AIBU: I don't want my cleaner to bring her child to work

[wouldwelcomeadvice]

The cleaner has brought her child (age 6) into the country in the last few days and she is not yet registered at a school. She has brought her to work, in my house, today without asking me first. The child has been coughing away. I have three children and I don't need them getting ill. The child is well behaved and has just fallen asleep on the couch. AIBU. I just don't want any more bodies in my house.

Our cleaner often brings her youngest during the holidays. We're fine with it and usually try to leave out some child-friendly dvds. She did nick some quality street at Xmas though, I suspect when her mum wasn't looking!

It's not like she can afford childcare out of the £10 per hour that we pay her.

Should have asked you first, but I don't really see the problem? Presumably it is a short term arrangement.

What would you rather the cleaner does - stop working for you, or leave her child home alone? Either of those options puts your "don't want more bodies in my house" into perspective.

If it was short-terms (which is sounds like this is) I think I'd try and accommodate her. She should've asked first though.

And at least her DC is well behaved!

You seem a bit mean.

I think you are being pretty unsympathetic tbh. Cleaning is a job often done by people who really can't afford childcare or find it hard to get other work.

On grounds of heartlessness I would say YABU. Give the woman a break, if she has just moved her child from abroad think how lonely and worried the child may be, but your cleaner still turned up to do her work. Would you have rather your cleaner had cancelled?

A bit of kindness may be in order.

I think it's fair enough if you don't want her there, and she should certainly have asked you first.

Sounds like your cleaner is in a tough possition right now - presumably she needs to earn money to support her child, but needs to care for her until she gets her into school. Think you'd be pretty cold-hearted to make a fuss in such a situation - presumably she is still able to do the cleaning, and should soon get him/her into school.

Your DCs will have pleanty of other chance to catch coughs when they go back to school anyway!

Presumably this is a one-off due to the circumstances? If you don't like it, then you can ask her not to do it again. But in the circumstances I'm not sure what other option she had, apart from letting you down by not coming to do the cleaning - I'd guess she doesn't have family here who she could ask to look after the child till school is arranged.

As long as I was not working from home, assuming the child was not noisy -nothing worse than a child to distract you- and the cleaning is being done i would not mind.

I would be having a work if the child is not enrolled in school in the near future though

Your house your rules. My work certainly wouldn't take it well if I rocked up with my toddler. Totally up to you as her employer and a bit rude of her not to check with you first.

Yes she should have asked first.

But, its probably temporary, and what else was she expected to do?

YABU.

Clearly she should have asked you first, but, in the circumstances - the fact it's a short term arrangement and the fact she is older, well behavied, and just sitting on your couch - it doesn't seem like she's stopped her Mum working. I'd assumed, before opening the thread, you meant a toddler, to which I would have said it wouldn't work, as she would be distracting her Mum/need looking after all the time, but it doesn't sound as if it's the case here.
Ultimately, up to you. Depends, are you happy to be without your cleaner until she has managed to get her a school place ?

She should have asked/mentioned it to you first I agree. Presumably though this will be short term as she will soon be at school? However, if you feel strongly about her not being there then you'll need to speak to her about her plans during the school holidays.

To be honest 6 years old is old enough to respect that her mum has a job to get on with and be able to play quietly (child dependent!) so she shouldn't be too much of a problem.

When I was younger my mum's cleaner brought her daughter during the holidays, she was slightly older than me (maybe a year or so) but we were good friends and it was great having her round to play every week.

she should have asked you first

i am a cleaner and wouldn't bring my child to work unless i absolutely HAD to. and i would ask my client first.

My old cleaner often brought her 7 year old in the holidays. It was lovely. She used to play with the (then) baby while I had a shower.

I don't see a problem but she should have asked you first.

Good cleaners are hard to come by. I used to bring my 2 youngest with me when I was working as a cleaner. All my clients knew I was on my own and they also knew that finding a good cleaner wasn't easy.

Maybe the OP should ask the lady if she needs some help with the school admission for her child?

As it happens, although the cleaner is pleasant and honest, she is not the best cleaner in the world and I was plucking up the courage to ask her to leave before this happened. Now I feel that she will think I'm only getting rid of her because she is bringing her daughter with her.

how petty

your house is clean she was well behaved, your cleaner did what you pay her for i am sure you would be moaning if she had not turned up

I just posted that she is NOT the best cleaner. I noticed over Easter, when I did the cleaning myself, that the house has not been being cleaned properly.

i think yabu especially if child was behaved.

however out of interest (posed to everyone) what are the legalities if the child gets hurt at your home would it be the same as if they were an invited visitor? or different as your employer brought them there.

So then post "How can I get rid of my cleaner as I don't think she does a good enough job?" rather than a completely different question!