Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

to charge my workplace for taking the laundry home to wash?

24 replies

insancerre · 23/03/2014 09:37

I work in a very small nursery and we have no washing machine so it is expected that the manager takes the washing home and washes it.
We are talking tea towels, dressing up clothes, children's clothes that have been left when wet or soiled, rugs, etc.
So the manager is off and rather than leave the washing festering at work, I've brought it home to wash.
I think it is damn cheeky to expect us to do this, so I intend to present a bill for a load of clean washing on Monday.
How much is the going rate for a load at the launderette?

OP posts:

GertTheFlirt · 23/03/2014 09:39

Were you asked or did you decided to take it? If the manager is off, who is expecting you to do it?

In all honesty, you either do it out of goodwill, or you make your working life difficult with no access to clean and dry items next week. It's not a regular thing.

Bluestocking · 23/03/2014 09:39

Why don't you take it to the launderette for a service wash, then you will (a) not have to deal with it and (b) have a receipt so they can reimburse you?

AnUnearthlyChild · 23/03/2014 09:43

You can claim tax back for this I think

Original poster

insancerre · 23/03/2014 09:44

I asked me to do it, as I am standing in for the manager
I just don't want to be taken advantage of.
I can't take it to the launderette as I don't drive and it would take too long to walk.

OP posts:

BakerStreetSaxRift · 23/03/2014 09:47

I wouldn't bother, how much will it really cost you, a pound for the electric and some laundry detergent?

Marcipex · 23/03/2014 09:48

I am expected to do this too, on my tiny wages. If I don't take my turn it causes unpleasantness from management.

My issue is the items soiled or urinated on, if it's clinical waste on a nappy and we can't even put it in an ordinary bin, why should I have to put it in my washing machine?

Nomama · 23/03/2014 09:50

You can claim tax back for it.

Your manager probably does.

soaccidentprone · 23/03/2014 09:51

I took my duvet to the laundrette the other day. It cost £5 for a wash and £2.40 to dry, plus the cost of detergent etc.

Service washes are more than this though.

Tbh I would just suck up the cost myself as doing it at home costs a pound or something. Depends on how well you get on with your employer though.

Original poster

insancerre · 23/03/2014 09:51

I doubt my manager does claim tax back, she is just too nice.
Me, i'm just mardy.

OP posts:

Lucylouby · 23/03/2014 09:56

I've had this from a nursery. Expecting extras like this, while paying a pittance. Ime nursery owners and management will take advantage of staff because they know staff can be replaced. I reckon the owner will ask why you took the washing if you weren't happy to wash it in the first place.

HannerHet · 23/03/2014 09:57

I wouldn't 'present a bill', but I would maybe question if you are getting reimbursed for it. The managers where I work used to take tea towels home to wash. They used to buy a box of those washing machine tablets from petty cash and take some home if they were doing the wash.
Obviously this only covers part of the cost, but maybe a suggestion you could make?

Original poster

insancerre · 23/03/2014 10:01

I have raised the question of washing bedding with the owner. She said she would pay for a service wash. That seemed like too much hassle, so instead we asked parents to supply their own bedding for their child to use, which works well as they take it home to wash and children are not sharing bedding.
I like the idea of the washing tablets- I might suggest that, thanks, HannerHet.

OP posts:

ICanSeeTheSun · 23/03/2014 10:07

I take it you are the assistant manager, so if it's the manager job to do this then as an assistant manager then to me it is part of your job.

Cockadoodledooo · 23/03/2014 10:54

YABU not to send the soiled/wet clothes home in a bag with the child they belong to - as a parent I expect this, no idea why people would expect a nursery to do this for them?

Bunging a load of teatowels through once a week wouldn't vex me.

Has anybody ever asked the manager if she's happy with the set up, or was it just assumed of her too?

Marcipex · 23/03/2014 10:57

It's soiled or wet nursery cushions and dressing up clothes that are my problem. Not allowed to ask parents to wash them, nowhere to wash them other than the painting sink, but I don't want it in my machine at home either.

spongebob13 · 23/03/2014 11:00

OP if its a one off I think its a bit mean to present a bill. by all means say you did it and say you presume its a one off or you would have to be reimbursed.

Marcipex was it part of your job role from the beginning that you would be doing this?

SirChenjin · 23/03/2014 11:01

I wouldn't be happy to doing this. I work for the NHS - we're not expected to take patient's laundry home. Isn't there some sort of H&S surrounding this - how do they ensure you're laundering it correctly?

It's your electricity, time and detergent - the nursery is taking the proverbial if they are not reimbursing you. Can you claim back through a tax return (although that's a faff) or agree some laundry 'mileage' charge for staff?

Ronmione · 23/03/2014 11:01

This sort of thing really pisses me off, why on earth should staff have to deal with doing the nursing washing!

Why should they have to have other childrens shit tumbling round their washing machine.

You all need to stand together, ask the owner to either wash it thenselves, buy an washer/ dryer or someone takes it to the laundrette (during work time) or it doesn't get done.

Marcipex · 23/03/2014 11:04

No, sponge bob, it wasn't mentioned at interview, but I don't have a written contact although I've been there years it has never been sorted.

A rota was put up one day as a done deal I suppose.

Tea towels don't bother me, it's the soiled things that do..

I don't know what other places do, the ones I previously worked in had laundry facilities.

spongebob13 · 23/03/2014 11:10

yeah I see your point about soiled items. not on! I guess I pictured one bag of maybe few tea towels and maybe few tshirts and a cot sheet or something .. obviously I am way off. definitely needs to be addressed.

Preciousbane · 23/03/2014 11:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Marcipex · 23/03/2014 11:21

I don't get a fiver, I don't get anything, including any thanks! It's not just the cost, tea towels shouldn't be in the same wash with soiled clothing etc anyway IMO. So it's more than one load.

I'm on nearly min wage too.

pixiepotter · 23/03/2014 11:43

I didn't know 'service washes' existed outside of EastEnders.Seriously if you don't live in a big city there will be likely be no such places.I doubt I live within 30 miles of a lauderette

hoobypickypicky · 23/03/2014 11:47

"My issue is the items soiled or urinated on, if it's clinical waste on a nappy and we can't even put it in an ordinary bin, why should I have to put it in my washing machine?"

I'd agree with you. If I were you or the OP I'd compromise and offer to wash towels, tea towels etc but refuse to wash soiled/urinated on items. What's the worst they can do? Call you a fussy, precious cow? Big deal, you wouldn't be alone!

Flip