Are you paying your cleaner during lockdown?

AcornFairy I do my own cleaning too and would actually feel quite uncomfortable with someone else doing my cleaning for me. But some people are not able to, due to ill health/reduced mobility. They need a cleaner.

Even those who choose to employ a cleaner because they are working or to give them more time to do other things, as long as they pay that cleaner properly and treat her/him with respect, why should it be an issue? People pay for all sorts of other services.

I do think that, during this time, an employer should at least offer the cleaner some sort of recompense, provided they are not in financial difficulties themselves.

I'm definitely paying my cleaner.She's been coming to me for over 25 years and I now really appreciate the fact that she irons loads of shirts (not mine!) each week and does all the things I simply hate doing. My choice- my cleaner-my money.

Goodness me...if your off poor health then you do need a cleaner.
If your not then why can’t you clean your own house!
Have you been indulged in your upbringing?
I don’t and wouldn’t have a cleaner as they wouldn’t clean my house to my high standards.

Oh.. don't worry about that (G54)Nannan2
I just dislike my name Gabriella being shortened, so it's ok to leave off the G54.

I do understand that some people cannot do their own housework for a variety of health or work reasons. I should have made clear that I was talking about people who have health and time but choose to say that a cleaner (not a professional) does it better.
I know anyone can spend their money any which way they like, it was just an observation. ?

GabriellaG54 So judgemental! Everybody's reasons are different. And everybody's priorities are different. And their priorities may not be the same as yours. That doesn't make yours right and theirs wrong. You honestly sound as though you don't realise that!

When I worked at our local hospital I used to volunteer for overtime. I’d stay late in the evening and type up out patient clinics. The extra money I earned paid for a weekly cleaner. Oh what bliss to go home to a lovely clean house every Friday!

I preferred typing to vacuuming.

Now we are retired and live in two small apartments I like to watch Himself doing (most) of the cleaning.
? #lazygran

Well said Shelmiss?

Why do a few of you on this thread seem to have a problem with those of us who have cleaners?
I don’t feel that I have to justify why I employ mine, suffice to say that she has been with me for about 20years. She must be happy coming here once a week. She gets paid well and I value her services. Just as, I hope, that my clients value mine.

As most of you will probably know 3hours once a week isn’t enough to absolve me from doing some of my own housework and I am perfectly able to.

As Urmstogran has just said it is wonderful to come into the house after a hard days work and see it looking fabulous.

That doesn’t happen now as I have decided , at my great age, to cut down my working week and have Tuesdays off. She changed her day from Thursday to Tuesday so now we work together??
Serves me right I suppose??‍♀️

Can’t understand why some people are so self righteous about doing their own cleaning. Perhaps none of us should go out for a meal because we should be cooking for ourselves. Plenty of ( mainly) women enjoy having a cleaning job and would be out of work if no one was allowed to employ them

It doesn't matter if they DO have health and time though does it? Its up them what they want to spend money on.if they're just heartily sick of years spent cleaning up (after a family maybe) and just wish to kick back& let someone else do it for them,then they are at liberty to do so.without recriminations. From anyone.

Yes Atqui, my cleaning lady is a bit of manic for cleaning and thats why she started up her own company! Plus she fits her own family& hosp appts ( just check ups) round it yet can make a living.

Well said Gizzy48

Sir Chenjin - you asked " I’m curious as to why you think some businesses should continue being paid for not delivering a service and others not?"

That's a good question, and difficult to answer. I think the nearest I can come to it is that the person being paid has not withdrawn their services. I used to teach piano to a child whose mother did quite a lot of cleaning, and although it didn't pay her entire living, it kept the family's head above the water - as does my teaching. Her daughter got a big part in a school play, and the school scheduled a couple of rehearsals, plus the performance, on evenings when she had her piano lesson. Now. I do charge for missed lessons, but only if I haven't had 24 hours' notice, as there is always the opportunity to fut in a lessons for someone else if they had to miss. This mother gave me about three weeks' notice, but still insisted on paying me. She said "it really upsets me when people say, oh I'm going on holiday next week so we won't be needing you (so we won't be paying you) - I can't drum up a new customer just for that one week".

So I suppose that kind of explains why I'm still paying my cleaner for 2 hours a week. She's willing to work - indeed, she fetches my husband's weekly prescription from the pharmacy and has done other small errands.

Anyway some are at least just being honest! We are some not as good as a cleaner(how can we,they do it for a living?) And us ladies are not born with a mop& bucket in our hands are we? Some are just better at it,some are hopeless at it,some pick it up over time& get better.what does it matter?. If some of us would rather pay for someone who can do a really good job why not i say??

I’m not paying mine. She charges quite a lot I think (£20 and hour) so I think that shes making quite a lovely so should have enough in reserve. I didn’t get that much when I was working, far from it. Plus, if she’s doing the right thing in declaring it, she’ll be getting 80% anyway. My husband has also stopped working now and is unsure if he’ll get anything.

Yes Xxjanexx- ive marked your card too.! So judgemental,whats the matter with you? So you have high standards? So thats up to you,too.But you cant judge anyone else or their reasons to have a cleaner,and how do you know any cleaner would not have same or higher,standards if you've not tried one. I used to have a male cleaner,who like my new one,was a maniac for cleaning/tidying,& did it for his friends - so then started his cleanijng business after reduntancy- he was a wonderful cleaner! So not just women.(sadly he had a car accident& had to give up) but none of are born holding cleaning materials.& it doesn't come naturally to some.

I have a carer who is obviously a Key Worker, but when I asked if he was coming next week he said 'no we are on lock down, haven't you seen the news?' Having been in hospital and tested for Covid19, I paid him until the test came back negative, but despite offering a much PPE as he needed and a letter stating he was a Key Worker, since then I haven't paid him as he wasn't shielding or self isolating, (which I am in theory) so as he has chosen not to come I won't be paying him for the hours since my test came back negative .... he is planning to come this week thankfully as I have had a nasty fall and am struggling to do anything!

Gizzy but surely no-one who has been furloughed has chosen to withdraw their services, they’ve had the situation forced upon them by the pandemic. The people I mentioned - hairdressers, gardeners, window cleaners, childcare providers accountants like DH and his colleagues - they’ve all been furloughed. I just wonder why people on here aren’t still paying these (and other) regular service providers. Apparently I’m a “monster” for not paying my cleaner - but it seems that not paying for other services is absolutely fine

Theres a huge assumption that people with cleaners are rich.
A lot of people have cleaners but keep it quiet either because of reverse snobbery or because they dont want to go into their circumstances.

A lot of shift workers, single parents and people with invisible disabilities have cleaners.

Im just pointing out that having a cleaner doesnt necessarily equate to having lots of money. Cleaners clean pokey flats as well as big houses.

That said, if you can pay you should.

Actually SirChengin I’m with you there!
I think I will contact a few of my clients and let them know where to send the cheques.?

People at home on furlough definitely should, even if its a reduced rated.

If youre accepting pay while youre not working dont be a hypocrite by not paying your cleaner

My DD and her hubby are still paying their cleaner. Cleaner said only 2 of her clients have offered to do this.

Stir stir notanan

Do explain how it’s hypocritical for furloughed staff not to pay the salaries of other furloughed staff? I’m fascinated.

I dont clean to my high standard and nor does dh! I pay my cleaner to do that.

Dh's Mother had a cleaner but mine didnt and I did lots to help in the house.

I loathe cleaning and have been lucky enough to have a cleaner since we had children. I was a sham too.

Some of my children have cleaners and some don't despite their extraordinarily pampered upbringing. All their homes have a high standard of cleanliness whether with or with out cleaners.

For goodness sake - we live in a free country!

Ha ha! I wasnt a sham but a sahm!!