Do you pay your cleaning lady transportation fare?

I have a cleaning lady (and combined sitter) 3-4 times a week. She's been with me almost 5 months. The other day she told me that the price to commute to me went up a dollar a day and its very expensive and she was talking to the other women on the train and they told her there employers pay their fares. So could I help with hers. I told her I would think about it and I think I will offer her half the fare which comes to 15 dollars more a week, essentially 5 more a day if she works 3 days a week.
But I was annoyed that she approached it like that because I could easily say that I spoke to my friends and they dont pay the train fare so then what. But I wont do that because I need her to still show up for the time being - I have been looking to replace her for a while now.

Is paying half a good idea? Do ppl usually pay for the whole commute? It would prob be different if I liked her a lot and if she didn't make a very costly mistake once that put us out 700 dollars.....

The whole commute? No, never heard of it. But I know many just calculate and include it in their price... or ask for a travel expense if you are far away (generally the same if you're "a bit" far away or totally on the other side of the city). Some will tell you since you're far they cannot do less than 3/4/5 hours.

That was my experience with cleaning ladies and manicurists.
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Posted: Wed, Jul 15 2009, 8:46 am Post subject:

I pay for transportation.

I always pay subway fare. I think its standard.

This is more than a subway fare - it costs 4.50 each way so it's 9 dollars a day for her.

Posted: Wed, Jul 15 2009, 8:55 am Post subject:

how much are u paying her for the hr? if its like 8-10 then yes its only right to pay trans, if you pay like around 13-15 an hr thats nice and she should pay it herself! remember, shes making it cash!!! when anyone works in a 9-5 its not likely that the employer pays trans...

anyways, find someone a bit closer and better!!!
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OP I think the way she approached the request was off base "my friends who take subways said...."

We do pay our babysitter/housekeeper's subway fare. she is here 5 - 6 days / wk so we get a monthly metrocard every month.

I always add $5 to the total amount.

Yea I was unhappy with how she approached it too - like she and the others were gossiping on the train about who makes what or something....and its not like some of those women are definitely telling the truth, you never know and its wrong for her to make that the basis for asking me for the extra money.
I need to replace her its just so hard to find!!!!

Anyway, she works 9:30-4:30 and I give her 75 a day so I guess it is like 10 an hour. I will tell her I will add on 5 more each day for her commute so essentially I will be paying 80 a day instead. But I will just say that I am giving her an extra 15 at the end of each week for her commute. It costs her 27 dollars a week so I am giving her slightly more than half.

For some reason I can't yet figure out, my cleaning lady can afford to own a car but I can't!! Confused

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Moderator Joined: Nov 20 2005 Posts: 4868

Absolutely not. Does your boss pay your transportation to work? Standard in my neck of the woods is that you figure out your own transportation to and from your job. I pay my cleaning girl by the hour and she takes the bus to and from. (Costs her about $1.00 each way. If I'm going out when she's about to get done, I'll offer her a ride.

I pay my cleaning woman almost $20 an hour, so I expect her to pay her own way to me.

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Diamond Member Joined: Apr 27 2006 Age: 30 Posts: 2537

my lady earns $80 a day and I pay about $30 transportation per week its a live in job. transportation I think is very common to pay since they earn so little when you think about it.