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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:
Clarinet1 · 27/04/2025 13:43

NestOfWipers · 27/04/2025 12:49

You can't charge your friend!!

Your friend is doing you a favour looking after your cat while you were on holiday, she made a mistake and it's unfortunate, but you can't charge your friend 🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️

@couchparsnip I don't blame you for thinking maybe you didn't need to pay her the full amount as the house wasn't actually cleaned, but it's not her fault she turned up to do the cleaning & couldn't get in. She couldn't really do anything else with the wasted time & she may be relying on the money for bills or food shopping (she might not be either we don't know) but short story is she turned up to work and was unable to work, for reasons well outside of her control so yes, you need to pay her in full!! Apart from that good cleaners are hard as hell to find, so I wouldn't risk piss pissing her off!! (are the cleaners from the same age agency aren't necessarily as good)

Show quote history

I was semi-joking when I suggested pursuing the friend but I see others have said similar.
Since the OP’s update that this is a difference of opinion with her DH I think she should have a think about what kind of man she is married to! After all, this is a cleaner they want to keep and how much money is the disputed half pay going to be? £25? £30?
(Edited for typo).

ThinWomansBrain · 27/04/2025 13:43

if it's through an agency, aren't there terms and conditions set out in the contract?
Many people would pay the cleaner holiday pay and not require her to come in - how much mess can the cat and the dopey cat sitter create?

StMarie4me · 27/04/2025 13:44

Full amount. Not her fault. Definitely full amount.

Jellycatmum · 27/04/2025 13:45

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

You really don’t deserve her, respect her or appreciate her, tell your husband to give his head a wobble.

SpringGreenOnion · 27/04/2025 13:45

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

Dear oh dear, you’re married to an idiot. It’s pathetic that you’d even need to show him this thread to convince him. He doesn’t deserve to have someone clean for him quite frankly.

AliBaliBee1234 · 27/04/2025 13:49

She came to do her job and couldn't. Why wouldn't you pay her?

MyDeftDuck · 27/04/2025 13:50

The fact that she couldn’t get access isn’t her fault so full payment is justified and fair.

Richiewoo · 27/04/2025 13:51

Of course you pay her the full amount. It's not her fault your neighbour is an idiot.

Hastentoadd · 27/04/2025 13:52

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

I can’t believe you are even asking this….it wasn’t her fault that the key wasn’t there so you pay her the FULL ammount

Daisyhon · 27/04/2025 13:53

I can’t believe u would even consider not paying her the full amount , it wasn’t her fault she couldn’t get in .

JHound · 27/04/2025 13:57

Pay in full. Her inability to get in is your fault.

Strangeworldtoday · 27/04/2025 13:58

You efdectively cancelled the clean after she had arrived at the property. She incurred expenses getting there and lost the opportunity to fill that slot with other work.
If you arrived at worn and they sent you straight home, would you expect them to pay you for the day or just tell you you arent being paid and thats that

Lampzade · 27/04/2025 14:01

A decent cleaner is like gold dust , if you don’t pay her in full don’t be surprised if she quits.
Then your dh can take over the cleaning

fussychica · 27/04/2025 14:01

Agree with everyone else, pay her in full or you don't deserve to keep her. I'd also think about giving her a bit more next time if you haven't cleaned the house in her place.
Your DH sounds entitled and the kind of person who looks down on those in the service industry.

Kris2107773 · 27/04/2025 14:02

Hi do you have any update on thus please..? My son startrd doing it he is 12..

Calmdownpeople · 27/04/2025 14:02

How awful that you are even thinking about not paying your cleaner in full when she hasn’t done anything wrong . Shane on you. Seriously.

Pluvia · 27/04/2025 14:02

Your DH sounds dreadful.

terracelane23 · 27/04/2025 14:03

Of course you should pay her the full amount. She could have earned that elsewhere instead of wasting time trying to get into your house.

worriedaboutthefuturenow · 27/04/2025 14:04

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

isn't that the same thing ? the full 3 hours is wasted time, she cant get another customer at such short notice ?

BumbleBeegu · 27/04/2025 14:11

Your DH is a dick! How on earth is he even attempting to justify his stance on this??? Fucking idiot!

Pay your cleaner!!

Viviennemary · 27/04/2025 14:12

I think you need to pay her the full amount. It was in no way her fault she couldn't get in.

caringcarer · 27/04/2025 14:13

It was your friend's fault she could not clean. She arrived to clean as agreed. You need to pay her.

snowmichael · 27/04/2025 14:20

Not your cleaner's fault, you should pay her in full
Suppose you went to work, and found it locked until someone arrived an hour later
Would you be accepting of your employer docking your pay for an hour?

viques · 27/04/2025 14:28

Option one , you apologise for wasting her journey and explain what happened, next time you go away you give her a spare key, you pay her what you owe and she continues to work for you

Option two you only pay her half the amount, she tells the agency she doesn’t want to work for you any more as you are a spiteful old besom. She tells other cleaners working for the agency and they don’t want to work for you either.

Your choice.

Funnywonder · 27/04/2025 14:29

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

Righty ho …