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AIBU?

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Original poster

Cleaner's notice

55 replies

Berlioze · 14/09/2023 00:21

Background story: few months ago I saw a post on my Fb neighbourhood group, a local girl (somewhere between 25-30 yo) started her cleaning business. I didn't have a cleaner before, but I've been looking for one and I messaged her. We agreed she would start that week on a certain day. All good.

She arrived late and clearly just finished smoking cigarettes as the smell was rather strong. I'm not a smoker so picked up on it immediately. I wasn't overly concerned though, ultimately that's her choice. She did the clean which was ok, but she could've been more thorough. I offered her a cuppa and biscuits and had a good chat with her about her previous job, new business, her DC and partner. I built up decent rapport with her.

On several occasions after that she again wasn't as attentive as I'd hoped for despite the fact she asked what I'd like her to do and I had a very open chat with her about what things she can/cannot include in a standard clean. She was just cutting corners, eg I'd ask her to wipe surfaces in the bedroom, she'd wipe one unit but not the other one or bedside tables, this sort of thing. It was a bit annoying, but I thought nevermind, still a great help.

She then cancelled her visit once, allegedly had a problem with her car. She lives close enough to walk from her house to mine (3 minutes) and I provide supplies. No, she cancelled regardless.

Two weeks later I get a sudden message from her that she is returning to part time work and won't be able to do the cleaning going forward anymore as she'll be working that morning. She gave 24hr notice.

I must say, I was taken aback by such short notice. I planned to go out with my friend that evening and didn't really enjoy it much because I was thinking about all the cleaning tasks piled up at home which I would've done myself before going out to enjoy my evening. I work long hours and have young DC. Time is scarce and precious to me now and I genuinely was so happy I found her to help me out.

I replied to her sending well wishes but I also said that I'd have appreciated a bit more notice so I can plan my weeks going forward and also find a replacement (which is hard...waiting lists everywhere). She replied with a non-apology apology 'sorry you feel this way, I gave a 24hr notice which is reasonable'. Doh.

YABU - a 24 hr notice is enough if someone works for you fortnightly on a permanent basis
YANBU - she should've informed me sooner as she must have been arranging her return to part-time work for some time.

What reasonable notice would you expect to receive in these circumstances?

OP posts:
Fantina · 14/09/2023 00:23

I think she sounds rubbish and unprofessional from the start and so this exit is on brand for her.

Britneyfan · 14/09/2023 00:24

If she’s been doing a fortnightly clean for you for a few months I’d think she should give a minimum of a week’s notice and ideally two. I have found that cleaners often don’t give a lot of notice when I have had them in the past though.

HirplesWithHaggis · 14/09/2023 00:25

She's been working for you for a few hours every fortnight, you weren't happy with her work... Yeah, more notice would have been good but meh.

Glorifried · 14/09/2023 00:25

Someone will do it to her one day. Bet she won't like it!

Original poster
Berlioze · 14/09/2023 00:34

Thanks, my thoughts were also that a week's notice would have been more reasonable and it's just common courtesy.

I'm surprised with the attitude of not acknowledging that she could've acted differently and genuinely apologising and instead she's tried to pin it on me. It's like there are some people in this generation (I'm a decade older than her) that one cannot criticise as they think they can do no wrong. I'd have been mortified if I did this to a customer 🤷🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
VeniVidiWeeWee · 14/09/2023 00:49

And you employed her and paid NI.

Yes?

And she owes you what?

viques · 14/09/2023 00:54

I think you had a lucky escape. I would have been really upset if an amazing cleaner gave me short notice, but a crap cleaner - no problem.At least you won’t feel obliged to give her a reference if she has the cheek to ask for one.

namestevalian · 14/09/2023 00:58

Want professional service , hire a professional company who are insured and have a contract I am afraid .

Only way to guarantee better outcomes with cleaning I think :(

HirplesWithHaggis · 14/09/2023 01:01

VeniVidiWeeWee · 14/09/2023 00:49

And you employed her and paid NI.

Yes?

And she owes you what?

I would imagine she was self employed and responsible for her own tax and NI. Cleaners (does a few hours once a fortnight) are unlikely to be employees.

Original poster
Berlioze · 14/09/2023 01:03

VeniVidiWeeWee · 14/09/2023 00:49

And you employed her and paid NI.

Yes?

And she owes you what?

Eh? No, I didn't. We agreed a fortnightly clean, she's self-employed, it was a contract for services which as such requires a reasonable notice of termination if not specifically agreed.

OP posts:
Original poster
Berlioze · 14/09/2023 01:06

Do you think that's bad cleaning as well? I didn't quite know what to expect tbh, I'm conscious nobody can clean someone else's house the way the owner would. Are your cleaners quite attentive to detail and what do they do as part of a standard clean?

I'm learning for the future here!

OP posts:
MarySmit · 14/09/2023 01:07

At least she told you. I had a cleaner who I had had for years just stop turning up.

In this case it sounds like a lucky escape.

Grumpusaurus · 14/09/2023 01:15

She is not a girl, she is a woman!

Original poster
Berlioze · 14/09/2023 01:22

Grumpusaurus · 14/09/2023 01:15

She is not a girl, she is a woman!

I call my friends girls even though we're nearly 40, don't see a problem. Back to the actual topic...

OP posts:
Grumpusaurus · 14/09/2023 01:44

Berlioze · 14/09/2023 01:22

I call my friends girls even though we're nearly 40, don't see a problem. Back to the actual topic...

Show quote history

In the context of someone working for you, it is utterly patronizing and the height of arrogance!

Forgottenmypasswordagain · 14/09/2023 01:48

She sounds like a poor cleaner, I would not have had her come back if I had to clean things she left. I wouldn't loose sleep over it! Go through an agency would probably be better.

TaigaSno · 14/09/2023 01:57

That's an awfully long post for a small problem. "My cleaner cancelled at short notice" would have done.
It's a bit irritating but not something I could get really worked up over. You didn't have surgery or a holiday cancelled, it's just a few hours of basic cleaning. Your house can't be that dirty that having to clean yourself for a week or two will be such a problem.
When I've had cleaners in the past I would have accepted 24 hours notice as being fine.

tiredofthenoise · 14/09/2023 02:02

She wasn't especially good at her job. That, to me, would be more of a problem than the last-minute notice.

In future, I'd pay close attention to the quality of someone's first day on the job and make a decision to keep them based on that. If they can't be bothered to put forth their very best effort when they should be eager to make a good first impression, they're unlikely to improve much over time. That's true for any job.

If that sounds too harsh, you can point out the areas that need improvement and give them a second chance before moving on to another candidate, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone who doesn't put in top effort doesn't conduct business in the most professional manner.

mondaytosunday · 14/09/2023 02:14

Im surprised you carried in with her in the first place! Yes a weeks notice would have been professional, but frankly she was doing such a poor job I'd let it go as it saves you the awkwardness of having to fire her

KARENJRAYBOULD · 14/09/2023 03:36

She was unfair but equally a lot of clients are. They cancel at the last minute and if we cleaners don't work we don't get paid. I stopped house cleaning due to being cancelled due to holidays and appointments and then returning the following week to twice the amount of work I also disliked fortnightly clients as there is a lot of work after 2 weeks and it can be difficult to fill that slot for the other week. I found lots of people moaning about the cost of £11 an hour in 2022 even though I would see plenty of evidence of lots of money being spent elsewhere. A clean house for the price of a takeaway was not unreasonable. I now work in a dementia unit and get a regular wage and annual leave and when I'm off the work gets done by a colleague. I don't work anywhere near as hard either.

EarringsandLipstick · 14/09/2023 03:43

I'm think you are making a big deal out of a small problem. Should she have given more notice? Ideally, yes. Does it matter? Really, no.

She wasn't great, you weren't that happy so I'm not sure why you'd kept her for so long.

It's like there are some people in this generation (I'm a decade older than her) that one cannot criticise as they think they can do no wrong.

This is a ridiculous, patronising & insulting comment. Her behaviour is a reflection on her, not a generation.

electriclight · 14/09/2023 03:43

She does sound rubbish and unprofessional. I agree that she should've given more than 24 hours notice. But I wouldn't dwell on it now really - it's not unusual for a business or self-employed person to let down a customer and in this case there's nothing you can do about it except let it go.

Coyoacan · 14/09/2023 04:17

It's not a generational problem. In the end, she's giving up the business, so she didn't feel any need to keep in your good books. It was inconsiderate of her, but the word inconsiderate has been around a long time, because this behaviour is nothing new. What is also something that is nothing new is the older generation complaining that the younger generation are not up to scratch. I've seen books from the 18th century making the same complaint

WaltzingWaters · 14/09/2023 04:24

HirplesWithHaggis · 14/09/2023 00:25

She's been working for you for a few hours every fortnight, you weren't happy with her work... Yeah, more notice would have been good but meh.

This. Not great form on her part, but she sounded pretty shit from the start, so I think a lucky escape really, find someone more professional going forward.

PickledPurplePickle · 14/09/2023 05:48

She’s self employed so really she can do what she wants

She sounds flaky anyway

YABU thought not enjoying a night out because you were fretting about cleaning jobs piling up !

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