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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Cleaner issues…

17 replies

MrsAbc9 · 14/02/2024 17:00

First world problem, I know…cleaner raises her prices from £16 to £20 per hour, we are surprised but agree on the increase. Then she comes and leaves 15 minutes early on at least 2 occasions in the last month. We aren’t usually home when she is here but being half term we were about this week. I raised it with her over text and she said she had to get her kids which I have no issue with. I asked her if she could perhaps stay longer next time to make up the time.

AIBU for raising it with her and asking her to make up time? I’ve clearly upset her by asking as she’s said this really hasn’t been a nice experience. I just would appreciate clear communication as you would at any workplace, I have paid her in full so I’m not sure if I’ve been OTT for raising it with her. I’ve not mentioned it to her when it’s happened previously.

OP posts:

Ireolu · 14/02/2024 17:44

My old cleaner would leave 15 mins earlier and I was fine with it as long as everything was done.

My current cleaner struggles to finish it all in the 3 hrs and I am literally on her case to leave at the allotted time. Same house 2 different people. If the house is clean I would be OK. If its not would find a new cleaner.

Fynoderee · 14/02/2024 18:09

If you’re paying by the hour, the cleaner should work the full time.

I don’t charge by the hour, I charge per clean. Some days I work faster, other days not so much. Some days the client might have been messier or had guests which brings more mess. The client always gets the same jobs done. I want my work assessed by its quality, not by how precisely I fitted it to a fixed time slot. I don’t want to be watching the clock or have the client clock watching.

However, you’ve mentioned the price increase and I’m not sure why? Would you have overlooked the 15mins if she was still charging £16? Do you feel more strongly that she should complete the agreed time now the price is higher?

Original poster

MrsAbc9 · 14/02/2024 18:18

Yes that is a good point, about cost, irrationally I would have overlooked time if it was cheaper. I feel I’m now paying a premium for her time but prepared to do so because finding someone else can be difficult. So I probably am being unreasonable and feel bad for raising it now. I have apologised if I’ve upset her!

OP posts:

Cheesewiz · 14/02/2024 18:22

I am a cleaner, if I had to leave early ( which I only ever do if it's urgent) I would make up the time next time. And I would never leave early without letting them know and the reason why

Whatevershallidowithmylife · 14/02/2024 18:24

There is always some other cleaning can be done. Totally unacceptable she doesn't make up time or indeed knock the £5 off the cost.

Jellykat · 14/02/2024 18:25

Same as @Cheesewiz , i currently owe one of my cleans 15 minutes, and thats because she had friends coming around so i had to finish early.

SouthDubMum · 14/02/2024 18:28

I pay my cleaner for however long she stays. If she stays for 3.5 hours I will pay her for those hours. If it is one hour she gets paid for one hour. she lives very close so is happy to come in for one hour sometimes altho usually its 4 hours or so.

I don't pay her daily - she adds up hours and I pay her.

BobbyBiscuits · 14/02/2024 18:29

It depends on if she's finished all the jobs. If the standard of cleaning had dropped or tasks are left then fair enough to complain, but a window of 15 minutes for a cleaner is reasonable if she can still complete the work, that's the key thing. If it's half an hour late and early leaving every time, then you need to give her a few more things to do, or reduce her hours a little bit.

ILoveHugeAckman · 14/02/2024 18:30

YANBU.

This is why a lot of people use places like Molly Maids, because it becomes too personal and people get offended by actually being asked to do the work they are paid for.

She sounds very "precious", and cheeky. £20 an hour??! And she doesn't work the full time? Wow.

Yummymummy2020 · 14/02/2024 18:32

I think she should be paid for the time she does, If she isn’t willing to make up the time. Personally I would expect that she would make up the time. Like yourself I would never mind someone leaving if they need to be there, but it is a job and you are paying for a service.

Nevermind31 · 14/02/2024 18:32

Very unprofessional to leave early without agreeing, charging in full, and then complaining when pulled up on it.
”please let me know if you need to leave early/ we all have emergencies that happen, but please let me know. We can then agree if you want to make up the time, or charge less”.
i bet this will happen less if she is the one taking the financial hit.

Fynoderee · 14/02/2024 18:59

MrsAbc9 · 14/02/2024 18:18

If the agreement is that she will work a certain amount of time, that’s how it should be. Perhaps it hasn’t been an issue in the past with her lower fee and perhaps she will be more conscious of time from now on.

Original poster

MrsAbc9 · 15/02/2024 00:07

Agreement is she works 2 hours a week
We had to reduce her hours once she put her prices up so it worked for our budget (as cleaner is a luxury but so appreciated)
She does a good job but seems immediately defensive when I ask her about anything.
I would expect my boss to ask me if I left early without mentioning it, but in most workplaces you’d just explain why you needed to leave - not usually an issue. I should probably go down the @Nevermind31 route and be clearer on expectations. Appreciate all your comments they have been helpful.😊

OP posts:

Treehugger22 · 15/02/2024 01:13

I'm not bothered about people leaving early if the clean is good. Add something extra to her to do list which would take 15mins

Treehugger22 · 15/02/2024 01:17

Shes also to emotional if she gets upset over this, it's a normal adult working conversation. You did nothing wrong

toastwithmarmalade · 15/02/2024 02:30

I echo the comments I don't think cleaning should be paid hourly. Some are slow, some are fast. A set rate that is fair seems like a much better option and reduces aggravation about leaving early or taking too long etc.

I'd offer a set rate and let her know as long as she's done the jobs that are agreed, to the standard she does them, you are fine with 15 minutes and want a trusting relationship.

RiderofRohan · 15/02/2024 03:05

My previous cleaner uses to regularly leave up to an hour early! It happened several times. But she wouldn't even make the bed and I found mould on our windowsills, not to mention she'd just dust around things, so I had to ask her not to come back.

Current cleaner leaves early too sometimes, maybe up to half an hour. But she's excellent and I couldn't care less because she does such a good job. Not perfect- as someone said there is always more cleaning that could be done- but I feel that it is worth what I pay her.

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