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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:
Stars71 · 23/10/2022 11:19

JustAnotherManicMomday · 23/10/2022 11:05

My question here is where was the money left? If both lots were together then I get how its happened and wo der how the person leaving it second did not notice. If it was in 2 separate locations say a side table in the hall and on the kitchen counter then yes I would be concerned about her honesty. Was a note with the money to say its hers? If so do you write said note like a receipt stating how much is there which should mean no confusion.

Your questions are addressed in the full thread.

Lucy Long Socks · 23/10/2022 12:45

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.

I am a cleaner too. There is no way on earth I would "assume " somebody had left me a bonus. I would do the same as you. I would take what I'm usually paid.

wentworthinmate · 23/10/2022 13:41

I’ve done cleaning and would only have taken what I was due, unless prearranged or told there might be a ‘bit extra’. I’d have assumed a misunderstanding. Even so, give the person a text and explain what’s happened honestly and that she can have it in lieu of next week :)

Buttonjugs · 23/10/2022 13:52

How did you not notice your husband left the money out? Are you 100% sure he did?

Ladysodor · 23/10/2022 17:40

Oh God she’s trying her luck! Nobody with an ounce of conscience would have done that.

lalta · 23/10/2022 19:03

well said

Mumofsons87 · 23/10/2022 22:33

Might it have been an accident? She may have been on autopilot . I wouldn't go asking her "if" she picked up your hudbands money. I'd simple text her and say "hey so sorry we just realised Hubby had left your money out this morning too, keep the second lot for next week, thanks a million, the place is shining" or something like that. But I am admittedly passive aggressive lol.

Whatever you do don't say, hey did you take double pay this morning? She replies no definitely not my sums add up for the day, and then you are left trying to fire her awkwardly.
You now know this happened, just let her know.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 24/10/2022 10:21

Buttonjugs · 23/10/2022 13:52

How did you not notice your husband left the money out? Are you 100% sure he did?

Because the Munich net wasn’t there as the cleaner has already picked it up

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 24/10/2022 10:22

< Munich net = money >

Zvifflemeyer · 24/10/2022 10:34

Theft, plain and simple. She knows how much she's supposed to get paid so to take double the amount without even mentioning it to you shows that she is dishonest and not at all trustworthy.

Shell4429 · 24/10/2022 11:49

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 24/10/2022 10:21

Because the Munich net wasn’t there as the cleaner has already picked it up

Show quote history

Ah yes but did you see the money before she picked it up?

marcopront · 24/10/2022 12:25

@Shell4429

Ah yes but did you see the money before she picked it up?

No the OP didn't see the money and when she texted her husband he didn't reply.

Why she didn't ask the cleaner if the husband had left the money is an unsolved mystery.

Original poster
Katrinawaves · 25/10/2022 13:43

So we’ve been in touch with her and she confirmed that she did take both sets of cash and didn’t offer any explanation as to why she had done that. Just updating for those who were convinced that my husband had taken it/lied about leaving it.

Still cogitating about what to do about it.

OP posts:
girlmom21 · 25/10/2022 13:46

Katrinawaves · 25/10/2022 13:43

So we’ve been in touch with her and she confirmed that she did take both sets of cash and didn’t offer any explanation as to why she had done that. Just updating for those who were convinced that my husband had taken it/lied about leaving it.

Still cogitating about what to do about it.

In that case I'd ask her to return the £50 and then not come back.

Regularsizedrudy · 25/10/2022 13:48

Katrinawaves · 25/10/2022 13:43

So we’ve been in touch with her and she confirmed that she did take both sets of cash and didn’t offer any explanation as to why she had done that. Just updating for those who were convinced that my husband had taken it/lied about leaving it.

Still cogitating about what to do about it.

Soo… have you asked for it back or what?

Wexone · 25/10/2022 13:50

So have you told her that covers payment for next week or are you not allowing her to come back ?

Salome61 · 25/10/2022 13:54

I can't understand why you didn't ask 'why did you take it without checking with me' as you were home? Normally if it was a bonus the person would come and say thank you?

lalta · 25/10/2022 14:20

if i was you i would look for another cleaner as she didn't seem worried that she had taken it and then trust issues start coming in that's my view

TiredMama05 · 25/10/2022 15:50

How odd! I thinks it’s really hard - but maybe that’s just me - to be so direct and ask ‘why’ as it seems a bit confrontational but sometimes people play on our desire to avoid conflict! I’d ask something like ‘May I ask why you took both?’ Or something to give her an out like ‘I assume both were taken by mistake or that it was to cover next week too?’ And see what she says.

I would definitely be questioning her integrity now though if she hasn’t offered an explanation!

marcopront · 25/10/2022 16:36

Salome61 · 25/10/2022 13:54

I can't understand why you didn't ask 'why did you take it without checking with me' as you were home? Normally if it was a bonus the person would come and say thank you?

I don't understand why the OP didn't ask the cleaner if she had been paid by her husband.

Thymely · 25/10/2022 16:54

Both lots of money were not out at the same time. She had picked up the first payment early and then saw you had put out more money for her later, she would assume that you were deliberately paying her extra. I would say a misunderstanding, she might have been a bit baffled by why you put out more money, but why question it?

NotAKnowitall · 25/10/2022 18:43

The excuse of 'being on autopilot' really doesn't hold up as two major questions come up:

  1. She would have noticed the first set of money in her money wallet/purse when putting away the second lot of money. Cleaners don't keep money in random pockets - it's all in the same place.
  1. If she genuinely didn't notice, she would have noticed when she had finished her jobs and found she had an extra £50. She should have sent a message to her clients or rang the agency to confess her mistake before someone reported her.

For the reasons above, it sounds like theft to me.

marcopront · 26/10/2022 05:00

NotAKnowitall · 25/10/2022 18:43

The excuse of 'being on autopilot' really doesn't hold up as two major questions come up:

  1. She would have noticed the first set of money in her money wallet/purse when putting away the second lot of money. Cleaners don't keep money in random pockets - it's all in the same place.
  1. If she genuinely didn't notice, she would have noticed when she had finished her jobs and found she had an extra £50. She should have sent a message to her clients or rang the agency to confess her mistake before someone reported her.

For the reasons above, it sounds like theft to me.

She may do multiple jobs and so didn't notice that there was more money in her purse.

The OP posted the morning it happened so the cleaner wouldn't have been home and had time to check

The cleaner has said she took it twice.

OnTheBrinkOfChange · 26/10/2022 07:39

She has admitted to stealing money from you. She didn't have any explanation for taking it. You really need to take this further.

weetee0102 · 26/10/2022 13:12

If she admitted she took both lots that must mean that she either knew at the time she was taking both or realised later and still said nothing until you asked her. Either way trust would be gone if that was me, I wouldn't want her to lose her lively hood. I mean it does make you question integrity but I suppose she could have an explanation shes not offered up yet, but, for me, I'd still not feel right about continuing with her employment, make up some excuse to the agency and I'd part ways.