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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To object to dd cleaning toilets?

77 replies

BarryStar · 24/02/2012 11:36

I don't how best to handle this, so am seeking viewpoints!

DD (17) has a cleaning job at her school for two hours every day. Most of the cleaners are pupils although there are some adult cleaning staff, including a supervisor. There is a rota drawn up of who cleans what area. However, whereas most people have been assigned areas they clean regularly, dd finds out every day where she is to clean.

Initially she was told that she would have her own room to clean once she had been doing the job for a few weeks. She's been there since October now, and still has no regular room. Quite often (at least twice a week) the supervisor tells her to go and clean the toilets - not a particular set of toilets, but any set he tells her to go to. This is despite the fact that her name is not on the rota against the toilets. The toilets are supposed to be cleaned by the adult "proper" cleaning staff.

She has pointed this out a couple of times, and has been told that, when a regular room becomes available, she will be assigned one of those. This hasn't happened.

Ok - I really really don't want her cleaning these loos. The stories she tells me of the state they are often in makes me feel ill. I won't revolt you all before lunch with the details but let your imaginations run riot!

It's not a case of me thinking cleaning toilets is beneath her, although personally I would never expect anyone to clean one after me. However, I do think she is being taken advantage of, and I also think that she should be given proper equipment (eg, overalls, gloves, clean loo brushes etc).

She doesn't like doing it, but does do it because of the money. I have told her what I think but haven't made an issue of it. But the things she tells me are so disgusting and I just don't think she should have to deal with it. So if I insist she gives up the job, am I giving her the wrong message (ie, making her think she is "too good" for this sort of work), or am I allowing my dd to be taken for a ride! As I said earlier, she has tried to tackle the issue with the supervisor, but hasn't got anywhere.

So WWYD?

OP posts:
Original poster
BarryStar · 24/02/2012 11:57

Ok, seems I should say nowt then. I'm really glad I asked because I just didn't know if I was BU.

The point about the other cleaners doing it, is not that they are older than her, rather that they are full time cleaners as opposed to pupils. And also they are supposed to do the loos, not the pupils (and, yes, it does say that in a written contract).

To whoever asked if its often a particular person on the rota for the loos - yes, the supervisor.

OP posts:
elliejjtiny · 24/02/2012 11:58

I used to work cleaning at school when I was 17. I had my own area (4 classrooms, staff toilets, 2 sets of stairs, 2 offices, corridor, balcony and 2 big landings) when I first started then when I asked for less hours I got my area cut in half and someone else who wanted less hours got the other half. When I left and came back for a few weeks in the university holidays I just covered for people on holiday and helped out with the big summer clean. Everyone was allowed to clean toilets and most people did them unless they were lucky enough to be given an area without any. I found toilets better than stairs TBH. Gloves were provided but they were quite manky as people used to dump them in buckets of water that they hadn't emptied etc so I used to bring my own. Maybe your DD could do that. It was horrible work but I was paid nearly double what my friend who worked in a shop got so it was worth it.

Original poster
BarryStar · 24/02/2012 11:58

I don't know if they get paid more than her.

OP posts:
silverfrog · 24/02/2012 12:01

hmm, so the contract says that adults should be doing the toilets not pupils.

your dd's contract specifically says she is not expected to do the toilets?

and her supervisor is regularly sending her to do the toilets when s/he is down to do them? because supervisor doesn't want to, or because supervisor s (genuinely) busy doing something else and the toilets still need doing?

if becasue the supervisor doesnt' want to clean the disgusting toilets, then yanbu at all - abuse of power.

MAYBELATERNOWIMBUSY · 24/02/2012 12:02

H&S P.P.E. should be issued to anyone cleaning any "thing" anywhere, when it is likely after an official risk asessement has been carried out that they may come into contact with any substance which may prove injurous to there health and welbeing.

ReallyTired · 24/02/2012 12:05

At 17 years old people can fight and (if very unlucky) die for their country. There is no reason why a 17 year old cannot clean toilets. Agreed its an unpleasent job, but prehaps doing an unpleasent job will make your dd realise the importance of education.

bradbourne · 24/02/2012 12:07

I'd actually go as far as to say it is actually quite good (at least in some ways)for your daughter to be doing a sh*tty job (if you'll pardon the pun). It shows she isn't afraid of hard, unpleasant work and hopefully that will stand her in good stead when she goes to interviews in later years. And if she sticks at it, she can demontrate discipline and staying power (not to mention the initiative she has shown in getting the job in the first place). She should be congratulated - I really don't think you'd be doing her any favours in talking her out of it. Be proud of her.

And just so you know... I've cleaned toilets for a living in my time, as well as hotel rooms, washed up in a Chinese restaurantt (no machine).... I'm now lucky enough to have a well-paid job, and look back at my sh*tty job time as part of life's rich tapestry. (And whilst I am glad I don't have to do those jobs any more, I have nothing but respect for the people who do those jobs).

MackerelOfFact · 24/02/2012 12:08

Your DD should be provided with the correct equipment and protection for the job, as should all the other employees. There is absolutely no question that she should insist on these if they are not being provided.

The toilet cleaning situation, however, is not her decision to make. Provided she has the adequate safety equipment for the job, there is no reason she shouldn't clean the toilets, disgusting or not.

Original poster
BarryStar · 24/02/2012 12:10

Well the contract says that the "proper" cleaners are to do it, yes. MAYBE, thank you, yes your answer is helpful.

I don't know why the supervisor has assigned the loos to her when his name has been on the rota.

Anyway, thanks again, all. Good to get other viewpoints.

OP posts:
valiumredhead · 24/02/2012 12:10

I expect that 'adults' have to clean the loos because of the chemicals involved?

My first job was at 14 cleaning a dentist's surgery - I just cleaned the loos and wore my marigolds

TiaMariaandDietCoke · 24/02/2012 12:11

meh, I had a cleaning job at 15 and cleaned toliets as part of it. No big deal. Had a bar job at uni and had to clean toliets at the end of the night there too (now, they could be grim!) - no big deal though.

I get that you're not necessarily objecting to the toliets though, but more the perception that your dd is being treated unfairly. To be honest, she's 17 - more than old enough to speak to the superviser herself and sort it out if she's unhappy with the situation. Or to choose to just get on with it if she's not that bothered. All part of working life and an important part of her growing up and finding her own way in my opinion.

TiaMariaandDietCoke · 24/02/2012 12:14

toliets? toilets!!!! Blush how did I type that 3 times and not notice?!

Sarcalogos · 24/02/2012 12:18

Your DD IS old enough to clean toilets, but then she's also old enough to clean trains and that's not part of her contract either. The fact that it is a toilet is distracting from the real issue.

Her supervisor is getting her to do things that he/she should be doing him/herself this is abuse of power. Particularly unkind as she is in her first job and a student at the school (so particularly vulnerable).

Your DD (def. not you- she is 17), should be going politely above the supervisors head to sort this out.

If it was my DD and she did this and it all went horribly wrong,(which it might) I would support her in finding a new job and praise her for doing the right thing.

woollyideas · 24/02/2012 12:28

I agree with silverfrog.
This is the issue: her name is not on the rota against the toilets. The toilets are supposed to be cleaned by the adult "proper" cleaning staff.
It sounds like she's being taken advantage of.
I don't think it's a question of whether or not your DD is 'too good' to clean toilets, or not; I think it's more a question of why is she being told to do things that she isn't meant to?

AllDirections · 24/02/2012 12:29

I had regular work cleaning toilet blocks on a caravan park from age 13!

No h&s to consider then and no supervision.

If your DD does what she is asked to do without complaint then it will be noticed that she is a good worker.

woollyideas · 24/02/2012 12:37

AllDirections: that's a possibility. Another is that if she does what she's asked to do, even though she's not meant to be doing it, she will be given all the other crap jobs too!

MAYBELATERNOWIMBUSY · 24/02/2012 12:54

excellent woollyideas "crap jobs 2 in 1 !!! yeah , agree with that , the most unpopular job is usually given to he/she who simply get"s on with it.

DeWe · 24/02/2012 12:55

We used to have to clean the toilets as one of the chores at Brownie camp.

GoldenGreen · 24/02/2012 13:08

It does like she is being taken advantage of. But since she's 17 I think all you can do is gently discuss it with her. She can then decide for herself if she wants to say anything. It's awful to expect her to do it without proper equipment - don't blame you at all for being concerned.

OhdearNigel · 24/02/2012 13:23

She's 17 - she is an adult

forehead · 24/02/2012 13:45

If the issue us that she does not have the right equipment then YANBU. However, if your issue is that she has to clean toilets then YADBU.
I had a cleaning job(including toilets) at the age of 16 and it was one of the best things i have ever done as it made me appreciate how hard it is for people to earn money. If i had to do it again, i would.

Gribble · 24/02/2012 13:46

god chill out dude - I was a cleaner at a well known banks head office when I was 14. Picked up at about 6, home at 9. 4 days a week.

One of my 'patches' was the toilets on all 4 floors. I used to find used condoms, empty coke wraps, porn mags, used sanitary towels and tampons, all sorts. I had gloves and a bin, and just threw the stuff away and got on with it. "Curry Friday" was a bit of a shit day for it though.....

Sorry, but its a job, her supervisor wants her to clean the bogs, so thats what shes got to do if she wants to keep it. It does sound like you think its beneath her though, and I get asked to do stuff thats not in my contract, unless its illegal Id never dream of saying "oh but thats not in my contract" becasuse I dont want to be labeled as a princess or a troublecauser.

She's well old enough to fight her own battles.

Fleurdebleurgh · 24/02/2012 13:48

I cleaned camp toilets at 15/16. School toilets are imcomparable to the horrors of that job.

Gribble · 24/02/2012 13:57

ha, god this is bringing back memories of playing "Count the pubes" with my best mate who worked with me, good times.....

Devora · 24/02/2012 14:05

Am thinking that Cameron, Osbourne, Gove et al would be a whole lot more human if THEY had cleaned public toilets at 17. It's a kind of grounding experience. Who wants to bet their only teenage work experience was the odd week shadowing in Daddy's friend's management consultancy?

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