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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to pay cleaner half wages if they couldn't get in.

237 replies

couchparsnip · 27/04/2025 12:03

We have a brilliant cleaner who we don't want to lose but I am not sure what the done thing is here and what she would consider fair.
She was due to clean last week while we were on holiday, so we have a key safe so she can get in.

Unfortunately my friend, who was feeding the cat, forgot to replace the key in the safe. So my cleaner arrived but was unable to get in. My friend was at work so couldn't come round with the key.
I need to compensate the cleaner for her wasted time but do I give her the full 3 hrs or 1.5 hours.
She probably spent 15 mins trying to get in and phoning me plus travel time of about 30 mins there and back.
She's employed by an agency and I pay her directly. The agency provides cover if she's sick etc.
Should I cover what she was expecting to earn or just compensate for the wasted time plus a bit extra?

You are being unreasonable - pay her the whole amount
You are not being unreasonable - pay her half

OP posts:
oakl79 · 27/04/2025 13:10

Pay her in full, it's not her fault your friend forgot to replace the key!

TheWeeDonkeyFella · 27/04/2025 13:12

Ah, so your tight DH is the 1%? I was wondering who'd be voting against paying and therefore penalising the poor woman.

Motheranddaughter · 27/04/2025 13:13

Full amount,am surprised you have to ask

LochKatrine · 27/04/2025 13:13

TheWeeDonkeyFella · 27/04/2025 13:12

Ah, so your tight DH is the 1%? I was wondering who'd be voting against paying and therefore penalising the poor woman.

People who can afford to have cleaners and yet get tight with the wages just piss me off.

Reliablesource · 27/04/2025 13:19

couchparsnip · 27/04/2025 12:53

I think I worded this wrong and made myself look like the idiot! DH thinks we should just pay for her wasted time, I think we should pay her in full. I will show him this poll and do what I wanted to do. Thanks x

Your DH is a twat then. No decent person would suggest anything other than paying her in full.

NewTrainersNew · 27/04/2025 13:20

I’d pay the full amount.

LochKatrine · 27/04/2025 13:20

Reliablesource · 27/04/2025 13:19

Your DH is a twat then. No decent person would suggest anything other than paying her in full.

Show quote history

True, and wouldn't need their wife to show them a MN poll as proof of his tightness!
Have a word with him.

Vitrolinsanity · 27/04/2025 13:20

The full amount. If she’d lost her key that would be different, but it wasn’t on her that the arrangement failed.

Manxexile · 27/04/2025 13:23

Cloudyvibes · 27/04/2025 12:05

To be honest I can’t even believe that you are questioning it. Full amount.

This ^

If you are so tight you can't do the right thing by your cleaner, tell your stupid friend to stump up the difference

Crazyworldmum · 27/04/2025 13:23

It’s your fault so you pay her the full amount

ilovesooty · 27/04/2025 13:25

NachoChip · 27/04/2025 13:00

Most cleaners say you pay in full if you cancel within 24 hours because they've lost the opportunity to earn money during the window of time they've allocated to you. So you pay her full.

I usually pay my cleaner 24 hours in advance
She doesn't ask me to, but in my own business I ask my clients to.

anon4net · 27/04/2025 13:25

Full pay and honestly a bit of Confused about why your husband would think it acceptable to do otherwise...?!?!?!! Should she be out of money to pay her bills while you are on holiday b/c of a mistake on your/your friends part? What does she cut from her budget to make up for a mistake she couldn't prevent?

Stand your ground OP and seriously question what type of a human your husband is. [head shake moment here]

User5274959 · 27/04/2025 13:27

Pay her the full amount,
You budgeted for it.
And next time she cleans it will be two weeks worth of dirt!

TimeForATerf · 27/04/2025 13:28

Good grief, if you turned up at your employer's office or hospital or whatever OP and couldn't get in would you expect them to dock your salary?

total piss take.

ElizaMulvil · 27/04/2025 13:28

Your H is awful. You can get a clear picture of people's morals by how they act when they are in a position of power over the less powerful. His instinct is to exploit. Grim.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 27/04/2025 13:28

couchparsnip · 27/04/2025 12:53

I think I worded this wrong and made myself look like the idiot! DH thinks we should just pay for her wasted time, I think we should pay her in full. I will show him this poll and do what I wanted to do. Thanks x

Ah yes OP, of course, the ‘husband’ is the idiot here 😉

OldTired · 27/04/2025 13:29

Full amount. She could have got the full amount working another job if you hadn't booked her, she's lost all of those hours.

Eggsinthewhoopsiebasketalready · 27/04/2025 13:30

Cleaner here... I was locked out a few weeks ago.. Customer had left bolt in the back gate...
She paid me in full..

Marmaladelade · 27/04/2025 13:30

Ant get over your husbands attitude..so poor

Marmaladelade · 27/04/2025 13:31

ElizaMulvil · 27/04/2025 13:28

Your H is awful. You can get a clear picture of people's morals by how they act when they are in a position of power over the less powerful. His instinct is to exploit. Grim.

Absolutely this…and cleaners are usually all women in residential

ThinWomansBrain · 27/04/2025 13:36

your husband is a bullying twat.
does he often make you question your own judgement to this extent?

Roselilly36 · 27/04/2025 13:37

I would pay in full in those circumstances.

Carrotop · 27/04/2025 13:38

couchparsnip · 27/04/2025 12:53

I think I worded this wrong and made myself look like the idiot! DH thinks we should just pay for her wasted time, I think we should pay her in full. I will show him this poll and do what I wanted to do. Thanks x

Your husband is wrong. It’s sad that this is even a question for him.

Of course you pay her in full, how would you pay her for “wasted time only” , without compensating her for the time she set aside to clean? You can’t.

I used to tutor kids in their homes, if the parents forgot to tell me one day they were all away for a family trip and I got there and was unable to deliver the lesson, I’d definitely expect to be paid fully for the lesson which I would have done, since I’ve blocked out that time/day on my calendar.

It’s far too late notice to effectively cancel when the person is already there and can’t gain access. If you don’t pay her in full you will have wasted her time.

Adelstrop · 27/04/2025 13:41

I think you should pay her the full amount, not least because you may find that, if you don’t, you will no longer have a brilliant cleaner!

GlorifiedChair · 27/04/2025 13:41

"She's employed by an agency and I pay her directly. The agency provides cover if she's sick etc."

She isn't employed by the agency, she is self employed (or you wouldn't be paying her directly). Pay her the full amount - no question.

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