Would it be unreasonable to offer to pay my cleaner less?

[kissthefish]

I have a new cleaner. He started with me a couple of weeks ago. So far, so good. I have paid him so far by bank transfer on the day. However he has asked if I can pay him in future in cash.
Thing is, it’s an awkward amount. £54. I have no issue doing this when I’m at work, as my workplace is very close to a bank. However on school holidays (I’m a teacher) it’s going to be an inconvenient pain in the ass, as I don’t live near a bank. I tend not to have cash floating around, as I pay for everything by card.
Would I be unreasonable to offer to pay him £50 cash during the holidays?
Also, is it the norm for cleaners not to make the bed? He leaves them as they are (roughly made, as the mornings are a rush) but doesn’t straighten them out, which looks odd in a clean bedroom.
Thanks.

Another solution would be to tell him that the amount is a bit of a pain and you'll do it if you can give him 160 every three cleans split 50 60 50. Or ask if he will give you change from 60 with £2 coins or whatever.

OP, just say no, you can’t pay him in cash. Maybe consider getting a different cleaner - one who will actually straighten the beds!

Omg... Give him £55 cash ffs... It's one pound more... is this actually a real thread??

So term time you can pay £54 cash but school holidays £54 cash is awkward but £50 in school holidays is not? That makes no sense

Isn't part of what the government is telling us to do is to have at least a weeks spending in cash?
I'm finding it ironic that a teacher is complaining about needing to gave cash, we barely get time to blink in between the school coming up with another reason for the children to bring in cash. Ot really isn't that difficult or complicated.

I was a professional cleaner for years - your audacity and utter cheek have stunned me. Would you be happy to accept less for your job because the school decided that paying you for your work was 'a pain in the ass'? Sack him if you're so concerned about saving yourself £4! Maybe you would like to report him to HMRC for tax evasion and not speaking enough English while you're at it? Good luck finding another cleaner for £18 an hour though. 😏

Banks rarely give out £5 so you would still get out £60 then what ?

If you’re happy to pay him cash I’d round it up and do the £60/50 thing.

£50 for 4 weeks, £70 on the fifth week. Or he can have the accumulated £4's just before Christmas

What about paying him on PayPal?

Offer to pay £50 cash or £54 by bank transfer. He’s clearly just pocketing the cash and not paying tax so it would work out the same

I’m a cleaner. All my clients pay by bank transfer. I couldn’t be arsed with cash payments, unless I wanted to evade paying tax of course. If a client wanted to only pay in cash I’d accept it but I’d prefer not as it’s a pain in the arse to bank cash. I’d just tell him you prefer bank transfer and he can take it or leave it.

With regards to the bed making - some clients want this, some don’t. If I’m asked to do it and it’s realistically achievable within the timescale I’m being paid for then I do it. If he’s doing it but not to your standard then just tell him. One of my client’s houses is like a show house, all the beds made up with cushions and the duvet folded back over a bedspread, she showed me round with the beds done how she likes so I know how to replicate them. But all this extra faffing is built into the time I’m paid for, are you sure what you’re asking of him is achievable in the time?

What you are paying is basically minimum wage by the time you factor in annual leave and sick pay equivalent and national insurance. That's why you have a cleaner wanting cash.
Maybe go through an agency and pay more.

But other ppl’s tax affairs are all our business - unless you’re happy with the state of the nhs, social care, no pensions in the future etc.

it’s morally despicable to be complicit in tax avoidance.

I had the same issue. I forgot to leave cash out one day. So just asked for her back details and carried on from there, with bank transfer.

My cleaner tried this on. She's £20 an hour. I said no.

It's too much hassle to pay cash. I pay tax and don't support other people dodging it.

Their tax affairs are not down to them.

We all ay tax for a functioning society. Some people can't just decide they would rather not.

I can't go to my company and ask for my wage in notes because I don't like paying tax anymore.

Surely the only answer here is no. It's inconvenient and supports probable tax evasion.

Being paid in cash means dodging tax or dodging child maintenance. Do not agree to pay in cash. Not even for a discount. It's fraud.

I can’t imagine he would accept being underpaid, would you op? So he’ll no doubt agree to stick with bank transactions.

You can't pay him less! Pay him more if it's that difficult to get the right change.

Ignore this op and advise you will be paying by bank transfer. There is no reason for him to demand cash.

I also completely get it. I live near a cash machine but never use cash for anything and I’d need to spend extra money to get some change to make that £4.

I do my kids pocket money in pound coins (they are v young) so I go to the post office and get them in bags of £20 and get several at a time. Just do that and keep them somewhere in the house. Get your notes weekly if that works for you.

I do my kids pocket money in pound coins (they are v young) so I go to the post office and get them in bags of £20 and get several at a time. Just do that and keep them somewhere in the house. Get your notes weekly if that works for you.

No reason OP shouldn’t be able to continue paying by bank transfer though.

😂