Sacking our cleaner

[paulfoel]

Wife has health problems and it became a case of work part-time and get a cleaner in or quit work. So we got a cleaner in.

Costs a bit. About £150+ a month but wife is happy she can work at least.

So we've had this cleaner for years now but its getting increasingly like shes done nothing hardly in her 2 hours every week.

The quality of the cleaning is dire to be honest. I could do better. She misses things, forgets and generally just can't be bothered by the looks. Shes got comfortable I think because she sees us as friends now. We've left things and then noticed they're still there AFTER she cleans supposedly. (cup stains).

Dont get me going on how long she spends on the phone cleaning onehanded. Multiple phone call in 2 hours every week.

Oh and turn up on time never. Always 20 mins late. Once or twice too shes gone 10 mins early. (So 90 mins instead of 2hours). Again not clock watching her but still this taking the p a bit.

We've tried politely doing a list and talking to her. We said look here's a list, is this OK, only if you have time etc. Probably too politely. Yeh she took the list and threw it away..... End of list

Its awkward known her for years but I feel we're paying money for a crap service. I'd rather pay someone else. I do feel a bit bad because I know she needs the money but I just think we've tried to be nice about and nothings improved so its her fault. Don't want to be mean to her but how on earth are we going to get rid?

You say ‘we’re going to have to let you go I’m afraid’
There’s no point into getting into an argument about whether your reasons are fair and you don’t have to tell her whether it’s because you can’t afford her, don’t need a cleaner any more, or what.
You can give her the choice of whether to work out a month’s notice or go immediately.
Then you look for someone else.

I've had this a few times in 40+ years of cleaners.

I tend to tell them that I've decided to do without a cleaner for a while. Give 2 weeks notice - if more not previously agreed. Then get another in.

She'll never know.

It feels cowardly but works for me. There's no employee relationship so no obligation to give chances etc.

This is silly. If your cleaner isn’t providing you with the service you want, you tell them so. ‘Only if you have time’…what on Earth? And she threw away the list, and you said nothing. I assume when you say you talked to her, it was similarly wet?

You sack her by sacking her. I know you say this is her fault, and I suppose it is. But this post makes me more irritated with you than anyone else.

Additionally, there’s nothing wrong with having a cleaner (mine is fabulous), but you appear to think that only your wife (of the two of you) is able to clean. It didn’t occur to you to do it yourself?

Excellent idea one we'd use

Case closed.

Definitely sack her but also be prepared to pick up the slack in the interim and not leave it to your wife.

You've tried being polite, now it's time to be firm, £150+ per month for less than 8 hours substandard work is taking the piss. Interview for a replacement, hire one, then sack her.

Yeah I'd just say you aren't able to afford a cleaner anymore or you're feeling better and are going to do without one. Then get another cleaner.

Flipping heck I didn't even mention our situation and you're having a dig!

Agreed its not a women's job which you seem to be implying thats what I think.

I've always earned tons more than my wife so always been the one to work full time (I know its probably the case that the man earns more but blame society not me!) Of course shes also the one who had babies (blame nature this time!)

I work away 3 days a week so I've not got a great deal of time to be honest. It works for us the way things are.

Also, yeh I might be a bit soft but I really don't understand you're need to be like this with your reply.

heres another one...... Cut me some slack lol.

Ignore the cattiness, OP, that's typical MN for you.

I agree with telling her you're going to go without a cleaner and giving her some notice so she isn't going to be without the income immediately. Our cleaner is lovely and actually very good but horrendously unreliable (for reasons genuinely not wholly in her control) and I do get the feeling of obligation as we don't feel we can replace her after 12 years. But she does an excellent job when she's here and if you've tried to work with her and got nowhere then you aren't responsible for protecting her income.

I'd source another cleaner, get them to do a test clean by that i mean you pay them , give them a average list of what is expected, ie kitchen bathroom vacuuming mopping etc, but make sure one of you is there to ensure they don't go over time- often to impress the first clean will be a little bit longer than anticipated ( according to a friend of mine who runs a cleaning company) . So you see what they achieve in the 2 hours because there is always possibility that your expectation may be out of line, it's also possible over time just as cleaner has got more relaxed your household has got a bit messier. Assuming you are right and it's all the time on phone and lateness id make sure to set some strong ground rules for new cleaner, such as please don't make or take calls other than emergencies, it may be better to suggest they don't carry phone around with them ( my friend actually encourages this as she finds that the number one complaint clients have is calls at work - so she will tell her workers not to be on phone during work hours except to her!!, but she says it helps if her clients support this too, especially now days so many people working from home. )

Assuming you have someone lined up id just say its not working out any more, as someone has suggested you can say you've decided to go without, or say there's to be a change in your wifes working hours , or yours, or both working hours, you can be vague, give her some notice or pay her in lieu, and say if she wants a reference grand, then job done, never pleasant but you don't have other choices really.

Well you’ve made it sound like the only alternative was your wife cleaning in your OP?

£150 a month is the difference between your wife being able to work or have a cleaner?

Give over.

just get a different cleaner

Give her some firmer and clearer expectations or replace her 🤷🏼‍♀️ why should you pay £150 a month for someone to come to your house and sit on their phone?
Don't be so wishy washy.

I wouldn’t give notice. One cleaner refused to give back the keys and I had to change the locks. I’d just say that we won’t need you anymore. She knows that she is taking the mickey and doesn’t care. Neither should you.

I wouldn't give notice either. I wouldn't think a good job would be done in the interim.

@paulfoel

The quality of the cleaning is dire to be honest. I could do better

then why don't you?

you say you work 3 days a week, so don't have much time. You have 4 days, most only have 2.

What are you expecting her to do in 2 hours?

What cleaning do you do in between her visits?

Wish I did 3 days per week lol. 3 days AWAY. Alas the other 2 I have to work as well. Oh and do on call 24/7 every other week.

You earn "tons" but don't know how to manage staff/employees/contractors? It's really not difficult and no one has told you anything that you couldn't figure out yourself.

Ok, let's get back on track, OP!

Message cleaner now:

'Dear Pruella, my wife and will no longer require a cleaner. Please take this message as two weeks notice of termination. Thanks for all your help over the years, all the best. Paul.'

A lot of people find it difficult to sack people they've been on friendly terms with for years.

Not everyone is you.

Message her.." Dear Cleaner, Unfortunately due to a change in our circumstances, we have decided that we no longer require your services from....date. Thank you for the work you have done and we wish you the best for the future"

Either do it yourself or get someone else.

Hi OP, you don't owe this cf cleaner an explanation or further chances. just give two week notice and be done with it. make sure she doesn't take the pass during these two weeks by insisting full 2 hours are worked each time and that she doesn't take any calls while she is working.