To be annoyed when my clients are still in pjs when I turn up for work?

[missjenniferhoney]

I'm a self employed domestic cleaner, have been for a number of years. I've recently taken on a few new clients (since Oct/Nov) and have been surprised to turn up to work at their homes to find them still in nightwear. It happened at 2 appointments last week, both at 9.30 in the morning. I turn up at the same time on the same day each week, so I'm not unexpected, and I always knock on the front door for them to let me in before using my own key as I think it is just polite. I honestly didn't know how to react, so just ignored it and got on with the cleaning after a quick 'Good morning, how are you?'

AIBU to wish they would get dressed before I arrive?

I am always dressed for anyone calling but personally don't care what others do. I nanny and employers often still in bed, in pj's or boxers. Sometimes dressed but only if they have early meetings. It's their home and they're very very laid back>

Hi Glitterbelle,

I'm even more disappointed now you've said that it is a private company, it all depends upon the owner's values I guess and some people are more money focused than people focused.

I do hope you land something better for yourself though, I feel insulted for you! Maybe they will improve as time goes on - I hope so anyway!

Merrymouse - Us cleaning folks DO need to limit our market as the demand for our services far outstrips anything we could supply without cutting important corners such as training staff for the required length of time and then it all falls down like a pack of cards. We cannot take every single client who asks for us for this reason so it makes sense to identify our target market ie the clients who are a good match for our company's values and for whom we will also be considered a good match.

I am heavily involved in the industry and, once established, a cleaning business owner will generally struggle to hire and train fast enough to meet demand for their services so we have to make wise choices when taking on new clients.

The same applies for clients - they need to carefully choose the right cleaning service for their own needs and if both parties choose correctly the relationship will be very long-term which is in everybody's best interests!

It can be very hit and miss and the only real advice I can give is make sure your service is fully insured (including key-holding insurance) and make sure everything you need is discussed at the quote so that expectations can be met and a viable price can be set for these!

Lol at The Lord Nelson quote, how did that fly under the radar? That's the filthiest bit of kink I have read for some time!

For those that stay in PJs for much of the day- doesn't it make life a little difficult?

What about unexpected visitors, deliveries, signing for a parcel, a neighbour asking yo to move your car etc.

I would be mortified if a neighbour asked to to move my car and I was still in PJs at lunchtime.

I get my deliveries and sign for my parcels in my PJs (not skimpy!!), I'm in my home so I don't think it's a big deal. And we don't own a car - problem solved

(just to be clear, my PJs are not usually what I sleep in - they're more like loungewear, I put on PJ bottoms and often a sweater too)

Procelan, possibly it should work the other way too since their home is our place of business during service?

I don't agree. I think the very nature of domestic cleaning means that cleaners have to realise and accept that they're going to work in someone's home, not a place of work in the traditional formal sense. Part of a cleaner's skill set (and the training and support they receive) should IMO be awareness of this and the issues around it.

You use very formal terms to talk about your company and staff ('teams', 'service their property' etc), so maybe you and your company just approach the job differently. I don't think it's entirely reasonable to expect clients to be out or stay out of the way while cleaners are there though; on occasion they might need to make some toast or something, no?

bigblue, an unexpected visitor would have only themselves to blame if they found me in my PJs. People can always text in advance. Deliveries, signing for a parcel: well, I'd imagine most delivery workers have seen it all. I wouldn't be 'mortified' at being seen in my PJs; I think that's because a) I never wear any PJs that are particularly revealing and b) I don't really give a stuff what people think. If someone was outraged or scandalised by me being in my PJs in the daytime I'd just think they had a bit too much time on their hands and nothing better to worry about.

I meant Proclean, sorry!

In the immortal words of Miranda's Mother, I'm gonna have to ask you to 'bear with' (on account of facing truly desperate situation/s - as opposed to finding my CLIENTS - who pay me - in their PJs in THEIR home)...

However, even with 'bearing with', I am staggered at this:

Both of these clients have always managed to get dressed for our previous appointments.

I'm sorry, are you their deathbed lawyer? A visiting dignitary? No, unquestionably not.

I am not REMOTELY denigrating the (awesome) role of an (awesome) cleaner but you have got to be taking the piss? Thread is a wind-up right?

If I'm paying my own hard-earned cash for a cleaner for THEIR hard earned cash I really don't expect to be judged in my own home (have relees who fulfil that role quite well enough ta). Am glad you have a 'waiting list' of other clients but I do feel genuinely sorry for those who would be happy to earn £10+ ph and do NOT have that opportunity.

YABVVVVVU.

Sorry cleaners but the people whose houses you are cleaning are not working in that context, and have no responsibility to look or behave as if they are, just because you do. Because you are working. They are not. They are not on your time, they are not attending an appointment with you, they are not being "disrespectful" by behaving as if they are on their time off BECAUSE THEY ARE.

They hired you because they have already been at work doing their job. A different job. Not your job, which they have hired you to do. This is your job, which you are now doing. It may happen to occur at the same as their leisure time. CAN YOU STAND THAT? CAN YOU BEAR IF SOMEONE IS NOT WORKING EVERY PRECISE SECOND YOU ARE WORKING? if not, get another job.

When you live with someone it can sometimes (sometimes) be inappropriate to sit on your arse in PJs while they are working. When you work for someone it is entirely appropriate to JUST DO YOUR JOB AND IGNORE THAT THEY ARE NOT WORKING

The reason why it is really pissing me off that cleaners (some cleaners) don't get this, is that they are exactly the people that should. They know better than anyone that cleaning is a job. It takes effort, skill, you have to do it right, you get paid, you pay tax. It is for this reason that I like having a cleaner because it clarifies that it is actual work and not something that women should just be expected to absorb into their spare time.

For this reason, cleaners, you should more than anyone be able to appreciate the work / leisure distinction that is at play here. They are in their PJs PRECISELY BECAUSE you are getting paid. It is because they pay you to clean that they have some leisure. You could understand and support that, or you would be out of a job.

And I think what lies behind this misapprehension is a notion that the home is always a work place of sorts for women. There is a sort of lower middle class old school notion of "housewife" at play here, that a woman must get up and be presentable in the home in case of Events that may Occur that will require her to be hospitable or authoritative or whatever. There is a very Kim and Aggie notion here of some sort of "respect" which basically means: women don't relax at home, their job, EVEN IF THEY HAVE HIRED A CLEANER, is to make home a suitable place for others to use for their purposes, including relaxing IF YOU ARE A MAN

Well said, anarse. You're particularly wise on the notion of "housewife" at play here, that a woman must get up and be presentable in the home in case of Events that may Occur that will require her to be hospitable or authoritative.

I don't think it's a gender thing really. I would probably want to be ready for Events that may Occur (sounds like something Paddington would say!) If I was a man. And call me uptight but surely it's perfectly possible to relax without wearing night wear?

Bit late to reply but Mintyy if I found out a cleaner was being a snob/saying snobby things about me, my attire or my home I would sack them instantly yes, why would I put up that that sort of shite from someone I have requested come into my home to clean for me?

And no, I wouldn't sack EVERY snob in EVERY profession as your post seems to suggest , not sure where you got that impression as my post was very clearly specific to cleaners.

bigblue it doesn't make life difficult at all. I'm wearing my dressing gown at the mo. Had a bad night with the baby so have had to have a few hours sleep this morning. I rarely get unexpected visitors...my friends all know I prefer some notice. And even if they didn't, none are within walking distance. Most of my family are 250miles away. DM calls unexpected quite a bit but she's no stranger to me in pyjamas, just like I frequently see her in hers. Postal and delivery workers can see my in my pyjamas...I'm clean, my breasts aren't on show. Getting dressed simply in case you have to interact with a delivery worker seems to me to be the equivalent of putting your makeup on to take the bin out. And I never park somewhere that would cause issues...there's a lovely big parking bay outside so it would take effort to block someone in .

Yet, despite not being dressed, I've made about a week's worth of purees for DD, sorted out student finance for a course I'm starting soon, paid several bills, revised for an exam I've got next month on safeguarding, enrolled on a first aid course, had a few hours of much needed sleep while DD did the same and of course, played with DD, fed her, chatted with her, etc.

It is perfectly possible to have a productive day inside the home without first getting dressed. I'm not a lazy person, just a busy single mum who doesn't add to the washing pile of I don't have to.

What if they worse shorts and t shirts to bed but we're still wearing them when you called ?

What if they wore a tweed suit to bed and got up and changed into their day wear which happened to be made out of flannelette with a repeat pattern of cartoon sheep?

made out of flannelette with a repeat pattern of cartoon sheep?

That's my job interview outfit of choice.

So, I was up at 8.30 this morning - ds gave us a lie in. :)

Fed, washed and dressed kids and myself.
Walked kids to library, post office, shops and home.
PUT ON MY PJS AND A JUMPER
Unpacked shopping, made lunch, cleaned kitchen, did laundry.
Now mning while putting off decorating the tree.

Yet I'm lazy cos I'm wearing clean pjs. Because they are comfier than the jeans I was wearing earlier.

I have several sets of seriously nice lounging pyjamas. It's through DH's job - I wouldn't buy silk and cashmere at retail and he'd be horrified to.

But we adopted a white cat a year ago, so my lounging pyjamas have been packed away ever since for fear of hair and pulls. Even the pretty brushed-cotton Primark ones I wear this time of year get put away before I come out of the bedroom.

At home we now dress in a selection of cheap t-shirts, old jumpers and jogging pants, all covered in cat hair. Whenever we come in we go straight to the bedroom - the only cat-free zone - and change into this drab uniform.

I recently bought a heavy-duty vacuum cleaner in the Vax sale and marvel at the dust and hair in the cylinder every time I use it. Without it, I think we'd choke to death.

I'm having my annual boiler check next week. It's always the same engineer. He'll think I've gone really downhill since the last time he called.

I wouldn't be without the hairy little brute though. The cat, not the engineer, though he's quite attractive too. But clean-shaven and quite big

I really fancy some lounging pyjamas now.

Yeah, I could maybe get into silk lounging pyjamas. I would need a cigarette holder though.
I was thinking today, while going about my business Fully Dressed and Ready for Events that may Occur, that in actual fact it is only the women I know who wear pj's all the time at home, or on the school run. I have actually never ever met a man who even owned pyjamas! They tend in my experience to sleep in boxers, and get dressed when they get up.
I know it's sexist, but I would be disturbed by a man wearing sheep pyjamas in broad daylight. < has vapours >

motherinferior I could let you have my luxurious lounging pyjamas at a special price but my cat is 12. How much longer has he got?

Not that I want him to go. I'll be devastated when he does but I'll wear my best set to his funeral. Long may it be into the future.

He's sitting on my lap right now, getting in the way and shedding hairs. He also rubs his face on all upright surfaces, including my legs, leaving a rather unpleasant-looking browny residue.

He's a fucking pest but I love him.

I hate to tell you this, limited, but one of our cats is 16. And yes I do realise that I have just admitted to Feline Presence in the Inferiority Complex. We have no fewer than three of the buggers. Maybe I'll indulge in some new joggine bottoms.

I suspect that underwired bras are a main reason for laydee PJ wearing. Although not completely - my darling DD2, who is 11 with the physique of a particularly underdeveloped nine year old, is never happier than in PJs.

mothersuperior I'm happy to hear of your 16 year old.

A friend's cat lived until 19. She was called Polly after Poly Styrene of the X-Ray Spex.

Another friend's cat lived until just shy of 22.

Mine have never made it beyond 13 and usually pegged it around nine. But I have high hopes and fingers crossed for this one. I'll keep the lounging pyjamas in mothballs and my fingers crossed until then.

PJs are perfectly acceptable in the home environment. As long as they are clean and ironed and with underwear - especially if you are a bit norky. Nice slippers too. I got some lovely knitted ones from Primark in a mushroom colour.