't get paid when I'M ill.

SimpsonsXmasBoogie · 25/12/2021 08:15

I would notvpay my cleaner if they called in sick.

The only reason I can think of to pay them when they don't clean is if I cancelled on them last minute.

user15364596354862 · 25/12/2021 08:16

Treating her like an employee by paying sick leave also risks HMRC coming after you for all the NICs and PAYE you should have deducted over the period you've employed her. And you being on the hook for Employer's NIC on top of her gross rate. Plus penalties and interest.

sweetbellyhigh · 25/12/2021 08:37

While it is perfectly acceptable in black and white terms to stop paying her, it seems cruel when she's very unwell. I mean, she's in hospital with COVID, she might not survive or ever recover fully. Whatever happens to her right now will have a huge impact on her well-being.

Look, I couldn't but posters are correct to say you don't have to. Ugh tough situation.

KarmaStar · 25/12/2021 08:43

As long as someone is keeping your home clean for you ,yes just forget a desperately ill person in hospital with no income and over Christmas.
Have a lovely relaxing time.

Overthinkingx3 · 26/12/2021 23:42

That’s so rotten

Sorry 😢

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