To not put the heating on for the cleaner?

[Falcon1]

It's 13 degrees today and feels very mild. I work from home and I'm perfectly comfortable. I don't like being too hot and we only put the heating on if it drops below 16 in the house. It's about 18 currently.

Anyway, just had an arsey message from the cleaning company saying my cleaner has complained about the cold and that all clients must ensure their houses are heated to at least 22 degrees whilst the cleaners are there.

AIBU to think this is ridiculous? I'm in the bloody house myself! Surely if I'm comfortable sitting at my desk, the cleaner (who is being active) should be able to cope?

@LolaSmiles
If an individual cleaner needed to put a little request in then it can, and should, be done reasonably to the OP, not through going back to the company to complain and dictate temperatures

OP says that the cleaner speaks no English. Although I commented upthread that she could still mime “I’m cold”, it’s perhaps not entirely unreasonable that she may be afraid that she will have to get into a discussion with OP and will not understand what is being said.

I agree completely with @Sssneks- it’s the attitude of the company that stinks here, and having used them for 10 years without an issue means nothing- if they have new management or client relations people who send emails like this then it raises question marks about them overall.

I really wish OP would post the actual email or tell us if she had gone back to query where in the Ts and Cs this 22 degrees temperature was specified.

Nah there is nothing wrong with temp being 16-18....she should be warm enough cleaning, if not she could always put an extra layer in. If I hot too cold or warm at work I wouldn't be able to change the temperature to suit me

22?? That‘s absolutely ridiculous.

16 is more than enough imo... And it‘s not as if cleaning was a sedentary !

*activity.

Good god, I sometimes do cleaning shifts at work and much prefer to work when the heating's off. Maybe it's my age, but I'm toasty after about five minutes cleaning a draughty old Victorian building!

I have my house at 18-19 most of the time, but I actually turn it down and open a couple of windows when my cleaner comes as she gets boiling changing beds and vacuuming etc. I’m usually in my hot blood though, so I couldn’t cope with 22, especially if I was doing anything more than sitting around.

Time to find a new cleaning company, dictating to you what the temp must be is wrong, they can ask, but there is no legal requirement, in an office, a factory, there is, but not in a private residence, i lived in Alaska, where temps were usually -50, so now im back in the UK i don't have the heating on at all, and windows open most of the day.

Well if she does a good job cleaning then she'd work a sweat

More scrubbing, less complaining...

But seriously, it was 16 degrees and cleaning is a physical activity. And she probably had a scarf or jacket to cover up with (if she really is that sensitive to the cold).

Oops, 18, not 16.
(But 16 still seems like a rather reasonable indoor temperature in winter.)

I'd put it at 20/21 when cleaner due or be prepared to do my own cleaning in the bloody cold.
I bet your house is freezing.

My cleaner feels the heat. No heating on here in the day and she is in her t-shirt by the time she's finished cleaning the shower. 22 is extreme!

The OP is an employer and has responsibilities as such

The OP is not an employer

—nor is she a slipper provider—

I've not but the heating on all year. she can put on a jumper, at 22 I'd be melting

22? Are they insane? Not read the whole replies so I suspect mine will be duplicated a dozen times but here goes.

DH loves a warm house, bloody boiling so he can strip down to shorts and T-shirt. Our house is 21 right now. I am boiling.

More to the point if I was cleaning and actually doing some graft instead of drinking wine and reading MN I would want the heating off and the windows open!

I would sack them off and get another cleaner.

I cleaned at few houses today and I was boiling! I even had to open the door. But these are old ladies who sit watching TV so it need to be hot for them.

I'd buy her a jumper and some thermals for Christmas and maybe a whip for yourself to make her work harder, then she would be warm cause only lazy cleaners feel the cold, don't ya know

If you can afford a cleaner you can afford to put the heating on for two hours while she works.

Gawd. I despair.

If you can afford a cleaner you can afford to put the heating on for two hours while she works.

But she shouldn't have to. And it would take longer than two hours to get the temperature from 18 (or 16) to 22. At least in our house.

However: the OP should either start looking for a new cleaner. Or comply with the 22 rule.

Why should OP heat her house to accommodate a hothouse snowflake to her own detriment (given that apP works from home and would be uncomfortable at that temperature)?

I’m a cleaner and I get really hot while cleaning houses, those who are home while I’m cleaning always turn it down for me while I’m there! I also wonder why the cleaner didn’t just say to you it was a bit chilly instead of reporting back to the company. Maybe find a more friendly local person to help instead?! (One who wouldn’t feel the cold as they’re working hard!)

Have to love these threads.

22 - are you insane, I'm boiling at 18

18 - outrageous, mine's never above 16

16 - LUXURY!

This is one those threads that make me laugh. It's amazing how our internal thermostat is influenced by where we live. 18C is positively wintry here in the Caribbean and in my office, complaints are made when the AC goes that low. A nice mild temperature for us is about 26C or about 30C outdoors.

If it was the midst of winter and you didn't have your heating on at all I would have a different opinion but it's a completely unreasonable request to have your heating on higher than you feel comfortable yourself- unless they want to contribute to your heating bill, find another cleaner or suggest she wear some thermals next time lol!!

@AhNowTed

You ignore The mine is never below 25 and that’s with a blanket