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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Sacking our cleaner

33 replies

paulfoel · 05/04/2024 10:30

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?

OP posts:
willstarttomorrow · 05/04/2024 19:48

OP- this being mumsnet you are getting a hard time. If you pay a cleaner a reasonable amount to do a reasonable amount during that time then of course it is okay to object if this is not what you are getting. I would give notice, but ensure you have someone in place first as it seems this is needed. As hard as it may seem, I would be honest. Your cleaner has been taking the piss and she needs to know you know.

Clarinetiu · 05/04/2024 20:08

get a company in.

When it is not up to scratch you can then complain to the boss rather than cleaner.

DrJoanAllenby · 05/04/2024 20:15

Why would you not address her directly?

You call the shots.

Deirdre love, we are paying you xxxx $$$'s an hour and you're slacking and your time keeping is dreadful. We employ you for two hours but you arrive late and leave early!

Either you improve or we will have to let you go.

paulfoel · 05/04/2024 22:36

OkayKinkade · 05/04/2024 17:02

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.

havent got any staff or anything.....

Some unfriendly people on here mind..... lol

OP posts:
Cofaki · 05/04/2024 22:54

Just sack her.

Dear Jean, I'm sorry to have to tell you that we need to let you go as of this week. Thanks for all your hard work over the just two years. We wish you all the best. Best wishes,

Just do it. You'll feel loads better

lizzowhiz · 06/04/2024 08:29

You've had good clear advice on how to dismiss the cleaner in a straightforward way.

Ignore the ridiculous comments. In any partnership if one half of the couple is working longer hours and actually away from home 3 days a week and the other works less, then it's reasonable for the partner with more time to do more domestic chores. When your wife developed health problems you sensibly decided to get a cleaner in. All very logical and straightforward.

rookiemere · 06/04/2024 13:06

Cofaki · 05/04/2024 22:54

Just sack her.

Dear Jean, I'm sorry to have to tell you that we need to let you go as of this week. Thanks for all your hard work over the just two years. We wish you all the best. Best wishes,

Just do it. You'll feel loads better

This is what we did.
I felt really bad, but honestly she was taking the mickey. We had started working from home and I sad we would clear out of the kitchen to allow her to do it, but instead she just left it.

I like to think I'm a fair person and I feel I should have given more notice, but I didn't trust her in the home once we had decided not to continue. Luckily we did cancel her because then Covid came and we would have felt obliged to pay her for nothing.

One thing though OP, you have said you're not happy with the cleaning standards, but then you're away a lot so not sure how much of it you see. Does your DW also want to cancel/change cleaners?

Pinkpinkpink15 · 06/04/2024 20:44

paulfoel · 05/04/2024 16:59

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.

@paulfoel

Well to be fair, you didn't say you worked the other two days, and you did say you could do it better.

do you probably have as much time to do it as any other working person.

however, if I was happy to have someone else do it (I never found one I was happy with) &
pay a cleaner then this one would need to go now. Shes not doing a good job & you've tried to guide her...

I suppose if you wanted to feel completely justified you could talk to her & be very clear about the situation, rather than be so gentle.

tough call, but you need a cleaner that does a good job!!

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