Cleaning

I would let her know that you have noticed she is not keeping to her hours and is leaving a few jobs uncompleted. She may have a problem or is finding you too easy. If the latter is the case it may get worse.
You are employing and paying her to do a job which she agreed to so don't feel bad about confronting her, which can be done in a nice way.
I certainly wouldn't offer to train her as she might find this upsetting if she is doing her best. Does she have enough time to do all that you want done? Her best may not be up to your high standard in which case she is not the right person for you.

Isn't it hard when it is in your own home? I could hire and fire easily at work but not so easily at home. No advice, I'm not good at that sort of motivation.

Do you leave her alone in the house?, if you do then you could leave a note saying about specific jobs you want completed, the ones she has stopped doing, and that you will be back at the time she is due to leave to make sure she does the full time.

It would be better to say it to her but I understand how hard that would be.

I would think offering to go round and train her would be worse than a confrontation.
I really don't see why you have a problem, you are paying the woman and her work is not satisfactory. Ascertain if there is a reason for her non compliance with your wishes and if not tell her how you want it doing. If she continues to fall short then look for someone else.

If she's leaving early, suggest to her that she needs to start earlier as she clearly is finding being in 2 places at once stressful. Ask if she has to pick a child up. Be supportive. A trustworthy person in your home is hard to replace.

I'd say to her "Could you please remember to do job - you must have forgotten it last week". That would cover the work not being done but I'm not sure what I'd say about leaving early, maybe "Oh, are you leaving now, do you have an appointment?"
People can get complacent if they know they can get away with it so it's best to stop it before it becomes really bad.

What I would do is have a schedule of work listed for her to see and when the work needs to be done.
Ask her if she can do the work in the time, see what she says.

The issue of not working the hours you are paying her for needs to be addressed.

Say you had notice she is leaving early did she want to reduce her hours did she have problems in staying for the time you needed her and see what she says.

It may be she is travelling after you to another job if this is the case ask her to come in earlier if that works for you.

....remember to do (such and such) job. Sorry!

I think it becomes an issue when you befriend your cleaner.
I have stopped mine for 3 months whilst builders are here, on starting again I shall go over what needs to be done, and hopefully as it will all be bright, shiny and new it will be more obvious if something is missed

First day of a new clean-I said to her "my priorities are the windows and the (tiled) floors----I came bak 3 hours later, and she had those done- but nothing else! Kitchen was same as we walked out after breakfast, beds not make, nothing in lounge even touched! She literally did the windows and the floors--so maybe more clarification as to what you need done each time

I worked from home for many years and found I was unable to keep the house as I would like. Enter cleaning lady – a real treasure, she did everything including cleaning the oven (unasked) and ironing our underwear something I didn’t do and tried to deter her from doing, but she would have none of it. She stayed with us for nine years until she met and married her second husband. We became friends during those years and still keep in touch. I hope you resolve your concerns but if nothing improves then she will probably have to go – there are good cleaners out there who take pride in their work, you just have to find one.

Wonderful to see the title 'Cleaning' with 'Bobdoesit' against it! Sorry to spoil the effect.
She's likely to say she leaves early because she's done all her jobs. I'd remind of the jobs you agreed with her, and then find something extra and a bit arduous or messy for her to start 'if she has time'.

I briefly had a cleaner when I went back to work. She started off very keen, but gradually things wound down. I reckoned if she was able to work to a high standard when she started, she'd just decided not to bother any more for some reason, so as it was an expense I could hardly stretch to anyway, I got rid of her.

I think you have gone as far as you can with this lady so perhaps better to let her go and start again.

When I started with a new help I had a laminated sheet of tasks I wanted done in each room so there was no excuse for a falling off. I also somewhat overpaid for what needed to be done so my lady would have no cause for complaint and I paid when we were on holiday too and when she was.

I would expect any cleaner to do what she is paid to do and the time she is paid to do it. If you are unhappy tell her you are dissatisfied and that if she doesn't improve then you will find someone else. Ask people you know for recommendations.

I've done cleaning work before and after the first session I say what I can do within the expected time. If I'm slower one week then I stayed to finish off, if I was quicker I did something extra till it was time for me to go. Why should people pay for sloppy work.

Perhaps she has a personal problem going on in her life and is finding things hard at the moment. Perhaps a quiet word with a cup of tea might help her open up and you can voice your concerns about her work. You could start with saying you have noticed things are not as they were and although she has said she is ok but you think she still seems not quite right.

Just be honest and say kindly that you’ve noticed that things aren’t as good as normal, and ask if she is ok. No point beating about the bush.

if she is paid at an hourly rate, as mine is, and she leaves early, make a point of checking the clock before you pay her. Then calculate out loud what she is due. it worked for me.

DIY. Simple

Yes im paying for a cleaner via age uk,as though only 55 ive severe osteoarthritis so its hard to stand&hoover/mop,its quite expensive per hour,so ive cut to 1&a half hours per fortnight,but my cleaner ALWAYS arrives 10 minutes late,seems to try stopping to chat to me often,and does things her way if she can then often leaves before her full time.ive been mentioning to her ill shop around for another cleaner,as age uk keep putting the cost up,but of course as mentioned its getting someone trustworthy thats the problem.anyway im finishing her end of next month as i really wont be able to afford it anymore.but it always feels like im paying for nothing much really.

Let her go and tell her why. I've never had a cleaning lady and I hate cleaning and do as little as possible. You have surely heard the saying "House work never killed anyone, but I'm not taking any chances" rather be gardening or out walking the beach or the hills all weathers!!!

I have tried two cleaners, they worked hard initially and then slacked off. Finishing early etc. Finally the last one who had a van and brought her own equipment, got rid of the van and came in a car and told me I had to provide all equipment. She had just put her prices up "because supplies had increased in price". I said that was not what I wanted. Try and keep up with it myself. Though it is hard as it is a large house for an 80 year old to keep clean.

I had two marvellous Polish girls who came together - I prefer two then you don't have to talk to them. for £45 for three hours. plus extra for mileage. but sadly they stopped coming.
I now have a national Company. again two girls but for one hour - £54.00!!! so I have them once a month. which suits me.

I would ask her if there is a problem as she is leaving early without having completed the jobs you wanted done.

I'm afraid there's no substitute for being direct with people in these circumstances, and it doesn't have to be confrontational.

I recently let go our window cleaner of many years because he was becoming increasingly nosey, gossiped about our neighbours and was only doing half a job by not wiping over the window ledges. I told him that we had decided to clean them ourselves when we want to, as we had a new extendable mop. He wasn't very happy, but accepted that's what we wanted to do without any bad feeling.

If you have to go around after her, then there's no point in keeping her on if you're not happy.