I don't.

I usually arrange for her to come another day and make it up... but I am really relaxed with her asking for time off and we have always had that arrangement.

If I don't give her enough heads up, then I'd pay her, but that hasn't been the case yet.

If she's away sick or on holiday then no, but if we are away or ask her not to come, then yes - as it's money she's relying on but not getting.

Depends how much you value her and whether you can afford it.

I don't think anyone would blame you if you didn't.

I do. I usually ask her to clean while I'm away anyway but even if I wasn't I would still do it. I know my cleaner is living off very very little money and I really hate the idea I'm taking away her income just because I'm off enjoying myself.

Like ekf, I ask her to do different things while I'm away like the oven and windows more thoroughly. Lovely feeling coming back after exhausting trip home to walk into a very clean and tidy house, even if that only lasted 5 minutes!

I do but she still comes and cleans as usual. If we're away for more than a week then I ask her to do special jobs, like clean out fridge, etc.
Its so lovely coming home from holiday and everything is clean and tidy.
I understand your concern re locking up the house though.

We always pay our cleaner when we're away.

If your cleaner comes every week at the same time then I think it would be wrong not to pay her because you are on holiday. I suspect if your work decided to close for a few weeks and just not pay you, you wouldn't be too happy.

I do! I don't see why she should be worst off financially because we decide to go on holiday. But then she has been with us for 3 years. I dont however pay her when she goes on her holidays (which is very rarely poor lady)

I guess it depends on your relationship with your cleaner. But generally I'd say that you don't pay your cleaner if she doesn't clean for you. It's different to a (full time) nanny who relies on the income she receives from you to pay rent etc, but a cleaner is ad-hoc, just like an evening babysitter, and thus if she doesn't do the work, she isn't paid. Even though you're the one instigating it.

Do you pay her when she's off sick?

that's my opinion, but will be interesting to hear that of other's

I know this is tricky, or maybe its black and white to some, but what do you do when you go away over summer with regards to paying your help?
We are away for 3 weeks, and want to leave the house locked up totally with no-one coming in and out to make sure of security. My cleaner often fails to double-lock the door when she leaves, which drives me crazy, but if she does that and we're away, well that could be disastrous.

So do I pay my cleaner for 3 weeks when she wont be coming in? I know I'm instigating the break but just wondered what others think?

Or am I just being mean????