Cleaner asked for a raise

[deviladvocate]

i currently pay £20 for 2 hours, she dusts and hoovers through 4 bed house and cleans one bathroom, also makes beds and tidies up as she goes (although I do go through the house before she arrives and clear the worst of it.) I do the kitchen, basement and other bathroom also mop the hard floors. she's looking for an increase to £11.50 an hour which I think is a lot? I seem to be doing more and more and she seems to be doing less but looking for more money?

where are you?

how many cleaners have you had before?

why do you feel impelled to do her job for her?

when you say you "clear the wortst of it" how horrible is "the worst?"

A 15% raise?!

What's the going rate in your area?

At the minute you're paying her £10 an hour....that seems like a lot to me!

Get rid of her. Sorry been there been done, it's all down hill from here.

Is she actually good? If she said she was leaving would you get that panicky feeling,relieved or not bothered one way or the other? That would probably give you your answer.
Could you offer her an extra hour? She will earn more,you do less. Give her a list of your expectations though.

Cons : Why is she asking for a raise? £10 is well above the minimum wage. Cleaning is an essential task, but it's not rocket science is it?!

Pros : Good cleaners are worth their weight in gold, so if you'd hate to lose her and can afford it then perhaps compromise by saying you'll raise it in x number of months.

Icelollycraving you've hit the nail on the head - I feel I need to do more and more as it's not done the way I'd do it myself. It was a godsend having her when the babies were tiny but I don't feel that way any more, I've just given her notice and I do actually feel relieved. Thanks for your responses everyone, it's really helped me see why I was so disinclined to give her the raise.

That's because I am so infinitely wise :o
Glad all sorted,well done you!

£10 an hour sounds fair ( up north)
I could easily do that amount of cleaning in 2 hours. ( big house)
Maybe your problem is the making beds and tidying.....that eats into tims. Don't underestimate that.

Can you not have ensure house is tidy beforee she comes? Today is my cleaning day (2 hours nap time) last night i tidied for an hour. You can't clean efficently if house is untidy.

I would look at comparable rates localy and if she is being paid fairly, explain its too much and you would have to let her go.

@ yourefired telling you to fire someone.

The house isn't especially messy, I clear up before she comes, she just straightens up our stuff. I don't think I was asking her to do very much really. Anyway, moot point now.

I agree with who ever said it may go downhill from here. I have had several cleaners and some have started off great and then slacked off and then asked for a raise. I got lucky the last time as the cleaner asked DH and he basically said do you know there's a recession going on?

I would start looking for a new cleaner.