Have I been too cautious?

[tootsey]

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?

I think you are being a bit over cautious, but having said that I think she is being a bit selfish. Something I think a lot of people will do in view of the 2 week self isolation advice. If she has such little thought for others I think you are better off without her.

Daughter and friend off to Japan in May for 2 weeks.

On returning to work the companies have different policies.

She is having two weeks paid isolation time at home.
Friend is back at work unless he is unwell.

I'd say that you have been very over cautious.

Don't any of your other clients have any contact with the rest of the UK? That isn't unusual in Northern Ireland. I know someone who lives there and commutes to work in a large city over here on a regular basis.

We have 35 confirmed cases in the UK. Tenerife had 5 last time I heard.

I don't think you have avoided anything really, and just lost yourself a client.

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.

Curious why other cleaners don't stick around. Might it be because of stuff like this? She just up and fires people? While I agree with PP you have a right to wait out 4 weeks as you've explained, and she also has a right to fire you if that is what she prefers, one would think she'd be a bit more reasonable to ensure you continue cleaning for her, seeing as she had seen a lot of turnover prior to your employment with her.

Nope I wouldn't risk it.

And she is being unreasonable if the clean was every 3 weeks. She would have just missed one clean. She obviously keeps her house reasonably clean in between so an extra week isn't bad at all.

Something I think a lot of people will do in view of the 2 week self isolation advice. If she has such little thought for others I think you are better off without her.

The employer does not need to self isolate. She is not being selfish. She is following the official government advice.

It's very weird saying you have nine chronic conditions. I mean, would you include things like IBS, eczema, thyroid issues and such? Seems very dramatic. Lots of us have several lesser issues, but are content with just saying 'a few health issues'. Obviously if you are actually immuno-compromised, that's different.

@InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream it's fairly easy to rack up 9

I'm 35, fairly healthy and have

Hidradenitis supprativa
Cholinergic urticaria
Cauda equina syndrome/failed back surgery syndrome
Autoimmune neutropenia

That's 4 and I'm not counting vitiligo and depression

You did the right thing. You have to look after your health first. What if you did get the virus? You’d be isolated from all your jobs with no money coming in.

If the woman had bog standard flu I’d stay away from her as I don’t want to be Ill. That said 4 weeks seems a lot.

Yes, client I have a few too, but I don't go around announcing 'I have six chronic conditions you know'. It seems attention seeking. Totally fine if you are unlucky enough to have serious and life altering chronic conditions such as lupus or MS or rheumatoid arthritis, but a bit much if it's allergic rhinitis and an under active thyroid.

Depends how it affects I guess. All of mine are life altering, but some more than others
I'm immunocompromised so that to me is the main thing I would say

I don't think you've been unreasonable at all, especially as you have other illnesses. However I would now leave it, not rock the boat and if as you say she can't keep a cleaner she might ask you to go back... in which case put your price up

You did the right thing but it's a shame you lost your job. hopefully you'll get something else soon. - good luck