Shift work for cleaners
Cleaning work often means short shifts at several sites a day, early before offices open or late after they close, for one or more contractors. With so many small shifts, it's easy for a missing hour to go unnoticed on a payslip.
How your pay works
- Travel between sites during your working day counts as working time for minimum wage purposes. Your commute to the first site and home from the last doesn't.
- Short shifts mean unpaid gaps and travel can pull your real hourly pay down, so track the time between sites too.
- Contracts for offices, hospitals and public-sector clients are more likely to pay the Real Living Wage.
- You can't be charged for equipment or uniform in a way that takes your pay below the minimum wage.
- On irregular hours, holiday builds up at 12.07% of the hours you work.
What to keep a record of
- Each site visit: start, finish
- Travel between sites
- Which contractor each shift was for, and the rate
- Extra hours or cover shifts
- What's been paid
Get started
Not sure what the legal minimum is for your age? See the current minimum wage rates. Shiftaan keeps every shift, rate and payment in one place, so checking a payslip takes seconds. Try it free.
Common questions
Should I be paid for travelling between cleaning jobs?
Travel between sites during your working day counts as working time for the minimum wage. Your total pay divided by all your working hours, including that travel, must be at least the minimum.
I work for two cleaning companies. How is my tax worked out?
Your tax-free allowance usually goes to one job and the other is taxed at 20% (code BR). Use our two-jobs calculator to estimate your take-home pay.
Do cleaners get paid the Living Wage?
The legal minimum is the National Living Wage. Some contracts, especially public-sector and large offices, pay the higher Real Living Wage.