Feeling rubbish because I am a cleaner

[LAURAMINIMAQ88]

So...I am a young, educated woman and this year was very hard for our family so I had to take on a cleaning position which I didn't mind doing at first but now I feel absolutely rubbish because my friends and family make unpleasant comments about my new job.
I wouldn't mind ever as long as I am bringing a salary and paying my bills.
People where I work also look down on cleaners ( I clean offices) not all of them but I do get unpleasant looks..
The only support that I am getting is from my husband.
My husband works in airline industry and had been able to keep his hours through this horrible year however I have lost my contract 2 months ago so took on this job.

I dont know what I am looking for here, probably just a bit of support and to tell me that my job is also valued.

My parents in law said that I am too young to be a cleaner and it broke into pieces

A good cleaner is worth her weight in gold. I work in a school and i can tell you that I appreciate my cleaner and tell her every day. Take pride in your job. It's vital and not only at the moment

I absolutely value my cleaner and our office cleaners. Materially, no one would know if I was off work for two weeks - the work would soon get done. You’d soon notice if the cleaner was off.

You’ve done great to get out there and get a job in the current climate. Give it a chance, if the hours suit you and you don’t mind the work then ignore what others say. There are opportunities to pick up several cleaning contracts, go freelance, even run your own cleaning company if you want....I don’t see why others would look down on you for it, if they do it’s a poor reflection on them not you.

Well, does it matter what they think? If arseholes are making comments to you about how you earn a living, either tell them to do one or cut them out of your precious free time.

I worked as a cleaner for years. & still do the odd shift to make up my hours. You need to change your mindset & be proud of yourself. Your bringing in a wage & you doing your job well is enabling others to do theirs.
If your not happy working as a cleaner for a company. G o independent, set up your own business.. Cleaners esp at the moment are vital but are always wanted/needed esp the good ones.

Doing any job well is something to be proud of, as long as it is a legal and ethical job. It's a tough time right now and lots of people have no work at all. It's nothing to be ashamed of.

You're doing what needs to be done. That takes a lot of guts and sense of responsibility. The only ones that should be frowned upon are them idiots. Don't pay any heed to them.

Why would you not think you have a valuable job? More so now than ever.

I have had two positions which were a bit of a niche job. No one really pays heed to it. They’d have known pretty quickly if It wasn’t done.

Same with cleaning. Be proud that you are making someone’s environment nicer than it was.

Your friends and family are horrible snobs. Where I work (university), the cleaners are some of the most important people in the organisation at the moment. We wouldn't be able to operate safely and confidently without them.

Well done you! and thank you for doing this vital and very important job, that especially keeps us all a bit safer in these times. I think cleaners are fabulous people. Your husband sounds lovely and supportive too.

The people around you are cunts. You're great!

You need better friends, less judgemental ones.

I have a friend who is a cleaner. She’s quite posh, bakes beautifully, impeccable manners, very helpful, and being a cleaner fits in with what she wants to do with her life. None of our mutual friends judge her for it, not the millionaire, not the ones with amazing cars, not the one with a trust fund, not the unemployed one with a front tooth missing nor the one who queues up for his meth (or he queues up for something, I’m not sure what actually) or anyone.

Do whatever job you want and be happy you can see friends and family reveal themselves. Imagine going another 20 years not knowing this about them?

That’s awful. Horrible snobs.

Any work is better than no work. At least you’re working and not sitting around with your hand out.

Be proud of yourself for adapting during difficult times, and for doing an important job that provides a vital service. I have a lot of respect for people who do cleaning jobs, society should value them more.

@AgentProvocateur

I absolutely value my cleaner and our office cleaners. Materially, no one would know if I was off work for two weeks - the work would soon get done. You’d soon notice if the cleaner was off.

This ^ Some people are just idiots, ignore them

Cleaners are stereotypically looked down on. Maybe because you don’t need further/enhanced education to do the job?

However your morales and work ethics clearly dominate. You needed a job, you got a job, your doing what needs to be done. That takes strength as I know a lot of people who would have just sat on their bums, so ignore anyone trying to put you down!!

If they mind so much, they should pay your bills then, shouldn't they? What planet are these people living on? There's a pandemic, unemployment rates are spiralling, you are lucky to have a job at all, I know my office has shut down so there's no need for a cleaner.

I can understand you feeling down if you're over educated for this job. Do you have an exit plan? Are you applying for other jobs? It's easier to stay positive if you can see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Your friends and families are absolute twats...So very thankful for cleaners. We can't function in today's world without them. Especially during a pandemic. Please don't feel ashamed. You are providing a needed service for the community and a salary for your family

Are the people making snide comments going to pay your wages? Thought not, so they can keep their opinions to themselves until that changes.

My cleaner is a cleaner and also a mature uni student, single mum and volunteers as a youth worker, she is far more useful to society than most people and anyone who looks down on her is saying more about them than her. Same goes for you OP, be proud you are doing useful work and supporting yourself, you're worth 10 of the judgey fuckers.

My cleaner is one of my favourite people! The money I spend on her each week is definitely the best money I spend! Saves my sanity every week.
People who look down on cleaners or anyone else for that matter are fuckwits.

If YOU are happy with your job then that is truly all that matters. I don’t get people who look down on others for the jobs they do. By all means if you do not like your job then you are perfectly entitled to look for something else but if you like it, the hours suit and it’s paying the bills then there is nothing at all to be ashamed about!

God I love my cleaners!

I’m sorry your family and friends are twats. It’s absolutely a valuable job you do

OP my cleaner one of my very favourite person (well after my family anyway)

I'd go absolutely batty without her and I totally respect her for what she does not least because she does it far better and far quicker than I ever could) Every week I look forward to her coming and the joy of walking into a clean house after a bad day is unfathomable.

Keep on cleaning and do it with pride OP and don't feel rubbish. Good cleaners bring joy to people.

A good cleaner is absolutely essential and there is absolutely nothing to be ashamed about or for people to look down on. How absurd that people treat you differently for the work you do despite the fact you are still the same person.

Your friends and family are snobs. Are they also the kind of people that are rude to wait staff?

I do dislike very much, how people seem to pretend office cleaners are invisible. Our cleaning staff are lovely people, and great for a laugh and a chat - but they were initially surprised when we didn't look straight through them!

Good on you for doing what you can to help support your family in these difficult times. Good on you for managing to get a job when so many are losing them. (And I love your user name!)