Trusting and Preventing Theft by House Cleaners
Isolated theft incidents by house cleaners are rare. Hire from reputable agencies, check references. Communication and trust are key with house cleaners.
How to Ensure Cleaners Won’t Steal
You should tip cleaners to show appreciation. Use 10-15% tip for routine cleaning. Most take two to three hours to clean a home. Opportunity and temptation make stealing common for house cleaners. Ensure maids won’t steal by hiring from a firm and vetting.
Reasons for House Cleaners Stealing and Preventative Measures
Nowadays, you can book from many home cleaning services to release yourself of the burden of domestic chores. However, the biggest risk from hiring a house cleaner is stealing. Whether you book from a cleaning app, online website, or a third-party agency, the problem of domestic theft is inevitable. What are the root causes for this? And what are preventative steps you can take to counter this issue? Let’s find out in this post. Reasons for house cleaners stealing from you. It is their inherent characteristics. They don’t need to go through a background check. You are off guard. Double-check the house cleaner’s background.
One way to check is to leave out money in a not obvious place yet easy to find. Make sure you know exactly how much. Do this when only the cleaning person will be home. Check after they leave before anyone enters. Alternatively, install surveillance cameras for actual proof and to see who’s doing it.
Cleaning staff may steal when opportunity arises. Installing cameras or tracking devices can catch thieves. However, treat employees well to discourage theft. Simply accusing without proof rarely resolves issues. Direct communication clarifies misunderstandings best. Consider a motel’s incentives before assuming tolerance of stealing. Immediately addressing problems maintains control. Allowing police involvement leads to housekeeper interviews and lost work time.
The average person spends 1.5 years cleaning. Annual cleaning industry growth is 6.6 percent. People clean homes themselves about 2-4 hours per week. As of 2021, over one million janitorial businesses operate in the U.S. —a 5.7 percent increase.
Statistics on Housekeepers and Theft
In a survey, 64 percent of housekeepers were women and 36 percent were men. Eighty-seven percent worked in hotels, 58 percent in motels, 42 percent in resorts, and 11 percent on cruise ships.
Luxury towels and bathrobes are tempting targets. Electronics and appliances may also disappear from rooms. But furniture theft indicates serious criminal intent.
Theft allegations require sensitive handling. Admit mistakes and clarify policy misunderstandings. However, investigate patterns of disappearing valuable items. Balance giving staff the benefit of doubt with protecting owners from real harm. Approach with patience and care, not accusations.