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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not put the heating on for the cleaner?

437 replies

Falcon1 · 26/11/2019 12:34

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?

OP posts:
GooseFeather · 26/11/2019 14:48

She is a peripatetic worker, employed by an agency, not the OP. Her agency is responsible for ensuring all H&S/worker's rights are managed. That should include advising the cleaner to ensure she has the appropriate clothing for all locations they send her to, not for every single client to have to adjust around her.

AloeVeraLynn · 26/11/2019 14:49

People are so pathetic these days.
100%. It's an absolute miracle we've come this far as a human race. I can't get my head around "needing" your heating on in the day at all, unless you are old or infirm, let alone at 22 degrees.

ISawyouinTescoyesterday · 26/11/2019 14:49

Wow is she actually doing any cleaning? If she is doing her job properly, she shouldn't need the heating turned up!!!

DangerClose · 26/11/2019 14:49

Isn't there a law on workplace conditions that includes temperatures? No idea what the minimum is though.

CherryBathBomb · 26/11/2019 14:50

Thats boiling!!
She must not be working hard enough if shes cold!

Beautiful3 · 26/11/2019 14:50

Mines always on 18 unless its freezing outside. I always turn it down when I clean though. Cleaning generates bodily heat, does it not?!

maddening · 26/11/2019 14:51

If the service she provides comes with requirements outside of what you are happy with you can find someone who will provide the service with requirements that you are happy with.

If other elements of her service outweigh your discomfort (eg she is the most amazing cleaner since dawn of cif) then keep her on, totally your call.

Madcats · 26/11/2019 14:51

What is your cleaner wearing on her feet OP? If she is cleaning in a stone floor house without shoes or slippers on, I can see that might feel a bit chilly after a while (so buy her some slippers).

Is it a bit draughty too? I tend to switch to collared shirts/polos/hooded knitwear in the depths of winter as I hate getting the back of my neck cold.

22 degrees in our house would probably bankrupt us.

OlaEliza · 26/11/2019 14:51

I'd email back saying she obviously isn't working hard enough and I'd cancel their contract then find a new company. Pisstakers.

ArgumentativeAardvaark · 26/11/2019 14:52

Please can you share the exact words used by the cleaning company in their email? I’d be very surprised if they had put this in their terms and conditions or otherwise notified it to you (particularly the specific 22 degrees requirement). If they were particularly snippy or officious about it then, given that this was essentially the first time they have informed you of this, I’d be tempted to tell them you’d take your business elsewhere.

Also, even someone who can’t speak English can mime that they are cold!

Waveysnail · 26/11/2019 14:52

Cleaner needs to invest in some thermals

maddening · 26/11/2019 14:52

Buy her slippers? Surely she is responsible to provide her own work wear, the op is buying a service not acting as an employer.

Crazyladee · 26/11/2019 14:52

My cleaner arrived this morning sweating buckets as she had just done a client before me who had left the heating on for her full blast and gone to work.

She said that she doesn't like having the heating at all on whilst cleaning as she gets far too hot! A bit like having the heating on in the gym!

merryhouse · 26/11/2019 14:53

From the government website, www.gov.uk/workplace-temperatures

During working hours the temperature in all indoor workplaces must be reasonable.

There’s no law for minimum or maximum working temperatures, eg when it’s too cold or too hot to work.

However, guidance suggests a minimum of 16ºC or 13ºC if employees are doing physical work.

Send them the link, and suggest she puts a jumper on.

maddening · 26/11/2019 14:55

And I doubt the ops house is actually at 13°, it may be 13° outside but the ops house will be warmer due to walls and roof etc.

Chouetted · 26/11/2019 14:55

22 degrees is insane - assuming you have a standard British house, for your house to be 22 degrees throughout, which seems to be what they're asking, it would have to be much hotter in core areas - I'd estimate 24-26.

Someone at the cleaning company does not understand how central heating works. I think you should probably look for a new cleaning company.

GooseFeather · 26/11/2019 14:57

What is your cleaner wearing on her feet OP? If she is cleaning in a stone floor house without shoes or slippers on, I can see that might feel a bit chilly after a while (so buy her some slippers).

Why is it OP's responsibility? This is an agency employee - they can provide slippers if she needs them. Or if self-employed through an agency, it is totally on the cleaner to provide her own clothing.

SallyWD · 26/11/2019 14:59

When I'm at home on my feet doing chores I get really warm. I don't put the heating on for myself if I'm moving about because I just feel too hot. I really don't think I could clean a house in 22 degrees!

MarshaBradyo · 26/11/2019 15:01

It’s 13 outside and 19 in my house right now according to the app, heating last on this morning. So I reckon the op’s house would be near what she said.

egontoste · 26/11/2019 15:04

I believe the minimum for indoors work is 16 degrees.
Just sayin'.

TiptopJ · 26/11/2019 15:05

Most of you would hate my house then. I like 24.5° and I still have a blanket round me!

MissCharleyP · 26/11/2019 15:08

It is bloody freezing at the moment (I do have a cold though so that may be skewing my perception). 13-18 would be miserable for me. Jumpers don’t help if you’re in somewhere that the air is cold. I like to feel the heat when I go in my house, not wrap up and sit there in tons of layers.

I lodged with a family who refused to put the heating on, save for an hour on the morning and an hour in the evening. There was never any hot water either. It was awful, I was just constantly cold and I had to pay a fortune to eat out and get my hair done as I just couldn’t bear standing under a cold shower in a cold house. I left as soon as I found someone to share with.

JennyK76 · 26/11/2019 15:12

This is a helpful article (www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/law.htm) and I would suggest the cleaning company have just pulled a number out of the air as 22C is definitely too hot. Given your home temperature is definitely within the safe and healthy range I would suggest the cleaner wear a jumper or fleece!

WhatchaMaCalllit · 26/11/2019 15:16

Could you not put the heating on for 30 mins before the cleaner shows up - like a top up. Then you don't have to have the heating on for hours, you're not sitting in a room with the heating going out the window and she gets a warm house to do her job in?

BarbourellaTheCoatzilla · 26/11/2019 15:17

So only people that originate in uk are allowed to feel comfortable at work
No but if you're from a hot climate you should realise that if 90% of the office are too hot and you're too cold, you're the problem. I'd like to be comfortable at work too but the women in my office insist on never opening the windows and having the heating on to 24/25 degrees, while they're sitting in dresses and occasionally a thin cardigan. Meanwhile I'm feeling dizzy and sick, and have a fan on me because people can't put jumpers on and compromise.