To think you can do without your housekeeper?

[tiggertogger]

I live on the best street in a nice village. Full of big houses where most people have housekeepers and other staff (drivers, chefs, dog walkers, gardeners, nannies) Since the lock down, the workers have all continued to arrive as normal. The only notable absence are the flower deliveries. I messaged my neighbour to ask why her housekeeper was continuing to work despite the lockdown and she said her house was too big to do herself and the housekeeper needed the money. I just don't understand. We told all household staff to go on leave for 3 weeks, paid. A normal action to take and yet all my neighbours are carrying on as normal. Some are old, some have young families, all as far as I can see are selfish fuckers. It's making me hate them all. AIBU to think they could cope without them for 3 bloody weeks and continue to pay them as it's a drop in the ocean? Or are there household staff rules I'm not aware of?

Our housekeeper has moved in for the next month, she's fucking petrified of what's going on! And we're all really grateful to her, and for her. She asked if she could, we didn't ask her.

i wish i had a chef & a tutor in my house

@JustBecauseYouCanBarry but it couldn't as then everyone would say 'oh but maybe they can't afford to pay them and you don't know their circumstances ' but I do. They are rich fuckers and this behaviour is exploitation. Even with the full facts (and I don't care if you hate me for being well off, that's life) some people here are supporting them and saying it's a good idea. Those people are the problem too.

@Leaannb I think most would agree that, for you, this is an essential service (thank you for everything you are doing). But surely for most it isn't?

You are probably seeing first hand the spread of the virus and devastation is is causing., If everyone did as much as they could to stop it spreading (e.g. cleaning their own house to allow their cleaner/housekeeper to stay at home) it would 'flatten the curve'.

I told my housekeeper to stay home as it’s the best and safest course of action but honestly it’s been even worse than the cancelled holidays etc.

I didn’t realise how much I’d gotten used to my current lifestyle. Having to clean up after myself and do my own laundry etc is worse than the threat of Coronavirus! 😂

@Jjcrackers. I see the ref to tradespeople but I think that it’s pretty clear that the section refers to people working in other people’s homes, per the subheading. This includes cleaners (who don’t fit into any other category in the guidance). Matt Hancock literally just said that people who cannot work from home not only can but should go to work - www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-52022417. I don’t get why people are making up government guidance.

And most household cleaners are self employed so expecting them to stay home is essentially asking them not to earn any money, in circumstances where the government has not offered any support for the self employed.

Couldn’t they isolate in the west wing?

but it couldn't as then everyone

You really could have though...

'Neighbours are very well off and are still having their housekeepers come and go even though they could definitely afford to pay them whilst on leave. AIBU?'

I’m paying my cleaner to stay at home - at least whilst I’m getting paid. My house is dirtier than usual and I appreciate her more than ever! I just think we all need to make sacrifices to stop this ASAP and get out of lockdown. If you think this is the worst it’s going to get, look at Spain and Italy. And the fact they are building a hospital with 4000 beds in an exhibition centre in London to deal with what’s to come.

@aupresdemonarbre I think you will find in my previous post I corrected myself and am no longer 'making up government guidelines'.

I stand by my view that this is common sense and in line with what the government are asking us to do. It shouldn't be your cleaner who has to make the decision whether to come to work or not. As a responsible employer and a responsible citizen you should not expect them to come to work - and pay them. By doing so you are helping stop the spread of the virus.

Less people in contact out of their own household stops the spread of the virus.

I totally agree with @Jjcrackers

Ffs there's such inverse snobbery on Mumsnet.

We are comfortable but not rich, but we have cancelled our cleaner and continued to pay her.

For someone well off not to offer to continue paying their staff is just ridiculous. Spoiled. I'd be judging hard and being quite clear what I think.

God that's terrifying. Well done for asking her.
I would absolutely inform your local police.

Just got this off The Sun though, so weirdly sounds like it is ok? I think its bonkers personally. A plumber mending a boiler is a bit different from having your silver polished

*Tradespeople working alone and those providing a community service are safe to continue.

But Government guidelines say that work should be done at a two-metre distance from other people.

Alos no work should be carried out in a house where an individual is self-isolating or being shielded from coronavirus.

The gov.uk website also confirms that work carried out in people’s homes can continue “provided that the tradesperson is well and has no symptoms”.

All of this advice would apply to cleaners during lockdown.*

I have a cleaner. I told her to stay away for three weeks and paid her for that time.

I just watched the daily briefing and it was very clear that any work that is discretionary in any way needs to stop. That would include household staff I would think 🤷🏻‍♀️

We live in a flat in London and have cancelled our cleaner and are paying her. She shouldn’t have to choose between exposing herself and her family and earning money. She needs it more than we do and unless one of us is made redundant that’s what we’ll continue to do.

My sister is a nanny and was forced to make the choice between losing her job and moving in with her employer. That was tough. She’s left the job as they got very aggressive about it, and won’t be covered under any of the government schemes as it was abroad. But at least they didn’t entertain the option of her coming and going each day either.

I have 6 staff members at home, 4 of them live in, and the two who live out are in their own homes on full pay. If I could manage my adult son on my own, I would. But I can't, so the one's who live in - his caregivers/nurses are still working and we are all under self imposed quarantine in order to protect my son.

No one goes in or out.

I think that even the Queen will now have to do her own cleaning at Windsor, as she might have to lay off all her staff. Not only that, she will have to go round with her poop scoop after her corgi.

@ACertainSupermarket

And yet this is what the Daily Mail says (I know...please don't judge me, I was bored while home schooling...)

A CLEANER COMES REGULARLY TO CLEAN MY HOUSE. SHOULD THEY CONTINUE?
No. This is not seen as essential.

Lots of conflicting messages. But the government overall message is clear that people should stay at home (I know you are in agreement with ACertainSupermarket so not having a go).

From
The telegraph. I frantically googled this morning because our house is horrendous already and she is also our nanny and I need heeeeeeeeelllppp 😭😭😭😭

Pretty clear though. Having to pay her to stay home! reassess in 3 weeks

And to the PP who asked, BHS advice is to stay away from stables when horses are on a full livery so...so no going to muck horses out needed! ❤️🐴

What makes it the best street? Sounds like a selfish street to me.

The message is as clear as mud. I also read that Daily Mail article and it was very clear: having a cleaner come is nonessential. I agree, if you don't want to mix households. I am paying mine not to come for three weeks. Yes, annoying but the only thing I could think to do. She can't travel on public transport when she's got a little kid just because I don't fancy putting on the Marigolds.

MN: Everybody should stay at home to stop the spread.

Also MN: I need my cleaner to keep coming otherwise I won't cope.

I agree with you OP. Your neighbours are being selfish and entitled. Well done for making the right call for your household help, and to everybody mocking the OP...jealousy will get you nowhere.