Xmas box for cleaner

buildersdaughter

Not strictly appropriate for this board, but the wisdom & experience here is so useful!

A few weeks ago, failing health mad us employ a cleaner, so our energies can be directed to other activities. We have used an agency, and our regular cleaner is a lovely young woman who understands how hard it was to hand over some of the maintenance of our home, and she treats it with great respect.

We want to give her a good Xmas box (she will have been with us 2 months by then). DH thinks a gift would be best, however, we have no idea what she would like and what would be useful / a treat for her. I am quite happy to hand over money (but how much?). Would a voucher be better, and who with (Boots or John Lewis spring to mind, though I also wondered about one of our local chain restaurants)

She is the single parent to a 7 year old. The agency pays her £8.25 an hour basic, and she is paid travelling time, holiday pay, and pension contributions. She comes to us for 3 hours a week. The only activity she has mentioned enjoying is an occasional theatre trip, but theatre vouchers can't be used everywhere.

Thank you so much for helping me.

Wraithlady

Vouchers would seem the way forward, as you don't know her that well - maybe something like Amazon or M&S which can be used online and for a range of things. Money seems a bit 'last minute' and can also disappear into a morass of everyday expenditure, whereas vouchers are specific.IMHO anyway.

caronc

I would suggest a cash gift might be most appreciated that she could use as she wishes. Three hours pay so £25-£30 would seem reasonable and you could always add a nice box of sweets or something else foodie like that to go with it.

VintageHistorian

Look in your local area to see what shops there are - no point getting a John Lewis giftcard if the nearest branch isn't easily accessible (I know you can use them online but it can be hard to tell quality, size etc). Personally I find John Lewis very expensive even with a giftcard, somewhere like TK Maxx or Dunelm can mean they recipient will get more for the money.

Personally though I'd go with caronc's suggestion of cash and a box of sweeties (or biscuits, the M&S chocolate biscuit selection box is very nice).

Alternatively as Wraith mentioned something like Amazon would be useful, or if you have a chain restaurant such as Pizza Express in your area then they tend to be more child friendly and could mean she and her child can have a lunch out at some point.

PasturesNew

Never give vouchers to strangers, or even distant friends/family, as you don't know if they'll ever get round to remembering/using them.

Either give cash, or something they can use/share/re-gift (e.g. a £4-5 tin of Celebrations/Heroes/Quality Street).

After only 2 months she won't expect anything. I'd leave it at a tin of chocolates this year and if she's still with you next year the cash equivalent of up to 3 hours' pay, so £20-25.

astrocytic_kitten

I also have a cleaner due to ill health, and at Christmas I give her double pay in a card saying how much I appreciate her.

I remember from being on the poverty line while working, many years ago, that having vouchers to get your nails done when you are desperately short of cash for food can be more of an extra stress than a treat, despite how well meant. Not to make any assumptions about your (or my) cleaner, but it’s always stuck with me.

bexster1975

I think this is a lovely idea OP. Some interesting comments already. I agree with comments re: vouchers if you actually really need something else. If you put the money in a card and attached to a tin of biscuits/sweets it shouldn't look last minute. I think as someone else said she won't expect anything, so whatever you decide will be a lovely thought.

Bexster

VfM4meplse

PasturesNew wrote: »

Never give vouchers to strangers, or even distant friends/family, as you don't know if they'll ever get round to remembering/using them.

Either give cash, or something they can use/share/re-gift (e.g. a £4-5 tin of Celebrations/Heroes/Quality Street).

After only 2 months she won't expect anything. I'd leave it at a tin of chocolates this year and if she's still with you next year the cash equivalent of up to 3 hours' pay, so £20-25.

This with nobs on - or if you give cash this year, keep it to a tenner in a card. She'll appreciate the gesture and the sweeties will delight her son.

There is nothing to stop you from gifting her son with chocolate at Easter etc, and the best thing you can do is show her that you are a considerate employer.

Farway

I give a £10 M & S voucher, it comes in a card so two birds one brick really


There is a local M & S food in town so she can choose whatever, or go into city & use in store for clothing if chocs etc not wanted

buildersdaughter

Thank you so much, all of you!
I am very aware of the issues around vouchers ( wouldn't give anything too specific) and certainly don't want to fall in to the trap mentioned by astrocytic kitten. However, I give JL vouchers to a young relative who is bringing up young children on a minimum wage, as she says it makes her feel special and she is not tempted to spend it on essentials. The point that you have all taken is that I don't know this young woman well enough to know how that would work for her.
I have spent my working life in the public sector, where cash gifts are not allowed (unless they went into the ward or clinic fund) and only nominal gifts (worth less than £10 for most of my working life) could be accepted. I have only ever 'tipped' other workers at Xmas, but this feels very different. You have all been most helpful - you have given me an idea of how much cash to give her, and the idea of 'sweetening' it is a lovely touch.

and V4money.... thank you for your point about being a good employer. Again, I know little about 'employing' people (one reason for going with an agency); but she did tell me that she appreciates the cup of tea I make for her.

VfM4meplse

buildersdaughter wrote: »

and V4money.... thank you for your point about being a good employer. Again, I know little about 'employing' people (one reason for going with an agency); but she did tell me that she appreciates the cup of tea I make for her.

Lol you'll laugh at me - I've just finished with trades this year after months of work, they got non-stop tea / coffee / cold drinks, fruit, chocolates, biscuits and crisps. A small outlay for a happy workforce IMO.

My Mum (old skool in her management style) was less than impressed. She said that they must have thought it was Christmas and I was the fairy who'd fallen off the tree :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: