To think my cleaner shouldn’t bring her own child to work?

I honestly can't see the issue with a child sitting down on the sofa playing on their phone or tablet.

I might feel a bit awkward, as in "shall I be nice and offer the tv or a snack", but if the child is doing nothing, not a problem. 10 yo are more than old enough not to need constant supervision and won't affect her mum's job.

I know how much I pay my cleaner, she's self-employed as well, and I know how much childcare cost. I'd rather have the child around than the cleaner putting her prices up, or simply going to a more friendly house!

She should have checked first, I agree but she is otherwise an excellent cleaner, as described by her client. Are you seriously going to bring health and safety into a 2 hour cleaning job with a quiet, still child of 10? Some people seem to enjoy making problems out of nothing instead of finding solutions. I guess that's one of the reasons we have so many non jobs and inefficient institutions nowadays.

Good point.

OP, come clean (excuse the pun); how much (or little) are you paying your cleaner? 🤔

Agreed, and apparently it's not mean because they're going to tell the cleaner they can't bring their child anymore in a 'kind' way 😂 Hope they're prepared to lose a very good cleaner (quite rare nowadays).

Our electrician did, quite a few times. From her second visit, I made sure we had snacks and drinks for her. She was about 12, iirc and he left her in the van at first but I said she could come in. If I was in her shoes, I wouldn’t want to be sat in a van for hours and I wouldn’t want to be made to feel a nuisance. Given a choice, I dare say she’d rather have been somewhere else.

You sound a bit mean. The child is probably bored as hell and being v good sitting there being v quiet and the mum perhaps can’t afford childcare and has no other option and likely doesn’t want to be busting her ass in the summer cleaning other people’s toilets and having to bring her poor daughter along.
When did so many people become so heartless

from the title, I thought she was going to be running around, making a racket, being a complete nightmare! As it is, she doesn’t sound like she’s causing any issues whatsoever. I’d let it be.

Working as a cleaner in a private home isn’t in the least bit comparable to working in Tesco.

You call it ridiculous, I call it compassion.

It depends how much they charge. When I was a cleaner I could only do one big house and one medium/small house a day. So if I dropped my son off at school I would clean a big house, that would take about three hours then home for lunch. A smaller house in the afternoon so that I could be finished before my son finished school. So at the time I charged £8 an hour (it was 20 years ago or so). I had to take him with me in the holidays because I didn't earn enough to pay for childcare. And it was bloody hard work might I add.

What I don’t understand is why these people bringing their child to work haven’t asked their employers if that’s okay….yes I understand childcare can be difficult but if you worked in Tesco or an office you wouldn’t just rock up with your child. If I had a cleaner who asked I’d be inclined to say yes but then a conversation would be had with the expectations…I think the reason for these posts on mn is that these people are left feeling unsure in their own homes.

Btw your cleaner sounds wonderful, I am envious!

Showing kindness is allowing this well-behaved child to stay.

Gushing (aka performative kindness) is the OP taking time out of her work day to play host.

I do think it would have been polite to check with you if it was ok for the child to come with her, although I understand why your cleaner might have been nervous in case you said no.

Ultimately you can choose and it’s up to you. I wouldn’t have an issue with it, and even if you do find it a bit awkward it’s probably a reasonable trade off for being otherwise happy with the service. If your cleaner is still doing a good job I would think it right to support her and let this go.

One thing I really wouldn’t do, personally, is raise the issue with her as you suggested unless you plan to make it a dealbreaker. Otherwise you are just going to damage the relationship for no reason. If the iPad noise is bothering you then you could request that she uses headphones of some kind. That will make the point that while you are allowing the arrangement you still need to be taken into account, if that’s all you want the mention of things to do.

Yabu. It would be different if the child was noisy/messy/disturbing you etc but she’s just sitting still quietly minding her own business while you’re in a different room. It’s not affecting you in any way so just don’t make life more difficult for your cleaner who presumably doesn’t have much option other than to bring her well behaved child along with her.

Same.

Our cleaners also used to clean for DMIL, who died a couple of years ago following a long period of dementia.

Occasionally one would need to bring her daughter. DMIL absolutely loved young children, she worked at a nursery when she was young. Those infrequent visits were really special to her. She’s a lovely, quiet and well behaved girl. Who was plied with chatter and biscuits at DMIL’s!

Me - I love our cleaners, they are dependable, thorough, cheerful, efficient and amazing at their job. It never did bother me in the slightest the occasional time this happened to me too.

I once had a nail appointment where the technician had her son with her - a really badly behaved child, the whole experience was awful. I wish I’d said something, I didn’t - but I didn’t go back!

I don't think you're unreasonable to feel uncomfortable. I personally would just go with it for the duration of the holidays though if she's a good cleaner but I would also have expected her to give you some kind of warning. You should ask her directly what he plan is.

But she’s not because she has no respect for the client and has just brought her child along without asking. The cleaner also has not thought about safety and insurance. Is she insured in case of damage or accident? Would it be for the op?

But the plumber, electrician etc is a skilled job which you have to go to collage and get a degree so thier pay dosnt compere to a cleaner. Also there is quite a few female plumbers, electricians etc.

Of course it feels strange - OP has no children so is not used to this and her home is her personal , private space .

and are like hens teeth so unlikely anyone will complain about them taking the child to work with them - cos you could end up waiting another month to get your plumbing, electrics etc fixed

That's not a lot for self employed.
Also they rarely do 40 hour weeks because of travelling.

Pa's cleaner only often manages 5/6 hours daily cos of travelling /parking...

It's no way comparable to an office job

Except the OP literally says that she is an excellent cleaner.
It's depressing how mean some people are about a quiet, still 10 year old child.

I don’t think you are being unreasonable to have concerns . I honestly don’t know the legal implications and I can understand it feeling a bit odd as you aren’t a parent yourself . It is also unprofessional.

But - I personally would allow it. Childcare is extortionate and this would probably affect her financially if she couldn’t bring her child. I would maybe have a chat with her , tell her your worries . Say you are happy for her to continue bringing her just in the holidays ( if you are willing obviously - it’s your choice ) but maybe draw up an agreement - something that states she is liable if her child were to break something but that you don’t see it being an issue as she sits quietly , and I would also say that you accept no responsibility if something were to happen in your house - make it clear your house is not a house set up for children but you’re happy to turn a blind eye to allow her to continue working as long as you aren’t affected.

It’s a nice idea that a pp said to get in some child snacks but I personally would not do this - she is there to clean , you don’t want crumbs and wrappers!

Although - I say what I would do but I do not have a cleaner , I am the personal cleaner for my children 🤣