AIBU about Working?

[Workingwoes]

Started an evening cleaning job two days ago for a cleaning company. There's supposed to be two of us doing the job. I was told we would never be alone as it's not allowed.

I turned up tonight, bearing in mind I'm still learning essentially and not 100% familiar with everything, and the other person didn't turn up. I phoned the boss to advise of this, there was a lot of back and forth trying to find out where my colleague was and why they hadn't turned up yet.

Part of the issue was that my colleague is the one with the key to set the security alarm that we have to set every night before we leave.

I was told I couldn't leave as the alarm had to be set. I was also asked to do my colleagues job and undertake her responsibilities and that I would be paid extra time for doing so.

So I cracked on and stayed late, finished all the jobs that needed doing and eventually they sent someone over to deliver me the key so I could leave and set the alarm. Fine.

My colleague and I had also been asked, previously, to work an extra shift tomorrow. Both agreed. Now it transpires that no show colleague from tonight won't be present for the extra shift tomorrow. They have now asked me to do it alone tomorrow and they will pay me for the extra hour it'll take. I questioned whether I was allowed to be working alone and was advised that it's fine because it's a one off extra shift and the lady who works in the building next door would also be doing her extra shift alone tomorrow.

It just so happens the lady who works in the building next door was the one who delivered me the key tonight so I told her about the conversation I'd had with the boss regarding working alone tomorrow and she told me that it wasn't true, she wasn't working alone tomorrow. So it seems that they lied to me about that.

I mentioned to my other half about working alone and he said I shouldn't be doing so for health and safety reasons. If something were to happen to me there would be no one else there so no one would know, etc.

So WIBU to tell them I'll do the extra shift but not alone?

I'm quite annoyed about it all tbh, AIBU?

Something else that's niggling me is that they haven't provided any gloves and we are expected to clean toilets.

I'm also not comfortable with the working alone because we are cleaning a building, think office type, after all the staff have left, so completely alone after dark if colleague is a no show like tonight, there's steep stairs to access the areas that need cleaning upstairs, a fair few other hazards that could result in accidents or injury.

I don't think you're BU but plenty of people work alone, they just have systems in place to deal with it. For example, could you be provided with a lone worker alarm or something similar? (E.g. skyguard.co.uk/ - there are lots of different suppliers)

I did put in paragraphs. Mumsnet seems to have eaten them!

I was told I couldn't leave as the alarm had to be set. I was also asked to do my colleagues job and undertake her responsibilities and that I would be paid extra time for doing so.

How did you get in without the alarm going off?

Stairs aren’t a hazard, unless it’s dark or there are other reasons you’ve risk assessed? Lone working is allowed, if again, it’s been risk assessed and necessary steps put in place to mitigate risk.

Have you raised any specific issues with working alone with your employer?

@winniethekid we start 15 minutes before the office employees leave, they then lock the building when they go. When we are finished, we set the alarm and have 30 seconds to leave through the fire exit.

@glasshalfsomething No, I was advised when I started that I'd never being working alone. There has to be two of us and lone working wasn't allowed. That's what I was told by my supervisor. Why would she say that if they've risk assessed it and concluded lone working is fine?

What is their lone working policy? I bet the company is being billed as if there are 2 people.

Sounds like a shoddy set up. I’d be looking for other work ASAP.

Also if you’re doing the job alone you should be paid double your wage. Make sure you get that confirmed in writing (send a text asking) before you turn up for your shift.

I dont think you're being unreasonable at all but I'm not sure what to suggest. I dont mean this to sound patronising but how badly do you need this job? I think they've back tracked on a key aspect of the role which is your safety and not providing you gloves is gross. If possible I'd speak to your manager and explain your concerned that lone working is a breach of your health and safety and if they get funny with you I'd look for something else. It might be why the other cleaner has walked

Working alone is completely safe and legal but to fulfil their legal duty to you to keep you safe they should have a specific line working risk assessment (which probably states if possible have two people working to avoid lone working) and they should also have a lone working policy. This normally involved checking in and checking out (eg texting them to say you've finished and locked up) and follow up procedures if this doesn't happen (eg they try and call you and if you don't call back in 5 min someone comes out to the place you were working to check you're ok).
Ask what their lone working procedures are

I actually don't mind working alone, in some ways I'd prefer to do so as it would mean extra money and I could have my own routine and do things my own way. All of which would suit me well but I just have a few niggles about it all. The fact that she said explicitly that working alone wasn't allowed and suddenly someone hasn't turned up and lone working is suddenly fine for the next few days. Obviously accident can happen, particularly so during physical jobs and if alone who would know if something happened to me? I suppose I also worry a bit about leaving by myself when it's dark out. The lack of gloves for toilet cleaning bothers me. I don't mind getting stuck in and getting my hands dirty so to speak but surely when potentially dealing with faecal matter gloves are a basic safety item. The lack of supplies is frustrating. The first day I was told how important it was to use different colour coded mop heads for the kitchen and bathroom areas and then when the supervisor was demonstrating later on, (and grumbling about lack of supplies) she used the same mop head for kitchen and bathroom because she couldn't find another one to use. There's a very large floor area that requires hoovering but the hoovers a bit shit, tbh. All very frustrating and I'm just wondering if this is standard for minimum wage type cleaning jobs?

They have also said it would just be tonight and tomorrow for the lone working. As of Monday the supervisor will come down and work with me until they have employed a second person but I can't help feeling a little dubious about it all.

@LIZS I'm not sure. I was just told on day one that I'd never be working alone as it isn't allowed.

They're cutting corners to maximise profit. I'd find another job if possible.

I think if it’s just till Monday and someone has basically let them down and you’re earning extra for it, and ok with it, I’d think carefully about refusing.