Cleaner wants internet access - WWYD

[BlankProfile]

We have had our cleaner for several years. She's honest, reliable and does a reasonable job.
Our internet password is on the back of the box and at some point she has seen this and used it to sign into our network. I found out today because we have recently changed our password and she asked me for the new one, obviously forgetting she had never asked me for the password in the first place.
It's annoyed me, but we have unlimited data and in the time she's been using it, it's never caused a problem.
Should I give her the new password?

Why bother having a password for WiFi then? No I would not give her the password.

A bit confused, why would they need it whilst cleaning your house? The cleaners we have are awesome and we chat all the time, I guess if they asked then of course I would give it to them if they needed it , but they have never asked.

Why bother having a password for WiFi then?

It's not really a password, it's a key to encrypt the connection, without the password anyone can listen in to what's happening.

The reason for the guest network is because of malware that certainly doesn't need physical connections to devices - as well as simply things like stopping guests using your printer, or network drives or other convenient things that you leave open on your network. That's not particularly relevant to someone you're giving physical access to your house.

I keep wondering about the PP who has their WiFi details on blackboard in the kitchen.
Surely if the cleaner was any good they would be cleaning the blackboard?
Or have I missed the point? Again.

@Mum2jenny

No, I would not give her the password. She can use 4G surely. But I’m a bit paranoid about this sort of stuff. I’d wonder what she needs internet access for when she’s cleaning!!

To engage in terrorism or paedophilia or something that prevents here coaching properly

Does your computer have multiple account ability? If so, set her up a "guest" account that does not allow access to private files, give her that password and the internet password. Apparently being online hasn't affected her work quality.

I have a hard working cleaner. She has never asked for the password and is very busy when she’s here

Absolutely not, WiFi passwords should be kept private. Remember what ever occurs on that account is your responsibility. Not saying that they access anything dodgy but it isn’t worth the risk! Trust me on this one!

Doesn't anyone have data on their phones. I think just assuming the first time without asking is so rude.

@Chocaholic4672

Absolutely not, WiFi passwords should be kept private. Remember what ever occurs on that account is your responsibility. Not saying that they access anything dodgy but it isn’t worth the risk! Trust me on this one!

If you don’t trust her with your Wi-fi password, you shouldn’t trust her in your home

I wouldn’t give it. There to clean, and i have a radio in the house too.

If she has time to surf the net -if thats why she needs it-she’s either not cleaning properly or she’s there too long and not enough work.

Half the teenagers in a 5 mile radius have our WiFi password, yet to meet one that doesn’t politely request it after 5 mins of entering the house! Yes I’d give it to the cleaner, last question, do people actually have data limits on WiFi? Is that a real thing? I wfh so my work pays the broadband

No... why would you give your slave internet access?! Why would this person who “only” cleans for you need access to the internet?!
Well.... maybe if there was emergency, your cleaner would like to be informed? Does she have children/family? Perhaps she doesn’t have enough data on her phone, or perhaps she doesn’t have a contract & uses the internet only for messaging.
Or, perhaps she likes to listen to music, or have access to emails if needed? Schools often use apps/emails to contact parents atm, so she would need to know if there was an emergency.
I said “slave”, because that’s how you are viewing her in my opinion.
You know this person, they have cleaned for you for years, they have probably seen (and cleaned) private things, but you still don’t think it’s ok for her to have wifi in the home?
You need to take a long, hard look at yourself.
This person is just as human as you. I hope she is in the position to employ a cleaner one day & I hope she makes her feel more welcome.
You sound like you feel you are above her.
Internet access isn’t something you should go begging for.... instead of bitching here, talk to her. She’s human you know!
Perhaps sack her and do your own housework if you’re not happy

"I have a radio " this statement makes me laugh. Like, who says the cleaner must like any of the stations your radio receives, Is this a common job requirement?

Has OP left? Or simply never actually asked the cleaner why she wanted the wifi password. Can't believe how long thread got in speculation for defensible wifi access reasons.

If she's cleaning why does she need access to your internet?! Very odd

I would. She's self employed and probably uses it to check her emails, probably listens to music also.

I don't see the issue and I'm quite strict usually.

I'm still here. Not convinced I am obliged to explain to her (or anyone else) why I don't want to hand out my WiFi password. My home isn't a public space. My internet is not a public service.

I may not want the security risk. I may not want another person using the band width while 5 of us were trying to work here during lockdown. Valid reasons that have bugger all to do with me treating my cleaner as a slave.
She's paid a good wage - she earns more as a cleaner than my eldest DC does in their first graduate level job in a multinational company.
It's not my responsibility to make sure she is a fully connected to the world while she is being paid to clean my house.
She took the password to my internet without having the courtesy to check it was ok. The password was not on view, it was on the back of a box in a room visitors don't go in. It was not on a blackboard in the kitchen.
She does help herself to coffee and tea as often as she likes - because I invited her to do that. But she was not invited to use our internet and I find it both odd and rude that she took a password that was not on public display and used it without asking.
And I'll say it one last time for those posters who are still struggling with the facts - she is not treated like a slave. She's gets paid. She was paid when she couldn't come due to lockdown. She is treated with respect when she is here. Not havng internet access is really not the same thing as slavery.

Then tell her OP. Then you can get yourself a shit cleaner but one that doesn’t use your wifi. I mean you’ll presumably give this new cleaner keys to your house - but at least they won’t use your WiFi.

Am quite shocked that you have a child who’s at graduate age and don’t realise that probably every one of her friends has at some point. Had your WiFi password.

Maybe they have our password, but I'm sure they asked for it first.

My home isn't a public space. My internet is not a public service.
But she us nit a random passer by. She is someone you have into your house on a regular basis.
I honestly think you are being petty and ridiculous. I cba strolling back to how long you said excatly but you said she had it for a number of years without incident. Nothings changed.
Im just taking a break from my housework but I enjoy having my personalised playing on or listening to a true crime podcast. If it makes a job a bit nicer. Why not?
I take the view on this that Its nice to be nice.

@BlankProfile - are you going to ask your cleaner why she took the password &/or ask her to erase it from your phone & request that she not to use the wifi? Ultimately it is unacceptable to you for her to use your wifi, from what I can tell.

Or will you have a short civil conversation where you say she can keep the wifi password but you wish she had asked for it rather than assume.

I'm curious how either of those conversations go.

@BlankProfile well if it’s in a room they don’t go in - perhaps. But trust me if it was displayed they wouldn’t have - there’s a reason they give you multiple stickers with the passwords on - or why shit like this sells on amazon
www.amazon.co.uk/s?ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-apa-p_1_8&sprefix=wifi+pas&k=wifi+password+sign&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I don't think you've done anything wrong @BlankProfile nor have feelings that aren't reasonable.

just ask her
how did you get the password before?
she should be embarassed

@BlankProfile

I'm still here. Not convinced I am obliged to explain to her (or anyone else) why I don't want to hand out my WiFi password. My home isn't a public space. My internet is not a public service. I may not want the security risk. I may not want another person using the band width while 5 of us were trying to work here during lockdown. Valid reasons that have bugger all to do with me treating my cleaner as a slave. She's paid a good wage - she earns more as a cleaner than my eldest DC does in their first graduate level job in a multinational company. It's not my responsibility to make sure she is a fully connected to the world while she is being paid to clean my house. She took the password to my internet without having the courtesy to check it was ok. The password was not on view, it was on the back of a box in a room visitors don't go in. It was not on a blackboard in the kitchen. She does help herself to coffee and tea as often as she likes - because I invited her to do that. But she was not invited to use our internet and I find it both odd and rude that she took a password that was not on public display and used it without asking. And I'll say it one last time for those posters who are still struggling with the facts - she is not treated like a slave. She's gets paid. She was paid when she couldn't come due to lockdown. She is treated with respect when she is here. Not havng internet access is really not the same thing as slavery.

You could've shortened this by saying 'I'm just weirdly stingy with WiFi.'