Am I being a total cow?

[Rugrats2020]

Our cleaner just messaged cancelling our clean today because it’s going to be 26 here (which is a hell of a lot better than the 30 it’s been the last few days)

She then said that going forward, she won’t be working at all if the temp is over 25.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I completely get its physical work and there is no way I’d have expected her to work the last couple of days, but my worry is it genuinely hasn’t been below 25 degrees here for weeks and this could go on all summer.

I replied re today saying okay but if she’d rather work (and not lose out on the money) I’m more than happy for her to do half of what she normally does, or just whatever she can do if she wants to sit down for regular breaks etc. I always make her drinks if I’m here or tell her to help herself to drinks etc when we’re not. It’s a 2 hour slot. She messaged back saying thanks but she won’t be working at all if it’s over 25 degrees.

I had quite a major operation 2 weeks ago (which she knows about) and could really have done with her not cancelling today (as I said, if it was really hot like the last few days I wouldn’t have expected her to come)

I’m now wondering whether to look for another cleaner, but then does that make me a total cow? I get on pretty well with my cleaner and apart from cancelling a lot, she does a good job when she is here and I’d feel really guilty letting her go but I cannot see these summers of ours getting any better in terms of these ‘heatwaves’ where we live, it’s been like this for the last 4 summers now. I
doibt I’ll see her much more this summer if she’s going to stick to her 25 degree rule?

who said she wasn't allowed to choose? Yes, she is choosing to REFUSE to work. Good for her if she has the luxury to do so.

Perfectly valid choice, but it doesn't change that it's not such a hardship to work as a cleaner when it's hot, and it's a good thing cleaners employed in, again, schools, hospitals keep going.

I expect she doesn't get paid if she doesn't come in.

So just get in an agency cleaner, it may not be today but you may find someone for Monday.

Go with someone else

To be fair, I wouldn't say employees generally give much of a toss about their employers either. Most employment relationships are transactional, employees work for pay, and employers pay for the work. Some workplaces build genuine loyalty and mutual respect which is great and we should strive for that, but I don't think it's fair to assume either side universally cares deeply about the other because thats not really realistic or appropriate for a work environment.

I also don't think most people work their fingers to the bone because they believe it'll bring them happiness. The reality is that most of us work because we need to earn a living, pay the bills, support our families, and build a future.
If self-employment works for you thats great as it can offer more freedom and control over the work you take on. But it comes with downsides too. You have to account for sickness, annual leave, pensions, periods without work, and the lack of an employer's safety net.

Like most things in life, every choice has its benefits and its trade-offs. Neither employment nor self-employment is inherently better, it depends on what suits the individual.

She is absolutely nuts. Get a new cleaner.

Neither of you are bringing unreasonable, there could be any number of reasons why she's less able to regulate her temperature and that's fair enough. So are your needs however so if that means you need to find another cleaner, then that's just the way it goes.

This. You need a service, she is not providing so totally fair to go for someone else who will. She knows the risks when she made the rule.

You said she is refusing to work.. 'imagine if everyone did that'.

But she isn't 'refusing to work', she isn't an employee like the people you keep referring to, she has a contract with her client with set terms and conditions, and she is changing the terms of that contract as is her right.. she could just as easily say she will no longer work on Tuesdays, that isn't 'refusing to work'.

Her client is free to look for someone else if the terms no longer suit her.

If she worked in a hospital or school as an employee she would have no choice but to continue working so your point is .. pointless.

If she had been good then what she’s asking is not unreasonable.
And good cleaners are hard to find.

No, I made massive changes to my home after ending up in hospital through overheating but hooray for missing the point as usual.

People who are currently cooking in their homes almost always - but not always - have options to improve the situation whether it's throwing a sheet over the outside of your windows, sticking tinfoil to the glass or paying more money for more expensive options to shade a home and garden.

Or be like my immediate neighbours - leave all the windows open all day with curtains open then whine that the house is hotter than the outdoors. But they won't change a thing.

I don’t get why people are comparing to schools or hospitals. If she wanted to work in a hospital or school she would have.
Also she could refuse to work if it’s too hot and the hospital would have to manage it, change hours etc.
But she is self employed, she can pick and choose on when she wants to work.

She's self-employed and can choose to work or not work as she pleases, could be because it's hot, could be that she is on holiday, or just doesn't want someone as a client. That is one of hte benefits of being self-employed.

However, the flip side of that is that if you start saying you won't do X or Y and putting restrictions on your service, then your clients are well within their rights to go elsewhere.

Start looking for another cleaner.

This. My BIL baled and stored away 900 small bales throughout the day yesterday Mid Gloucs on his own.

She is kinda breaking the contract. I would be looking around for a replacement at least, especially given you need it more now than ever.

Does she know you have aircon units? I'd reply and remind her about the operation and say your house won't be that hot or at least the rooms you really need cleaning. If she still says no, find another cleaner or do it yourself once you've recovered. The world won't stop turning because the house isn't tidy for a few weeks.

Quite impressive that a cleaner can flatly reject paid work for most of the summer. She must be doing pretty well!

Sorry but 25 is nothing, however she is free to choose when she works, as a self employed person.

and you are free - and I would - to find a new cleaner!

Why leave it seven days? Surely you could give it a scrub yourself.

Don't feel guilty about going elsewhere.
She is unable to provide the service you are paying for and has stated that this won't change!

You need a new cleaner.

Our cleaners are in as normal, they do four hours a week for us. No mention of the weather apart from pleasantries such as ‘isn’t it lovely out’ and ‘help yourself to water, juice, lollies etc’.

I would look for someone more reliable, OP.

I was thinking the same. 25 isn’t exceptionally hot, and is a common summer temperature.

You are not a cow OP.
She has changed her T&Cs and you are free to look elsewhere. maybe cleaner has a health condition or is pregnant.

The arrangement no longer works for you so stop booking this one.

Yeah, I wouldn't employ a cleaner who had put such a rigid line in the sand. All summer you will be checking the forecast to see if she'll be coming, and what if it's on the cusp of 25, is she coming or not?

I think it's fine during a heatwave for her to message a couple of days in advance "Hi client, it's looking very hot this week so I won't be working". But to say she's never coming above 25 would be too unstable an arrangement for me.

I'd get a new cleaner. You have a cleaner, because you need one. You particularly need one right now after your op. This one constantly lets you down.

Of course she can cancel, but then you can find someone else too.
I am afraid she sounds as if she has not thought through the impact of her decision.
25 degrees is not 35 degrees.