To expect them to put the heating on for me?

[Loobyloo16]

I'm a self employed cleaner. Now its coming colder a few of my clients still don't put their heating on. One works from home but just sits in a room with the fire on, another says she doesn't feel the cold. I went to a client yesterday and it was freezing, my toes were going numb, I did tell her but she still didn't put it on.
Another has told me to put it on myself if I'm cold, which I do.

I know it's no big deal in the grand scheme of things but I hate been cold and it's miserable cleaning with numb toes. People always say 'i thought you'd get warm with cleaning" I do but not that warm!

Someone said heating is a luxury. Well, so is having a cleaner!

And as someone else said, sometimes it’s a choice of one or the other. The sensible thing to do would be at least try extra layers first, before asking the house owner to spend money they may or may not have on extra heating.

I also think you need to see a doctor if you're getting numb toes whilst doing a physical job like this. Or dress differently. Aldi and Lidl have a ton of lightweight thermals on offer just now. I worked as an office cleaner for a time and so the heating wasn't on as we came after the employees had left and the only time I felt cold is when I had to go outside for a ciggy break (used to smoke back then).

It's very thoughtless of them not to put it on. We don't have a cleaner but whenever our gardener comes we always put the heating on and the back door open for him in cold weather so he can come in and warm up.

There is so much misinformation on this thread. The OP is self employed, she provides a service. She pays her own tax. The people she provides cleaning services to are not "her employer"

I would just buy thermals to be honest

People who are using her services are NOT her employer and don't have a "duty of care to provide a comfortable workplace".

They do have a duty to treat her like a decent human being. I'm astonished that so many people think its ok to expect the cleaner to work in a situation they wouldn't tolerate or expect their guests to tolerate.

If you can't afford to provide a decent working environment then you can't afford a cleaner.

PerkingFaintly

They are. I have been wearing them for years. The recent ones I bought aren't very long (I am only 5' and the small fit me) so if you are taller I would go for a bigger size.

Womens thermals are rubbish.

I'm pretty sure that you have a duty of care (in Health and Safety term) even if you employ a self-employed person. You couldn't just expose them to unsafe or unsatisfactory conditions just because they are self-employed!

Oh that's good advice about the length.

I was just getting excited at the thought men's Small would reach my ankles – but clearly not, as I've 6 inches on you.

I'm sure all the people who work outside are laughing their bollox off right now.

My cleaner has been told (lots of times!) to turn it on if she's cold. I don't think she ever does though - it's in until 8 and she comes at 9 and I'm guessing the activity keeps her warm. I'd hate for her to cold and feeling like she couldn't turn it on.

Ohmno
I'm sure all the people who work outside are laughing their bollox off right now.

What have they got to do with people who are working inside? If working outside you'll have boots, gloves, coat, scarf, hat on. Do you think cleaners should have to do that?

PerkingFaintly

My husband is stightly taller than you and the medium is fine for him.

I'm a cleaner and I'm the complete opposite, I hate the heating on in houses I clean for, I'm still in short sleeve tops because I'm always roasting.

How cold actually is it? Even without the heating on my house doesn't really get below 16-17 in the day.

I work from home and during the day in the Winter I just heat the room I'm in. But the Central Heating timer is set to be on to cover the time the cleaner is here. It's not hard.

They do have a duty to treat her like a decent human being. I'm astonished that so many people think its ok to expect the cleaner to work in a situation they wouldn't tolerate or expect their guests to tolerate.

I don't disagree with that at all - but was just pointing out that people throwing around pseudo-legal stuff about "duty of care" and "responsibilities of employers" are talking out of their backsides.

I'm amazed you can be cold cleaning. I'm always boiling!
This ^^. I often put the heating on because I'm cold before I start but after literally 5 mins I've switched it off and am working in a t-shirt, bare feet and wondering if I could get away with shorts. Surely you're not in any one home for that long anyway? It's not like you're sat there for several hours at a desk. Put another pair of socks on if your toes are cold, and gloves. But anyone who's moving around (even not vigorously) should be warm enough in most places.

Happy Christmas @marvellousnightforamooncup !

It hasn't been cold enough to put the heating in the day, but then I'm faily active so probably keep myself warmer than some. I do a job that partly involves cleaning and unfortunately for me the heating is on (luckily it's somewhere that accepts the windows get opened while we're in), so I come out needing a shower if I'm honest.

I don't care either way about heating being on. But there are some very silly comments about employer responsibilities. The cleaner is not an employee and there are no responsibilities. Not having the heating on is not a safety issue either.

I think a cleaner that is getting cold is not working very hard! I do my own cleaning and no way would I want the heating on, it goes off well before I would start.

I absolutely hate British Gas and all energy providers with a passion. f*k off Gas & Leccy. put the prices up when it's cold. It hasn't been what I consider cold yet, my Gas bill was £100 for Sept,oct and nov. I was peeved it wasn't under £100. I put a jumper on. I'll take pleasure in sticking it to those bstards. If you dare go near the thermostat in my house I'll jokingly Bark at you. If someone comments I should have the heating on I'll ask them if they'll pay my heating bill.

@juells if they are THAT cold then sure, but I highly doubt a regular domestic property should ever warrant it. But keep making excuses if that's what you want.

It’s a bit rude to not put the heating on if they know you are cold. I wouldn’t put the heater automatically on for a cleaner because I get too hot and have to turn it off when cleaning but if you’ve asked then they don’t have that excuse.

"Just work harder". Really? And you'd accept that from your own employer would you? hmm

Yeah I actually don't think that's unreasonable in a physical job where you don't have to wear business wear. I would expect a cleaner to be moving around enough that a few warm layers would be fine.

That said, I'd have no issue putting the heating on for my cleaner if she asked. I wouldn't do it unless she asked as I would assume she would be too warm with it on! So I'd be surprised but it wouldn't be an issue. But money is tighter for some people so I don't think it's unreasonable not to.

If it's happening in multiple houses I think you need some better socks! Get some heat holder socks, they will toast your feet!

I was thinking about this the other day. I leave my thermostat set to 16 degrees during working hours (so the dog doesn't get too cold) but maybe that's too cold for our cleaner. I will leave her a note telling her to turn it on if she's cold.