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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:
CustardySergeant · 21/10/2022 21:10

Were both lots of money in envelopes with her name on/beside a note with her name on?

Original poster
Katrinawaves · 21/10/2022 21:12

CustardySergeant · 21/10/2022 21:10

Were both lots of money in envelopes with her name on/beside a note with her name on?

No. In both cases it was just £50 in notes sitting on the table

OP posts:
ScaryFaces · 21/10/2022 21:13

Could she have assumed you meant to leave out two weeks worth of pay and won't expect pay next time? I occasionally pay my cleaner for the week ahead as well as this week, depending on what cash/change I have to hand.

tandmoo · 21/10/2022 21:13

Why do you pay her if she works for an agency?

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 21/10/2022 21:13

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.

With that attitude I wouldn't want you in my home. I'd be worried what else you might help yourself to because times are hard!

antipodeancanary · 21/10/2022 21:14

Hi Lisa/Emma. Sorry, seems we both left money out for you yesterday. Are you okay to just keep the extra and we won't leave anything next week? Many thanks x

Wexone · 21/10/2022 21:15

If I leave out double the money for my cleaner she knows that it's paying for next week too. is it the same cleaner each time? have a polite conversation with her to clear up the confusion

ilukp · 21/10/2022 21:15

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

This update changes my opinion. She knew perfectly well that is wasn't a bonus. She should have said, "Excuse me, your husband has already paid" or similar. Suggests to me she is dishonest.
I'd ring the agency and explain what has happened. They can then talk to her.
I wouldn't let her get away with that.

girlmom21 · 21/10/2022 21:15

How long was she there for?

Meagainalready · 21/10/2022 21:15

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.

Don’t demean the cleaner this way.
She isn’t their slave. She is working in a good job of her choice and hopefully making a decent living. There is no shame in being a cleaner.

scoobydoo1971 · 21/10/2022 21:16

I was in a very similar situation last year. I ended up sacking the cleaner. She was overpaid, in the middle of a sudden family bereavement. She had worked for my mother, but came to work for me when she died. I hadn't been through the books at the point so I paid her as she claimed to be owed money. A week later I discovered she had been paid twice. My mother had paid one month salary in advance, died suddenly and then the cleaner claimed she wasn't paid so I had to remedy that on the spot. Upon being discovered, she refused to pay it back as had spent it. She didn't want to give back all the cleaning equipment she borrowed either unless I promised her more hours, better pay etc, so I told her to make it appear or I would inform the police as it was quite a bit of money involved in the equipment. I was furious about the deception at a time of family crisis, and lack of decency. I sacked her when she turned up with my equipment, but she came back months later to ask for her job back. It is not the money OP, but the principle. I suggest you wait this out and see if your cleaner admits to the payment error. If not, I would find another trustworthy cleaner as you cannot have someone in your home with no integrity.

ThisIsHardcore · 21/10/2022 21:16

@Katrinawaves I can see this from both angles. I had a cleaner when my DC were little (I'm still in touch with her now, 20 years on). I can see how a cleaner could very reasonably take double pay on the assumption that you had deliberately left it out, so I'd ask her rather than sack her. Communication is always the best way. That said, I know for an absolute 100% fact that my cleaner would never, ever have taken double pay, even if we'd left it out either accidentally or on purpose. I could have left a thousand pounds out and she wouldn't have touched it. The fact that your cleaner comes via an agency is an added complication, but I'd definitely speak to her before doing anything.

gavisconismyfriend · 21/10/2022 21:17

It could easily be a mistake. If it was in the same place at different times she might have picked the second lot up on automatic pilot as she left. Peri-menopausal brain means I could v easily do this kind of thing at the moment, no harm intended!

NormaTheWife · 21/10/2022 21:20

@Katrinawaves you must have some kind of idea about what kind of person she is? What are your feelings about this really? I would feel that I would be able to trust her less but obviously I don't know her like you.

MarshaBradyo · 21/10/2022 21:20

I don’t think you should pay twice due to mistake but I also wouldn’t assume dishonesty / theft

It could be just auto pilot or thinking you’re away next week. She deserves a chance imo to say why

FirewomanSam · 21/10/2022 21:21

gavisconismyfriend · 21/10/2022 21:17

It could easily be a mistake. If it was in the same place at different times she might have picked the second lot up on automatic pilot as she left. Peri-menopausal brain means I could v easily do this kind of thing at the moment, no harm intended!

I was going to say exactly this. If it was the same amount of money, in the same place, at two different moments, she could easily have picked it up by mistake.

Imagine you took some money off a table and then when you went to the table again an hour later the money was still there. You’d probably think ‘oh whoops, I thought I picked that up earlier’ and pocket it again.

Just speak to her about it and I’m sure the mix-up will be cleared right up.

CarefreeMe · 21/10/2022 21:22

You can’t punish her for your mistake.

It sounds like you are too embarrassed to speak to her about it so instead just want to sack her.

She could have thought it was a bonus or as it was at different times she just picked them up automatically and didn’t clock that she’d already picked some up.

SaulHudsonDavidJones · 21/10/2022 21:23

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.

Yep I agree with this. It's dishonesty. How could anyone think the same amount of cash paid twice was anything but a mistake? And she should have said something, whether it was your mistake or not. It's called integrity.

Martinisarebetterdirty · 21/10/2022 21:24

I’d sack her. You were in the house and she didn’t mention it to you, she could have left a note thanking you or sent a message via the agency. She’s in your home you have to trust her and I wouldn’t after this. id also tell the agency, she could ruin their business. If it’s an honest mistake she will have told them.

HaPPy8 · 21/10/2022 21:24

SaulHudsonDavidJones · 21/10/2022 21:23

Yep I agree with this. It's dishonesty. How could anyone think the same amount of cash paid twice was anything but a mistake? And she should have said something, whether it was your mistake or not. It's called integrity.

Show quote history

3rd this! It may be innocent!

SaulHudsonDavidJones · 21/10/2022 21:25

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?

Exactly!

Martinisarebetterdirty · 21/10/2022 21:27

To those saying it could be a mistake, it’s a pile of cash not in an envelope, where would you put it, oh your pocket or wallet where the other cash already is. Depending on rates in the area that’s 3-5 hours work, so even if you’re her second job of the day that’s still half a day’s pay extra, who wouldn’t notice that?

MouldyCheeseandBiscuits · 21/10/2022 21:27

You can only sack someone you employ
If you employ her then you need to instigate your disciplinary procedures.

If you procure a service then you terminate the service- you do not sack an individual.

(just helping you avoid an expensive legal action as you seem confused)

Greatcheeser · 21/10/2022 21:27

Can I change my vote...I was Unreasonable until you made it clear that she'd picked up one payment early and then a second one later, so I'm veering towards Reasonable now. I do hate half a story.

GloriousGlory · 21/10/2022 21:29

If she's via an agency, why aren't you paying via the agency? Instead of cash directly?

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