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!

‘a bit cheeky’ That’s an understatement.

Have you told them yet? I feel sorry for the dogs but that's it .......

£30 'bonus' they didn't even give you and they're trying to put upon you even more!

Good for you for making the decision you won't be going in Boxing Day. Enjoy the time with your friend and look forward to your new job. But be strong and start the way you mean to go on with the new people - set your boundaries and stick to them.

Good luck!

‘That doesnt work with my christmas schedule. I will be in work on x at x. Merry Christmas.’

done.

Tell them to stuff it.

A £30 bonus is an insult for what you’re doing. We give our cleaner £100 and she does 3 hours a week!

Also here to say £30 was awful to begin with. I give my weekly cleaner £100 and when I had a nanny 5 years ago she used to get £350 plus gifts from the kids.

I thought the standard for household help was 1-2 weeks wages as a Christmas bonus?

Definitely don’t go in at 7am Boxing Day!

My DS has two carers who look after him just a few hours a week in addition to their main jobs. We got them each £50 plus a large box of chocolates.

As your main employer they should really be giving far more, the 'bonus' you were offered is pathetic Op. Do you really want to continue working for people who clearly don't appreciate you?

Oh yeah, I replied about ten minutes after starting this thread!

Have you had any response?

In the mean time, why don't you join a cleaning agency so that you can leave this job ASAP?

There should be loads of post nye clean up work.

Entitled arseholes. I would just blank them till your'e supposed to be back on duty, then "regretfully" hand in your notice.

Oh my god, don’t go back! They sound disgustingly entitled!

Sounds awful

Might be time to name and shame op

Public holiday rates = double time and a half.

Time to say goodbye to this job! Merry Christmas to you ❤️

Thirty pounds!!
Even if you got it that is ridiculous, our part time housekeeper got a weeks wages as her bonus.
I thought that was the done thing.

Just say "I'm not available on Boxing Day" only resign when you've had chance to really think through whether it suits you to resign now or wait until after Xmas. They sound awful!

Tell them that you have already made plans for Boxing Day and won't be available. This is a job and your going 'above and beyond' for the lot of them is clearly being taken for granted, no appreciation is being shown and furthermore they're treating you badly. If money will be tight, maybe just work until the middle of January and then leave - that way you only need to use savings for 2 weeks rather than 4.

30 Pounds? Cheap f*s! I give 50 to the postman.

Tell them you can't as your ugly stepsisters are insisting you clean the fireplace on Boxing Day, your car has turned back into a pumpkin and you can only find one shoe.

I wouldn't go back in at all OP.
They obviously don't appreciate your efforts so why should you bother ?

Glad to see in your update that you’ve replied no. Totally get wanting to start a thread to vent. They sound hideous !!

as many others on here have said 1)it’s far too short notice for boxing day now! And 2)although I can only dream of having a housekeeper, I give my cleaner more than £30 at Christmas !

Why on earth would you name and shame a private employer? There's nothing to gain and it would be very tacky.

Just count the days until you leave, op. You're well out of there.

😂😂😂😂

Thank you for making me laugh!

Hold out for 10 times your bonus.
You’re worth a lot more than you realise, and your personal time is worth a lot more than your work time.