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

twigpig

Proxima_Centauri wrote: »

I don't think I would give a Christmas Bonus if she won't be around at all in December. Just my opinion!

This is my gut feeling too. Definitely not cash. If anything, maybe a bottle of wine 'to enjoy on her break'.....

I've also done gifts in the past for my gp surgery, library staff, bin men etc but I don't do them all every year. The list would become endless.

twigpig

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.

Her face was a picture , she was astonished and delighted . I am so glad I did this.

I think if I do a little bit of cleaning each day we can manage until she returns and after all , we will end up with three weeks cleaning money in hand . I will be glad when she is back though :rotfl:

You feel good, she feels appreciated. Win win

ptrichardson

I've never had a Christmas bonus in any job I've had.

If you want to buy someone a present, that's fine. But a bonus because its Christmas is alien to me

Pollycat

ptrichardson wrote: »

I've never had a Christmas bonus in any job I've had.

If you want to buy someone a present, that's fine. But a bonus because its Christmas is alien to me

The OP has already given her cleaner double wages.

But I think you make a good point.
Is the bonus for good work/service done/given throughout the year or because it's Christmas.
I got the impression from the OP it was the former not the latter.
A bit like tipping the dustbin men or postman.

lisa110rry

Yep, I think the OP did the right thing. I do something similar, when we go away for a week at Christmas or at any other time, the house does not require cleaning, but I leave her money as if it did. I tell her just to take the two weeks at the same time. I feel it's not her fault I'm away, so she should be paid as if she had worked. On the other hand, when she has plans which make it impossible to clean my house, I do not pay her.

Pop_Up_Pirate

If she cleans once a week, but takes off 4 weeks in december/january, then no, I would not give a Christmas Bonus.

Christmas Bonus is a 'Thank You' for dedicated year long services. Not a right.

Pollycat

Pop_Up_Pirate wrote: »

If she cleans once a week, but takes off 4 weeks in december/january, then no, I would not give a Christmas Bonus.

Christmas Bonus is a 'Thank You' for dedicated year long services. Not a right.

I don't think anyone has suggested a bonus is a right.

If a bonus is for 'dedicated year long services' why should someone not be given a bonus just because they take some time off?

A lot of working people get a few weeks annual leave.
Isn't that similar to what this cleaner has done - taken some time off?

It's not as though she has asked to be paid for the time she isn't working.

Pop_Up_Pirate

Pollycat wrote: »

I don't think anyone has suggested a bonus is a right.

If a bonus is for 'dedicated year long services' why should someone not be given a bonus just because they take some time off?

A lot of working people get a few weeks annual leave.
Isn't that similar to what this cleaner has done - taken some time off?

It's not as though she has asked to be paid for the time she isn't working.

The majority of working people don't get a Christmas Bonus and they don;t take 4 weeks off all in one sitting
It's like a shop assistant being off for 4 weeks in december/january (when the shop needs her the most) and she still thinks she will get a bonus.
Sure, buy her a gift but don't give her double wages when she isn;t there when you need her the most.

Pollycat

Pop_Up_Pirate wrote: »

The majority of working people don't get a Christmas Bonus and they don;t take 4 weeks off all in one sitting
It's like a shop assistant being off for 4 weeks in december/january (when the shop needs her the most) and she still thinks she will get a bonus.
Sure, buy her a gift but don't give her double wages when she isn;t there when you need her the most.

Well, it appears the OP doesn't share your opinion:

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.

Her face was a picture , she was astonished and delighted . I am so glad I did this.

I think if I do a little bit of cleaning each day we can manage until she returns and after all , we will end up with three weeks cleaning money in hand . I will be glad when she is back though :rotfl:

I would have done the same, a good reliable cleaner is hard to find.

oystercatcher

Pop_Up_Pirate wrote: »

If she cleans once a week, but takes off 4 weeks in december/january, then no, I would not give a Christmas Bonus.

Christmas Bonus is a 'Thank You' for dedicated year long services. Not a right.

This was my thoughts at first when I posted here. then the discussion made me realise that the cleaner has given me dedicated service all year apart from my and her holidays. Why shouldn't she have her holidays when she wants to?

Having had to do some of my own cleaning today I am appreciating her efforts again. A short burst of vaccuuming and several hours of vertigo meaning nothing can be done and disabled husband is now cooking after a long day at work.