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

I do cleaning, both holiday lets and in peoples homes.. and feel really valued, your friends and family are knobs i'm afraid.. as for people in the office, if you want to feel valued, why not try and find private cleans, you'll be really appreciated then!

Believe me you are worth your weight in gold, that’s what we tell our cleaner, how dare people say this sort of thing,

I really don't understand some of the snobbery around people's jobs and I feel so sad to read that you've experienced it.

You do a fantastic job by making work and home environments pleasurable, clean and lovely to live and work in.

You're also probably working twice as hard , now, as you're having to do deeper cleans .

Please try to ignore what stupid people are saying, you are providing an essential service, which, if it wasn't there, people would moan and suffer greatly.

💐

You role is valued, don’t beat yourself up about this you’re earning money and getting out.
If you don’t like the job you. An always look around elsewhere and it’s easier to move jobs when you’re in a job already!

^President John F. Kennedy was visiting NASA headquarters for the first time in 1961. While touring the facility, he introduced himself to a janitor who was mopping the floor and asked him what he did at NASA.
“I’m helping put a man on the moon!”^

I've cleaned in the past. I enjoyed it tbh. I wouldn't have got through uni without the cleaning money.

What would your in laws say about me then? I started a cleaning job at my local hospital when I was 18 (didn’t realise that was too young. I was a 1st year undergrad when I started). That cleaning job kept me fed and enabled me to pay for my commute to university. It also gave me a foot in the door to hospital work. It was hard work but I met many people over the years. I enjoyed it so carried it on as a part time thing once I graduated and up to the point that I finished retraining as a nurse. 22yrs on from starting as a cleaner, I’m a ward sister now. I’ve got nothing but respect for those who do that job, it’s hard work and you need to be organised with time management etc. I couldn’t do my job without the awesome cleaners who come to my ward, and I value them highly.

I come from a family full of doctors, nurses, lawyers etc. They always say that there is no shame in honest hard work, no matter what job that is. Stand tall and feel proud :) x

If people do look down on you just remember that they're the people that you don't want to know. They've revealed their true colours

Please don't feel rubbish and I'm sorry that you've come across people who look down on you.

You don't deserve that, no-one does.

Be proud of yourself! Cleaners are needed in all household/ working environments. You are doing an honest job and earning your wages fairly. In these days, thousands of people are doing jobs they weren't trained for. Anyone who's putting you down needs to take a long, hard look at their attitudes.

The kind of people who look down on cleaners are the ones who should be embarrassed!
It is important work that when done well people don't notice, when done badly or not done people do notice.
When we were working in the office I was on friendly terms with the cleaners because I often work late. I was embarrassed to find out how some of my colleagues treated them tbh.

Another poster here to tell you that you are doing an invaluable job. I'm no longer physically able to do my own, and because of lockdown I haven't felt able to have her in my home. I've still paid her, that's how much I value what she does.

Literally, without her, my life would not be so comfortable. Yes, I've missed family and friends during lockdown, but my goodness, missing my lovely cleaner is up there with things I miss.

Nowt wrong with being a cleaner! I used to clean and I enjoyed it.
Insecure people tend to be the ones who poo poo other peoples job choices because it makes them feel superior for some reason don’t worry about their opinions, as you can see cleaners have a lot of respect!

Well I would say good for you -you have gone out and done what was necessary to keep your family afloat. It is a commendable thing.

It's never easy to find out your friends and family are snobs I suppose, but please don't let them bring you down. It's them that should be ashamed of themselves, not you

All I can say is, anyone who is prepared to do any job to support their family in my eyes deserves all the support in the world.
I have never looked down at anyone trying to feed their families and I think it's a pretty low blow people do

Well, it sorts the wheat from the chaff!

You now know whose opinions matter, and who are the snobs

I supported myself through uni as a cleaner. It’s better than taking on lots of debt

Make sure you charge enough

Good for you, OP. You needed a job and took one. And yes, good cleaners are very highly regarded. Your job does not define you but the qualities you demonstrate do. You sound absolutely worthy of respect.

Cleaners are essential and undervalued. You have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of and should be proud you bounced back into steady employment.

Cleaner here. I know how you feel Op. Ive had the snidey comments, people looking me up and down and backing away. It makes you feel utterly worthless.

But fuck them. I bet you do a fabulous job, you should be proud of yourself.

It really does say a lot about someone when they look down on you because of their job. I have no time for people like that and I'm not afraid to tell them what I think.

I think you should be proud of yourself. A job is a job and I have so much respect for people who have the work ethic where they’ll do what ever they need to to bring in a wage. Cleaning is such an important job too and one that is hugely valued by many people and a good cleaner is worth their weight in gold.

All jobs are valued because someone is making an honest living.

I think YABU because you were obviously feeling rather snobby about it yourself in order to feel like this now.

It’s amazing that you have adapted and found a job during the pandemic. People who look down on you are snobs. Cleaning is a hard job, I have done cleaning in the past and I am not ashamed of it. My sister is a cleaner as it fits around her special needs son. I am so proud of her! Be proud of your adaptability and flexibility. It is a great asset.

I was a cleaner and I know what you mean.
Just don't take it to heart ; your important and needed more than ever!
Hope your head up and ignore the haters. It's their problem not yours.
Take care

You’re an essential service as far I’m concerned. Cleaners do an amazing job. Your friends and family should be proud of you that you are doing what you need to do to get by. Hold your head high and ignore any criticism. 💐

my friends and family make unpleasant comments about my new job

This says more about them tbh. Don’t let them make you feel crap, there’s nothing wrong with cleaning for a living & it’s paying your bills.
They are awful for making comments