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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu that I should be at work as I can’t from home? (Cleaner)

97 replies

dibdobs · 07/04/2020 19:15

Hi please be kind! I work thirty hours weekly for a family in their country house. When the partial lockdown started my partner asked me not to go to work as he is 63 and a diabetic with high blood pressure. However I can’t stop worrying I will lose my job if I don’t go and on the government website it just says to go to work if you can’t work at home. To me my work isn’t essential but I’m worried they may replace me. So feel I should go back but keep my distance from the family? Just looking for genuine advice really as I o don’t know what I’m meant to do.

OP posts:
Scrumbleton · 07/04/2020 19:33

Our cleaner is not coming during lockdown and I’m paying her monthly in advance. She’s been with me for 10 years. To note we’ve both had Corona and I’m fairly sure I caught it from her. She got sick day after cleaning in early March. I had first symptoms 3-4 days after she cleaned. So say at home, get your cleaners to stay at home and if humanly possible pay them

Yester · 07/04/2020 19:33

@AllForAnEasyLife you really have your cleaner still coming? If so that is appalling. @dibdobs it's tough but I had to stop all my work (self employed) as it is not safe or essential to continue.

HugoSpritz · 07/04/2020 19:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

IJumpedAboardAPirateShip · 07/04/2020 19:35

@Loooobyloo that sucks. It might be of course that you’re clients have also taken a financial hit. DH and I are still able to work on full pay so we are continuing to pay our cleaner even though she’s not coming in

Sharkyfan · 07/04/2020 19:35

Our cleaner is not coming
She is self employed
At the moment I’m still paying her because we’re still getting paid in full but I’ve said we might have to review that.
Also at the start the govt hadn’t said how they would help the self employed.
My dh has to take a pay cut from next month so we might have to review things especially as I think she will be able to apply for assistance.

AllForAnEasyLife · 07/04/2020 19:36

@yester

Its my mum and she isnt going to anyone elses or coming into contact with anyone so i dont see an issue

Original poster
dibdobs · 07/04/2020 19:37

No I can’t stay there as I have my family at home who are off school and partner working from home so he can’t keep an eye on them.

OP posts:
BubblyBarbara · 07/04/2020 19:38

I’m still paying my cleaner. Double in fact due to these troubled times.

Original poster
dibdobs · 07/04/2020 19:39

Thanks for all your answers, I find the government advice but very clear in this regard tbh and my partner and I both interpret it in different ways.

OP posts:
Original poster
dibdobs · 07/04/2020 19:39

Not very clear I mean!

OP posts:
Raffathebear · 07/04/2020 19:41

You told them you wont be going?

Loooobyloo · 07/04/2020 19:45

The thing is us self employed can get 80% but not until at least the 1st June. I'm now claiming universal credit but that doesn't start paying till the 29th April. Luckily I've had a very busy few years so I do have some savings.

A few of my (former) clients are very well off. I was wanting rid of a few off them anyway so this is as good a time as any.

Loooobyloo · 07/04/2020 19:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bubblewings · 07/04/2020 19:52

OP read the lockdown guidelines - there is someone in your household that is high-risk. You are entering someone else’s home for a non-essential reason.
I can not believe people are still happy to put cleaners and their own family at risk.
There are people getting enraged by too many dog walkers, too many people driving, too many people having conversations from across the road...but someone being in another person’s home for hours...oh that’s fine because they are cleaning??

Bigbouncingbaby · 07/04/2020 19:57

I’m a self employed cleaner .... no one paying me . A few of my nice clients gave me a bit of extra .... some nothing ... I too will be loosing a few . I know some could afford it even if they gave me half . I’m good and really reliable. But haven’t don’t it for a year so get nothing 😭

RestaurantoffBroadway · 07/04/2020 20:00

Think it's pretty shitty to not keep paying your cleaner - for a normal household that is, and assuming you yourselves haven't lost your jobs.

If you're cleaning a stately home it's maybe different

SummerSazz · 07/04/2020 20:05

I am still paying my cleaner for not coming in. But DH and I are being paid full whack for wfh (working full whack mind you!!)

If you are self employed then you can access the govt scheme in June for 80% of your profits per your tax return. If you've not submitted your tax return for 18/19 you need to do this by 23 April.

If you are short of monies before then you can apply to one of the British Business banks for an interest free loan which you can pay back when your support claim is processed

You don't need to contact HMRC, they will contact you and, as self employed, you can carry on doing some work in this time.

Also no payments on account need to be made in relation to income tax. No need to apply, just no payment necessary and no interest will accrue on amounts o/s to Jan 2021. If you have o/s income tax on 2018/2019 due then you can apply to defer this under the time to pay legislation - there is a dedicated phone number to apply for this.

All the info is on HMRC's website.

tootsey · 07/04/2020 20:06

I too will sack a few after this is over. This has really opened my eyes to what some of them really think of me.

Op you shouldn't be working. It is not essential at this time.

Bee128 · 07/04/2020 20:08

No don’t do. I’m surprised they will want a cleaner right now. Risking covid coming into their house from or you taking it home there. Don’t do it.

Cleaning is high risk. If one of the people in the house were sick you could easily pick it up from touching their surfaces.

Astoatora54 · 07/04/2020 20:13

I know that some are. I guess it's because they want to be sure they will come back when this is all over.
I'm paying because I know she has no other income coming in and my income hasn't changed so it seemed like the decent thing to do.

FleabagTeabag · 07/04/2020 20:13

People can continue going to work if they are unable to work from home. Cleaners are unable to work from home, so can continue to work. If clients don't want their cleaners to come because of the risk of infection, this is obviously their prerogative.

OP, what have your clients said? Are they ok with you not being there?

Windyatthebeach · 07/04/2020 20:17

Cleaner here. SE 8 years.
Most customers are paying me to stay away.
Some not paying.
1 still wants me to clean - as no gvt help til June I am still going.
A B&B hosting NHS workers is still having me go also.
I would obviously rather be at home.
No high risk members in my house..

Loooobyloo · 07/04/2020 20:21

@tootsey me too. I've cleaned for some of them for over 6 years. I've never missed a day, honest reliable, always on time, everything you'd ask for in a good cleaner. I know they're working from home on full pay too.

👋 to them!

AnneElliott · 07/04/2020 20:22

I'm still paying my cleaner even though she's not coming. I'm on full pay so it's the right thing to do.

missionalmostimpossible · 07/04/2020 20:26

I've asked our cleaner not to come, and we are still paying her for the weekly clean. We're still getting paid in full while working from home with 2 toddlers, so it seems fair to continue doing so.

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