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?

Do remember that only workers on the list (and those who can do the work at home) are not expected to work. So only a very limited number of workers are not supposed to work and if everyone downed tools we would have no tax revenues to pay nurses.

YANBU

I have shut my cleaning business down temporarily for the safety of both my clients and myself. Everyone has been really understanding.

Calling you out on unnecessary detail does not equal jealousy or 'hating you for being well off'. For all you know, some of us could be the horrid neighbours you're complaining about. We don't all feel the need to add extraneous or personal details unless necessary.

I think you thinking people are (jealous) or hate you (for whatever you have) says more about your deeper expectations when you wrote your OP.

Infact I think if people were "jealous", they wouldn't be taking up for your 'rich neighbours'.

But it makes some people feel better to think others are jealous of them for some reason.

I wish I had a housekeeper

I think it would be better if there's a report line, so neighbours and others can discuss these specific things with the police. They are better equipped to decide what to shut down or not, according to the rules.

Armchair policing might just graduate to jungle justice, if there's no one to report to.

Definitely not rich, but as I am fortunate enough to be able to WFH and therefore still being paid, I’m still paying my cleaner even though he can’t come. It’s a bit galling to learn that those who are even more fortunate aren’t doing the same!

@PineappleDanish

We have a cleaner - she isn't coming this week. Or next probably. But it was a really hard decision we made between us. She is self-employed. She doesn't work, she doesn't get paid.

If only you could pay her eh?

@AltheaVestr1t

I commend your generosity, I am a self employed cleaner and not one of my clients has offered that so well done to you x

Yep, yanbu. Our cleaner isn't coming, as much as it pains me.

I'm still paying her. Same as I'm still paying nursery.

I'm not rich.

I don’t have a cleaner but use the services of self employed people, exercise classes, kids activities, window cleaner etc etc.

Whilst not wealthy, we are also in the fortunate position of not experiencing a drop in income whilst this is going on. Therefore we are paying those people even though they cannot work.

If everyone that could did the same thing, it would soften the effects of the current situation for many people.

I think you are doing the right thing OP and your neighbours are selfish & pathetic.

They absolutely should not be coming. We are told to stay at home, do not mix with other households- this has been made crystal clear. This is not essential work. Our cleaner will not be coming and we will continue to pay her as we can afford to. However, she also does food shopping for some of her elderly, disabled clients so she will continue to do so. This is essential, otherwise they would starve as family members live abroad or at a great distance. Coming to clean here for an hour is absolutely not essential.

if one of my neighbours texted me to query my household arrangements, I'd either ignore them or tell them to mind their own business. She doesn't have to justify herself to you.

Well done to those still paying staff/services. These people can afford to carry on with their lives and stay safe.

If one of my neighbours texted me to query my household arrangements, I'd either ignore them or tell them to mind their own business. She doesn't have to justify herself to you

Under normal circumstances, absolutely not. But when everyone else is following the strict guidelines that have been set out by the government, why should some people be allowed to flout them? By continuing to mix households, they are exposing and increasing the mix of contracting or passing on the virus which means potentially needing hospital access. Would it then be fair for them to have the same access to care as someone else who has done all they could to reduce the risk of passing it on or getting it themselves? When the situation is so serious, it does affect everyone else actually because we are not living under normal circumstances.

We have a cleaner tho not weekly. . I've cancelled her sessions for the next two months and am paying her.
The rule is that households shouldn't mix. So cleaners shouldn't be coming to your house. It's up to you whether you are scrupulous or not and choose to pay the cleaner

Do remember that only workers on the list (and those who can do the work at home) are not expected to work. So only a very limited number of workers are not supposed to work and if everyone downed tools we would have no tax revenues to pay nurses.

So you think people should continue to to put people at risk by employing people to come into their home and clean up for them because of taxes?

Cleaner here. I really wish some of you were my clients. I have only had 2 offers of payment out of 30 odd households. The biggest majority are all still getting paid.

They all texted to say "we don't need you while this is going on, ok"

An I'm alright jack attitude.

We will continue to pay our cleaner/ home carer in our absence. It’s the only decent thing to do if you possibly can, she is priceless to us and we love her. Otherwise a retainer of 50% for an agreed period.

@tootsey I'm so sorry, that is just mean. I accept that out of 30 of your clients some will have lost work so I understand why they wouldn't be able to pay, but many won't.

I think this situation brings out the best and worst in people

It is absolutely key that if people are in the fortunate position that they will be paid/ their income will be unaffected for now that they should continue to pay people that provide services like this.

Do not grow fat on other people’s misery, especially if they are the people who look after you and make your life work.

Similarly if you have people you rely on such as your local car mechanic/ maintenance guy you use regularly and you trust, and you can afford it, maybe consider paying a bill or two upfront. We want everybody to be as ok as they can be and ready to get going again when the time is right.

It’s also the moral thing to do I think. If you possibly can.

I'm not sure why you are getting such a hard time here OP. Of course people shouldn't still be having cleaners, dog walkers etc, they are still helping to continue the spread. And the decent thing to do is to pay them, even if households are having a dip in income, I doubt it will effect them as much as their cleaner etc who is probably going to be unable to pay their rent / Nora the and have little in the way of savings / investments. Thank you OP for being a decent human being and for thinking of others before yourself. I would be angry and disappointed in your neighbours as well.

I’m a house keeper. I’m still working or I don’t get paid. My employer has said she will not pay me. I don’t have any choice. Imagine cleaning ur own loo. Yes I’m pissed