Our cleaning lady broke an expensive item when she was here. She didnt tell me but the next time she came, the first thing she did was tell me about it and said she went to replace it but what she did find was very expensive and not exactly the same. Its really not easily replaced. She said she would pay me back or get a new one. It would be about $200-400. I wasnt sure what to say. I dont think she has that kind of money or she wouldnt be cleaning my house, but i dont really know her situation. Ive never had any issue with her before. She does a good job and i like her. So, what would you do? Forget it? Make her pay for it? I did double her pay for a Christmas tip, but I didnt feel right telling her to work for free for the next 2 or 3 visits or pay me back. What would you have done?
Well, Im glald you all agreed. That is what i did. When she told me about it, i didnt know what else to say except "dont worry about it and thanks for telling me". She was sorry and i just let it go. It was an item on the wall so when she dusted it, it fell down. My husband agreed that was the right thing to do. Although im not pleased about not having the item, i didnt feel right having her pay for it. I am surprised everyone felt the same way, but im glad you all did. Thanks Mamas.
I would just it go. $200 to $400 could be her groceries for the next 2 weeks, or her heating bill for the month, or her car payment. Appreciate the fact that she was honest about it and forgive her.
If I could afford it I would let it go. She will have loyalty that cannot be beat for this kindness.
I would let it slide. She sounds like a caring person, and that it's been eating at her. It was truly an accident, and it could have happened to anyone,
Honesty is priceless - let it go!
I would not make her pay for it. This has happened to me and I don't want someone who does a good job for me to have to pay me back a month's pay because of an accident. The way I look at it, I have the money to replace things. And like you say, she wouldn't be cleaning your house if she didn't need the money.
It would be kind of you to let it go. Just ask her to clean extra hard to make it up to you - she will love you for it.
Dawn
Things get broken. My kids break things, my pets break things, guests in the house sometimes break things. Although she is paid to clean she is human and can break things as well.
Unless they were careless I would not ask someone who came in my home to work to pay for something they broke any more than the other people I listed.
Like my kids, they are walking through the house and accidentally brush the table making some nick knack fall and it breaks, I am not going to make my kid do chores to pay for it. Now if they are throwing the basketball around in the family room and cream the end table, oh they are my slaves for a few weeks.
Does that make sense?
So from what you wrote I would not make her pay.
I am going with the majority here and let her off the hook especially since she was being honest and admitted to breaking it. I do realize that accidents happen and if you can afford it then replace it and give grace to her. However, if you notice more things getting broken then you need to address compensation or find another cleaning person that is bonded and can afford to replace what they broke.
Accidents happen. And she was honest. So I'd let it go.
I also would not have her pay for it. Even if she has insurance, it would probably have a deductible.
But I would ask that if she breaks something again, that she let you know that day. My wonderful cleaning lady broke a beautiful glass ashtray that I found after Mom passed. I had kept it for sentimental reasons, as it was her favorite. When I got home that day, it had been thrown in the trash in the garage. I sifted through all the trash, found the pieces, took them to a jeweler and had them tumbled. Now the pieces are gathered in a jar and I still love them. I have asked my cleaning lady to save anything that breaks in the future, because it might also be an item of sentimental value. Take care.
If you like her and she does a good job I would let it go. Accidents happen, and you are right, she probably can't really afford to replace it.
If I could afford a cleaning lady, I'd probably say, thank you for letting me know, however, and hopefully it will never happen again, come to me first and let me know. I bet she's been thinking about this so much. You didn't even know the item was broken until she told you, so I wouldn't care about having her replace this item. The stress of trying to replace is has been giving her a lot of grief, she feels bad for breaking it and tried to replace it so you wouldn't know. She seems like a good heart woman trying to make a living. I would let it go...
my sitter once broke a vase by accident and that is exactly what is was, an accident... things happen... $200 to $400 isn't that much in the bigger scheme of things... although, a shame if it has sentimental value.. my son broke something by accident and it was close to a $1,000 dollars... I never would have dreamed of having him pay for it... lesson learned, anything of sentimental value I keep put away, anything else.. I could care less...I don't have a huge attachment to most material things.. so I guess you could say, I wouldn't make her pay for it.. not sure how she broke it, but maybe she will be a little more careful..
good luck in whatever you decide to do
I would let this one slide. That kind of money can be very hard for a lot of people to come up with.
accidents happen. should not even be an issue, tell her it was an accident and that you don't expect her to replace it. it could have easily been one of your kids who broke it. accidents happen.
I'd tell her not to worry about it and that accidents happen. Do not have her pay for it. It sounds like you have a good cleaning lady.
If it was an accident, I'd let it go.
THat's why we don't have a housecleaner. It scares me to have someone in my house around my stuff when I'm not here.
Good luck!
The company I use is bonded and carries worker's compensation. But if they didn't and broke something I really think I would let it go. My team is so sweet, they have found several lost/misplaces earrings of mine and was sure to leave a note to show me (even yesterday).
She will really appreciate your forgiveness and understanding and you will see things a little more shiny!
I would let that slide a first time. Especially since she tried and offered to pay you back. She's probably been stressing out about it this whole time. Accidents really do happen, and it could have been anyone.
Unless it was complete negligence (like dropping something down the stairs instead of carrying it) I would also let it go.
Forget it. Accidents happen.
Isn't she insured?
First, it was an accident. Second, she cares about you and what you think. Third, she went out of her way to go research the item and try to replace it and came to you and told you what happened.
Forgive her and tell her that you appreciate her honesty and in the future if anything breaks again, to be sure and tell you immediately.
Finding a good, honest, reputable housecleaner is hard--- you don't want to lose her do you? I would move on....
Accidents happen. Could have happened to you. Her intentions were
good when she went to replace it. Let it go. Life it too short.
Do you plan on going out of pocket to replace it, if she doesn't? I probably wouldn't make her pay for it, especially if it was a decorative item or just an accident. (However, if a cleaning person broke an expensive vacuum b/c they were banging into things or otherwise careless, I would consider having them pay for the repair or replacement.)
I'd say that when you hire a cleaning lady, it's the chance you take. If my cleaning lady broke something, I'd say it's my fault for letting her clean it to begin with. Sounds like you want to just chalk up the loss. So do it.
You have something many will never have. Someone who is honest enough when something is broken to go out and try their best to replace it. She also told you about it and found out how much it costs so you know she tried. If you enjoy her cleaning job and wish to keep her let this incident be forgiven. If she works for a service and you report her she could be fired for a mistake, if she has her own company she very likely is struggling as many have gotten rid of luxeries and having staff at home is one of them so her jobs are fewer than they used to be.
I think if I were you I would forget it. Three to four hundred dollars is a lot of money to most people and I am surprised you didn't have it insured if you knew it was that much. You could have even one of your best friends in the house and it could be broken or knocked over. If you like the woman, then forgive, forgive and get everything insured! For a few dollars hearts won't be broken. As for me, I am still mad at a cleaning person who threw out my tub stopper. Never had them come back. But that is a different story.
If I could afford a regular cleaning lady, since she was honest and told you and tried to replace it, I would just tell her not to worry about it this time. If you want to replace it yourself, go ahead.
Is your cleaning lady from a service or by herself? Most agencies bond their employees to cover thefts and breakage.
Wow, you are so lucky to have such an honest person working for you! I agree with the others to let it go. Your cleaning lady must have felt terrible about it, and is obviously really worried about keeping her job, or else she wouldn't have said anything and tried to hide it from you. Your gut feeling of having her work for free a few times was right on-not a great idea. One more thing, just a thought...you might want to put this item in a place where it is less likely to be broken.
If it was an accident, accidents happen. If you like her, just forgive her. Life is too short.
It sounds like you're a nice person and you value your relationship with this woman, so I'd say split the difference.
Well, you've gotten good advice, but I want to propose some perspective. I work for a man, in his building, that he owns. If I break something here, he wouldmt let me pay for it.
For instance, there are only women that work here and a couple times a year the plumber has to come out due to "sewer rats" thats what he calls tampons that have been flushed. That's clearly the womens fault. But he would never ask us to pay for the plumber.
A vase is a non-essential item, so, no, I would not ask her to pay for it, especially if it was the first time, and especially if she does a great job for you.
Like you said, you don't know her situation and I seriously doubt it was done purposely. Im pretty sure she doesn't clean your home and do a fab job at that for the fun of it. I personally would not make her pay me back but just let her know you know it was a accident and to be more careful and if it happens again you may have to be reimbursed.
I would not ask her to pay for this. Instead I would just tell her that it was expensive and hard to replace. If you feel that there should be some compensation then maybe she could help out with an extra hour or two in the coming months. You could ask her to do some extra organizing like cleaning out the kitchen cabinets and wiping them...doing spring cleaning earlier, do some extra ironing for you. Then, let it be forgotten....if she is really good and has never broken anything before I doubt that it will be a trend. If something happens again, I would ask to pay for that accident. We love our cleaning lady and when she is at our place working she is really running like crazy to get everything done in the time that she has...I think these ladies work like crazy. And when you find one that you really like then it could be good to keep a good working relationship. Everyone makes one mistake.
