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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:
IglesiasPiggl · 10/04/2023 09:00

How long has she been working for you and how good is she? If she's great and had been working for you a while then I would pay her half for the weeks she's off. If she's new and you're not sure she'll come back to you after the break then less so.

thecatsthecats · 10/04/2023 09:06

Cosyblankets · 09/04/2023 21:07

I'm not sure what I think about this. Most self employed people factor in that they don't get paid when off when they set their hourly rate. I'm self employed and I don't expect to be paid when I don't work.
Somehow on here people seem to pay an awful lot of money for people to do nothing. If it's a cleaner you've either got to clean your own house or pay someone else to do it.

Yep, I'm going self employed, and I have planned out my finances to manage voids in earnings.

I hate that we have this mushy system of some people get tipped and others don't.

Toddlerteaplease · 10/04/2023 09:07

Mine is on holiday. I can't afford to pay her for a job she's not doing.

Toddlerteaplease · 10/04/2023 09:08

My cleaner earns a higher hourly rate than I do.

3peassuit · 10/04/2023 09:08

I would pay, good reliable cleaners are like gold dust round my way.

BeetleBailey · 10/04/2023 09:08

You want to pay somebody when they aren't actually doing the job you're paying for?

Seems odd

imtoooldforthisshite · 10/04/2023 09:32

I don't like being compared to a window cleaner. I hold a very trusted position in my houses that I work in, I hold keys, know alarm codes, and have access to every single inch of peoples homes. You would be amazed at how many people confide in their cleaners. I work hard, and do a great job. I also pop in to let dogs out, put chickens away, feed cats. Pick up medicine and shopping for my older customers, anything I can do within reason to help. I am integral in many of my families lives to help keep everything going, working in peoples most private of sanctuary's - their home! Pay don't pay, up to you but don't listen to people on the internet who a) probably don't have/ have never had a cleaner so therefore don't understand the relationship you have and b) I can assure you she won't be expecting you to pay, so if you do it will be a wonderful and most appreciated surprise and if you don't - she wasn't expecting it anyway.

nomoremerlot · 10/04/2023 09:35

I pay my cleaner sick pay and holiday pay.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 10/04/2023 09:37

I do think there's an element of whether somebody has actively chosen to be self-employed or not.

Many people in trades will start out as an apprentice or 'mate' or other kind of employee, but then decide they would prefer to go it alone for greater autonomy, better working conditions and more income. If they don't want the greater responsibility and uncertainty of being SE, a skilled, experienced plumber will likely find employment with a company.

If you're a cleaner - which is hard work but not necessarily highly skilled - and you can only do Tuesday mornings or Saturday evenings, to fit in with childcare or other commitments (maybe even it's your second job, as you simply can't make ends meet with one NMW job) - who do you think would be willing to take you on as their employee?

SunnySaturdayMorning · 10/04/2023 09:37

No. If she’s not working, she doesn’t get paid. That’s how being self-employed works.

gogohmm · 10/04/2023 09:39

No, my cleaners have always been paid for work done only - they invoice me like any other contractor. Their hourly rate reflects that they don't get paid holidays £17.50 currently. More than I'm paid for my desk job (with holidays)

RaininSummer · 10/04/2023 09:49

I thought that hourly rates were quite high normally for cleaners as people always say it's because they are self employed and so don't get sick or holiday pay. So no I wouldn't pay.

MoreSleepPleasee · 10/04/2023 09:52

I wouldn't no. She could claim benefits for the time she isn't working or if she is already claiming benefits they would increase her payments if she has no Income.

imtoooldforthisshite · 10/04/2023 09:57

Complete and utter rubbish from the poster above...

Original poster
MagicMatilda · 10/04/2023 12:40

A real mixed bag although lots of helpful insight, thank you.

I think my DH is extra cautious as our previous cleaner we paid during covid, had actually taken another job and had no intention of coming back to us!!! Argh still hurts.

OP posts:
dig135 · 10/04/2023 12:47

Ouch! Not surprised that rankles...

Sugarplumfairy65 · 10/04/2023 12:53

I wouldn't ever again. I continued to pay my cleaner of 5 years for 18 months during Covid because I was shielding. She came back, did one deep clean , charged me an extra £200 for it (it wasn't in a bad state because my daughter had been doing it) then told me she wasnt coming back because someone else had been using my weekly slot for the past year and was more convenient for her because it was closer to her home. The. Cheeky Bugger had been taking my pip money all that time knowing she wasn't going to continue cleaning for me.

Original poster
MagicMatilda · 10/04/2023 13:03

OMG that’s awful @Sugarplumfairy65 The cheek of someone people is just unbelievable

OP posts:
Cosyblankets · 10/04/2023 13:08

Sugarplumfairy65 · 10/04/2023 12:53

I wouldn't ever again. I continued to pay my cleaner of 5 years for 18 months during Covid because I was shielding. She came back, did one deep clean , charged me an extra £200 for it (it wasn't in a bad state because my daughter had been doing it) then told me she wasnt coming back because someone else had been using my weekly slot for the past year and was more convenient for her because it was closer to her home. The. Cheeky Bugger had been taking my pip money all that time knowing she wasn't going to continue cleaning for me.

And probably claiming the EISS grant

Sugarplumfairy65 · 10/04/2023 13:56

MagicMatilda · 10/04/2023 13:03

OMG that’s awful @Sugarplumfairy65 The cheek of someone people is just unbelievable

I know. It really upset me at the time. It wasn't just the money. It felt like she'd deliberately hoodwinked me.
I've seen her advertising recently on social media saying she has vacancies . At one time I would have recommended her, but not anymore.

catsareme14 · 10/04/2023 14:44

Imtoooldforthisshite.
I agree with you .

Fynoderee · 10/04/2023 16:02

I wouldn’t expect my clients to pay anything when I’m off.
I’m Self-Employed and I charge a rate that covers all my costs. Being off sick is a risk of self employment.
Your cleaner will probably be keen to get back to work and earning so I doubt she’ll not return if you don’t pay her now.

I do see a lot of people that pay their cleaners barely minimum wage and give them extra money at Christmas and holiday time like that is adequate compensation.

drpet49 · 10/04/2023 16:05

BeetleBailey · 10/04/2023 09:08

You want to pay somebody when they aren't actually doing the job you're paying for?

Seems odd

This. She is self employed and so doesn’t get paid when she doesn’t work.

Zanatdy · 10/04/2023 16:08

I never have but I think it would be nice to

WaltzingWaters · 10/04/2023 16:09

I wouldn’t. Being self employed you generally factor no holiday/sickness into a higher wage in the first place.
if it’s someone you’ve had for years and who’s amazing, well, maybe give her something.

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