Neighbours had their cleaner in today!

[PuffinTilly]

Ok, I know I'm hoicking my judgy pants here, but would you? Neither one of the couple are working due to situation but are not ill, neither are elderly (they have a teenager), they're reasonably well off. I know they have a cleaner who visits once a week but should they still be having her come round in the current situation? I know I'm sticking my nose in and it's none of my business but surely they are putting her and her family, and themselves, at risk? Maybe she really needs the money but they could have paid her anyway and told her not to come. They are really nice people and I really like them but I'm a bit at this!

This is a strange thread. Cleaners are supposed to be professionals who clean professionally. If they are sick they are meant to self isolate. They are usually self employed, they won't stay home. People starting to wear gloves because of Corona ? Seriously ? With an underlying health issue I can't clean, I need someone to clean the house to the highest degree. Corona or not, but especially right now. Of course I have to be out of the way. There is only so much hours in a day working at home plus homework supervision is not exactly giving you more time to clean, except if you are going to screw over your employer or your kids. Cleaning a house is not just about cleaning the loo. This is demeaning, for the mum who does it and for the professional who does it too. My cleaner does not clean my private space, even if I'm ill, I do it myself, I always have. She keeps the household safe, something that I cannot do right now.

For some it might be luxury but not all.

Agree that some people need more help and if that's the case, fine. But there are a tiny few who fall into that category (even my frail 80 year old mum has cancelled her cleaner). But for many of us who have Cleaners we are able bodied and do it because we are time poor. Our cleaner does much more than dragging a hoover round and doing the loos (and we really value the professionalism and care with which she does the job) but we can do without the full service right now as her safety (and ours) is much more important than having a completely sparkly house.

On this lockdown time the fewer people mixing across households the better. Essential is the key word here and we really need to mean essential !

FFS what is wrong with Mumsnet and this blind following of the rules rather than using our actual brains and grasp of fucking science?

NO ITS NOT OK FOR YOUR CLEANER TO COME, SHE's IN MULTIPLE HOUSES AND INCREASING RISK. UNLESS YOUR INCOME HAS DROPPED DO THE RIGHT THING AND SUSPEND HER ON FULL PAY.

Yes - it is OK to go for two walks if you live somewhere where you won't meet another soul or at least not within 10 metres.

This is bizarre. I just read a thread with everyone frothing at the mouth at the idea of meeting a friend for a walk at a 2m distance throughout - not on. But someone going from house to house is absolutely fine

We're in the very fortunate position that our jobs and salaries aren't affected by the crisis, and we work normal hours during the week, so we've told our cleaner not to come for the next few weeks and will continue to pay her, and do the cleaning ourselves. I think it's the right thing to do if you can, although I do worry about how long this might go on for. I also know that not everyone is in as fortunate a position.

I am paying my cleaner and asking her not to come. Same with nanny. Now I am trying to work at home and do everything they do I am extra grateful!

Wow - the UK seems to have a very strange "lock-down"

The more I think about it, the more outraged I am people still think it’s okay for their cleaners to come. Yes fine circumstances might prevent you from cleaning your own home but for everyone else wtf do you think lockdown means?? If you had a friend who had been out visiting 3 other friends that day and wanted to visit, there’s no way you’d let them in!

Only on mumsnet is it ok for someone to go in to multiple homes. We are on fucking lockdown for crying out loud!!!

I don't understand why so many are paying their cleaners (and hairdressers etc) to stay away. Surely they will be claiming benefits and/or self employment grants? I was due to have MOT, now cancelled, but I don't feel I should pay the garage.

@eaglejulesk no only mumsnet, believe me I doubt very much this happens in real life.

We can't even start to apply for the self employment grant until June.

Those without savings will be relying on that income to survive.

The right thing to do is to pay your cleaner not to come, for now at least

TildaKauskumholm you can't tell the difference between a business and an individual who comes to your home?

@TildaKauskumholm I haven't heard of people still paying hairdressers but many of us will have had the same cleaner for many years. We trust them with a key to our homes, and for them to be in our private spaces and to respect our possessions. In return, when times are hard, we decide to do the right thing by them, and to ensure they can protect their health without being penalised for it.

I have never had a cleaner, and I am self employed but would never expect anyone to pay me for not working, unless it was a last minute cancellation with less than 24 hours' notice (as per my T&C).

Why does it concern you??

The thing is; working and leaving your house isn’t illegal. If she has bills to pay and mouths you feed - unless your going to help her fund them it’s best you keep your nose out. She’s surviving.

If the person she’s working for is fine with it and she is fine with it - why on earth does it bother you?

people these days

Fuck me do people really not understand WHY we are on lockdown. I fucking despair I really do.

I believe there is a form you can use to report them to the police. Enjoy.

All of a sudden the cleaners have germs. How nice. We should get rid of them in hospitals and in workplaces too.

If the person she’s working for is fine with it and she is fine with it - why on earth does it bother you?

JFC have you still not understood why we're locking down?

When your cleaner makes the journey to your house she's putting everybody at risk of catching coronavirus on the way, and putting herself at risk of catching it. Then putting you at risk of catching it and transmitting it to people you have contact with. Also all those people who you and the cleaner came into contact with could pass it on to more people, and those people in turn to more people.

Don't do the journey? That doesn't happen.

Him indoors is being extra careful and asked ours not to come (we'll pay her anyway)

I miss her so much [cry]

All of a sudden the cleaners have germs. How nice. We should get rid of them in hospitals and in workplaces too.

No, the point is that we all have germs. Cleaners who come to our houses pick them up, potentially getting sick themselves (if your cleaner ends up on a ventilator because you couldn't face doing your own mopping and wouldn't pay them not to come, even if getting paid yourself, how will you feel?) then goes to other houses, or other jobs, or interacts with others at the supermarket, or home to their toddler with asthma, and passes them on.

Cleaners at hospitals are still needed because otherwise far more people will get ill and die. Cleaners at workplaces are few and far between right now, because most half decent employers realise they cant put their employees at risk. You realise that if you've made your cleaner come in, you're a worse employer than Mike Ashley at Sports Direct, right? Even he backed down...

Oh hibeat what a thing to say. Did you name change yet?

I have cancelled our cleaners, I think it is irresponsible and against the current guidelines to have anyone, much less someone touching every single surface for hours and hours. People that are still doing are putting their cleaners and families at risk.

If your house is chaos for a few weeks then so be it Nac its not the end of the world, coronavirus is very infectious and its unfair to put anyone in that position.