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AIBU?

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Original poster

To sack cleaner for this?

383 replies

Katrinawaves · 21/10/2022 20:33

My husband and I had a mix up today and both left cash out to pay the cleaner. She has taken both lots of cash so double her normal payment for the day. Would I be unreasonable to sack her for this? My husband is saying we should just not pay her next week but I am concerned now about her honesty. What would you do?

OP posts:
Whaet · 21/10/2022 20:34

Why do you think she's been dishonest?! You left cash, she took it - she may have assumed you been generous with a bonus.

Whaet · 21/10/2022 20:35

*you'd been

canyon2000 · 21/10/2022 20:35

Just explain it was a mix up and ask if she would like to return one set of pay now or keep it as next weeks pay. It doesn't mean she is dishonest!

Pumperthepumper · 21/10/2022 20:36

Why not just message her and say ‘sorry, we’ve over paid you, that’ll cover next week too so just keep it’?

Travis1 · 21/10/2022 20:36

Have you actually had a conversation with her about this?

weeme02 · 21/10/2022 20:36

I'm a self employed cleaner and would never take more than what I was owed for that day, even if my client had left 2 amounts of cash out.
I would contact her.

goodbyestranger · 21/10/2022 20:37

Yes she would have assumed that you were jointly conscious of double pay and was leaving it because of the current economic problems/ bonus.

Worthyornot · 21/10/2022 20:37

Maybe she didn't count it and took it all together? Can you message and ask her? If she took it all without asking then I wouldn't have her back as that's very dishonest. Why would she even think she is getting a bonus?

mynameiscalypso · 21/10/2022 20:38

I leave my cleaner cash bonuses from time to time although I normally make it clear that the extra is for her. I wouldn't sack her for it at all.

Merryoldgoat · 21/10/2022 20:38

Why not talk to her first?

goodbyestranger · 21/10/2022 20:38

You sound quite tight/ mean. You can afford a cleaner. She has to clean up your dirt to make a living. You made a mistake/ your problem.

Plantmum2047 · 21/10/2022 20:39

Speak to her about it and see what she says and then decide. I think it would be unreasonable to just go straight to sacking her. This is someone's job and livelihood remember and there is a cost of living crisis.

goodbyestranger · 21/10/2022 20:39

I do that that you have a 'conversation' and then she sacks you.

BCBird · 21/10/2022 20:39

I don't it would be fair to sack her. The money was left she took it. Why not contact her and say two lots were left and see if she will kerep the other half for next time? If you are not happy euth her work then address this but don't sack her.

dontknowwhatisbest · 21/10/2022 20:40

Presumably the two lots of cash were in two separate piles? Sorry, I don't for a minute believe that anyone would think that exactly the same amount of money, left in a different place, without and prior discussion, was some kind of cost of living bonus.

I think she has knowingly stolen from you OP.

Smilelesstalkmore · 21/10/2022 20:40

She probably thought it was a bonus or something. You can't sack her, you left the money for her to take!

Worthyornot · 21/10/2022 20:40

goodbyestranger · 21/10/2022 20:37

Yes she would have assumed that you were jointly conscious of double pay and was leaving it because of the current economic problems/ bonus.

Why on earth would she assume that. If you were paid double your salary would you not question it??

dontknowwhatisbest · 21/10/2022 20:41

She has to clean up your dirt to make a living

People have to do all kinds of shitty jobs in order to make a living. It is absolutely no excuse for breaking someone's trust.

goodbyestranger · 21/10/2022 20:41

No Worthy I wouldn't question it if I were a cleaner in the current economic mess that the less well off are in.

OP is clearly as tight as they come.

BusyBeaMe · 21/10/2022 20:42

surely you’d send a quick message to check the over payment rather than pocketing it??

goodbyestranger · 21/10/2022 20:42

She broke no-one's trust. She took the money left out.

goodbyestranger · 21/10/2022 20:44

I'd probably send a message saying thank you for the extra pay, much appreciated. If my employer came back with 'It was a mistake', I'd sack them.

weetee0102 · 21/10/2022 20:44

I think it depends on the circumstances, is she paid the same every week? If so then i wouldnt expect her to take two lots you could have left it out for a number of other reasons. I wouldn't jump the gun but it would give me pause for thought.

dontknowwhatisbest · 21/10/2022 20:45

MN is so fucking weird about cleaners.

So, if I left a tenner on the kitchen counter for my teen before I went to work, it would be OK for the cleaner to assume it was meant for him/her and pocket it?

Original poster
Katrinawaves · 21/10/2022 20:46

I work from home so I was in the house at the time so she could have checked with me if she was unsure!

my husband had left the money out when he went to work and she picked it up first thing. I left the same amount out towards the end of the shift so she did not lift them both together without counting.

I’m not sure why some think not wanting to pay someone twice makes me tight or cheap!

OP posts: