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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Pregnant Cleaner

37 replies

TicketNumber · 21/02/2013 14:19

Bit of background: I've had my cleaner for nearly 3 years, starting shortly after DTS were born. She does 2 hrs per week and I pay her cash. She's a nice person, but we don't really chat so I don't know that much about her except that she lives with housemates rather than a partner.

Anyway she's just told me that she is nearly 4 months pregnant, that the pregnancy is unplanned but she wants to work right up to the last minute. I suspect she means she can't afford not to work.

Now my first thought was WTF are you doing scrubbing my bathroom & emptying the rubbish when you should be sitting down with a cup of tea. I have recently found out I am pregnant again myself & given I have had several miscarriages, I am planning on taking things as easy as I can.

So, how unreasonable is it going to be when I end up watching a woman several months more pregnant than I am, doing the jobs that I don't have time/energy to do myself? I feel quite worried for her as I don't think she realises how hard things can get when you start getting big. But it's her business & she needs the money. AIBU to feel concerned & how would you handle it?

OP posts:
EuroShaggleton · 21/02/2013 14:22

Go out when she is there? Wink

To give a more serious answer, plenty of people work, many of them in physical jobs, until quite late on (nurses, etc). Many SAHMs scrub bathrooms when heavily pregnant. If she wants to work and is physically able to, let her. I would stress that she shouldn't do anything that she feels is beyond her at any time though, e.g. moving furniture to clean under it.

Congrats on your pregnancy.

BobbiFleckmann · 21/02/2013 14:23

keep her employed. Let her return as soon as she wants, bringing her baby. She needs the money.
Make it clear to her that you don't want her doing any heavy work or climbing up onto anything. Buy her an extendable feather duster so she doesn't need to climb up - basically take reasonable steps to keep her safe just the same as any office jockey gets a safety audit from HR with a clip board. Not everyone feels too tired to work when they're pregnant and maybe you don't have the time / energy to do these things because you're working full time at something else - this is her work, she can be tired at home after work.

Ilovesunflowers · 21/02/2013 14:24

It's her job and she needs the money. I would let her keep working until she wants to. I wouldn't feel guilty. Perhaps you can makes things a tiny bit easier for her e.g. by carrying the hoover up/down stairs.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 21/02/2013 14:24

I would handle it the same as you handle it now.

With your history yes take it easy but she will be fine too...the world doesn't stop when you are pregnant and I am sure some cleaning will not harm her, esp if she is already used to doing it. When I was pg with DS I was an aerobics instructor and was still doing classes/jumping jacks etc until 36 weeks :)

If it makes you feel awkward just be out when she is there.

bonzo77 · 21/02/2013 14:25

You can't sack her for being pregnant. If she wants to work and can do so safely while doing the job properly then let her. One of my previous cleaners worked for us till about 38 weeks! She had given up all her commercial cleaning jobs much earlier though. She found us a replacement cleaner before she left, though never returned to us herself.

BobbiFleckmann · 21/02/2013 14:28

you might want to look at which products you buy and avoid eg ammonia etc

lyrasdaemo · 21/02/2013 14:29

I work in a very physical job and mostly felt well enough to work until I was seven months pregnant, when the weight of my bump made it hard going on my pelvis. I think it helped keeping so active. See how your cleaner feels, everyone is different. And congrats:-)

Locketjuice · 21/02/2013 14:29

I was cleaning a week before I 'popped' doing 20 hours ish a week, I was knackered and was doing the communal area of the flats (stairs,banisters,windows etc) so up and down lots of steps carrying hoovers etc but I needed the money let her choose what she wants to do

WilsonFrickett · 21/02/2013 14:30

The alternative to her doing your cleaning is that you sack her - which of course you wouldn't do. So do what Bobbi says, help her stay safe and well while she does her work. She needs the money.

HollyBerryBush · 21/02/2013 14:30

Pregnancy isn't an illness, although some may have good reason for taking it a little easier.

You do have a reasonable duty of care though, even if you are paying her cash in hand and there is no contract of emplyment between you.

She will get SMP through the state.

lyrasdaemo · 21/02/2013 14:33

If she's self employed she should be able to get maternity allowance from 11 weeks before she's due, if she's paid enough stamp.

cantspel · 21/02/2013 14:33

Pregnancy is not an illness and so there is no reason why she shouldn't work if she wants to.
I worked upto a week before my oldest was born and with my second i moved 60 miles at 36 weeks pregnant and was wall papering a week before he was born. A little housework is not beyond a heathy pregnant woman.

VeganCow · 21/02/2013 14:35

Well, I certainly didnt change my cleaning routine when I was expecting my two, apart from maybe not cleaning high up windows.
So, surely with it being a normal house rather than commercial cleaning, it wont be any different than her cleaning her own house?

Original poster
TicketNumber · 21/02/2013 14:40

Thank you for the replies & helpful suggestions.

bonzo wasnt even thinking of sacking her - far from it!

I guess I was very PFB even before my DT were born, and everyone at my work knew my history & that we'd had a lot of fertility treatment. So I spent my last pregnancy pretty much wrapped up in cotton wool. Realistically, I know everyone is different & for most people life goes on as normal while pregnant. I think I'm already having a reality check this time with active toddlers to chase after!

Maybe I should just get DH to do the cleaning while we compare symptoms? Grin

OP posts:
monsterchild · 21/02/2013 14:43

If she can work let her. I worked at my desk hub until 3 days before ds was born and I did all my regular farm chores excerpt moving hay bales. Until the day my waters broke which was 3 days after my due date. A others have said keep in mind basic safety but let her have at it.

fromparistoberlin · 21/02/2013 17:21

sweetheart, I know you are anxious having had miscarriages but most women (esp when they have easy 2nd or 3rd PG) work throughout

hope you pay her full SMP!!!!

MrsLouisTheroux · 21/02/2013 17:27

bonzo ; You can't sack her for being pregnant.
Is her business registered OP or is it cash in hand?

MrsLouisTheroux · 21/02/2013 17:29

hope you pay her full SMP!!!!

?? What?!

ImperialBlether · 21/02/2013 18:04

The OP isn't responsible for SMP! She gives her twenty quid or so for a couple of hours' work!

MrsKeithRichards · 21/02/2013 18:10

When you say you pay her cash does that mean you just so happen to pay her in cash rather than cheque or direct because it's handy or cash in hand as in she's doing it on the side, not registered self employed or insured or paying her own ni and tax?

MrsKeithRichards · 21/02/2013 18:14

Either way you aren't employing her,you use her services. Her maternity leave or pay isn't your responsibility.

12ylnon · 21/02/2013 19:05

Well, i'm 6 months pregnant and i also clean to supplement my wage from childminding. The woman i clean for has recently had a baby as well.

I have to say, i do find it a little harder than usual, especially lugging the hoover up and down the stairs, but i need the money, so i have to work. I'm really hoping i don't develop any kind of problem that involves bed rest as we'd be pretty screwed if i couldn't clean (or childmind for that matter!).

I think you need to trust her to know her own limits. I'm sure she wouldn't do anything to put her baby or herself in danger, so i would just be clear that she can take breaks or time off if she needs too (i sometimes need to sit down if i'm feeling faint or need a snack, i just make up the time). Also, perhaps suggest natural cleaning products, like ecover or method, as this will benefit both her health and your health.

Viviennemary · 21/02/2013 19:17

I wouldn't be happy with this. Because of the Health & Safety implications. What a difficult situation fo you. Since it's only two hours a week can she just do ironing and general tidying.

IneedAsockamnesty · 21/02/2013 19:36

Can I just jump in with MA is not dependant on paying any stamp its intended for people who don't earn enough to pay tax and ni so don't qualify for SMP.

But other than that if she wants to work and its safe for her to do so it would be unfair of you to stop her I can understand how it may make you feel weird perhaps you could nip out to the shop if it weirds you out to much, that gets you out the way and gives her a crafty few mins to have a sit down

Lonelybunny · 21/02/2013 21:12

I worked as a cleaner doing 3 hours a night cleaning a whole drs surgery a week before I was due. I did it with all 3 of my children. Carrying heavy hovers and buckets around , didnt think anything of it , and I have a partner , I need the job and the jobs got to be done .

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