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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Head of school I work for wants me to do cleaning to make up hours I can't do at mo

320 replies

babayjane67 · 03/07/2020 11:26

Hi all!
Sorry the titles bit long but couldn't think of a shorter one!
I work as a lunch time supervisor at my DDS school.we both went bk 3 wks ago as she's in yr6.i look after both her class bubbles,which is nearly the whole class of 29.
Anyway in normal times,I also do the breakfast club every day but obviously at the moment that's not possible.
When I went into work on Tues,the head caught me&said they're wanting to get everybody bk into school to make up for the hrs they're not working.one of the breakfast club girls is shielding so can't come bk but he's apparently talking to her about how it's going to work in September.
The other girl is coming bk on Mon being a lunch time supervisor for a new key worker kids bubble that will start.
He wants me to clean to make mine up.so all light switches,door handles,sinks in classrooms& toilets &all toilet seats throughout the school.desks too I think.
He said think about it&let me know tomorrow I'll come&find u.well he didn't though I did see him wandering round on Wed.i wasn't in yesterday as I've got a nasty ear infection at mo.we don't work Fridays as the kids only do half day so that a deep clean can be done of the school each week.
This morning I get an email detailing my cleaning schedule starting Mon&saying what equipment I will be using etc.not asking me if I wanna do it/have I thought about it&made a decision.no just this is yr schedule starting Mon let us know what side if the lunch time you want to do it.
I've got nothing against cleaning,I've been one as a job in the past.so I haven't got a problem with doing it as a job but I don't want to do it as fir a start I get asthma so that's why he said fir me to work with yr6 not the younger ones,as they can social distance better&they understand more.plus I really don't want to be cleaning their loo seats etc.Im not dealing with any little ones at mo in any capacity.ive got 2 GC the youngest being 4&I've had to keep away from them as he's got a low immune system as well as me with my asthma so I don't want to then be dealing with stuff like that where everyone sits,touches things&risk passing anything on.
My dp isn't happy about me doing either fir the same reasons&said he would have told the head no straight away!
I haven't replied to the email yet.
Aibu?

OP posts:
Popc0rn · 03/07/2020 19:28

@babayjane67

Have you emailed him back yet?

phoenixearthworm · 03/07/2020 19:29

@babayjane67

As I've already said Google,we normally wipe the table when the kids have finished &stack some of the chairs to help the girls in the kitchen out as it's their job to do that really but there's only 2 of them&one or other if the teachers usually needs the hall straight after lunch fir something. In answer to the fact that I've 'not answered' the still getting paid thing,we were told right from the start when we were asked if we wanted to go bk or not,that it was totally our choice whether to or not&we would still be paid under the furlough scheme if we chose not to.nobody would be judged that is what we were all told not just me! Hope that helps
*,that it was totally our choice whether to or not&we would still be paid under the furlough scheme if we chose not to.nobody would be judged that is what we were all told not just me! Hope that helps*

Unless you are working for a private school you are talking nonsense because public sector workers cannot be furloughed.

ComeOnBabyPopMyBubble · 03/07/2020 19:29

I didn't think schools could furlough staff?

Every day is a school day.

phoenixearthworm · 03/07/2020 19:33

@ComeOnBabyPopMyBubble

I didn't think schools could furlough staff?

Every day is a school day.

State schools can furlough private providers of services for things like catering or PE. It's all explained schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-publishes-furlough-rules-for-schools/
Ffsseriously · 03/07/2020 19:36

@phoenixearthworm But op says she is employed by the council, not a private company

ComeOnBabyPopMyBubble · 03/07/2020 19:40

State schools can furlough private providers of services for things like catering or PE

But OP doesn't work for a private provider.

phoenixearthworm · 03/07/2020 19:51

[quote Ffsseriously]@phoenixearthworm But op says she is employed by the council, not a private company[/quote]
Then she cannot be furloughed and is talking nonsense about that part of her posts at least.

Winter2020 · 03/07/2020 19:55

If you don't want to do it just tell the head (email etc) that you don't want to switch your job to cleaning and you don't feel it's commensurate with your post". Give them ideas that you do feel are suitable and acceptable for your hours. I think you would be wise to say that you are happy to do cleaning in keeping with your role e.g. to supervise kids eating lunch and clean up after them but not to become a cleaner.

Perhaps that you are happy to clean other areas on a rota that included all staff in turn but are not willing to do this if other staff are not doing it.

I clean a lot in my job on nights in a care home and (although I don't have asthma) I find the face masks do help stop the cleaning sprays hitting my throat so definately make sure masks are available.

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 03/07/2020 19:59

With PPE and good hygiene I don’t see an issue.

UserErrorMessage · 03/07/2020 20:07

Will all the other staff have to clean loos too?

Choconuttolata · 03/07/2020 20:08

I work with nurses that have asthma that are having patient contact and cleaning the ward areas. I don't see why with PPE and good hygiene, you can't clean school areas.

Gazelda · 03/07/2020 20:18

OP, who do you think should do the cleaning?

googledontknow · 03/07/2020 20:28

Even if you are currently being furloughed, or have the offer of that, you do realise furlough is ending?

Original poster
babayjane67 · 03/07/2020 20:43

Believe it or not,that is what we were all told.i am certainly not talking nonsense!
Yes I have emailed him back,asking if I can use antibac wipes instead of spray&that I'm happy to get those myself &not out of school funds.
IF my breakfast club job were to go,I wouldn't be redundant as I would carry on doing the lunch time one.

OP posts:
Original poster
babayjane67 · 03/07/2020 20:46

Yes Google,I do realise furlough is ending.
The head is totally planning for breakfast club to be bk up&running in Sept albeit in a different format.as I said waaay down my thread,he is currently taking to one of the girls I work with,who is shielding,about it.then obviously when it's all concrete he will tell me&the other girl that does it &we will do what we have to do to keep it running.

OP posts:
AmazingGrace16 · 03/07/2020 20:47

Even if that means cleaning? 🤭

LaurieMarlow · 03/07/2020 20:52

OP, can you please explain how you were furloughed if you’re employed by the council?

GetUpAgain · 03/07/2020 20:56

DH was in a government job and was furloughed - its technically a different scheme from the private sector version but everyone calls it furlough in general conversations.

LaurieMarlow · 03/07/2020 20:59

What on earth is the point of public sector workers being furloughed (or equivalent) though? Their wages are already paid by the state.

AmazingGrace16 · 03/07/2020 21:00

Schools can't furlough staff such as the OPs job unless it comes from a private funding stream

www.google.com/amp/s/schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-publishes-furlough-rules-for-schools/amp/

dicksplash · 03/07/2020 21:05

I work in education and we are also asking our breakfast club staff to do similar. Your normal work isn't required. We don't want to stop paying staff but there is work to do ie cleaning high use areas. Do you just expect to be paid for no work until September?

These sort of duties would fall easily in any other duties. The problem would only arise if asked to do work of a higher grade. In our trust cleaners and lunch time supervisors are paid the same.

GetUpAgain · 03/07/2020 21:33

@LaurieMarlow

What on earth is the point of public sector workers being furloughed (or equivalent) though? Their wages are already paid by the state.
In DH case - 'furloughed' because his job was not needed, but as a family we still need him to earn a living. What else could they do? Sack him overnight?
Mushypeasandchipstogo · 03/07/2020 21:55

Around here all state schools are being deep cleaned regularly by private contractors with all the appropriate PPE and chemicals. To be honest I find it odd that any teaching or support staff would be expected to do this. Shock

Feedingthebirds1 · 03/07/2020 21:56

I think it's a case of two perspectives.

OP, you feel like the head is trying to shaft you into doing something that you don't want to do.

I suspect the head, on the other hand, thinks he's doing a nice thing offering you alternative work so that you can keep your hours and therefore your pay.

So there's no drama needed. You have a completely free choice. Do the work and keep the money, or don't do the work but be prepared for less pay. Simples.

Popc0rn · 03/07/2020 22:01

@Mushypeasandchipstogo

What, give the taps and door handles a quick wipe with some fairy liquid or dettol throughout the day? Regular cleaning of things that the kids touch frequently is probably more important than a once daily or weekly 'deep clean'.