Paying Cleaner 52 Weeks Per Year

[roses2]

I have a cleaner who works very hard, hasn't taken a holiday in two years and I pay her every single week even when I go on holiday (she still comes to the house & cleans whilst I am away). To be honest I don't really need cleaning when I am on holiday but she said she relies on the income so I give her extra tasks and she does them. It's 5 hours per week.

Now she has taken a holiday at the same time as me and she wants to send her sister to clean the day I am back from holiday. I've asked to take a break but she says her sister would like the income. I've said my house isn't dirty since I've been away and doesn't need a clean but now I have a guilt trip from her about the money.

I don't really want a clean. I'm happy to honour my arrangement with her to clean every single week but I don't think it's fair on me that I don't need a clean and she's passed on the cleaning to someone else whilst she takes holiday.

Do other people who have cleaners pay them 52 weeks per year? Surely it's normal to take a break a handful of times per year?

Part of my holiday overlaps with hers. She is taking 1 month off. I'm only asking her to skip one week so her sister will still get the remainder.

I think it's fair enough to pay her for the few weeks you don't "need" her, in the same way you pay nursery fees if you take your dc out for a few days, you're essentially paying to retain her services. Unless she's taking a break the exact same time as you she's unlikely to find someone who just wants a one-off 2hr clean to fit the gap you're on holiday, so she's out of pocket. Plus as she does other jobs for you you're still getting your money's worth. For the sake of keeping a trustworthy and good cleaner (just look at some of the threads on here to see how hard it can be), paying once or twice a year when you don't actually "need" but still get a clean, I would say is worthwhile.

But her sister is a completely different kettle of fish - you have no working relationship with her at all and don't owe her anything, and I think it's a bit mad that the cleaner has even asked you!

Same here. A mutually agreed arrangement

We only pay our cleaner when she actually comes and cleans our house. If she can’t make it for whatever reason, or we don’t need her that week then we don’t pay.

Honestly it’s never occurred to me to do anything else and she’s never suggested it.

When I was tutoring I got paid for the sessions I delivered, no more no less. If the session didn’t go ahead then no payment. Likewise when I was supply teaching, or working on a freelance basis once I’d left teaching - I was paid for the hours I worked and that’s it. I suppose I just equated it with those arrangements in my mind - I didn’t think about holiday/ sickness pay.

I only pay my cleaner on the weeks she comes (she doesn't have keys). I offer to pay when we're away as that's our choice but she won't take it.

I wouldn't expect to pay if she was on holiday and couldn't make it.