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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think my cleaner shouldn't eat all the biscuits

283 replies

thepurplehen · 01/10/2017 20:36

I've noticed that my cleaning lady is clearing me out of biscuits. She eats an entire biscuit tin whilst she's in my home. So 1-2 packets. She's never asked if it's ok or replaced anything. I've never offered them to her either.

OP posts:
Original poster
thepurplehen · 02/10/2017 20:50

Thanks for all the replies.

I think I will put the biscuit tin in the cupboard and see if she looks for them and helps herself again.

I'm hoping she will leave them alone and take the hint.

If she doesn't, I will be having a chat along the lines of "feel free to help yourself to a couple of biscuits but please don't eat the whole tin as it leaves none for anyone else".

OP posts:
MinervaSaidThat · 02/10/2017 20:55

177 posts to help you see that you should put the tin away Hmm

Original poster
thepurplehen · 02/10/2017 21:04

Minerva,

Sigh. 🙄

I've been asked for a response by other posters.

I've been at work whilst I have received 170 odd replies.

That's why I employ a cleaner, I guess.

😀

OP posts:
ChocolateWombat · 02/10/2017 21:05

OP, fine if you are happy to leave things to chance and to just hope.

Remember, it's your house and you are the employer and you are perfectly entitled to establish the ground rules, in a friendly way. You don't have to be led by her actions and to just hoping it works out.

Far better to communicate clearly....otherwise, this probably won't be the last avoidable issue you face. Don't feel embarrassed, do t feel awkward, know that they are your biscuits, it's your house and you get to say what happens - have the courage of that knowledge.

GoldTippedFeather · 02/10/2017 21:24

I'm mortified that I've never let my cleaner know she can help herself to tea.

CatsOclock · 02/10/2017 21:53

I find myself wondering what else she might be taking or doing.

I think I would photograph inside the food and toiletries cupboards before she comes, incase she's taking anything else.

Do you think she might be trying on your clothes too?

00100001 · 02/10/2017 22:09

Mumsnet has changed.... No other fucker is going to join in with the biscuit puns?

Oh well, I guess that's just hojecootcookie crumbles

Miserable gits all of you Grin

00100001 · 02/10/2017 22:09

How the cookie crumbles *

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 02/10/2017 22:42

Well, it's clear OP won't be hobnobbing with the cleaner.

00100001 · 03/10/2017 06:48

😀

RavingRoo · 03/10/2017 07:08

Don’t leave them out then. I’ve used cleaners and it’s always assumed anything out is for the use of the cleaner.

CauliflowerSqueeze · 03/10/2017 07:12

Sellotape down the top of the tin.

LoyaltyAndLobster · 03/10/2017 08:13

Perhaps you should leave out two packs of biscuits for her, after all she is cleaning your house for you.

Needalifeoverhaul · 03/10/2017 08:39

If she eats them all every time then she must know that you know and as you've not said anything assumes you don't mind.
On the other hand, it is a cheeky and odd thing to do though and agree she must be taking them home. Maybe it's a form of payback for something equally petty....

livefornaps · 03/10/2017 09:11

So many replies and not a single Biscuit ?

SomedayMyPrinceWillCome · 03/10/2017 09:12

BiscuitBiscuitBiscuitBiscuitBiscuitBiscuitBiscuitBiscuitBiscuitBiscuitBiscuitBiscuitBiscuitBiscuitBiscuitBiscuitWink

00100001 · 03/10/2017 09:31

livefornaps and nobody really taking the opportunity for some biscuit pun goodness 😭

You always used to be able to viscount MNers to step up

QueenArseClangers · 03/10/2017 09:53

It's not like she can be arrested for theft and taken into custardy (creams).

QueenArseClangers · 03/10/2017 09:55

When she opens the tin you could rig it up to sing 'Hello'...

To think my cleaner shouldn't eat all the biscuits
QueenArseClangers · 03/10/2017 09:59

Fill yer tin up with these beauts.

To think my cleaner shouldn't eat all the biscuits
Bunnymook · 03/10/2017 10:01

My god... I’m a cleaner and I would never eat my clients food, even if they said it was ok. I’m there to clean for them. I do my set time that they pay for and then eat my lunch in my own time between clients. Shocking

00100001 · 03/10/2017 10:14

Ooh we're in a fig roll!

BananaThePoet · 03/10/2017 10:29

My first thought was to wonder if she cleans for anyone else and does she earn enough money to buy enough food?
My next thought is whether she is showing signs of being depressed or being treated badly at home?
Sometimes people have food witheld from them by someone at home and their money taken from them.
I'd be worried that maybe she isn't telling you because she is scared to say anything for fear of repercussions from someone.
Sorry to bring a note of seriousness to this otherwise light hearted thread but it is more common than many people realise for women to be in very restrictive abusive situations or to be so poor that they cannot afford to feed themselves even if they are working.

livefornaps · 03/10/2017 11:59

She's a jammy dodger, for sure!

KurriKurri · 03/10/2017 12:20

M and S do biscuit tins at Christmas that you can record a message into the lid so it shouts when you open it (I know because my son got me one that shouts 'Merry fucking Christmas Mum' every time I open it Grin)

You could record an appropriate message 'don't eat the whole pack' or similar.