To refuse to go in extra on boxing day because they kept my bonus?

[Housekeeperbatcocoa]

I'm not sure where to start with this one, sorry!

I work as a private housekeeper on a large farm/estate. The lady who owns the house is and always has been difficult and demanding, as is the rest of the family. She's been in and out of hospital this year with various injuries and I've been working my backside off to help - even going in on an evening to close the house up for her because she couldn't walk and none of her family would help her!

She's back in hospital atm and her daughters have also been putting on me in various ways - shopping runs for them, constant texts about stuff and just basically treating me like a skivvy from the Downton Abby days!

I accidentally saw a message saying she'd planned to give me £30 bonus for Christmas. When I left yesterday the oldest daughter gave me a card which I assumed had my bonus. Said thank you, came home. Just got around to opening it and the envelope had clearly been opened and there's no money in it.

That's fine - people can change their minds and if they have it is what it is. Though part of me can't help but think the oldest daughter has taken the money from the card 🙁 can't prove it, obviously, but that's what my gut says 😕

But they've just messaged me to say I need to go in on boxing day to "sort the dogs out". She wants me to go for 7am because no one else will be there.

I haven't answered yet but I feel like telling them to get stuffed and just not going back.

I've got a new job lined up for Feb and while it would be tight, I could manage without this one for the month!

Definitely do not now to thier demands. They all sound horrific!

I wouldn't go OP, and would be tempted to just chuck it in and enjoy January after that. Tell the owner explicitly why you are leaving and that you didn't so much as receive a bottle of wine or box of sweet for Christmas, and leave her figure out where the £30 went from there.

“I’m not available on Boxing Day”

"Sorry, this is too short notice - I have other plans."

That's a bit cheeky of them!

Just say that doesn't work for you. It's too late notice surely anyway if you're on leave?

Hand in your notice with immediate notice! No one needs that in their life. Are the dogs part of your job?! Or politely say you already have plans on Boxing Day (which I presume is your day off?)

Why go above and beyond honestly. Also £30 is a miserly bonus. I give my fortnightly cleaner £100 and it sounds like you are a much bigger part of their lives than that! I hope your next job is much better for you.

Just tell them your busy Boxing Day and hand your notice in as well, if your finances allow. They don’t sound like good people to work for.

This is ridiculous. If you can survive without going in, then quit now. If you can't, then you're not available on Boxing Day.

What horrible, mean people to remove a £30 Christmas bonus. It wasn't exactly a generous bonus to start with.

I want to tell them where to stuff their job on your behalf.

A £30 bonus is miserly in the first place! I wouldn’t make myself available over rh vacation period but would probably see out January so you’re not left with too tight a budget

It will cost £50 for a boxing day visit

I'd reply "I was your relatives housekeeper not a skivvy. Now thanks to your ungrateful attitude I'm no longer their housekeeper. Take this message as my notice to quit with immediate effect".

£30 bonus is a joke! Absolutely say no.

work your notice for the reference you will need. Politely decline Boxing Day as you have made plans. Work your set hours only.

Their loss, your gain you sound marvellous

In your shoes & in those circumstances I would expect that bonus to be significantly larger. £30 is an insult.
It should be min 1 weeks wages, more as you've been going above & beyond.

Text back
Sorry, that's my day off & I have plans that I will not change to accommodate your lack of planning.

I think that at the very least, it's reasonable of you to not respond to the message. It's very short notice, and people are often very busy at this time of year, so the 'I didn't see it' excuse would fly if you needed it to.

Give yourself a break. It's Christmas. They're not in charge of you.

£30!!!! Are they living in the 1950s? That's an incredibly stingy amount. If I were you, I would tell her you are busy and send your resignation in the same message

@Housekeeperbatcocoa your phone is off!!!!! they can get up and do their own dogs. you are not a kennelmaid!

£30???

’my fee for Boxing Day is £100 - to be paid directly into my account today’

ye gods! I give the bin men £50!!!

Well do you have set working hours/days? Would you normally have boxing day off or would you be expected to work? Bonus is irrelevant unfortunately.

I would expect a Christmas bonus to be an extra week's pay. I always gave my cleaner double pay in Christmas week as a thank you. Plus a bottle of wine or nice chocs.

Don't even think of it. Cheeky fuckers!

Let them shove their miserly bonus and their rotten job where the sun don't shine! Bloody users!

It’s too short notice . How do they know you don’t have plans to be away from home ?