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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to have used the shower?

82 replies

MissMooMoo · 03/04/2014 20:54

I have a membership at a niace gym.
mon-fri it closes at 10:30pm.
Tonight when I went to use the shower the cleaner asked me if I wouldn't mind using one on the right hand side as she had just cleaned the ones on the left hand side. All the showers on the right were in use and there were 2 women ahead of me in a 'queue' to use the showers.
I said if it was nearly closing time and there were available showers then I would have no problem but seeing as it was 8:30 and I was going to have to wait then I would be using the left hand side ones as they were available!
I pay £55 a month to use this gym. aibu to think I should be able to use an available shower 2 hours before closing time??
I complained to reception and the guy working said he would mention it to the cleaning staff but "at the end of the day they all want to leave at a reasonable hour too"

OP posts:
EyelinerQueen · 03/04/2014 20:56

YANBU.

They shouldn't restrict their customers facilities while the gym is still open. Totally out of order and unprofessional.

Sparrowlegs248 · 03/04/2014 20:58

Yanbu.

chirpchirp · 03/04/2014 20:58

No, not unreasonable at all in my opinion. If it had been after 10 fair enough, besides, what she going to do for the rest of the night, stand there and direct everyone to the right hand side? For two hours?

WooWooOwl · 03/04/2014 20:59

YANBU, and I would let management know that the cleaner is asking this of clients. It's rude and unprofessional.

stackablegoatbearingcheesecake · 03/04/2014 21:29

I'd be writing to the Manager and copying in the CEO of the company.
The cleaner was totally out of order and the guy on reception was making it worse, taking the piss to be blunt.

If the gym closes at 10.30 you'd presume they pay the cleaner to 11pm at least or even if they pay until 10.30 only to make any restriction before 10-10.15 is ridiculous, and to make you feel bad in any way for wanting to use the facilities is very unprofessional.

WowserBowser · 03/04/2014 21:33

I don't think YABU but i disagree with complaining further.

She probably doesn't get paid enough to want to hang around later then she needs too.

I know it's her job and all but hey ho.

CrockedPot · 03/04/2014 21:37

Yanbu, and I too would complain further, and about the guy on reception. I too pay an expensive gym fee, and part of that means I expect to have a shower when I want one and not wait around in a queue when some are free.

stackablegoatbearingcheesecake · 03/04/2014 21:39

It was TWO HOURS before closing time. How long does it take to clean a shower compared to inconveniencing members? Hmm

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 03/04/2014 21:44

If the gym closes at 10.30pm then the cleaner(s) should be employed from about 9pm to 11.30pm - depending on the size of the gym. YANBU in the slightest, but the cleaner is not being U in wanting to go home on time if she is employed to finish at 10.30pm.

I used to work on Reception at a v naice leisure centre attached to a v exclusive hotel (about 20 or more years ago) and the cleaners didn't even come on duty until 30 minutes before we were due to close Confused.

BonaDea · 03/04/2014 21:47

Totally ridiculous of the cleaner.

ICanSeeTheSun · 03/04/2014 22:08

I am a cleaner and i often to ask patients if they don't mind using another toilet/shower.

the reason is because the floor is wet and there is chemicals that need to be washed away.

I have warning signs , so nothing to do with compensation, but i really don't want some one to slip on the wet floor or to have contact with chemicals.

ICanSeeTheSun · 03/04/2014 22:10

I really don't care about foot marks or cleaning the shower/toilet again.

mousmous · 03/04/2014 22:11

yanbu
unless they have done a deep clean with hatsh chemicals.

gamerchick · 03/04/2014 22:14

Yeah, i've used some pretty nifty chemicals to get pink body fat from shower walls... but god help me if I have to think of customers by asking them not to use a different shower for a bit Hmm

but that's alright,.. it's just the little cleaner, doing a menial job.. complain away.

NoodleOodle · 03/04/2014 22:25

Nothing to do with menial jobs, everything to do with poor time management, or just poor instructions from management. YANBU. They should be told, via comment or complaint, that their current cleaning policies do not give good customer service.

gamerchick · 03/04/2014 22:34

reeeeallly... when you're required to use some pretty kick arse chemicals in your job, then you can complain. When you have a boss that screams at you and threatens you with the sack at every turn.. and all you're trying to do is do your job and protect customers from the pretty evil shit you have to use.. a little empathy wouldn't go amiss tbh.

But go ahead.. cleaners have pretty thick skins.

The stuff that's used to deep clean showers is pretty intense stuff.. you really don't want to have to breath that stuff in if you can help it.

Or maybe you can sue.

stackablegoatbearingcheesecake · 03/04/2014 22:37

But the inference wasn't that the showers were out of use because of chemicals, the OP implied that they were out of use as they'd been cleaned and should stay clean and what the Receptionist said backed that implication up.

If the cleaner had said they weren't in use until noxious chemicals had dispersed because otherwise they would be hazardous to health, that would've been a different conversation and possibly something else to raise with Management.

It's absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the type of job someone's doing and all to do with facilities and attitudes.

MooMaid · 03/04/2014 22:40

I guess it depends on whether or not the cleaner meant "give it 10 mins for the chemicals to clear" or if she meant "don't use them for the rest of the night"

From the attitude of the bloke on reception it suggests she meant don't use for the rest of the night since he said the cleaners want to get away at a decent time.... in which case YANBU

If its because she didn't want you to inhale chemicals then I guess its not her fault but management should perhaps schedule a better cleaning rota

guineapig2014 · 03/04/2014 22:42

YADNBU I see why it would have been ok to ask you to use the showers that had not yet been cleaned if they were free but because there was a queue YANBU. I wouldn't complain further though unless it happens again.

PinkLemons · 03/04/2014 22:46

Wow whoever said it was just a menial job? There are showers to be used, there was no implication that they were actually out of order - just that the cleaner wanted to leave on time!

Surely the cleaning schedule should take into account that members want to use showers when they finish? Maybe it isn't the cleaners fault but unless someone complains then nothing will change. It wasn't that there was one person in the shower there was an actual queue! Surely that isn't acceptable when there are other showers to use?

Using a hospital as an example is no where near a comparison as they are 24 hours and deep cleaning needs to take place as and when. A gym has set opening times so deep cleaning can happen at either quiet times or when the gym is closed.

YANBU.

NoodleOodle · 03/04/2014 22:48

No need to get your arse in your hand gamerchick. The cleaning rota should be organised so that the showers are cleaned after the customers have finished using them.

stackablegoatbearingcheesecake · 03/04/2014 22:51

And that 8.30pm is very likely to be a peak time for requiring all the facilities.

Original poster
MissMooMoo · 03/04/2014 22:51

she said it was because they were clean, , nothing about chemicals.
The cleaners are there from opening to closing from what I have seen (not the same one obviously! ) I just don't think its on to start cleaning the areas 2 hours before closing time, some people were still arriving when I was leaving!
This is a chain gym, , without directly naming it the company also has airline and supplies broadband/tv.
glad to hear Ianbu!

OP posts:
gamerchick · 03/04/2014 22:56

My arse in my hand? I've never heard that one before Grin

I wouldn't discuss cleaning with customers but obviously cleaners should stand head bowed until it's deemed alright to enter.

Roger that.

PoppySeed2014 · 03/04/2014 23:01

a) £55 a month is not a particularly expensive gym
b) you lost me at "naice" Eurgh.