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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Paying cleaner when off

136 replies

MagicMatilda · 09/04/2023 20:53

DH and I are in a disagreement…our cleaner is taking 3 weeks off for surgery in June.

I think we should still pay her but DH thinks we shouldn’t.

What would you do? Thanks

OP posts:
Sierra26 · 09/04/2023 22:30

No- she’s self employed and will (should) be factoring in her own holiday and sick pay etc in to the fee she charges.

maybe send her a gift or something instead to show you care, but don’t blur the lines by paying her

Totalwasteofpaper · 09/04/2023 22:43

I personally would pay but our cleaner is lovely and a good cleaner.

Lolaandbehold · 09/04/2023 23:41

I tend to pay my cleaner when I’m away (I don’t like her coming when I’m away) but not when she takes time off.
If it were non elective surgery I might consider it.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 10/04/2023 07:50

I tend to pay my cleaner when I’m away (I don’t like her coming when I’m away)

How dirty does your house get when nobody is living in it?! Or do you go away alone whilst your family stay behind?

dig135 · 10/04/2023 08:02

I don't pay my cleaner when she doesn't come, even if it's due to my holiday.

But I've given her two pay rises in the last year (without being asked) and we have a good relationship so hopefully I'm not putting her nose out too much.

I definitely wouldn't pay in your circumstances.

dig135 · 10/04/2023 08:02

*out of joint

Tockomtele · 10/04/2023 08:03

I totally wouldn't. Cleaners hourly rates are ridiculous in my area, on MN the argument is always 'because the don't get paid holidays/sick leave'.

JustDanceAddict · 10/04/2023 08:06

I don’t pay my cleaner when she’s not cleaned. She wouldn’t expect it, it’s not a PAYE role. I also do freelance work and don’t get paid holiday etc. that’s the nature itself-employment.
I do give a bonus at Xmas and I’m generous in other ways to her.

Clymene · 10/04/2023 08:11

AltheaVestr1t · 09/04/2023 21:11

A good cleaner is worth their weight in gold. I've had the same cleaner for 8 years. I pay him when he's off for illness (very rarely) and for holidays (maybe 2-3 weeks a year). I paid him when he couldn't work for lockdown. He is always flexible when we need him to be and he never lets us down. If she's worth keeping, pay her!

Same

Instructionmanual · 10/04/2023 08:11

It would be nice of you to pay her, but you don't have to. I've been a self employed cleaner in the past. I expected to be paid if the customer initiated the absence, but not if I did. So I would not expect to be paid if ill, or going for surgery.

PicaK · 10/04/2023 08:12

I'm not sure that the comparison with self employed freelancers on managerial salaries is a good one. Yes you'd expect them to be factoring in holiday pay etc
Cleaners on much less - not so much.
I'd pay or rather gift. Karma and good will would make it worth it for me.

YellowGreenBlue · 10/04/2023 08:13

I don't pay my cleaner when she doesn't come but I use an agency so it's a bit different.

On another note - make sure your DH does his share when she's off!

Lottieoxo · 10/04/2023 08:13

dig135 · 10/04/2023 08:02

I don't pay my cleaner when she doesn't come, even if it's due to my holiday.

But I've given her two pay rises in the last year (without being asked) and we have a good relationship so hopefully I'm not putting her nose out too much.

I definitely wouldn't pay in your circumstances.

Why do you not pay when it's your holiday? That seems harsh.

Irritateandunreasonable · 10/04/2023 08:16

I think you sound like a really good person & if you can afford it then please do it.

a lot of pp of here are saying ‘I wouldn’t because they are self employed’ there doesn’t seem to be a human, compassionate element to it that cleaners are generally low paid with limited work availability and I think the selfish mentality of people that can afford to pay this low paid worker but don’t want to because they ‘don’t have to’ is really sad.

GloryBees · 10/04/2023 08:17

i paid my cleaner all through lockdown and also when it was semi lockdown and I didn’t think it was right for her to come. But I don’t pay holidays, and she’s very rarely sick. She is self employed and it’s important she is treated like that.

Sparklfairy · 10/04/2023 08:20

Apparently everyone on MN does this but where I live, and was a SE cleaner, it was never a thing. Ever. Affluent area, all my clients were lovely people, but no, they didn't pay me if I was off. Didn't get a Christmas bonus or anything extra like that either - I think I got given a pannetone once by one client. I'm not complaining, you don't expect these things and factor holiday pay into what you charge, but MN is a very different world compared to my experience!

NutellaEllaElla · 10/04/2023 08:22

Honestly, it's only on mumsnet that I have heard of people paying cleaners when they don't actually clean their house.

FinallyHere · 10/04/2023 08:43

I’m scared she will leave but my husband doesn’t have this same fear as wouldn’t make any difference to his work load

That's the problem right there

FinallyHere · 10/04/2023 08:45

We pay cleaner and gardener the day way, weekly standing order.

We pay for a service, and know we have get more time and attention some weeks than others. It's all good.

WittyW00 · 10/04/2023 08:45

Agree with previous messages, as a cleaner, I don’t expect to get paid at all if I haven’t cleaned through anybody’s fault. It’s frustrating when it’s not my fault but also part and parcel of being self employed and I pay my insurance annually anyway so don’t think myself ‘out of pocket’ for anything other than that weeks grocery budget. All my customers say I’m brilliant and I have a waiting list but only one of customers ever pays me (or asks I still invoice) when there’s a gap and this Christmas I got gifts (instead of money from those that usually do)which again was still great. I often wish I was compensated in line with how much they say they value me but I’m also realistic that having someone clean your house is paying for a very temporary fix. If you truly value her and can afford/justify it then still pay her as it’s a lovely thing to do.

DiscoBeat · 10/04/2023 08:47

We haven't got a cleaner but we did pay our gardener when he had an operation. He doesn't get paid if he doesn't work and is excellent - we don't want to lose him!

thegrain · 10/04/2023 08:48

I wouldn't it's patronising

CamoFlamingo · 10/04/2023 08:51

I wouldn't. It's part and parcel of being self employed that you don't get paid holidays or sick days imo.

dig135 · 10/04/2023 08:52

Why do you not pay when it's your holiday? That seems harsh.

In fairness, she's never asked and I checked she was happy with that before she started cleaning for us.

She writes lovely cards and texts and we get on really well. I'm also happy to be flexible if she needs to leave early, help her with other stuff (I reviewed her son's personal statement for example and have helped with some medical stuff) and am relaxed/hands off about what she does when she's here.

We're probably only away 4 times a year so it's not that big a deal (and the pay rises more than cover those missed weeks). But it's a fair point you make and I can see the other side when it's my holiday, rather than hers.

Copasetic · 10/04/2023 08:53

It wouldn't have crossed my mind to pay her. I pay her when she comes.

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