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!

What have they said now you've told them no?

Absolutely right not to, cheeky fuckers.

£30, last of the big spenders.

dont go and don’t respond to their messages.

Even without the bonus it’s a holiday. You deserve a break.

This. I'd give a week's notice.

Where you the housekeeper who posted about being accuse of damaging an item even though it was a family member and you kept putting it away

Fuck me. I have a cleaner who comes for 90 minutes every other week and she gets £150 bonus.

What was their response ?

Please remember people pleasing is a bad thing not a good thing! No one likes a people pleaser!

Dear OP,

Please do not go in on Boxing Day!

£30 is not a bonus!

If you are asked to work Bank Holidays you should be offered at least double-,pay or extra holiday!

Please go through an agency in future as they will look after you and not let these disgraceful employers get away with this kind of disrespect!

Good Luck and please enjoy your day(s) off!

x

Nothing yet!

Totally agree, miserly is an understatement.
I also gave my cleaner who comes once a week or every 2 weeks for a couple of hours £100.

The fact they told you that you ‘need’ to go in rather than asking would have got my back up for a start. They obviously see you as a skivvy more than a person with a life and family outside of their bubble.

My dh cousin has a similar set up with a local land owner family, they treat him like a lackey they can call upon night and day, I keep tell him he’s worth more than that and to tell them to stick the job up their arses.

I hope your new employer treats you better op.

Christ can I come and work for you. I'm lucky if I get offered a coffee when I visited some customers (I'm a gardener).
I've been asked to use the garden as a toilet rather than come in the house.
I've watched the lady of the house have a coffee morning for her mates when it's -2 and raining cats and dogs
I've been asked to clear the dog shit before I strim as some went on the path.
I've been moaned at for leaving grass cuttings on a path....that lead no where! Btw I was charging £10 to cut the grass weekly and saying if it didn't need it I wouldn't charge!

Gosh OP thry really are tresting you like shit. I'd say nicely as you can because I assume you'll need a reference from her? That you can't as made other plans on your day off and whilst you normally accommodate extra requests on this occasion its not possible. Then say; I'd also like to point out how disappointed I was by the lack of appreciation shown this Christmas at a time when most employers do so. It didn't have to be alot but a small token of appreciation would've been thoughtful.

Leave it at that and then depending on response see it out or stick two fingers up and move onwards and upward@Housekeeperbatcocoa

@Housekeeperbatcocoa Have you considered that your employer did gift the bonus, gave the card to the daughter to pass onto you, the daughter pened the card, then pocketed the money before handing it over?

Yep, I said that I my first post!

Hard to say really, though my employer did threaten to withhold my bonus if I went to a medical appointment that I really needed. (I went to the appointment!)

Have you considered reading op’s post?

I'd be tempted to say OK and not turn up

The poor dogs though! Not their fault what a family of arseholes they belong to.

I'm glad OP has hold them she's not available and they can sort the family dogs themselves. I hope she didn't use the word 'sorry'. Also glad she's escaping to a hopefully better job.

I wouldn't do this, because it would mean that no-one would take care of the dogs' needs (the daughters might not anyway, but at least it isn't then the OP's responsibility).

No - a simple. "I won't be working Boxing Day as I have made plans" is enough.

I did not use the word sorry! I said something like "as per the planner, I am off until the 27th. This had been arranged since November and I am not available before then due to prior commitments."

She text back this morning and told me I was ruining Christmas. Almost replied that I'd ruin new year too if she didn't stop being such a bitch.

I don't think I'd be able to stop myself...

Well done. I remember your previous thread. So pleased that you are leaving soon.

Brilliant OP! I’d have a few drinks and mince pies and then fire off a text ruining new year 😂 Good luck with the new position!

This is shocking OP. These people don't deserve you. As another poster saidatbe look at some agency cleaning work for January and then tell these awful people to f**k off.

Wow. Given that you seem to have so much responsibility for her Christmas, you'd think she'd PAY YOU A BIT MORE!!

(A-hem. Sorry. Angry on your behalf, OP)