When will you let your cleaner return?

[twosoups1972]

My lovely cleaner is desperate to come back to work. I've been paying her the full amount as I don't want her to be out of pocket but she's embarrassed and really wants to work.

Under the latest advice, it seems that people who can't work from home are being encouraged to return to work. But that doesn't mean it's any safer for her to come to us.

At what point would you do it?

[Burplecutter]

As soon as she asks to. It's up to her to decide on whether she's willing to take the risk.
I'll make it as safe as I can for her, opening windows, before she arrives, going out while she's here.
But it's not my risk to impose on her, it's her risk to take. And I'm willing to take on my portion of the risk for me and my family as soon as she is willing to take on her level of risk for herself.

[twosoups1972]

I think we are more at risk from her than vice versa. We've barely been out at all and have had no symptoms. I know she lives with other people so I don't know if she's carrying the virus.

[Whatthefoxgoingon]

As soon as she wants to come back.
I may lie prostrate at her feet when I see her

[VanCleefArpels]

There’s risk both ways - neither of you know where each other has been. Each of you risk transmitting what the other has back to others in your households and therefore wider. Until the advice is that we can circulate freely with people outside our own households I’m not inclined to take our cleaner back. It’s a luxury not a necessity

[Thesispieces]

Community transmission would have to be negligible. My cleaner changed sheets/packed away dishes etc etc. Inevitably saliva /nasal droplets would be left all over the house and if asymptomatic its an unnecessary risk. Luckily we are fit and able to clean ourselves. If that wasn’t possible then......Im not expecting to dodge all possible sources of transmission. But it will only be ‘essential’ contact where possible.

[PerplexingWords]

I’m concerned that mine lives with extended family and travels via public transport. We may suggest she wears a mask as well as hand washing etc.

[Bluntness100]

Mine is back on Friday, I will,distance from her, I don’t see a risk as she’s cleaning as she goes.

[drcb83]

Ours never left. We are both tested for Covid twice weekly and we leave the house when she comes - at her request.

[reindeesandchristmastrees]

(s)he is a cleaner - that means that they will be washing all the time. If you feel funny about sheet changing then do that yourself. If you feel at risk from her - go out. I think it is simple.

[VanCleefArpels]

But going out doesn’t eliminate risk - virus can and will stay on surfaces for hours if not days! If on public transport then not a hope in several hells would an unecessary external person come into my house!

[CrunchyCarrot]

Not for the foreseeable, sadly. We can't leave the house whilst she is there. I'm still self-isolating so it's too risky.

[BolloxtoGender]

We ll leave it until at least the end of May I think and review.

[twosoups1972]

It’s a luxury not a necessity

Well yes although it is a necessity for her. At what point is it safe? How do we know end of May is any safer with this second wave predicted?

[AndMyHairWillShineLikeTheSea]

When I'm back in my workplace and DS is back at nursery. I'm happy to continue paying her until then unless we have a change in financial situation.

[Wingedharpy]

@drcb83 : Where are you/how do you get tested for Covid twice weekly?

[RainMustFall]

I've paid my cleaner up to the end of June. Will review then.

[bizmum1]

Mine's back tomorrow. Yay!

[MindyStClaire]

Once we can safely distance from her. ATM that's not possible with both of us WFH and 2yo DD here too. If DD were back in nursery we could go for a walk and hide in the study so probably then.

[chocolatesaltyballs22]

Mine's back next week. We will stay upstairs while she cleans downstairs, and then swap. Payment by bank transfer.

[Tholeonagain]

From next week - am v excited about it. We’ve been paying her not to come for the duration but it’ll be lovely to have the house clean again the way she does it. If she was anxious about coming back we would keep paying her not to come for the moment, and of course if there were any symptoms in either household she wouldn’t come.

[drcb83]

@winged We do it through work, send off twice weekly, results next day

[stclair]

Today. Bliss to come home to a clean house! I was at work, kids at school, DH picked her up and dropped her off. Job done.

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

Today. It was so nice to see her again.
Community transmission is low enough now that I don't consider it risky.

[MajesticWhine]

Mine is back already. What a relief

[BillywilliamV]

She can come back as soon as she likes.