does a weekly cleaner get vacation pay?

That is crazy. A birthday bonus is very generous. I would politely tell her no.

$25 per hour is IMHO, nuts, especially if she's taking the kind of breaks I'm envisioning. Birthday bonus and/or vacation, insane. You're getting hosed.

BrooklynGigCenter wrote: $25 per hour is IMHO, nuts, especially if she's taking the kind of breaks I'm envisioning. Birthday bonus and/or vacation, insane. You're getting hosed.

Agreed - I don't know how big your house is, but this is Brooklyn, so it can't be that big. Unless you're good friends with her, she's been with you a long time, etc, it sounds like your generosity is being taken advantage of. Assuming you pay in cash, that's a pretty damn good living.

OK I'll provide the dissenting voice. I think if you get paid vacation time at your job you should offer it to your household staff. Those of us who work in your homes and do work that you don't have time for (yes, I am one) should be treated as if our work is actually valuable to you. Yes, you could keep cycling through housecleaners (or nannies, or dogwalkers, etc), and pay the minimum in wages and benefits that the market commands; but what kind of dynamic does that set up in your household?

Your housecleaner must have at least several clients, and probably asks this of each of them after she's worked for them a certain amount of time. Some probably give it and some don't; and you have to decide which camp you want to be in.

Oh, and check out the Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights. This should be law, and may well be one day, but in the meantime maybe you should get ahead of the curve.

http://www.domesticworkersunited.org/campaigns.php

BrooklynGigCenter wrote: $25 per hour is IMHO, nuts, especially if she's taking the kind of breaks I'm envisioning. Birthday bonus and/or vacation, insane. You're getting hosed.

The classism here is obscene.

Just li'l ole me wrote: I assume most housekeepers, nannies and dogwalkers don't report all their taxable income.

Yet another assumption about domestic workers posted in reply. And none of them positive.

I'm replying less to the OP than to the vitriolic comments posted by you and others. $25 per hour (with no benefits) might seem like a lot, but try raising a family on it, and not knowing what would happen if you get sick, or if a client fails to pay.

Do housecleaners not deserve to be able to take vacations? Is that because the work is somehow beneath the people who employ them?

Not yet, Smitty; not until the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights becomes law. But "entitlement" is not the only issue here. Respect, and relationships, should play a role.

Actually, I do have clients who give me vacation pay. And I'm a dogwalker, not a housecleaner, and am very happy with all of my clients.

But you're living in la la land if you really think domestic workers lead such cushy lives, especially housekeepers and nannies. If you think it's so great why don't you do it yourself? Really, this is one of the most exploited groups of people in this city; cash business or no.

Please check out the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights.

hunter.gatherer wrote: Actually, I do have clients who give me vacation pay. And I'm a dogwalker, not a housecleaner, and am very happy with all of my clients.

But you're living in la la land if you really think domestic workers lead such cushy lives, especially housekeepers and nannies. If you think it's so great why don't you do it yourself? Really, this is one of the most exploited groups of people in this city; cash business or no.

Please check out the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights.

talking to me?
if so, please quote where I said they have cushy lives.
If I thought "cleaning houses" was great, I would be doing that. Instead im goofing off at work because all the executive are away at meetings

Oh yeah, and I have a college ejumacation along with various certifications that enable me to work in corporate america with a company that gives me benefits.

But maybe i should complain to my CEO saying that if it wasnt for me, he wouldnt be able to log onto his computer and the company would crash and burn, therefore, give me more money and more vacation...

...gee, I wonder what would happen. Oh? Im fired and replaced in a heartbeat? wow!

Jimmy wrote: [quote=hunter.gatherer]Respect, and relationships, should play a role.

Ha, yeah, right, but only until you get your Bill of Rights passed. Then it becomes about forcing people by law to pay more than the market will bear.

right. and places like Maid Pro will go under and we will be doing the exact same thing. Finding others on craigslist who wont complain (or cant because they might not be in the country legally) and paying them cash lol It's all really a moot point

not paying and wont paying are 2 seperate things.

read the thread before hand.

good luck troll.

MOD NOTE: hitokiri, no name calling please. Raising legitimate discussion that doesn't agree with you is not trolling.

I don't have household help of any kind but if I had employed on a regular basis (and for a long time) a part-time cleaner who was an independent contractor, I would give the person the opportunity to come in when I was away and do jobs that were not part of his/her regular routine (e.g., do a deep cleaning for the same pay) in order that he or she not be hurt financially. Of course, maybe they wouldn't take me up on it . . .

I have never heard of a part-time, hourly employee, or an independent contractor, receiving vacation pay. I think the birthday bonus and Christmas bonus is very generous.

I think a raise is probably called for as she has been with you so long. But vacation pay? That is something that full time employees receive. I am all for a generous wage being paid for good service, but asking for vacation pay sounds like she is trying to see how far she can push you. Maybe you should tell her that you already do give her vacation pay, and its in the form of the bonus you give her 2x per year. What company gives employees birthday bonuses?