What are you doing about your cleaner / dog walker / babysitter?

[Whydoesit]

I wanted to know what everyone is doing about cleaners etc.

I’m symptomatic and in isolation so I cancelled the cleaner last week and paid as it was only fair. I will probably do the same next week as my cough is getting worse after over a week so it’s safe.

But likely this social distancing will go on for the better part of 2020 and I’ll be at home with the kids for 95% of the day barring maybe a scoot round the roads. Options I guess are:

1. Tell cleaner not to come but pay anyway. Until schools likely open again and we are out of the house a bit this will be almost £1,000 I’ll be paying someone not to come round. Is this what other people are doing?

1. Ask cleaner to start coming round as usual once we’re all symptom free for long enough to be safe. Try and stay out of her way as best as possible. This may mean cleaner has to travel on public transport, I’m not sure.

1. Suspend paying for cleaner. Maybe with a month notice?

I can see this but for 6 months probably until some degree of normality back?

If you're still getting paid and can afford to, then yes. It's the nice thing to do, surely?

I’m not sure how safely dogs can be handed over.

Dog runs to walker, walker takes lead, walker uses hand gel etc. Far less contact with them than I would have going into a supermarket. As social distancing goes this is a fairly easy one to do even at handover.

We’re keeping our amazing dog walker for as long as we can but have been honest that, at some point, my wage will reduce so I can guarantee I can pay her continuously past the 12 week stage. I feel awful for all the people I know who are being hit financially by all this.

Cleaner, I have told not to come but I will stay pay her.
Dog walker, no change. Still using her, still paying, she’s with the dogs not me.
Childminder, not using as schools closed but I’m still paying her.

As long as I am being paid and my job isn't at risk I will keep paying. God knows how this is going to affect the overall economy and jobs long term though.

I'm social distancing but haven't had any symptoms. I'm planning to have my cleaner anyway (and pay them obvs). I reckon the fact that they're cleaning surfaces (ie touching them with a cloth rather than their hands) makes it pretty safe? Also will stay as far away as possible.

You're not social distancing if you have unnecessary visitors to your home. It's also putting your cleaner, and everyone she comes into contact with in higher danger.

Cleaner is not coming in here. We'll pay her.

WeAllHaveWings how is this different from anyone else (who isn't able to work from home, and isn't on the list of businesses that should close because they involve large gatherings of people) going to their workplace and getting paid for it? Genuine question?

Id do number 1. I’m paying the dog walker even though I don’t need her.

We're also not paying the childminder, but that's because she's now not minding mine and is providing care for another family of key workers. They are paying her instead.

moose62

My dog walker has had a number of clients say they don't need her as they are working from home. Under these circumstances as long as they are being paid they should pay her or at least offer a weekly retainer. These people have rent, mortgages and children to feed and if you are being paid I feel you owe it to them to help out. Once normality resumes (if ever) they might find themselves having to hunt for a new dog walker, cleaner etc..

This... people are going to remember how you acted and treated others through this

lyralalala

We're also not paying the childminder, but that's because she's now not minding mine and is providing care for another family of key workers. They are paying her instead.

If your being paid you should pay her

Buzzing I agree, I have paid a 'retainer' in the past when I haven't been able to use our dog care to ensure I kept my place.

My primary goal though all of this is to be flexible and mindful that 'at the moment' I am in a fortunate position compared to others industries and despite not technically needing dog care at the moment and I don't want to have no dog care to go back to when the restrictions end.

@buzzingthebee I'm a SAHP, my two go to her when my youngest is at respite to give me a complete break. It was her who approached me over a week ago with a request that I don't pay her so she could take on this work for the family. She won't hear of being paid twice and the other family wouldn't take her without paying. We were happy to keep paying even while not sending DD

*DC

I can see this but for 6 months probably until some degree of normality back?

yes.

Everyone I know is still working although either from home, their same place of work just with adaptions if possible eg driving not getting the train (adaptions not always possible) or moved out of central London offices to more remote offices to limit impact when people get ill. So I honestly don’t know re: paying someone for six months to do nothing although obviously it’s not her fault at all. I know it’s not through the cleaner’s choice but I don’t know if anyone else who has that option. I just don’t know what to do... we can afford it but it’s not nothing.. I’m a SAHM so I don’t get paid. DH kind of paid as normal kind of but a lot of his work is commission / bonus based and that will probably go down about 50%.

I feel like if the situation was taken without the coronavirus context - lower household income, not being able to have someone round for six months - I would definitely give notice already but it’s just because she is likely not to be able to replace me that I am feeling so conflicted.

With your last update I don't think it's as clear cut to just continue to pay if your own income is being reduced as well.

I am a cleaner.
I also manage a cleaning company with 257 clients & 67 cleaners. In just 2 days last week I’ve suspended over 67 contracts. Only 2 have said they will continue to pay the cleaners because they are still receiving their pension/wages etc & it’s not the cleaners fault because they’ve decided to self-isolate.
The messages from the cleaners are heartbreaking.
I’ve personally had 2 clients self isolate but I’ve offered & have collected ones washing & ironing from outside their house & been shopping for them & they are paying me.
The other one is WFH & hasn’t offered to pay me.
You don’t clean because you love it , you clean because you NEED the money & now many are being thrown under the bus by being self employed

HonestlyWillTheRsinEverStop are a lot of people still having their cleaners round?

Whilst our family is in isolation I am paying for a service I’m not receiving, which is 100% fair as very little notice etc. I’m surprised that one of the 2 in isolation isn’t paying.

What would you think is the fair thing? Is maybe giving a month’s pay as a severance package still unfair?

I paid our cleaner double on Friday and told her not to come next time. Hoping in 1 month it will be obvious whether they can come or not.

At the moment I’m keeping my cleaner even though I’m isolating. I’m disabled, live alone and can’t change my own bedding. I’m opening all the windows before she comes and sitting outside once she’s here and for at least 30 mins after.

Our cleaner comes once a fortnight but as there’ll be 3 people at home when she’s due to come (the house is usually empty) we’ve asked her not to come until the advice about social distancing is lifted.

We don’t have a formal contract and usually don’t pay if she cancels or we ask her not to come (usually only for holidays). I offered to pay her but she wouldn’t hear of it. I’ve set up a standing order to pay her 50% of what we usually pay but she’s still not happy as she feels it unfair on us when other clients aren’t paying. That’s their choice and this is mine.

In terms of how it is different to other people going to work, when I was in work (now WFH), I went to one location, washed my hands constantly, wiped down my desk and computer, used hand sanitiser, made sure not to touch my face etc.

At home, I wash my hands when I get in, wipe down perishables before putting them in the fridge / freezer and leave the clothes / bags / non-perishables I wore / brought in from outside in the second loo that I don’t use for 3 days.

I then don’t worry about washing my hands (other than after the loo, when showering, before eating as I did pre-virus), touching my face etc. I am basically fairly sure that unless I have picked it up outside (more than possible), my flat is virus free.

There is no way I am having a random person (people) who could be infected or have the virus on their clothes or cleaning equipment from another client’s house in my flat, particularly as cleaners go to house after house - which must increase their chance of transferring the virus from one place to another.

I use an agency and have never met my actual cleaners. I’m fairly sure that if I kept paying, the actual cleaners wouldn’t see the money so I’m not going to.

@ whydoesit - yes a lot are still continuing to have cleaners in. Whilst many are still working they aren’t in the house at the same time.
We are sending out daily emails to clients & cleaners regarding hygiene & health concerns. Many cleaners are buying their own over shoes & gloves.
Many clients are going out for a walk when the cleaners are there.
Every day last week I worked 8 hours cleaning & then 4 hours wading through the cancellations. Suspending cleans through the company means not only the cleaner doesn’t get paid but neither does the company although we still have staff to pay & insurances.

If you wish to let your cleaner go please give her some paid notice. Most absolutely,like any self employed person, will have factored in your payment on a weekly basis.

I know everyone on here says they keep paying, which is very impressive tbh

I have had a cleaner for 4 months now. Because of social distancing I have told her it is better to wait until we all, as a society, are back to normal. I paid her for next week still, even though she won’t come. After thatI won’t pay. If she had been working for me for 5 or 10 years I might have paid 1 or 2 months max.

I am self employed myself and my boss is not paying me for hours not worked. I am just getting paid less, and will probably lose my work before the end of next month.

Hopefully the government will come with a plan for the self employed, like cleaners, losing income.

I guess people have the same dilemma with personal trainers, hairdressers etc.

What will you do OP?