Should I pay her for being off sick?

[kando]

My cleaner was off sick the other week and her payday is coming up. I was just wondering if I should still pay her for the time she took off (she's never been sick before)? She comes to us once a week for 4 hours. Never had a cleaner before so don't know how these things work - no contract or anything like that, we "inherited" her when we moved in (living overseas). DH says we should pay her for the time she was off. Should I?

I'm resurrecting this thread again as I'd like your opinions! Whilst I appreciate that I am lucky having a cleaning/ironing lady every week, it's really getting on my nerves now that she's not doing what I ask her. If I want her to do something specific, I am still writing it down and translating it into Dutch for her. But whatever "extras" I ask her to do (like today was to wipe round the patio doors and wipe down the inside window), it's always at the "cost" of something else. She's only done the kitchen floor, instead of doing the lounge, hall and bedrooms (I've repeatedly asked her to do this every week). And she's just sloped off at 1120, which she does every week.

Should I reduce her hours? She does a pretty decent job, and is great at the ironing. I don't ask her to clean out the kitchen cupboards every week - it's just dusting, mopping the floors, hoovering, cleaning the bathrooms and the ironing. Is that too much to expect a cleaner to do in 4 hours? We've got a 3-storey 4 bedroom house, but I've asked her not to do the second floor as it's too messy (playroom and kids bedroom - even I have nightmares about going in there!) I've no idea how to approach this with her. I get very anxious thinking about how to sort this out, as I said before I don't like confrontations - that's why I haven't done anything about it so far. Any advice would be welcomed gratefully.

think it starnge that she doesn't understand you.ime most people in holland speak english well.

It sounds like she's taking advantage of you. A few months ago she was regularly leaving 20m early, now it's 40m early. Even if she doesn't understand your English, she should be able to understand which floors are to be cleaned regularly - I've dealt with cleaners who could barely string two words of English together, but it's amazing how much you can get across by miming. Is she Dutch? If so, then I very much doubt that she doesn't understand you, like I said, I think she's taking advantage. If she's not Dutch, then perhaps she genuinely doesn't speak English, and even translating your notes into Dutch she might not understand them, but she should still be able to understand what you want her to clean.

I wouldn't .. cleaners are self-employed and you do not pay self-employed people for not doing the job

I have never done that and you are not obligated to do so. I would of taken round a bunch of flowers but if that is too late maybe pay her half if you feel the need.

She is Dutch-Surinamese, I think (something like that), and speaks Dutch very well. She does speak a little bit of English (but it is a little bit). She doesn't have a contract or anything like that, it's cash-in-hand every month, which seems to be the way most people pay their cleaners over here.

I show her what/where I want her to clean as well as translate it into Dutch, and have asked her repeatedly what I want her to do regularly but I'm still having trouble with her! It has crossed my mind to get rid of her, but I feel terrible at the thought of that, plus she is close to my landlady so am slightly concerned that she'll be miffed with me too (although the rental contract is between DH's company and her, not us directly). I don't want to feel the baddy by doing her out of a job, but I don't like feeling peeved every time she goes early without doing what I ask. What a ridiculous situation for a grown woman to be in!

why not talk to the landlady if they are such good friends, explain that you are not happy that you ar epaying for 4 hours work and getting just over 3

It can be a bit tricky and uncomfortable, having to deal with a cleaner when you're not used to having one. But think about it, if you refused to do the work that your boss reasonably required of you, and left work early every day, wouldn't he or she be perfectly justified in disciplining you, and in not renewing your contract - or even terminating it? It's just the same for you.

Possibly if she wasn't educated in Holland then her English might not be too good, but she clearly has no problems with Dutch. Somehow I don't get the feeling that you'd get anywhere asking your landlady to mediate between you and your cleaner. I do think she's taking the mickey and that, unless you find it in yourself to be stricter - for example by paying her only for the hours she actually works, rather than for four nominal hours - you're not going to get anywhere with her.

Thanks PC. I think that's what I'll do - and if she questions her wages, I can explain it to her then. I think she knows more English than she lets on and probably is taking the mickey, but I suppose it's partly me being a wimp and letting her get away with it that's the problem! She got paid today (!) so I've got another 4 weeks to pluck up the courage (and devise a suitable "speech"!!) if she questions me!

Keep a note of the times she arrives and leaves, and the dates of course, to help you remember and to show her should she quibble.

You could perhaps leave the record (but keep a copy of it) on the fridge door, quite openly, so that she can see that you are going to record her timekeeping from now on. No need to draw attention to it, but she might take the hint without you having to brace yourself up for a confrontation.

thanks PrettyCandles - you've given me some great advice. Will def keep record of her comings and goings.