Cleaner leaving 30-45 mins early

[MyWiseBiscuit]

I’ve had a cleaner for 5 weeks. First week she did a great job, then second week asked if it’s ok to leave (10 mins early). Everything was done so I said yes. The last 2 weeks she’s left 45 mins early and then 30 mins early and the time I’m paying for is 2.5hrs. Didn’t ask just left.

What she did looked ok (not amazing) but things got left (cup marks on coffee tables, dusty skirting boards, few bits on kitchen floor, kitchen cupboards had a few food splashes. It’s like she’s rushing so she can leave as early as she likes. I ended up spending 30mins finishing after she’d done. Like the main things were done but details missing and I’m so annoyed she’s leaving so early.

After the initial 45mins early leave I gave her an extra job the next time, but all she did was then did a worse job on the other areas to leave 30mins early! I’m not going to quibble over 5-10 mins but 30-45 mins feels a lot.

what do I do? Find someone else or tackle it? I hate confrontation and it’s a lot of trust having someone in your home and relies on a positive relationship (always the worry if you upset them they’ll do something to your tooth brush). I also don’t feel great knowing they are in my home but not staying the whole time I’m paying them for which makes me question their integrity

if I do tackle, what do I say?
thanks

It's ridiculous for her to always leave early! To me you never leave early. You ask for another task to fill the time. Or maybe just go a bit slower on your last task if you're ahead of schedule.

She sounds like a piss taker. Just her work ethic and attitude to be doing that would make me look elsewhere.

friends irl have been saying “give her a list” “sit down and ask her how she thinks it’s going” whereas my gut is she’s taking the p but equally having someone is better than having a dirty house

wanted to check if others would be outraged too and want to get rid

how long has this been going on for??

and both you and your DH unsure whether she was taking the piss?

Well weve only had her 5 weeks. Started with 10 mins early (fine) then 45mins now 30mins. Only on week 1 she stayed the full time

i knew this was taking the mick but didn’t know if I was unreasonable to get rid or whether I should speak to her to change things. But seems consensus is I’m not unreasonable to let her go

Yes I was just being facetious. She does not sound throrough at all on top of leaving early. She clearly hasn’t touched those surfaces.

did you tell your dh? Was he also unsure?

He’s not fussed tbh. He sees a clean house (which is partly because I do an extra 30 mins after she’s gone)

No I meant was he too was unsure whether you’d be unreasonable to say to the person you were paying to do a job for x hours - to actually do the hours they were being paid to do or let them go?

He says I should’ve given a list of jobs to be done each week

As your friends have also been saying

and yet…. You did nothing?

I’m still not clear

as it stands, have you done anything since you spent the day discussing it?

I’m a cleaner myself and I say get rid of her, that’s taking the absolute piss but tell her exactly why you’re getting rid of her too, it will make her think in future

Why does this bother you? I don’t always work long hours. It’s also been beneficial to vent and get useful opinions. Glad I’m not posting about a problem that was sensitive or upsetting with sarcastic comments like this

I’m impressed by how invested you are in this and whether I’ve done anything yet

Thank you. It’s very useful having this from the point of view of a cleaner

You are one hard taskmaster. Bet cleaners don’t mess with you

They literally suggested this yesterday!!!! I’m not going to knock on her door with a list. I thought I was being polite replying to posts. My mistake

The quickest and obvious thing to do would be to not leave the cash out for her…let her come to you and ask for it. If she comes and asks for it 40 mins early, just look at your watch and say ‘Eh? It’s not been 3 hours yet, can you quickly tackle the playroom before you go’. Or you could say ‘Well it’s only been X hours so I’ll take off £7 if you need to leave now.’

No just the way you are on my case about what I have actually done about this situation. Very strange