To ask them to use the other stairs?

[ThrowAwayQP]

I’m going to be honest, I didn’t think I was bu; but I’m willing to be told if that’s the case.

So I’ve recently started a part time job cleaning for a bit of extra income. It’s in a large corporate environment. The building is quite large with only two stair cases; one at either end; but to be honest I think walking between them would only take five minutes at most.

The other day I was mopping one of the stair cases and two of the department managers came walking down it. They were both looking at a laptop and deep in conversation, so I assumed they just hadn’t seen the wet floor sign. I asked them if in future they could use the other stairs this one was being cleaned and they both mumbled a “sorry” before carrying on.

The next morning one of the senior team pulled me aside and told me he was “sure experienced staff could decide if they wanted to take the risk of walking down wet stairs.”

I was quite shocked at being ‘put in my place’ so to speak? Was I actually being unreasonable? All I asked was them not to walk where I was currently mopping!

Of course you were being unreasonable. 5 minutes? So an extra 10 minutes to divert to the other stairs and back?

Hmmm: In my experience the office cleaners who operate in office hours that I have known would not tell us to use the other stairs. However I’d use my brain and probably choose to if I knew it was being cleaned...

The wet floor sign is a warning, not a no entry instruction so YABU I'm afraid.

It sounds as though your request for them to use the other stairwell was quite forceful if it was brought to the attention of the person who took you aside the next day. On the bright side, I don't think you were being put in your place.

It’s a difficult one as I’d personally not go around if I was running late to go to a meeting and that was the most direct route. But I’d apologise about walking on the stairs whilst they were being cleaned.

I would go around if I wanted to use them for any other reason if there was another set nearby.

I probably wouldn’t walk 5minutes to avoid wet stairs.

To clarify: this was an hour after the office closed to clients/customers. Though most of the salaried staff were still there.

If I was being unreasonable; then I’ll have to accept that. But I honestly wouldn’t consider my time so important that an extra ten minutes so precious. Especially seeing as they seemed to be “walking and talking” as it were...

I think they were being massively unreasonable for running and telling on you.

It is such a non eveny, I can't believe they cared.

*event

I think YABU

Yep definitely unreasonable, if I thought they hadn't seen the sign I would have said "mind your step" or something friendly but that's it

YABU, sorry.
You can't expect your employers people to traipse to the other side of the building.

Where I work I expect in this situation the cleaners might say "be careful, the floor's wet" but they wouldn't ask someone to use the other stairs

Agree with PP it was petty of them to complain though!

Do you work for the company or are you independent? Warn your boss they are walking and carrying equipment on the wet stairs and always have your warning sign out

We used to do the two mop system one wet and one dry but it irritated the hell out of me when people walked down newly washed stairs leaving mucky Mark's what is the point in cleaning them!

@IAmAlwaysLikeThis I think that’s partly why I was so taken aback.

But I honestly wouldn’t consider my time so important that an extra ten minutes so precious.

This is the problem, you’re coming at this from a ‘they think they’re so important angle instead of the more obvious, can’t be arsed angle. It sounds like your complaint is less to do with their safety and more to do with your annoyance. I can understand your annoyance but voicing it, wasn’t your smartest move.

I was told off for wanting to use the bathroom while the cleaner was in there. Erm, nope still going to pee.
Unfortunately if you work when people are still in the building you can't do that.
What if they said to you, we are using these stairs you need to go and clean the other one?
Working with others means compromise.

YABU.

It may well be that they haven’t “told” on you but have asked someone why they can’t use the stairs while they’re being cleaned. Which, to be honest, is what I would have done. Either the stairs are closed or they’re not, and if not then I’d expect to be able to use them and would be surprised if a cleaner made it clear I was expected to go elsewhere.

I can see why having to walk to the other side of the building was a pain; so I suppose really I’m asking was I being unreasonable enough to be reported?

@slipperywhensparticus I work for the company, but these two have no direct line on me. I report to the cleaning co-ordinatior who reports to the site manager. The two men who came doesn’t he stairs run the department based at the top of these stairs, but I’m not part of that department if you see what I mean?

‘Running and telling on you’, aren’t you too old for playground talk.

As if they told anyone 😂

The two men who came doesn’t he stairs run the department based at the top of these stairs,

I understand their annoyance more. An hour after closing doesn’t mean that everyone has left the building and I would be annoyed at a cleaning schedule.

agent well precisely, I used that phrase to demonstrate how childish they were.

Aren't you a little old to not understand that.

I’ve just realised read my post... early morning bleary eyes! It should say “the two men who came down the stairs...”

Dithering well they quite patently DID tell on her!

Maybe it was the way you said it? I would probably have just said “mind the stairs gents they’re really wet” and left them to it. A warning sign and a verbal warning, if they then go arse over tit it’s their problem.