Painted myself into a bit of a corner with my housekeeper

[Anonymous]

I advertised a job from 8am-1pm 3 days a week helping with cleaning/cooking/laundry for our family of six. I interviewed a lot of people and eventually hired someone I really like. But then she wasn't able to work 8-1, and asked to come in 9-2. Then, she ended up being a good cook, but a slow one (took her most of five hours to grocery shop, prep two meals for the weekend, and clean the kitchen....not only was I out $100, but I couldn't use my kitchen all day). So, I increased her hourly rate by $5/hr, cut her hours to two days/wk, and asked her to focus solely on cleaning and laundry.
She does a good job, but not amazing. And I have realized that with her current hours (during the school day, lots of flexibility with a sick kid), and her current hourly wage ($25/hr in the Midwest), I would have a lot more, possibly higher quality applicants. And we wouldn't have this history of cutting hours. But she hasn't done anything wrong. I hate to let her go for this reason.

[Anonymous]

Ok?

[Anonymous]

OP, she is not able to do the job you anticipated. That means it is not a good fit. It is okay to let her go. Give plenty of notice and a good reference.

[Anonymous]

I think that is a valid reason to let her go! I would not hesitate.

[Anonymous]

Cleaning, Cooking and Laundry for SIX

is a FULL-TIME for TWO workers!

OP is ridiculous to think otherwise.

[Anonymous]

We have a weekly housekeeper who is terrible at cleaning but good with laundry and general straightening up. She has been with us since we were first living together and was a housekeeper for my MIL from when DH was ten to when she started with us!

I can't fire her. So I just appreciate what she does do - laundry, knows where everything goes, is never late or a no-show, is sweet to my daughter... We have a cleaning company come in for an hour with five cleaners once a week and with the cleaners as well as a great nanny who takes care of managing the house (waiting and paying for cleaning company, ordering all house supplies and grocery shopping for us) on top of doing everything for my child - we are in good shape.

Maybe cut your housekeeper back to one day and hire a cleaning company if you are a wimp like me!

[Anonymous]

Shy did you increase her pay? So that she would gross the same amount for fewer hours not doing what you originally budgeted that money for? That was an odd decision, but it's done.

I think that you can tell her that unfortunately, this isn't working out for you. You need the job to be x, y, z, all completed within these specific hours. You've adapted the job to fit her needs, but now you realize it really isn't fitting yours.

Then tell her that you're planning to relist the job. You will probably list it at $25/hr for someone who can do what she does and cook, and who is better able to pick up new tasks, and who can more often work the earlier hours.

However, you feel badly that it's not working out, and if she would like to stay, you can offer her the same job she has now, but back to $20/hr..

Give her a month's notice and/or severance. You will feel so much better if you do this!

And then you'll either have someone better (I hope you go this route) or a little more money in your pocket to do things like buy take-out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Cleaning, Cooking and Laundry for SIX

is a FULL-TIME for TWO workers!

OP is ridiculous to think otherwise.

You're so funny! I do this every day and a full time job, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Cleaning, Cooking and Laundry for SIX

is a FULL-TIME for TWO workers!

OP is ridiculous to think otherwise.

It really depends on the family. If they have a palatial home that must be kept spotless and lots of items that they require to be hand-washed and goirmet meals, then sure.

If they are a typical middle-class family who wants bahrooms wiped down, basic meal prep and throwing all their stuff in the washer, then it can definitely be done in a few hours a day.

[Anonymous]

These positions are really difficult to hire for unfortunately.

But move on if you want and you don’t need to give her a month’s severance.

We have four kids so we ended up having our nanny do family laundry and grocery shopping and cooking for the kids. Then we have a service that does a deep clean once a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These positions are really difficult to hire for unfortunately.

But move on if you want and you don’t need to give her a month’s severance.

We have four kids so we ended up having our nanny do family laundry and grocery shopping and cooking for the kids. Then we have a service that does a deep clean once a week.

So your sitter does your daily housekeeping?

[Anonymous]

I disagree that these are hard to hire for, especially in areas where $20/hr is more than most people make at other jobs. There are a lot of women where I live (not the midwest, but not DMV either) who are looking for part time work, have older kids, and this kind of job is right in their wheelhouse.

The trick is to find someone good at it, but now that she's hired once, she'll do a better job of hiring next time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I disagree that these are hard to hire for, especially in areas where $20/hr is more than most people make at other jobs. There are a lot of women where I live (not the midwest, but not DMV either) who are looking for part time work, have older kids, and this kind of job is right in their wheelhouse.

The trick is to find someone good at it, but now that she's hired once, she'll do a better job of hiring next time.

What's your point?

[Anonymous]

I think you need to let her go and find someone who would be doing the jobs you actually need. Since your like her and she hasn't technically done anything wrong, I would offer a long notice and a good reference, or even help her find a new position.

Now you're paying more than you need for fewer of the things you actually need, so it's not a good fit anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a weekly housekeeper who is terrible at cleaning but good with laundry and general straightening up. She has been with us since we were first living together and was a housekeeper for my MIL from when DH was ten to when she started with us!

I can't fire her. So I just appreciate what she does do - laundry, knows where everything goes, is never late or a no-show, is sweet to my daughter... We have a cleaning company come in for an hour with five cleaners once a week and with the cleaners as well as a great nanny who takes care of managing the house (waiting and paying for cleaning company, ordering all house supplies and grocery shopping for us) on top of doing everything for my child - we are in good shape.


Maybe cut your housekeeper back to one day and hire a cleaning company if you are a wimp like me!

Wow, so you pay a housekeeper to do laundry and pick up clutter, and separately pay a nanny and cleaning service?