Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Cleaner during social distancing

20 replies

Howdidido · 23/03/2020 04:36

Sorry if it's already been asked. And sorry for this being a very 1st world problem.

Are people still having their cleaner coming round? I dont want to put her or my family at risk but equally dont want to out her livelihood at risk and also hate cleaning

Is there a way to minimise the risk or should I just cancel her coming?

If so, is it ok to just pay her 50%.

OP posts:
Theresnoroomonmybroom · 23/03/2020 04:38

I would cancel her coming and continue to pay her in full. It’s the only decent thing to do.

Original poster
Howdidido · 23/03/2020 04:42

I cant afford to pay her in full. I guess I could pay her 80% too... I was going to reduce hours in any case.

OP posts:
wecandothispeeps · 23/03/2020 05:01

We cancelled ours altogether. It is an added risk and does not fall into the 'essential' contact my pov, as you can clean yourself, and would be wise to do so, if she is visiting lots of houses she will be at increased risk of spreading it.

wecandothispeeps · 23/03/2020 05:01

Be mindful that whatever you decide to pay her, you may be paying for a very very long time. So make it affordable.

Grobagsforever · 23/03/2020 05:15

Your argument makes no sense.

You are considering having her still come, yet you say you can't afford to pay her if she doesn't come? Doesn't add up.

Cancel her and pay in full unless your own financial circumstances have changed. I have done this with my own cleaner and the after school babysitter. I'm still employed so this is the moral thing to do.

user1480880826 · 23/03/2020 05:15

Cancel and continue to pay.

veryboredtoday · 23/03/2020 05:20

Cancel and continue to pay. This is what I am doing and will continue to do so as long as I'm being paid.

itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted · 23/03/2020 05:24

Mine is still coming but I've said I'll go for a walk or something for the 2 hours she's comes for

SilverySurfer · 23/03/2020 05:46

I have asked mine not to come for six weeks and will then review. I've paid her in full for that period.

If you can afford to pay her if she comes to clean, then you can afford to pay if she doesn't.

awkwardbuttons · 23/03/2020 06:27

Question- I use an agency so I often have different cleaners, would people still pay? I'm not sure which one I'd pay!

Original poster
Howdidido · 23/03/2020 09:29

Cancelling. Thanks for the rationality check!

OP posts:
velocitygirl7 · 23/03/2020 09:33

Could you clarify how you can afford to pay her if she comes but not if you cancel her?

Original poster
Howdidido · 23/03/2020 09:36

I really can't afford her whatever. I'm not earning for this period myself but my husband is. I feel like we should be saving what we can but we can survive on one income for now.

OP posts:
Oysterbabe · 23/03/2020 09:41

We've cancelled ours.

velocitygirl7 · 23/03/2020 09:45

But you would have found the money if they were still able to clean for you?

CloudPop · 23/03/2020 10:06

@SilverySurfer that's a good approach. I think I will do the same.

Original poster
Howdidido · 23/03/2020 10:10

Yes. But maybe I shouldn't be having a cleaner anyway in these uncertain times. I might not have a job in 6 months time and we will then be struggling without our savings.

OP posts:
SilverySurfer · 23/03/2020 16:11

Or you might have a job and not struggling - who knows.

Thinking about this, awkwardbuttons raises an interesting question - if you have different cleaners coming from an agency every week would you still pay? Probably not. If I had a different cleaner every week I think that's totally different to my situation where she has been coming for years, she has become a friend and I know she can't afford not to be paid. I also wonder, if you did pay the agency, how much, if any, would be passed on to the cleaner?

If my cleaner ever decided to give up I would always prefer to find an individual cleaner, I don't want different people coming every week via an agency.

BoogleMcGroogle · 23/03/2020 16:18

Absolutely no cleaner for us. I've cancelled our cleaner and on her last visit on Wednesday paid her until the end of April. I'm not sure what will happen then if she's still away, as I normally pay by cheque. We will review the situation then (I'm self employed, and I can't work at the moment).

If your cleaner is visiting more than one family, she is carrying out hazardous (from the point of view of touching hard surfaces etc) tasks in multiple homes. And then you are asking her to come into your home, where she would be very likely to be shedding the virus. Gloves and other equipment can even increase the risk unless you've been trained to use them properly.It's risky for her, and risky for you. Please don't ask your cleaner to come.

Raindropsandspaceships · 23/03/2020 16:24

I’d just cancel but I would not pay a cleaner beyond perhaps a few weeks unless you’ve actually employed them.

The pay for the self employed needs to increase by the covid gov guidelines but it’s a service.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page