Have I been miserly with our cleaner?

[romanfriendsandcountrywomen]

We have a cleaner twice a week. 2 hours Monday, 3 hours Thursday. Pay her £80 a week.

She's here today (Monday ) but obviously won't be here Thursday. I've paid her £100 for the week- for her 2 hours today and the rest a Xmas bonus. DH says that's a bit tight.

Should I give here some more?

No, that's fine. Don't worry about it.

She's getting a £68 bonus which is great.

Not at all, that’s fine. What did your DH consider appropriate?

Would be easier if you had just stated the hourly rate and where you are.

My maths is crap but if I’m correct you pay her £16/hour usually and you’re paying her a £20 Christmas bonus on top of her usual pay which is fine IMO since she’s only doing 2 hours that week.

I think the hourly rate is on the low side if outside of London. If it’s in eg, south London - that’s often the going rate. My old cleaner in London now charges about £18/hour but was cheaper a few years ago. I now live up north and it’s minimum £25/hour in my area.

But I see you were more asking about the Christmas bonus though than the hourly rate in itself - looking at that separately yeah I think the bonus is generous.

So a £68 bonus and he thinks that's tight? Or is it a £20 bonus because you need to pay for the Thursday anyway?

I doubt OP has to pay for the Thursday. The cleaner would be on a pay as you go basis. No work, no pay.

Of course if OP tells her not to come then she would have to pay her. But Boxing Day is a working day for many.

This is DH's point. He says that we didn't expect her to come in on Boxing Day (in fairness she's travelling to Poland tonight) so should pay her for the week plus a bonus.

I worried in case I was being mean.

Just texted my friend who she also cleans for and friend hasn't given anything (!) so I'm feeling better.

Friend is (in)famously tight.

You could always put a bit more in her bank account if you are feeling bad. Or is she cash in hand?

My idea of a good Christmas bonus if you value her work and want to keep her is a weeks wages in that sort of job. If you can afford it. People do different things though and at least you've given her something. My DH is a postie, his Christmas tips from his round vary from nothing, via absolutely delicious homemade biscuits from the nuns, wine, tins of chocolates, Christmas puddings (which he loves) to cash tips varying from £5 to £50 but mainly £10 or £20. My point being everyone does it differently.

Why on earth would a Postie get a bonus?

I don’t even know who my postie is, I wouldn’t give them anything.

I’m giving the refuse collectors chocolates because they go above and beyond, as well as my mechanic but that’s it.

I gave my cleaner and extra 500 and she didn’t even say thanks 🤷‍♀️

Any bonus or tip is just that, a bonus. Not everyone can afford to go over and above so I think it’s lovely what you’ve given her.

Im now wondering if I was a bit tight with our cleaners. We have 3 people round for an hour rather than one for 3 hours. I gave them each £20.

I’d be giving her notice.

I gave my cleaner a bottle of wine.

She comes Wednesdays which this year is christmas Day and New Years Day. She asked to work these days! I said no but I'd give her extra hours in January.

She's OK, not amazing hence I was a bit tight with her.

Here we go
These threads are often on a par with how much do people give for a wedding.
I'm self employed. If i don't work i don't get paid. No one pays me a christmas bonus. I don't expect it at all.

I've had a few nice little gifts, I'm a tutor and that's very kid of them but the kids are off for about two weeks and no one is paying me for lessons I'm not doing.
I've just been to the nail salon, i gave a bit bigger tip than usual but we're talking a few quid.
Posters on here seem to have an endless pot of money to give away

Mine comes twice a week.
But she goes above and beyond for me.
Always helping in other ways ( I'm disabled but no caring).
I gave her £500 last week and some shopping vouchers.

Mine comes every alternate Friday for 3 hours. She's coming on 27th. I bought her a present and gave her an extra £20 for Christmas.
I think what you gave was fine.

If he's claiming it's tight then he can put his hand in his wallet. I think that sounds perfectly reasonable. But he's more than welcome to sling him/her another 50 if he's feeling flush? I guess maybe he makes more mess than you do so it makes sense he wants to give them more? 🤣

I imagine you're charging far more than £16/hour in general though.

The point is tipping/giving bonuses to people who are on a lower (self-employed) income.

And how much do you normally tip at the nail salon, £1?

I'm not against tipping /bonus etc but there are at least two posters saying £500!
Really?

I think it's good OP.

We did £20, a candle and a gift for her daughter (doll and sweets).

We did £50 last year but money is much tighter this year.

I gave ours a month's money and a bottle of fizz. She's been with us for ages though and does a great job.

So you are happy with a £20 bonus for the whole year when her weekly pay is £80? I think that’s very low. I would also argue that is you can afford £80 a week for cleaning you can afford a bit more.

Most cleaners aren’t exactly millionaires.

Its 25%