I didn’t have a cleaner until very recently when I discovered that I just couldn’t keep up with household chores while working and taking care of two kids. I think it’s quite an expense really but it’s worth it to spend more of my free time playing rather than cleaning. I have a Philippino woman who is really lovely and speaks a mix of English and French. She loves that I speak English. She’s not the best cleaner on earth but I am also quite picky. She surface cleans basically. What she’s really great at is ironing and that really helps me because I hate ironing with a passion! Her life isn’t that easy as she has three kids back home. I don’t know how she does it.
Fraussie
March 19th, 2012 at 9:29 am
Yes, I’ve also been told that Philippinos are wonderful ironers.I think Lisa’s cleaner is also happy that they all speak English in her flat share.
I remember something about some workers getting paid a13th month. Does this apply to cleaners? Are there traditional gifts that you give a cleaner in France at Christmas time?
Fraussie
March 19th, 2012 at 9:38 am
Hi, holidays are included the “chèque service” system. The 13th month (and sometimes 14th month) has more or less disappeared in France. It used to be considered an advantage until people realised that it meant having a lower pension than if the “bonus” was spread out over the entire year because it didn’t attract the same social contributions. Pay-as-you-earn tax as we know it in Australia doesn’t exist here so the 13th month was often used by people to pay their income tax once a year. However, they have now introduced a voluntary pay-by-the-month income tax system over ten months which is adjusted during the last two months so people don’t “need” their 13th month anymore. If you don’t ask for the 10-month system, you pay three times a year. However, in the service sectors, “étrennes” still exist, given at New Year. We usually give our cleaner the equivalent of an extra two weeks’ pay cash-in-hand. We also give something to the concierge.
[…] Well, so far, I’m not doing so well! Relationnel came back to Paris on Sunday night by car and I followed by bus and train on Monday afternoon because I had to wait for the EDF man to increase the wattage. When I caught the metro in Paris, I suddenly realised that I had left the keys to my Paris apartment in Blois. Fortunately the train was late so Relationnel was home by the time I got there. I’ve now borrowed the keys from my cleaning lady. […]
Lyn
September 18th, 2012 at 12:12 am
My daughter has a Columbian cleaner called Camello. He is really lovely and does a great job. When he has holidays, he brings her back Columbian coffee which is really good.
[…] It will be wonderful to be able to throw the clothes in the washing machine whenever I want and have them dry the next day. It will be even more wonderful to have them ironed by my wonderful Portugeuse cleaner! […]
[…] excellent piece of news is that I have also found a Portuguese cleaner for the gîte which opens again in April. It turns out that she used to own the house next door, […]
I didn’t have a cleaner until very recently when I discovered that I just couldn’t keep up with household chores while working and taking care of two kids. I think it’s quite an expense really but it’s worth it to spend more of my free time playing rather than cleaning. I have a Philippino woman who is really lovely and speaks a mix of English and French. She loves that I speak English. She’s not the best cleaner on earth but I am also quite picky. She surface cleans basically. What she’s really great at is ironing and that really helps me because I hate ironing with a passion! Her life isn’t that easy as she has three kids back home. I don’t know how she does it.
Yes, I’ve also been told that Philippinos are wonderful ironers.I think Lisa’s cleaner is also happy that they all speak English in her flat share.
I remember something about some workers getting paid a13th month. Does this apply to cleaners? Are there traditional gifts that you give a cleaner in France at Christmas time?
Hi, holidays are included the “chèque service” system. The 13th month (and sometimes 14th month) has more or less disappeared in France. It used to be considered an advantage until people realised that it meant having a lower pension than if the “bonus” was spread out over the entire year because it didn’t attract the same social contributions. Pay-as-you-earn tax as we know it in Australia doesn’t exist here so the 13th month was often used by people to pay their income tax once a year. However, they have now introduced a voluntary pay-by-the-month income tax system over ten months which is adjusted during the last two months so people don’t “need” their 13th month anymore. If you don’t ask for the 10-month system, you pay three times a year. However, in the service sectors, “étrennes” still exist, given at New Year. We usually give our cleaner the equivalent of an extra two weeks’ pay cash-in-hand. We also give something to the concierge.
[…] Well, so far, I’m not doing so well! Relationnel came back to Paris on Sunday night by car and I followed by bus and train on Monday afternoon because I had to wait for the EDF man to increase the wattage. When I caught the metro in Paris, I suddenly realised that I had left the keys to my Paris apartment in Blois. Fortunately the train was late so Relationnel was home by the time I got there. I’ve now borrowed the keys from my cleaning lady. […]
My daughter has a Columbian cleaner called Camello. He is really lovely and does a great job. When he has holidays, he brings her back Columbian coffee which is really good.
Columbian – I’ll have to remember that.
[…] It will be wonderful to be able to throw the clothes in the washing machine whenever I want and have them dry the next day. It will be even more wonderful to have them ironed by my wonderful Portugeuse cleaner! […]
[…] excellent piece of news is that I have also found a Portuguese cleaner for the gîte which opens again in April. It turns out that she used to own the house next door, […]