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?

We are still having our cleaner. She is now wearing gloves and is generally very sensible. We've made clear that if she has symptoms she shouldn't come and we would pay her anyway. We are both working full time (from home) and particularly busy so really don't have time to take on our own cleaning. If we go to full lockdown she wouldn't be able to come but we would pay her for as long as we can. She had a cleaning job in a pub but that's obviously gone now. We want to support her as she is trustworthy and reliable.

It’s the cleaner who is giving me the most guilt but actually I support so many self employed people through classes I do with the baby, extra curricular my older does, sports things my DH and I have done..
We’ve had emails from all these classes and groups confirming that refunds are available for classes that won’t take place (the DC’s stuff I’d booked for next term). In a lot of cases they are asking me to put the money towards future classes where possible. Some were classes booked through a museum (so charitable status) and the museum has said they will be under huge financial strain so they are asking if at all possible for people to consider some of the money they are due a refund on as a gift. So these are all music teachers and swimming teachers and yoga teachers and baby ballet teachers (the list goes on...) that will be self employed and down to nothing immediately. Perhaps wrongly I’m assuming the cleaner will be the most hard up and I guess it’s also the function of that fact that when she cleans it’s 1-1 rather than swimming which is a group session... but it kind of boils down to the same thing that I’m paying for a service and that’s no longer on offer because of circumstances beyond any of our control... I’m struggling to wrap my head around it really.. who I should be paying ... who I should be feeling guilty about.

What I kind of want to do about the cleaner is have her keep coming after we’re all well (I’m lying here listening to my chest crackle and really I have to assume the chance that this isn’t CV now and she ends up getting it from me in a month is quite low) but then that isn’t doing distancing properly is it?

I see the issue but where do we draw the line...

What about children's gymnastics and swimming lessons? (Own businesses) Or the monthly hairdresser or nail appointments? Or the tailor, plumber or dry cleaners? All these I have stopped using so of course I will not pay... The cleaner is only one of 10 self employed people I use on a regular basis.

Pay her anyway. I'm sure she would be very grateful.
I always think if you treat people well, you will benefit in the long run.
She will be more likely to go that extra mile for you. X

I think the underlying thought is maybe that cleaners are poor and at the bottom of society/to be pitied somehow

Whereas I see them as any other professional

Mine charges £15 an hour (I don’t earn a lot more myself)

Would peop

As long as I still have my income then I will keep paying my dog walker. She's still walking the dogs she can - just with extra hygiene such as hand gels etc - but I know loads have cancelled her.

She has been a star, reliable and loving towards the dogs, flexible and understanding towards the people. I really want her to still be in business when this nightmare is over so want to do what I can to help her.

I am canceling our cleaners in the short term.
I am a nurse and I would hate for them to get something from our household and pass it on to an at risk family.

Dog walker still being paid although I could walk myself. She is brilliant and at the moment we can still afford her. I know she has lost a lot of business.

I’m struggling to wrap my head around it really.. who I should be paying ... who I should be feeling guilty about.

For me is simply about who I want back after all this has done. My dog carer is top priority and I don't want to lose my place or for them to go out of business.

I have given notice on cleaners (agency) when my job changed slightly and I worked out I could make up the 'loss' by stopping the cleaner. This was because I didn't necessarily want that particular service back again if my job changed for the better. As hard as it sounds they just weren't a priority service for me and if I had still had them in todays environment I would have given notice.

I don't see my cleaner as the bottom of society. She has a good hourly rate but she doesn't have 40 hours of clients a week. She has a few clients plus another part time minimum wage job. She is also reliable trustworthy, has a child to support, and this isn't her fault just like it's not mine, nor anyone else's. While I'm being paid, I don't comprehend why I wouldn't still pay her. It just doesn't seem right or fair.

Ive cancelled my cleaner as I’m isolating indefinitely due to high risk. Still using doggy day care on one day as he loves it and I feel bad depriving him. He does contactless collection/drop off.

If you are still earning yourself I would carry on paying Even if they can’t work. Applying same to clubs my kids go to with regular subscriptions, that would probably fail without this money.

Is anyone still having their cleaner come?

I am a cleaner
All but one has now cancelled
All but one did not offer to pay in the short term
It is tough to know what to do, It will be a big chunk of money I will lose

I paid cleaner in advance and gave her ironing at a distance. This week she isnt coming, but I am still paying. This will continue for three weeks of lockdown. Dog walker one day a week, contnuing but I would be reluctant if park shuts down, easier for me to walk himsolo on street. Have booked two this week in case next week there are worse restrictions on using green space or travel. I have a 60ft garden and dog walker doesnt, but would contnue to pay over next two weeks as dog walker has lost loads of business.

I will be washing lead in hot soapy water too although dog walkers use their own leads, just for.handover. dog runs to dogwalker at gate, no contact.

I'll pay mine even if she stays at home but she wants to come anyway! Probably bored out of her mind at home (and I am alone with 4 DC's so to have a bit of cleaning is a godsend). I suppose I will have to tell her stay at home though.