... another cleaners one.

[squeekyclean111]

I'll try to keep it short and sweet.

We have a cleaner who comes once a week for 2 hours. We got him via an agency we pay monthly. We've previously had other cleaners and we were very happy with them. They left for external reasons (one finishing college and the other one finding a job elsewhere).

This new one, he is nice but always arrives 10min late and always leaves 10min before the 2 hours. His cleaning is okay but not amazing, so it is not (in my opinion) the case of being extremely efficient.

Am I being very petty for being annoyed for paying 2 hours clean and receiving 1hr40min? or is this an acceptable standard?

Nope, not acceptable at all. He needs to work the full two hours you pay for.

YANBU, as the cleaning is not to a good standard, he should stay and complete the job.

Get another cleaner

YANBU. I’d pay the company for the hours he actually works. I’m sure you’d soon see a change for the better!

What did the agency say when you spoke to them?
I assume you've told them the clean isnt up to standard and he is skipping out on 20 minutes of working time?

No I have the same thing. I think 20 minutes out of a chunk of 120 minutes is quite a large amount of time. Especially when there are always other things they could clean. I hate confrontation so have just continually left it with my cleaner but even on the weeks when I’m working from home she will say bye 15 minutes before her actual time and drive off 🙈

YANBU to me - 20 mins out of 120 is a high percentage of the cleaning time not being used! I'd mention it to him, then if he doesn't start doing the full time I'd speak to the agency.

I've worked for set hours like this, generally if you've done the work and 3/4 of an hour then I've had contracts stating full hour is chargeable.

But the key is having done the work. If he's not performing to standard then what's the point?

I'd not be happy either. Just ask the agency for someone else and to not send him again. 🤷

I would not be happy with that.
My cleaner has started doing the same. I am going to speak to her about it, and give her the chance to rectify.

Leave a list.
Hi cleaner, we noticed you have been done a bit earlier - if you do have spare minutes left please can you do a few windows /paintwork /whatever to make up the time..
Cheers op.

Ask the agency for another cleaner to replace the one you have now.

Am I being very petty for being annoyed for paying 2 hours clean and receiving 1hr40min?

No.

But posting about it on MN isn't going to fix it, & you must surely already know that when you pay for 2 hours work, the payee is obliged to provide those 2 hours? So when are you going to address the issue with your cleaner, so that he knows that his 20 minute skive is unacceptable?

How is it a confrontation to calmly & politely ask that she works her contracted hours?

You could even phrase it as a negotiation - "Anne, I've noticed you are leaving 15 mins early - do you have a time clash, & would it help you to only commit to 1 hour 45 each time, instead of the full 2 hours?"

This has happened with every cleaner we’ve ever had I’ve had to say so many times ‘of you finish the list a bit early just ask and I’ll find something else that needs doing (usually a once in a while task like dusting some ornaments or cleaning windows etc) but they always leave early it’s starts off a few mins then they just leave earlier and earlier !

I think it can be because they become more efficient so get through easier each week,sometimes with ten minutes to spare it isn't worth starting an extra job.
Plus how much would 20mins cost you?if the work is good is it worth bothering about?I say this as a one off now and again but this is weekly?
However if you don't feel the cleaning is up to standard than yes do clarify times and payment with the agency.

The cleaner is male.

You can send a text if you are worried about talking face to face. Along the lines of what pp have suggested.

Because you are paying for something you are not getting!!!

It would bother anyone - and yes it is definitely worth sorting it out. You don't order dinner in a restaurant but it arrives minus the chips that were advertised. You have paid for the chips, you expect the chips. Why would it be any different with cleaning? Cleaners should not be knocking off early. There is always something that can be done in 10 minutes. A quick cleaning of odd window, plumping cushions. Cleaning down appliances etc.

I would let go of anyone that was disrespectful enough to consistently leave early or arrive late. I am dealing with it now, and if it carries on she will be replaced.
I am not paying for cleaning time that isn't being used in my home.
I am not paying for someone to leave early.
I find it disrespectful.

email agency. Send pictures/description of what issues are
ask for an inspection to be carried out at his next clean to check his standard vs what you are paying for. Let them try to retrain/ reset expectations of standards not you.

If that doesn’t fix it, or you don’t want that, Say straight up you are not happy with cleaner and why. Say they can try a different cleaner and if you’re not happy still you will go elsewhere . Or just say, with no reasons, you don’t require their services anymore. Entirely up to you. But you can request the agency deal with issue through an inspection first.

you do NOT have to be loyal to a cleaning company or cleaner. Generally, as I’ve posted on these threads before, standards slip after a period of time anyway (the honeymoon period when they’re still trying to impress you or it’s the original cleaners coming who heard what you needed first hand ) , and you should change cleaners every few years at latest to ensure you’re paying for what you actually want. Treat it like banks, energy companies etc- you gain nothing by staying loyal.

not unless you are so lucky to find a gem of an individual cleaner who does the perfect job you want. But even then you risk them being poached, going sick etc , so there’s no guarantee you’ll have them for long term .

So?

I'm sure anyone reading is capable of substituting pronouns & thereby not accidentally mis-gendering their cleaner.

Besides, this isn't OP's cleaner - it's BCxx's cleaner.
Who is female.

As the cleaning isn't to a good standard you have every right to complain. Our cleaner ostensibly comes for 2 hours a week - she usually leaves 15-20 mins or so early but she does such an amazing job that I feel like I'm paying for the service not the hours. As you're getting neither the service nor the hours I'd have a word with him (not the agency! At least not initially. Give him a chance to improve)

tbh you are using an agency, one of the few great things about using an agency is that you don't need to put up with any nonsense, or deal with it yourself. This is what you are paying them for!

I would ask for a new cleaner today (tell them why if you want to or they ask) and when a new cleaners starts map out immediately that you expect them to arrive and finish on time every time they visit, and any other things that are important to you.

It’s not just disrespectful, it is similar to fraud.

Either they’ve overestimated the time taken for the job and therefore overcharging. Or the cleaner is not doing job to right standards the company has used in its coatings. It’s physical work and that takes a standard amount of time per cleaner, which can be calculated based on technique, tools and individual etc. you don’t conjure “spare time” out of no where when working- it comes through efficiency gains or reducing standards. If it’s efficiency gains the company should either adjust hours in contract or reduce costs. Transparently

at start of contract cleans may cost more while they work round house to get it to standard needed - and then routine cleans are charged less once in maintenance mode. Same as my window cleaners. I stopped them , for 5 months while I had building work. They’re charging me and extra £50 for a restart clean to get windows back to standard needed for routine cleans - after that I’ll go back to my old £14 a go charge.