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 worked as a cleaner for years when my kids were small. It fit my hours, the money was good and I worked for myself.

When kids got older I took a job elsewhere. When I told one of my clients I was leaving she was really happy for me, then followed it up with “i always thought you were too clever to be a cleaner” . Snobby cow!

I was a cleaner in my younger days while studying. I think it’s made me a better employee and manager now. I can read situations well, no job is beneath me and I make my way around the whole room in meetings.

I know the exact feelings you describe but honestly wherever your life takes you, you will have learnt a lot from this time.

There is no shame in being a cleaner. It is an honest job and you are working to pay your bills. Please don't listen to anyone who tells you otherwise.

They would say the same if you were to become a bin lady ..... but the first to complain when their bins weren't emptied. A lot of unglamorous jobs were the only ones necessary during pandemic.....cleaning, shop assistant's, bin men, etc...... Nothing wrong with cleaning, I would just act surprised that your family/friends think differently.

Cleaners are brilliant, OP! I quite like cleaning and I am not afraid to get my hands dirty and it’s very satisfying when something that wasn’t clean before is now clean because you’ve put the graft in. It’s a job I absolutely would consider applying for and doing. Bloody hard work though. Be proud of your job, cleaners are great.

What other people think of you is a reflection of them, and nothing to do with you. There is nothing wrong with doing ANY job.

I am doing what some might consider menial (low paid, had to retrain for it but it wouldn't be considered a particularly skilled job), but I LOVE my job. It helps pay the mortgage, puts food on the table, I am good at it, and it is mine! If other people think less of me for doing it, then that's their problem. I couldn't care less.

Nothing to be ashamed of, you are doing a good honest job. I was made redundant earlier this year as the company I worked for went in to liquidation, it was a well paid professional job but there's nothing in that market now so I have started a job as a caregiver and love it, yes, less money but it pays the bills and I have time to do other things as well, was actually thinking of taking up a weekly cleaning job. Hold your head up high, you're doing great!

If you didn’t clean the offices those pesky snobs would have to do it themselves. Oh the thought.

What a bunch of arseholes. I always chat to ours, he’s coming to our wedding

I spent time as a cleaner, so did my mum, sister and other relatives.

It a hard-working, extremely vital job. If it wasn't for cleaners, workplaces would be pits of filth and disease.

Hold your head up high. Never let anyone make you feel ashamed of earning an honest living.

Thank you to every cleaner who has worked to keep everything going during the pandemic. Without them, it would have been impossible, so many, many thanks.
We can do without graphic designers, wardrobe consultants, etc but not cleaners. We'll done.

Why do people look down on others for working and earning?
Sad really .

Feel proud of yourself. My neighbour has a very wealthy middle class husband and she still does cleaning work 3 days a week. Nothing to be ashamed of. We do what we need to to pay the bills. Please don't let these condescending idiots make you feel bad.

People who look down on cleaners drive me mad , when they go to hotel, public toilet , restaurant etc they expect it to be clean so who do they think does it , a magic fairy.
You have a job you are earning money to help with bills that is all that matters.

I'm so sorry you are being treated like this. I was a cleaner in a hotel when I was 20 and some of the reception staff the same age as me at the time would look down upon me, one guy even used to come in hungover, use one of the rooms for showers and ask me to clean up after him! But things do turn around, and been a cleaner is so valuable. It is beyond me why people look down on it, you are making peoples environments so much better and people should be thankful. Unfortunately cleaners are invisible in society but what they do is invaluable. Be proud of yourself for doing something that may be not your first choice but you are doing it to make things better for yourself in the future. Unless you are incredibly lucky in life, we all have blips and all have to take jobs at some point which may not be our first choice.

I’m so grateful for the work my cleaner, and the cleaners at work do. Systems would fail rapidly on both domestic and work fronts without them!

Hi Laura

Please don't allow others to de value what you do
Before I met my now dh I was a single mum on benefits
I did several little cleaning jobs and was a dinner lady at my sons
School

Previous to that I had a business with my ex turning over a million pounds
And nice big house and cars, he buggered off and I was left in a half way house
With a young child.

You do what you need to do just like I did and millions of others do too, you hold your head up and tell the, to get to fuck. There's nothing wrong it's an honest days work and a Lund earned. They might be in your shoes one day, then they won't be so shitty to you.

You keep on keeping on lovely and more power to your elbow 💐

Pound earned

I did cleaning and kitchen portering after Uni.
I think it gave me good practical skills and I had to learn how to deal with lots of different types of people. I prided myself on being good at it.
Ignore the idiots and take pride in your work. There is no shame in honest work.

People need cleaners and I'm grateful for my cleaners at home and work. Moreover I'd be appalled at any friend/family member/colleague who looked down on a cleaner.

As others have said, you need better friends. Unfortunately you’re stuck with your family.
A job is a job at the end of the day, and you are working hard to bring money in, just like those who work in the offices that you clean. If it’s not your dream job, that’s fine, it’s temporary. I personally know two people who are cleaners and they love it, as they just love cleaning. D*ckheads looking down on you, honestly. You have to be well organised, have good people skills, and a lot of common sense to be a good cleaner, which is why not everyone can do it!

good, honest work, cleaning. And very important, especially right now. Ignore the asshats x

When people look at a great cathedral they say "wow, what a beautiful building, what great architecture". No one says "what amazing cement". But without the cement it would all fall down.
Cleaning and other key worker jobs are cement in our society.
Who could go to work safely without cleaners?
Who could get their online orders without warehouse workers?
Who could get their shopping without someone to stack shelves?
I've got no time for people who consider certain jobs to be demeaning.

In my family we value being in work and I respect your choice to put in the hard work to secure your current circumstances. It will grow into something you develop from or tide you over until you can take another route (if you want to). In the meantime do your job well, smile and chat and remember you are everyone's equal.

@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 can only tell you that I always appreciated the ladies who cleaned my desk area at work. I never met them but I would leave little notes for them expressing my appreciation and a christmas card with a little 'thank you' inside. My mum's cleaning lady is absolutely golden and she helps my mum live independently and for that, I would get down and kiss her feet! Don't let silly people knock your confidence because you have the gumption to get up and find a job, the job you do makes a massive difference and there is absolutely no shame in a fair day's pay for a fair day's work! I admire you!

I've taken factory work in the past (and I quite enjoyed it).