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?

She's sounds lazy. 30 degrees I'd get but 25 means you spend of the a year not knowing if she's coming.

How unreliable! Sound like she just wants to sunbathe.

Yes I've done actual physical jobs in the summer outdoors. Cleaning is active but I wouldn't say ita the same as hard physical labour. She's not exactly building a six pack doing it is is?

She's said she's not going to do it, and you need it done, so obviously you need to find someone else.

She could have no sensible reason to hold that against you.

I would message her back and say you accept her decision but in the meantime your house needs cleaning so going forward you will be finding a permanent replacement.

If you really need it doing, I don't think it would be terrible to find someone else.

Is she normally good and reliable?

My hairdresser cancelled a couple of weeks ago (she's mobile) because she was feeling unwell from the heat - the rescheduled appointment is this afternoon and although my hair really needs a cut I wouldn't mind if she cancelled again. I am working in an office and really struggling, so can't imagine what it must be like to do anything remotely physical.

Its not just the cleaning—she also has to get to you which might become difficult or even dangerous over certain temps. High heat may also increase travel times which is another cost to her. She has to factor in travel times and wear and tear in deciding whether it makes financial sense to do the job at all. It may well be that at certain temps the job woth you just doesn’t cover the health/monetary costs of going to your place to clean.

You shouldn’t feel bad about saying you need to hire someone to do the work and going ahead and hiring someone else (if available).

I think she does not want to clean for you - and this is her 'elegant' way of politely resigning, because the temperature nonsense is just nonsense, unless she is 85.

25 degrees is much too low as a threshold. I've had to work in over 30, and just got on with it.

If she sticks to that - she won't get many customers. I'd find someone else.

Yes, it's her choice, but it's not convenient for customers so I'm guessing she's not fussed about getting customers.

I don’t know her circumstances but it sounds like her cleaning business must be additional money for her household rather than something she relies on, as she can’t be bringing anything at all at the moment with how the past few weeks/months have been. It must be so tough being self-employed, I know many have to drag themselves in when unwell as no work means no money, so this is unusual.

I suppose I’m saying she doesn’t appear to be relying on regular income so it may not be that hard for her if you cease to be a regular?

this. reliability is important to you. She isn't reliable.

You're not doing her a favour by employing her any more than your own employer only hired you out of the goodness of their hearts - they are both business arrangements.

She's an adult woman who makes her own decisions. Perhaps she doesn't really need the money so for her it's not worth being uncomfortable in hot weather - it's a choice she's entitled to make, as getting a new cleaner who will work is yours.

While she wouldn't be UR to cancel when it’s in the 30’s, 25 is just a lovely summer day imo. I’d look elsewhere. I have a physical outdoor job and 25 just means sunscreen and a hat!

25 degrees is a normal British summer. She is being unreasonable in that regard. 30 degrees, then I'd probably agree with her.

She doesn't need the money, obviously. We had someone come to clean our carpets and upholstery on a blisteringly hot day a couple of years ago - 28 degrees+ - and I gave the lady every chance to change the date. She said she needed the money and she battled through with regular glasses of water from me. Gave her a sizeable tip for her efforts, she worked bloody hard and she was very happy because she finished more quickly than she thought and went straight to the beach with her young son with some extra cash in her back pocket for chips and ice creams. I wish there were more people like her, she was a true grafter.

I'm a cleaner too and wouldn't think of having a day off because of the heat. As long as doors and windows can be opened it's fine.

She may have a health condition but you can get a different cleaner. It's obviously not working out for you.

You're not a cow. I would get a new cleaner also. Especially if I'd just had an operation!

My cleaners came yesterday in 33 degree heat and still did a great job. I do pay a company and pay a premium due to VAT - £52.80 for 2 hours (usually 2 people for 1 hour) but they are so reliable.

I guess it’s her company so her rules. I’d go with it if she was good as experience tells me good ones are like gold dust!

I’d go with it if she was good as experience tells me good ones are like gold dust!

Bit pointless having a "good cleaner" if they are never available to work when you need them though....

Yes, I could understand at 30 degrees plus, but many summer days will be 25 degrees so she will be cancelling a lot. That’s her right, but you also don’t have to use her. I expect she’ll realise how much money she loses out on with this policy and changes her mind!

25 degrees seems a bit arbitrary. Unless you're unfortunate enough to live somewhere impossible to keep cool, that's a perfect summer temperature. 35 is a different matter altogether when you're not acclimatised to it. Anyway, it's her choice to decide what works for her, and yours to figure out what works for you. It's not about whether either of you is being a cow.

My cleaner is still working normally, she said she is starting to adjust to the heat, but takes regular breaks and is drinking lots of water.

DH is in the building industry, he is still working, albeit at a slower pace than normal. Across the road, they are building new houses. The roofers are starting extra early, and the postman came very early today, to avoid the worst of the heat.

Life goes on!

7am start?

YWDNBU to arrange for a one off clean and also consider the relationship going forward.

My cleaner cancelled three times on the trot due to heat, once not letting me know. I've terminated our agreement and found a reliable cleaner.

Its a professional relationship. If you need your house cleaned reliably and regularly (without cancellations - this would annoy me in itself), find someone who can. She can decide her working conditions, but you can decide that doesn't work for you. Definitely doesn't make you a cow!

Why don't you ask her if she could do the 2 hours cleaning early before the temps get to 25C?

But OP needs a regular, reliable cleaner. I don’t think she’s heartless at all. She’s offered drinks, rests, etc. but the cleaner still feels she can’t do the job. That is her prerogative but it’s not OP's responsibility to agree to those terms. If it was 30 degrees as the cut-off I might agree, but 25 seems too low to me to just down tools. It could be 25 for a number of weeks in the summer.

And before anyone says it - no, I wouldn’t want to do it myself at 25 degrees, but then I know I’m not suited to being a cleaner. Maybe OP's cleaner isn’t either.