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?

That's fair enough but I'm pretty sure a lot of self-employed cleaners have issues that you're not aware of. It's one of those jobs that's always available but physically very difficult. It's definitely my Plan B job if all else fails but I have chronic health issues so I'd be hanging on by a thread if I actually had to be a cleaner. So it's a bit ignorant to say that she should try working in a school because she might not even survive 30 minutes. That's not your problem of course but this is the reality for a lot of women.

I tried to tell my cleaner she didn’t have to come and she Insisted. I stocked up on ice lollies and cans of cold drink for her. The poster saying invest in aircon like it’s a fiver is hilarious

find someone else...thats mad.

Never occurred to me the cleaner wouldn't work due to the heat. Gardener maybe, but not a cleaner, she is INDOORS. I am working also!
My cleaner showed up.
Personally, I would get a different cleaner.

This is what I'd do OP. If you find the new one is as good or better, I would dismiss her then. In the meantime, you are no worse off while she is refusing to come.

You could also get temporary/one-off cleans from a company to tide you through the hot months - surely it can't go on much past August.

Move cleaners just tell her the truth. You are happy with her services but you need them when it's 25 degrees and above so have moved to someone else

It sounds like she's under the misapprehension that she has the upper hand. And by thinking you'd be a cow to get rid of her only feeds her belief.

You are the employer, and like any employer you want someone who does the job you need doing. She no longer fits that requirement, as a result entirely of her own choice, so it is perfectly reasonable to terminate her employment and recruit someone else who does. That is not being a cow, that is taking a business decision that works for you. Take feelings out of it.

She is unprofessional and lazy imo! Most of us just get on with work whatever the weather and temp as people are relying on us and it’s out JOB and we have to pay the bills! I’d find a new cleaner who isn’t constantly cancelling and is more professional and reliable

I think it’s a bit silly of her. She’ll just lose loads of business. Could she come earlier?

The only time my cleaner didn’t come was once she had moved her slot to the afternoon and it was the day of the red heat warning so at least 38 outside. Which I thought was fair

Yesterday was around 33 here. She came at 10. All fine - I did ask her and she said she likes the heat. So it is really rare to need to cancel. Just find a new cleaner.

Same. Its been HELL but I dont think the heat is nice for everyone.