Is my cleaner taking the micky?

[sandalfi]

Have name changed as this is v outing, I am a regular on MN though.

I've had a cleaner for two hours once a week for a few months. I used to do it until my work hours changed so I know two hours is plenty to do what I ask of her.

We work off a spreadsheet each week of the jobs I'd like her to do as not all rooms need doing. There are some regular weekly jobs, then other jobs bi weekly or monthly.

She does a good job, there's been times I've had to mention that she's missing things, but I'm generally happy with her.

A few weeks ago we put up a ring door bell, mainly as we were always missing parcels and having to schlep across town to the post office, so now I speak to ask them to leave them hidden somewhere, it works great.

However, it also means I see all the comings and goings and last week the cleaner was in and out in and hour and 20 mins, she'd done all the jobs on the list so I thought she's quick and not got enough to do.

So this week I added more jobs to the list, well today, even though she had more to do, she was in and out in an hour!

I've not been home to check yet so unsure if she's done everything.

How would you handle this? On the one hand, if she's done everything then do
I accept she's quick, done the job and pay her the full 2 hours, or not ask she's only working half the time?

My friend has just sacked the cleaner because of getting a Ring camera. She was leaving an hour early.
She’s had begging messages since, complaining that she’s never had this happen before/thought they were friends. Cheeky fuckers have no shame!

Had an amazing cleaner for over 8 years - she never slopes off early. Any issues with timings are juggled for both our conveniences.....get rid of your cleaner, she is totally taking the Mickey!

Ridiculous. Why is it only work traditionally done for free by women that this applies to? "Women, how dare you pay someone to do your work and expect them actually to do it? You're oppressing them by even asking, so you should be grateful if they only stay half the time." Fuck that.

I've been a cleaner, and it was a lot more pleasant than other low paid jobs I've done, including healthcare assistant, care home staff, and washer-upper. And I didn't get to skive off any of those early.

Ohhhh she sounds great 😊

Who wants a cleaner to come in the evening or at the weekend, I'm not sure you could even find one that does.

Someone who wants their cleaner not to take the mick.
My cleaner always came on a Saturday morning.

I'd just replace her, the point of having a cleaner for me is that it gets done while I'm working and not in my downtime.

All this effort of devising a spreadsheet, ticking off the jobs, deciding what needs doing and what doesn't and then actually having to check it was done, checking the Ring door surveillance and then the discussions with your DH, do we pay or don't we....

Wouldn't it be easier, quicker and less stressful to do the cleaning yourself?

Honestly, she's taking the piss. She's workshy and dishonest. But one thing in her defence, all this spreadsheet stuff is probably doing her head in.

It's unfortunate, but it does tend to happen over time. Happened to us with our long term cleaner - SIL who I think disapproved of us having a cleaner- saw her leaving after 1.5 hrs when she was paid for 2. I rationalised it with her not having put her rates up for a while, but then when we were wfh occasionally, we would say we would move room for her to clean it, but she just avoided doing it and left after an hour or so.

Thank goodness we stopped the arrangement before covid otherwise I would have felt obliged to keep on paying her.

Now we live in mild filth - we have a dog so no matter how much I do ( not much) it's never exactly sparkling. We also bought a robohoover which I would highly recommend.

@MissLucyEyelesbarrow, I never even thought it applies to work traditionally done for free. Many services aren't timed. An MOT, a haircut, a dental checkup- you'd pay the same regardless of how long it took.

The OP is paying the cleaner for 2 hours' work. You accused the OP of treating the cleaner as a skivvy, for expecting her to do 2 hours' work.

She loves the spreadsheet and so do I
I just print one off every week and tick the jobs that I want doing so that she doesn’t have to do everything, as some jobs are monthly.

No it wouldn’t be easier and less stressful to do the cleaning myself , I work full time and so does my husband so come weekend we just want to relax rather than spend the morning cleaning ,since I had a chat with her she’s improved

A good cleaner doesn't need a spreadsheet. They keep a mental note of when they last cleaned windows, skirting, tops of doors etc and rotate them round.

@MissLucyEyelesbarrow I think with house cleaning the time issue is more about setting boundaries. The cleaner may have another job to get to (kids to collect, an evening class, a sports activity etc.) and needs to manage their time and the client will have a budget, anything over and above needs to be agreed in advance otherwise it would be unmanageable.

Exactly the same deal at a garage.

If my car goes in for an MOT then there's a fixed price for that, if however my car fails the MOT you have to agree what work you want doing and the cost.

Exactly the same deal at a hairdressers

Hair appointments are booked in a stylists column on a time limited basis, you can't book for a 45 minute trim and announce you want a colour.

What's the point you are trying to make, here? You do not book a hairdresser or MOT by the hour; you pay them by the task. But that isn't the arrangement here, so that is irrelevant.

1. The OP is paying the cleaner by the hour.

2. The cleaner has accepted the work on that basis.

3. If she leaves early, she is being paid for work she has not done.

If you agree to work for 2 hours, and you accept pay for 2 hours, you should work for 2 hours. It's not complicated.

My view is that, regardless of a spreadsheet, there are always things that can be cleaned. So if she finishes cleaning the usual things early she could clean something else, ie the front door, microwave, windows etc.

If I'm paid for two hours in an office, then I don't leave and go home because it's gone quiet. I'll find something else to do!

have your friends taken her on? What do they think? Shes basically stealing your money if she’s taking for 2hrs & doing only one.
I am sure other things could be be done to fill her time- emptying dishwasher, dryer, putting a washing out on the line, wiping the front door & sills -basically using her coming sense 🙄

Not an answer to the question.

My elderly neighbour had a cleaner , turns out 2 sisters were coming to clean and charging her double per hour !
Did a shit job in to boot in my view . I had /have an ironing lady who I recommended and she took over the cleaning for her. Some people are despicable

A way of checking if she is cleaning thoroughly . Just put a very tiny dab of multi coloured toothpaste on a surface . If it's still there then you have your answer .

This was last year’s thread. I let her go a few weeks later as there was no improvement. I now have another cleaner and she’s great!