I am fortunate and grateful that we can afford a housekeeper. We had one every other week. Then, I got very sick and I asked her if she could come for a few hours on the alternate week. She does a house nearby on the alternate week and finishes around 4:30 and comes for two hours. I didn't know what to pay her, so I calculated her hourly wage and pay her for two hours of her work. She was only coming when I called and when I needed extra help due to health issues.
However, then she said that wasn't fair, she wanted it to be more regular and I agreed to that.
However, she started staying an extra 30 minutes to an hour on the alternate weeks and recently, I put a stop to that and told her that I just wanted and appreciated the two hours. (When she stayed longer, I paid her more)
Well, here are my questions...
When I asked around about what people were paying their housekeepers, I was blown away by the answers. Some were super low, some wouldn't say and one was very high. So, I chose a number a little high of the middle.
I have a friend or two with BA degrees and a fair amount of experience working jobs that do not make as much as she makes per hour and I don't know what the tax situation is etc.
1. Does anyone know what a typical rate of pay for a mid to large size city is for a housekeeper? My home is relatively large, but she only does two bedrooms and two bathrooms. No children and one small dog.
2. Do you think it's fair that I pay her PER HOUR based on what she is making per hour on her regular cleaning day? She does much much less work on the day she stays only two hours.
by the way, I give her ironing to do if she wants it ...of my clothes. If I'm sick and can't do it, she can do it after she is done and wants to. My local dry cleaner charges $4 a piece for women's clothing, which is nuts. So, I hand wash a lot of my shirts and iron them. If I'm not feeling well, I hand wash them and give them to her to iron and pay her $2 an item which is unheard of in my area. A friend of mine pays .50 per item.
Anyway, I told her yesterday no more extra time on the alternate days. Just two hours like we originally said, at her rate of pay, plus any ironing if available and if she wants it, and that is extra money.
She seemed disappointed. But, I think I was fair. ??? I really appreciate her a lot, but I actually like cleaning my house and don't wish to be lazy.if I'm not sick, I don't want to have someone else do this work. I'm trying to be reasonable. Oh well. Thanks for letting me get this off my chest.
However, then she said that wasn't fair, she wanted it to be more regular and I agreed to that.
However, she started staying an extra 30 minutes to an hour on the alternate weeks and recently, I put a stop to that and told her that I just wanted and appreciated the two hours. (When she stayed longer, I paid her more)
Well, here are my questions...
When I asked around about what people were paying their housekeepers, I was blown away by the answers. Some were super low, some wouldn't say and one was very high. So, I chose a number a little high of the middle.
I have a friend or two with BA degrees and a fair amount of experience working jobs that do not make as much as she makes per hour and I don't know what the tax situation is etc.
1. Does anyone know what a typical rate of pay for a mid to large size city is for a housekeeper? My home is relatively large, but she only does two bedrooms and two bathrooms. No children and one small dog.
2. Do you think it's fair that I pay her PER HOUR based on what she is making per hour on her regular cleaning day? She does much much less work on the day she stays only two hours.
by the way, I give her ironing to do if she wants it ...of my clothes. If I'm sick and can't do it, she can do it after she is done and wants to. My local dry cleaner charges $4 a piece for women's clothing, which is nuts. So, I hand wash a lot of my shirts and iron them. If I'm not feeling well, I hand wash them and give them to her to iron and pay her $2 an item which is unheard of in my area. A friend of mine pays .50 per item.
Anyway, I told her yesterday no more extra time on the alternate days. Just two hours like we originally said, at her rate of pay, plus any ironing if available and if she wants it, and that is extra money.
She seemed disappointed. But, I think I was fair. ??? I really appreciate her a lot, but I actually like cleaning my house and don't wish to be lazy.if I'm not sick, I don't want to have someone else do this work. I'm trying to be reasonable. Oh well. Thanks for letting me get this off my chest.