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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Have I been too cautious?

64 replies

tootsey · 01/03/2020 21:28

Cleaner here. One of my clients has just returned from Tenerife. She contacted me and asked me to clean this week. I replied that as she had come back from somewhere that has coronavirus cases I would have to leave the cleaning for 4 weeks just to be sure. I have 9 chronic conditions, she is aware of these. She is late sixties and has health issues. She texted to say she felt fine and was not ill. I replied I would still be waiting the 4 weeks.

Now, I've just been sacked. I've cleaned her house for 3 years. Never one complaint.

Was I over cautious to leave it a while just to be sure?

OP posts:

Original poster

tootsey · 01/03/2020 22:13

Yes, 9. I am building quite a collection. I am not looking sympathy btw. I work damn hard, I never stop.

It just has annoyed me slightly, as I went above and beyond for this person and never missed a clean.

OP posts:

Sunflower20 · 01/03/2020 22:24

I don't blame you. People are far too blasé about coronavirus so you kind of have to rely on yourself to be careful as much as you can.

Tink88 · 01/03/2020 22:30

You've chosen not to clean for her she's chosen not to have you back and choose someone else no problem with that.

Iloveicedtea · 01/03/2020 22:31

I'm sorry OP. She was not understanding. If you'd have cleaned for me for three years, without no issues, I would have just hired a temp cleaner for that week and book you in as regularly.

CalleighDoodle · 01/03/2020 22:33

I dont think either of you are wrong to be honest.
What are the nine?!

onlinelinda · 01/03/2020 22:40

Doodle that is an intrusive question and not relevant.

Itwasntme1 · 01/03/2020 22:42

I can understand why you are worried. But - The risks are very small, with a population of 1.8million, there is only 1 case in ni. I think here were only 5 cases in Tenerife.

Your client could have been a bit more understanding, particularly given you don’t clean for her every week, so weren’t missing too many appointments.

Given your very serious health issues, you might benefit from a chat to your gp nest time you are there, just for some advice and reassurance.

WorraLiberty · 01/03/2020 22:44

And everyday is a struggle, but as a single parent with a business I work 50 weeks a year.

If you have a cleaning business, rather than just being a self employed cleaner, could you not have sent one of your other cleaners to clean her house?

Original poster

tootsey · 01/03/2020 22:47

I'll get over it. I made an error of judgement. I done more than the cleaning, as I said above and beyond, chemist pick ups, shopping, fed dog, looked after house when she went on holiday (6 holidays a year), outside cleaning as well. No other cleaner would stay working for her, she told me on first day. I cancel one clean with I feel good reason and bam.

OP posts:

Amoamasamat · 01/03/2020 22:48

You have the right not to clean for her. She has the right not to retain your services. Nobody is being unreasonable but you are a bit unrealistic expecting her to keep you on when she needs a cleaner and you wont do it.

PurpleDaisies · 01/03/2020 22:50

Why wait four weeks? Why not three? Or six? What official advice is this based on?

I don’t think she was out of order letting you go.

JasonBrun · 01/03/2020 22:55

If you've been as good an employee as you say she will be regretting this I think! fwiw I don't think you've been unreasonable.

PurpleDaisies · 01/03/2020 22:59

This is the official government advice...

Returning travellers
Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people immediately if you’ve travelled to the UK from:

Hubei province in China in the last 14 days, even if you do not have symptoms
Iran, lockdown areas in northern Italy or special care zones in South Korea since 19 February, even if you do not have symptoms
other parts of mainland China or South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan or Thailand in the last 14 days and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath (even if your symptoms are mild)
other parts of northern Italy (anywhere north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini), Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar or Vietnam since 19 February and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath (even if your symptoms are mild)

You will notice nothing about Tenerife is mentioned.

LemonFrenzy · 01/03/2020 23:21

Well Tenerife has had some reports of the virus. I don't blame you OP although perhaps should've stuck to the 3 weeks. I do think your employer could've been a bit more understanding though. She may even ask you back if she can't find someone as helpful as you.

PurpleDaisies · 01/03/2020 23:31

Well Tenerife has had some reports of the virus

So has the UK.

Streamside · 01/03/2020 23:34

If you've done so much for her I suspect you'll be hard to replace and you'll be hearing from her again.She obviously really trusts you and that's difficult to replace.

Sparklesocks · 01/03/2020 23:35

I do think you were a bit overly cautious in all honesty but it’s a shame it’s gone this way.

Ellisandra · 01/03/2020 23:39

I don’t think that never missing a clean is that big a deal - it’s the service you offer.
The shopping trips and dog walking - were you paid? If not and you were helping out, then she’s really selfish to sack you, whether 4 weeks is reasonable or not (it’s not).

SleepyNightOwl · 01/03/2020 23:39

If you feel you needed the four weeks then that’s justified, you know how your body handles things. I take extra precautions with my kid for similar reasons. I think her sacking you is rude but again is her right. Just got to move on and don’t do so much for people, just do what you’re paid to do and no more.

user1494182820 · 01/03/2020 23:51

I don't think you're being unreasonable at all. If you have respiratory problems you do need to be taking precautions. The length of time you've chosen was partly because of this and partly because of your normal schedule with her? I think it's fine.

PixieDustt · 01/03/2020 23:56

No I think you did the right thing.
She should be isolating herself for 2 weeks.
Good on you for putting your health before others.

PurpleDaisies · 01/03/2020 23:57

That’s not health department advice pixie. Please don’t spread incorrect information. It leads to panic.

AlexaShutUp · 02/03/2020 00:12

She should be isolating herself for 2 weeks.

Not according to government advice. There is no suggestion in the OP that the client was symptomatic, or that she had been exposed to confirmed cases. Tenerife is not on the list of Category 1 areas.

OP, I don't think yabu to decline the business if you don't want to clean this woman's house, but she is nbu to find another cleaner who is happy to do it instead.

dontgobaconmyheart · 02/03/2020 02:50

There are coronavirus cases in the UK OP, I understand wanting to be cautious but you could have asked to discuss it rather than tell her and that is that. Seems you will both miss out in the long term.

Unless you know the movements of all other clients and anyone they've seen in the last month you are not a great deal better off right now. I'd message and say to let you know if she changes her mind in a few weeks, if she is symptom free what is the issue?

GrockleRock · 02/03/2020 02:56

YANBU

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