[Mrs Nicholls]

Hi All
I know i should approach this subject cautiously, as i don't like to point the accusations, but one of my cleaners was at a clients property for the usual clean, and her 15 year old son was there (the clients).
Cleaner had money in purse upon arrival, but when left the property, it was gone!

What should i do about this? they were over the top with us getting police checks etc, and then this happens.

Any advice? They are good clients (4hours 2x per week contracted)

[neil 47]

your cleaner should take better care.

put down to expieriance


Neil

[The Great One]

Hi

This is your business and you have to take care of it.

So, I would approach the client and state that although you are not pointing fingers but going through the elimination process you have to ask her if she saw any money and to ask her son if he may of seen or if he did indeed take the cash? Chances are she is totally unaware of what has happened and wil be deeply worried/ embarrased if her son has indeed taken the money.

It is very difficult situation but it is your business that is being threatened, you need to sort this and be seen to be doing so.
Regards

Martin

[Mrs Nicholls]

What do you mean neil? my cleaner should have taken better care??

Would you like it if someone stole from you in your work place?

She had her purse in her bag which was with her, and she had the hoover on working away, and the idiot took it from her bag. It wasn't as if she left it lying around or anything on show.

[Mike Jones]

Martin has it spot on. Dont acuse them directly .... State that the purse was left in the hand bag but the money wasnt there so your at a loss what might of happend to it unless it some how fell out of both the handbag and the purse. Ask them to speak to  the son if he saw any money that might have fallen out.

Remember that the son may also be stealing from them as well and they may not realise this and subseqently  acuse your cleaner.

These sort of problems will not go away and the son will try it again unless you make it known that the money disapeared

[drivewasher]

I know I can be a little strange at times, my wife tells me regulary.
But here goes, with both feet!
Right thiefs take money or belongings that don't belong to them, I know it business, but do you really wan't to work with a thief. Just as you wouldn't want to employ one.
I would ask the customer and fill her in on the situation,if she blows then youv'e lost a job, but it was with a thief.
It infuriates me. I just cleaned a drive today and found a £1 coin and a couple of american 20 cents, I left them on the widow cill as they don't belong to me, but I have to remove expencive equiptment out of my van and put welded locks on the doors cos some people can't keep their hands off other folks's stuff.

On he other hand you need to get your cleaner to double/double check her tracks today prior to the incident. As a close friend of ours accused a work college of taking her purse (there when she started work, gone when finished), when she got home purse was on the mantlepiece
Sorry if you think I'm crazy but it's said now

[dustdees]

Hi Lisa,

Nice one,

Ok be very careul with this one, as you could, unintentionally,  be accusing someone of a criiminal offence. (Slander!!!)

So personaaly, instead of going in there all guns blazing, as some of the replies have mentioned, ask you cleaner to furnish you with a statement of events, and please ensure that you ask her not to say that the son had done, he well may have not.How stupid would you and your cleaner look then!!!! (And a fantastic newspaper story!!).

We all  make mistake, is she 100% sure that they money was there when she entered the property?, and she MUST BE100%!!!!

After recieving the statement from your cleaner, type out a short letter to client and explain that you have been informed of a situation that occurred during your cleaner recent visit dated *********. You would like a meeting with her concerning this and ask her to contact accordingly to make arrangements. Do not tell her anything over the phone about it, as she will have time to maybe "come up with something!!"
By data protection laws, you are unable to give her a copy of the statement until you cleaner has given written consent to the release it.

Once at the meeting, do not take the cleaner with you, but do not go on your own!! you need backup and witness to what has been said.

Itis down to you as her employer to ensure that she is looked after and safe in the property, stand by her to the upmost, and if she has made a mistake then fair enough, but you have to be seen to look after her welfare.

Remember to keep copies of this in you clients personal file and cleaners file as well, as something do come back to haunt you.

Also ensure that the clients replies to the statement  in writing, otherwise the corresspondance with no follow each other.

Personally I would suspend all cleaning services until this problem has be sorted., if there is a problem and the son has nicked it then they will understand why, or if there is a mistake then you cam bet your bottom dollar the cleaner won't want to go back in there again, and you will need to out another girl in.

Check the legal side and ensue you are covered, otherwise you have a liable case thay will make you bankcrupt!!!!!

[Liahona]

For the record, it is not a criminal offence to accuse anyone of anything. It is only slander when you have SAID that they have done something when indeed they havent. Best, Dave.

[Robert Parry]

I agree in principle with dustdees, with one or two slight reservations, commercial or domestic jobs, our staff are not under any circumstances allowed more than £1.50 on them whilst on a client's premises, any larger amounts must be left in van/car with the knowledge of the supervisor only, all vehicles have a lock box fitted as  standard(normally used for client's keys!) Supervisor has key for lock box only.
Martin also has a valid point, you owe it to your staff and indeed your client to try to find out the facts, do so, politely, calmly and be very professional, do not, under any circumstances get angry or defensive, you have checked out each member of staff, CRB, references etc, but please remember mistakes do happen!
Push comes to shove, you may lose this client, you may even lose your member of staff, if you handle this wrong,  and remember, never allow your staff to carry cash or valuables on client's premises, best of luck!

[dustdees]

Liahona,

Yes I agree.

I worded it incorrectly. But just be careful that everything that is done is legally correct.

If you are accussing someone of doing something then you are saying that they have commited the theft!!!


I had this checked profesional when I had a incident, of a sexual nature take please recently, so I had to be very careful indeed. I

Good Luck Lisa,
Denise

[neil 47]

Lisa

she did leave it lying around or it wouldn’t have got stolen .
i dont belive she hovered with her bag on and it was taken from it

maybe she has lost it .
you should never jump to conclusions.
bet she doesn’t leave things lying around again.

over the years I have worked in a mainly female work environment each time something is stolen it is always for a female as they have hand bags. men generally keep wallets and money in their pockets.

is it really worth getting into a argument with a customer ,they will always stick up for their children .

as I said learn and move on.

ps this doesn’t mean that I am not sorry for this person.

Neil

[calmore]

Might it be an idea to deliberately leave a purse out next time the cleaner goes round there, containing a couple of marked notes? If the notes vanish you definitely know someone in the house is pilfering.

You can then approach the homeowner saying that this has happened twice and could they look out for a note with "XYZ" biroed in the corner?

The other approach is to leave the purse in an obvious place with a note inside saying something like:

"You have been caught thieving. Please return ALL money taken within 24 hours and this matter will go no further. Failure to return the money within 24 hours will result in the Police being called in to question both you and your parents. Have a nice day!"

That way, no damage is caused if the Son isn't a thief as he won't see the letter! If he is a thief hopefully it'll spur him into doing the right thing, with no comeback from the parents.

[Mrs Nicholls]

Hi Everyone Thank You for your comments and advice.

I have been trying to get to the bottom of this, but i think my cleaner might be lying, as i said i would speak to the parents to discuss any situation, i always back up my workers. But she would prefer i wait to see if it happens again.
I'm not sure it happend or not now. I think it will be chalked up to experience, but i will be keeping a close eye on this one, to see if any accusations happen again.