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Original poster

Cleaner leaving early, not completing tasks and partners reaction to it

64 replies

NorthSouthcatlady · 29/03/2022 09:03

We've had a cleaner for a couple of years, the standard of cleaning has been ok -not amazing but not dreadful either. Over the month or so then there's been the start of her arriving late and / or leaving early. A few weeks ago she left about 15 minutes early and didn't even touch one room. Last week she left nearly half an hour early and hadn't done everything. So she's not doing the time agreed and it's not as if she is doing the tasks either. Increasingly if feels as if she can't be bothered and wants an early start on her weekend as she's comes on a Friday. Don't we all! But lm not willing to pay her to do that. Cleaning tasks are all very standard: hoovering, mopping, dusting, clean bathroom, clean kitchen etc.

My partner thinks she needs "moulding and shaping". I think what is required is obvious and she doesn't appear to want to do it. Friday is an especially busy day at work for me and to be honest l can't be bothered doing moulding or shaping. Plus if she's like that while we are there (we are both still working from home still), then what will she be like when we are not there?

I've had enough of the whole thing to be honest. She used to bring her own hoover but then had car issues and had to start using ours. Then she starts moaning she doesn't like the hoover we have Hmm

Things have come to a head as my partner is on a training course all this week and he enquired what the plan is for this week. I said l would challenge her about the leaving early last week but could not be bothered with the fluffy stuff. To be honest l want to agree a date that she needs to have pulled her socks up by or we sack her. He thinks we need to tell her this and l said no. Things then got heated!

OP posts:
Original poster
NorthSouthcatlady · 29/03/2022 10:05

@whatstheteamarie again, my thoughts exactly. Increasingly the set up is causing me hassle and this isn’t the point of it

OP posts:
Bdhntbis · 29/03/2022 10:05

We have this with our cleaner and I’m looking for a new one; I’m not her manager and I don’t have any responsibility or duty to develop her (quite honestly I have enough of that at actual work) plus if she’s going to take your money while not doing a proper job then you can no longer trust her and

SeasonFinale · 29/03/2022 10:07

How and when do you pay her? Pay her for the hours worked for one thing. Then have the conversation that things are getting left and if she can now only work a shorter time you will need to find someone else.

FollowtheLizards · 29/03/2022 10:08

YANBU, a cleaner is supposed to make your life easier. If you've already pointed out you either need certain tasks completing, or her to work the full hours she's being paid for, then there's not much else you can do other than let her go. I assume you're not asking her to do too much work in the time she's paid for, which seems highly unlikely if she's not mentioned this and still leaves early.

Sadly, some people just have a poor work ethic and no amount of softly, softly improves them. If they see they can get away wth doing half a job then they'll always have some excuse why they can't complete the work (normally involves flipping the blame back onto you somehow).

Original poster
NorthSouthcatlady · 29/03/2022 10:08

@HellToTheNope yep partner seems to want to hang on all costs and is making it more complicated than it needs to be. His mindset around it is odd. I happened to be out for a work meeting one Friday and l asked what time she arrived / left. Partner refused to tell me until after we had a big row about it. Like l said it’s not classified and she has no issue with it so why conceal it?! Odd

OP posts:
Original poster
NorthSouthcatlady · 29/03/2022 10:13

@Bdhntbis exactly, in my line of work what she is doing is fraud. She wants cash, lm often in a meeting at the end of the session so can’t leave to pay her. I have suggested to partner for her to come to one of us for the money at the end and pay for what’s time she’s actually done. It might sound punitive but she should be doing what she’s paid for 🤷‍♀️. The odd 5 minutes here or there fair enough, not ditching 25% of the time

OP posts:
Ohsugarhoneyicetea · 29/03/2022 10:14

Start the process by saying to her I noticed you left early last week and did not finish the work. Is there an issue with the time or day of the week that you come, do you need to make changes? See what she says and if she improves. And if not, then tell her you no longer need her. I thinks thats really the most amount of performance management you should have to do with a cleaner, I mean she knows what she is supposed to be doing as she used to do it.

Original poster
NorthSouthcatlady · 29/03/2022 10:15

@NightmareSlashDelightful like l said the hoover is fine. It’s just a preference of hers. I would prefer to have BMW company car but don’t. Thems the breaks

OP posts:
HellToTheNope · 29/03/2022 10:19

Does your partner fancy her?

BobHadBitchTits · 29/03/2022 10:21

I'm honestly having the hardest time finding a decent cleaner.

I recently used a new company. The first time the woman got everything done so left ten minutes early. The next time someone else came and got everything done so did a quick once over the living room for me.

I then received a message from their boss saying it's too much work and I need to add on an extra hour!

I'm trying to find someone else.

Beamur · 29/03/2022 10:24

Your partner is being odd about this.
I get you can't break off if you're in a meeting. How do you normally communicate? Text?
I don't think you should be taking time out to coach your cleaner to do better either.
If you don't want the hassle of broaching her slacking off, give her notice and let her go.

Violet869 · 29/03/2022 10:30

[quote NorthSouthcatlady]@Bdhntbis exactly, in my line of work what she is doing is fraud. She wants cash, lm often in a meeting at the end of the session so can’t leave to pay her. I have suggested to partner for her to come to one of us for the money at the end and pay for what’s time she’s actually done. It might sound punitive but she should be doing what she’s paid for 🤷‍♀️. The odd 5 minutes here or there fair enough, not ditching 25% of the time[/quote]
If she wants cash and your in a meeting and unable to pay her, when do you pay her?

TatianaBis · 29/03/2022 10:32

I don’t understand why you’re indulging this nonsense either from her or your partner. Just sack her and get on Next Door and find a recommendation for a reliable cleaner.

My guess is he has zero experience of employing cleaners.

Swayingpalmtrees · 29/03/2022 10:32

I wouldn't bother trying to get her to change, within weeks she will slip back again, I would replace her in a heartbeat. She is letting you down.

Mollyforgot · 29/03/2022 10:33

5 out of 7 cleaners I've had gradually started doing this! To be honest each time it was the start of a slippery slope and 5-10 mins sooned turned into 30mins. I'd have a chat with her say you expect her to work until her finish time and quickly outline what you expect!

Original poster
NorthSouthcatlady · 29/03/2022 10:37

@Violet869 money is usually left on kitchen table

OP posts:
Original poster
NorthSouthcatlady · 29/03/2022 10:38

@TatianaBis correct, l have experience and he doesn’t

OP posts:
Jumpalicious · 29/03/2022 10:39

Just get a new cleaner?

hangrylady · 29/03/2022 10:43

Honestly just get rid. A cleaner is supposed to make your life easier not cause more work.

ittakes2 · 29/03/2022 10:44

I have been lucky enough to have cleaners for years. Cleaners are in your home and we trust them with having access to our important possessions. Trust is essential; if I don’t feel I can trust a cleaner they go that week - I pay them for a month and let them go.
If you were happy with your cleaner but she started suddenly leaving early I might ask her why. But your not happy with your cleaner so I would have let her go years ago.

thecatsthecats · 29/03/2022 10:46

@DirtyDancing

Either talk to her adult to adult or replace her.

Neither is difficult to do.

One thing that domestic cleaners should bear in mind is that their employers are hiring them to lighten the load.

The last thing I wanted to do when I got home was manage a cleaner.

(I'm not disagreeing with you - I'm just pointing out that difficulty isn't the key factor in having a conversation with them about improving standards.)

cherrysthename · 29/03/2022 10:48

Is your partner seeing her? He's being very odd about this.

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 29/03/2022 10:49

Can you just find a new good one-.. Next. Door/local FB group as a trial clean... ...

Then he can see what decent cleaners do...

Then drop the useless one...(text her: its not working, Thursday was yout last day... Good luck..)

I'd be steaming regularly paying for shortened work hours and a bad job. I've had cleaners at various times for elderly relatives... Theyve varied from thr fantastic to borderline criminal...

Can you present it to your other half as:

We're paying her 15£ (whichever amount obvs..., 😁) x2 weekly...
She's reguarly taking 7. 50 £ weekly for work she hasn't done..anr is blatantly doing this.

So we're just paying 350£ yearly for fraud... /pouring down drain... (whichever works best on him). That pays for x, y, z.

#2 when she is here, she doesn't do a good job.

AdultingInTheCountryside · 29/03/2022 10:49

Get rid of her, be clear why. She has no respect for you so don’t feel bad. She’s just taking the mick and obviously cleaning isn’t the right career choice for her.

SheWoreYellow · 29/03/2022 10:53

I’d give her one warning. But I’d frame it politely. You don’t want someone who hates you having free rein of your house.

I’d ask if Fridays still suit her or if she’s a bit tight for time.

And then I’d sack her if she didn’t get it.