[Abi]

I have new contract due to start next week however, my client is going to be closed for the xmas period (1 week) and doesn't want to be invoiced for that period.  Should they be charged for this period? And, should the cleaner be paid? My contract does say that we do not give credit for bank holidays.    It is tricky for me on what to say because it cleaner will only work for a few days before they close for the holidays.

Grateful for your thoughts.

Many thanks.

Abi

[Cleaning Resource]

if you cleaner works then they have to be paid, if you supply a cleaner you gotta charge, are you sure that the client did not just mean that they do not want to be invoiced just for that week (add it on to the following months invoice)

Or why not suggest that the contract be started after their christmas break

[Robert Parry]

If your cleaner is supposed to work these days as normal, then yes, you do have to charge your client, some client's will get a bit bolshy, however a gentle explanation of employment law will suffice, after all your client's staff will no doubt recieve payment for this holiday, so why should your cleaner be exempt!

You will of course, also take this holiday out of your cleaners holiday entitlement, regards.

Rob

[Abi]

Thanks for your responses.  I think they want to pull a fast one.  I am going to ask for the contract to start after the christmas period.   I will also be including the employment law side of things to make my case for payment. 

Abi

[Fox]

Hi

Just to get things clear - the contract doesn't start until next week 18th Dec right?  Then they don't want to pay for the week they are not being cleaned over christmas and you don't know whether to pay your cleaner for that or not.

IMO you are doing the right thing by trying to put the start date back to after the new year but if that isn't possible I personally would explain to the client that you charge 52 wks of the year so normally they would have to pay for that week whether they are closed or not (the only days I tell my clients we are not working unless agreed beforehand is official bank holidays) however with them being a new client you are willing to charge them a 'one off' price for the first weeks clean and then start the 'contract' cleaning from Jan.

As for paying your employee who will be doing the job holiday for the weeks Christmas shutdown - the simple answer is - no - you only have to pay your employees for holidays they have already accrued.  So if he/she worked for one week by law you would only have to pay them for holiday accrued in that period.  However the time would count towards their length of employment and they would clock up their holidays for it.

Employment law as it stands provides for 4weeks paid holiday per year - this includes bank holidays at present but is soon likely to change to exclude them.

Hope I haven't confused you too much but people generally do not realise what their commitments are with employees and holiday pay and either lose out by paying it out too soon or are not being fair by not paying someones entitlement.

Fox

[Abi]

Fox

Thanks - you have clarified things further in particular, for the paying of the worker. 

I think your suggested approach is the best way round this - offering the 1 week's work as a one off before starting the contract in Jan.  I will also re-interate the 52 weeks element. 

Thanks once again for all your help with this.

Abi