Was I in the wrong with gardener?

[Hettythechicken]

I’ve employed a gardener for about a year. He comes once a fortnight but for the last four weeks has just not shown up. I assumed he’d found other work and was slightly relieved as he wasn’t great but I wasn’t brave enough to tell him. I then get a message from him two days ago saying he’s sorry for the absence, but he’s been ill and then went on holiday, and he’ll be back this week. I replied ‘no thanks, we’d assumed you’d stopped working here forever and have arranged for someone else to do it’. I have just received a really rude and snotty message saying he’d have appreciated some warning as he’s spent so much of his time and energy working in our garden.
I find confrontation stressful but I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong? Or have I? There was no contract and he’s the one who stopped showing up.

I didn’t respond to him and have blocked him!
Thanks for your responses - they’ve helped me feel less worried about it. I’ve always found confrontation with people I don’t know well difficult. I’m fine doing it with my husband, haha.

Arranging the same day and time every fortnight would be the way to go with a new gardener.If he doesn't turn up then text him.Gardeners do get sick and the backlog of work at this time of year can be a nightmare.A lot of gardeners do work hard in all weathers and have a great deal of pride in their work I'm sure you'll find one.Good luck with your next one he may well have a strimmer which is essential for a gardener.

Why didn't he message you at the time when he was ill?? And who messages a client after they've been on holiday? Surely you let clients know in advance when you're going to be on holiday!

@justgivein he did have an arranged day and time. Why do you think he didn’t have a strimmer? 😂

I'd send that too!

You did nothing wrong, OP. Illness is one thing, but can you imagine any job where you go on holiday and don't bother to tell the people that are employing you?

Up thread beef about gardeners with strimmers.Anyway he's made a mistake not contacting you properly and has lost a good customer if he's been with you a year and they are hard to find.Gardeners average thirty to forty customers a month and unless you've actually worked as one.I don't get why gardeners can't go on holiday in June?Great you've found one this time of year most are fully booked.

Yep! That's what I would do too

Imagine working in an office or in a shop and not phoning in sick? You'd be sacked, so it's no different here.

I just hope you so have another gardener as I have two relatives that cannot get one for love nor money!

No totally different in the Gardening world.Many people will wait for the gardener to reappear because of the difficulty of finding a new one.But alot would text because of concerns about long grass,hedges being cut .