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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that my boss shouldn’t be asking me to clean her house if we are quiet in work?

114 replies

SallyGee1 · 10/11/2020 14:05

I’m a hairdresser working in a salon run from my bosses house. If we have a cancellation in the day she’ll ask me to do some cleaning jobs in her house, these can range from dishes, hoovering, cleaning her family bathroom, cleaning windows etc. I oblige because I need this job and scared of being replaced but I’m starting to feel taken advantage of as I’m employed as a hairdresser not a cleaner. I’m more than happy to clean the salon in between clients but is being asked to clean her house taking the pee a bit?

OP posts:
MoonJelly · 10/11/2020 16:09

Why are you working whilst furloughed?

flaviaritt · 10/11/2020 16:09

She has furloughed you but you’re still going to work?

This is an absolute piss-take, OP. Find a new job, tell her to get lost.

Original poster
SallyGee1 · 10/11/2020 16:10

Salons are only closed in England

OP posts:
MummyMcMumington · 10/11/2020 16:15

I’m going against the majority here. IME small (ish) employers frequently do this in many industries. I’m aware of this on many many occasions. The reasons varying from employers asking for additional tasks to be done so not as having the employees sat with nothing to do, or be sent home early. I think this is totally acceptable.

FunnyInjury · 10/11/2020 16:18

Your wage as an employee is a genuine business expense, cleaning her private home is not!
I doubt she's splitting it out as a non business expense for her accounts and tax return!

So she is a tax cheat as well as a cheeky fucker Shock

IntermittentParps · 10/11/2020 16:20

Come off it, Mummy.
In a salon, if staff are sat with nothing to do, it's fine for a boss to ask them to e.g. sort a store cupboard or polish the mirrors – stuff to do with the work.
But a salon boss wouldn't ask (I hope!) a staff member to pop outside and wash their car, or pick up their dry-cleaning.
The OP's boss asking her to wash her person dishes, clean her family bathroom and windows etc is nothing to do with her work.

MummyMcMumington · 10/11/2020 16:23

I’ve looked at it from a no work, no pay perspective. If my boss asked me to clean their house when there was no salon work, (assuming I’m on a zero hour contract) I definitely would do it and would have no issue with it. Just my opinion.

IceniWarrior · 10/11/2020 16:33

People really think this is OK? Boss says jump and you just do it? There really are still some old fashioned opinions when it comes to work. If OP has 30 mins spare between clients, so could be prepping, reading notes or having a cuppa. We need to stop this thinking that work means we do what ever we are asked without question and fill every second of the day.

Essentially the boss is getting a cleaner for free for her private residence but still filling in tax returns as if the OP is a hair dresser in the salon. No doubt she also isn't insured should OP break something or is harmed.

Personally, I'd be looking for a new job OP.

BlankProfile · 10/11/2020 16:39

All depends on how much you need this job. If you don't, then you can complain and see what happens. If you need it, then do the cleaning. These are unusual times with many jobs being lost. You may need to put up with something you wouldn't normally tolerate

IntermittentParps · 10/11/2020 16:39

Essentially the boss is getting a cleaner for free for her private residence but still filling in tax returns as if the OP is a hair dresser in the salon. No doubt she also isn't insured should OP break something or is harmed.

Are you OK with that morally, Mummy?

flaviaritt · 10/11/2020 16:40

I’ve looked at it from a no work, no pay perspective

But that is against the OP’s contract, presumably. She is paid to serve the customers who turn up. She isn’t liable to lose her salary if that doesn’t happen. Obviously over the longer term her boss can’t employ her without business, but she has been furloughed for that reason...

KatieGGGG · 10/11/2020 16:42

OP you’re an employee not a servant. Some of these replies honestly.

Has your 2 years employment been continuous? If so it’s not a simple case of her being able to let you go because you raised this issue.

Wait until you’re back from furlough and the next time she asks that of you, explain that you’re not comfortable being asked to clean her private home. Explain you’re more than happy to clean the salon area as this counts as reasonable duties in the scope of your employment - but domestic cleaning does not. As PP have said her employers liability insurance perhaps not covering you is a good reason to raise.

If she’s worth her salt hopefully she’ll just be embarrassed and that’s the end of it, otherwise I’d be looking elsewhere.

WitchesSpelleas · 10/11/2020 16:43

I would be tempted to do it, but make an absolutely terrible job of it so she didn't ask me again.

MummyMcMumington · 10/11/2020 16:44

Sounds very different when phrased that way. Ultimately it would have to depend how desperate you were.

Winebottle · 10/11/2020 16:46

I don't think it is as bad as people are making out. You are paid to carry out your employers instructions. You can refuse but your employer may then decide to find someone who is willing to do it.

If you are paid by the hour then what is your objection? Thinking you are above the task isn't a good enough reason to refuse I don't think.

MummyMcMumington · 10/11/2020 16:50

Most of you commenting must have had some lovely and very understanding employers. The things I’ve been asked to do at different jobs is obviously skewing my judgement! I’d be happy to clean over some other things I’ve been asked to do!

ApplePlumPie · 10/11/2020 16:53

If you are furloughed why are you going into work?

She is massively taking the piss!

WitchesSpelleas · 10/11/2020 16:53

@MummyMcMumington

Most of you commenting must have had some lovely and very understanding employers. The things I’ve been asked to do at different jobs is obviously skewing my judgement! I’d be happy to clean over some other things I’ve been asked to do!
More risk-aware in my case. Touching the industrial-type cleaning stuff was a no-no unless you'd undergone COSHH training.
fabulousathome · 10/11/2020 16:55

Could you ask to do research or an online training course relevant to your job in the quiet moments? Increasing your skill levels would be fair enough.

FinallyHere · 10/11/2020 16:56

going upstairs to clean her family bathroom and her private quarters I feel is not my job to do

Looking at it from both sides: I work in a large corporate and my contract specifically says that my role is to do x (or what ever my line manager asks me to do ) and that I am employed for 37.5hrs per week (or as long as the job takes).

So far, I have been pretty happy with what I have been asked to do. Sometimes, something that started as a very mundane task blossomed into really interesting stuff. Other jobs that I really looked forward to doing got cancelled or were otherwise a big of a blind alley.

The point really is whether you are happy with the job as it is. I can see it would be more fun doing 'proper hairdressing' but if someone cancels at the last minute, I guess you still expect to be paid. The business won't get paid for that time, would you rather be let go?

What found you do to bring in more customers and keep busy. You aren't being asked to clean while there is hairdressing to be done, just when there aren't any clients around

Up to you whether to stay in the job.

ArmIssues · 10/11/2020 17:01

Cleaning related to your job is fine. Cleaning unrelated to your job is taking advantage. I'm a teacher. My old headteacher used to get the staff to clean and tidy certain areas (DT/science cupboard, art area, library etc) as part of one of our training days each year. We had no issue with this because it benefitted our job. Had the headteacher asked me to clean her office or her car then I would have declined for the simple reason that her office and her car are nothing to do with my job.

Your boss is taking the piss, OP.

AlecTrevelyan006 · 10/11/2020 17:01

Looking at it from both sides: I work in a large corporate and my contract specifically says that my role is to do x (or what ever my line manager asks me to do ) and that I am employed for 37.5hrs per week (or as long as the job takes).

yes, most people have a line at the end of their contract which basically says 'all the above, plus any other stuff we ask you to do'

BUT, only if it is work-related. Washing dishes in a private house has got absolutely sweet FA to do with running a hair dressing salon. She's taking the piss big time.

flaviaritt · 10/11/2020 17:05

You are paid to carry out your employers instructions.

She isn’t. She has a job description. She paid to do that.

littledrummergirl · 10/11/2020 17:07

I’m being paid as a hairdresser. Would you say the same to a Doctor if he had a spare half hour between patients?

No they bloody wouldn't and I think we all know why!

Actually when I was a Gp receptionist, we were mad busy on the desk and the senior partner plus one of the other partners were between surgeries when the boiler sprung a leak.
It was the doctors mopping up the mess.
They were also known to do their own filing when we were busy.

Saying that I think your boss is taking the piss.

littledrummergirl · 10/11/2020 17:13

Thinking about it, we had to have a risk assessment done on cleaning chemicals and only certain products were allowed to be used due to coshh. Google the health & safety rules around chemicals, you may find her domestic cleaning products are in breach.
She should also have a risk assessment carried out, for example, can you hear the fire alarm in an emergency. Is the one in her home sufficient?