Should I give my cleaner a Christmas bonus when she is having a long holiday ?

Gloomendoom

I don't think you should give her a Christmas bonus because my employer doesn't give me one. In fact, no employer I have ever had has given Christmas bonuseseses.

duchy

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I don't think you should give her a Christmas bonus because my employer doesn't give me one. In fact, no employer I have ever had has given Christmas bonuseseses.

Maybe you never worked hard enough to merit one :rotfl:

I think they are becoming less common but probably more appreciated because of that fact. (I know I have one coming to me on the last payday before Christmas and it'll be a much appreciated gesture)

Employee or self employed everyone is entitled to take annual leave (even when unpaid as in this case) , wheneverits taken if they are valued then their absence will be felt . I think the OP went from annoyed with them ....to realising what an asset they are and that showing appreciation is the right thing to do (although I'd hope her husband will be doing a bit of the hoovering too)

Gloomendoom

duchy wrote: »

Maybe you never worked hard enough to merit one :rotfl:

The thought had crossed my mind.

Robisere

Glad you made the right decision Oystercatcher!

There are some factors in your story that many people here have not picked up, some have been unnecessarily dismissive, even cruel, as a result.
* You are disabled.
* Your husband is disabled, but works. He probably really needs a rest when he gets home. I know that personally, as I worked in a Disabled post for some years, travelling 15 miles to and from a high-pressure job. I was exhausted when I got home.

I live In a Sheltered Housing complex of 23 bungalows. At 70 and 71, my wife and I are two of the youngest here and both of us are also disabled. Most of the friends & neighbours around us are a combination of disability/frail/elderly, some are in late 80's and 90's. As a result, most have cleaners who visit regularly. Since the advent of payments for care by the government (PIP/DLA/Carer's allowance etc.) most cleaners and/or carers work on a professional basis, although those who have none of the above benefits because of better financial circumstances, pay cleaners on the same basis as yourself.

We do not currently pay a cleaner, but the time is approaching when I think we will have to: old age and increasing infirmity will dictate that I fear. We have a wonderful son and daughter with two children each, but our ds and dd have busy working and home lives. They could not help us, although one grandson is not working full time yet and he does help with gardening. The point being, that in today's families, sons and daughters simply cannot spare the time to help. No one who is not in a situation like Oystercatcher and ourselves, can understnd this, nor will they understand until, in the fullness of time, they are faced with a similar situation themselves.

The people in our complex who have cleaners and carers, pass them on to other neighbours when they come to need them. That's the way it works for us oldpharts: we find someone we can trust and we pass them to others in our situation. Trust is the operative word: how many times do we read of the elderly being attacked and robbed in their own homes nowadays? If a member of our community has a gardener. utility worker, carer or similar that they trust, details are passed on. That's why you will find one carer/ gardener/cleaner/why, working in our Close for a whole day.

We have to base those decisions upon personal recommendations and it is difficult for us to develop trust otherwise. We are not paranoid: simply careful.

Brighton_belle

That makes me feel all warm and fuzzy, thanks Oystercatcher, good one.

The_Fiddle_Man

My dad just buys a gift for his cleaner.

Teacher2

I should give her some dosh in an envelope. You don'r want to lose her!

Pollycat

Teacher2 wrote: »

I should give her some dosh in an envelope. You don'r want to lose her!

The OP did:

oystercatcher wrote: »

Just as an update. Today was Cleaner's last day, when she had finished I gave her double pay and said I really appreciated what she did for us and I hoped she would have a lovely holiday.

TheFaqqer

AnnieO1234 wrote: »

On the face of it, the fact she isn't supplying cover makes it more likely she is an employee.

The three pillars of employment were laid down in Ready Mixed Concrete (South East) Ltd v Minister of Pensions and National Insurance in 1968. (link)

1) Does the worker have the right to send a substitute in their place?
2) Is there a mutuality of obligation between worker and client?
3) Does the client exercise supervision, direction and control over the worker?

If the answer to any one of those three questions is "no" then the worker is not an employee - it matters not whether the cleaner is providing cover or not. Could she send someone else in their place? I suspect the answer is yes, therefore the cleaner is not an employee.

Kim_kim

TheFaqqer wrote: »

The three pillars of employment were laid down in Ready Mixed Concrete (South East) Ltd v Minister of Pensions and National Insurance in 1968. (link)

1) Does the worker have the right to send a substitute in their place?
2) Is there a mutuality of obligation between worker and client?
3) Does the client exercise supervision, direction and control over the worker?

If the answer to any one of those three questions is "no" then the worker is not an employee - it matters not whether the cleaner is providing cover or not. Could she send someone else in their place? I suspect the answer is yes, therefore the cleaner is not an employee.

3 is most def a no for me.
I'm not even here, I've never supervised, directed or controlled my cleaner. She supplies a service which I buy & she invoices me for. She also has a dog walking business & pet sitting service.