Cleaning client ignoring social distancing

[B3ttyBoop]

AIBU?

I have been working for this household for several years. We had a break last year due to the pandemic and resumed when it was safe on the understanding we would keep our distance. Currently both parents and children are at home full time so I agreed to do a shorter clean. They all have separate spaces where they can study/work away from where i'm cleaning.

However, the last few times the husband has been in and out of the kitchen whilst i'm cleaning. He ended up standing next to me to get a cup. I moved away quickly. Most of the family are coming in and out of the kitchen whilst i'm working there. Wet floors aren't an issue either despite me raising concerns that they could fall over. I wear a mask in the communal areas and make sure windows/doors are open for ventilation.

I've previously raised concerns about distancing etc which is effective for a few weeks but is then disregarded. I'm getting annoyed and jumpy about this situation and their disregard for distancing. If I stop cleaning for them, i will lose income at a time when it will be hard to replace. Am i overreacting or not?

All of these posters calling them 'forgetful' are giving them far too much credit OP. They're not small children for goodness sakes, they're fully functioning adults who are well aware they should be staying out of your way and are simply choosing not to because it's a minor inconvenience. They're being selfish and disrespectful towards you.

We've had quite a few workmen in recently looking at various things in the house. All of them have worn masks, and asked us to stay out of the room they're working in, and rightly so. We get anything we need out of those rooms before we arrive and keep our distance when we need to speak to them.

Remind them every single time, and look for a client to replace them.

They're dickheads. Even if it wasn't a pandemic they should stay out of your way. My DH takes his laptop upstairs while our cleaner is downstairs, it's not hard. Teams has a phone app if you need to move away from your workspace. I try and have both kids out of the house while she's here, if it's really cold we're on a different floor to her too.
I don't let anyone go in the kitchen when she's gone until the floor is dry. Isn't that just being respectful of someone's hard work? The DH especially sounds like a delight if he's walking around the kitchen while you're trying to clean it.

Hilarious that some posters think you can furlough your cleaner.

Sounds unfortunate OP, but also sounds like they aren't going to change their ways.

I'd start looking at getting another client lined up so you are ready to dump this one.

It's not hard not to go in the kitchen for an hour and it's basic respect (and preservation of your own money spent on cleaning) not to walk on a wet floor.

My DH has been managing to avoid our cleaner for a year now just by moving rooms as I'm sure all the OP's other clients have. We have workmen in currently and they have taped themselves off in the space they are working in. Not difficult if you try.

I would look for new clients personally. We all hide in the dining room, or study - which are not cleaned, whilst our cleaner is with us.

I can't leave the house as I am live teaching to a timetable so can't just pop out. In nicer weather husband does take the kids out if we can but lately its been so miserable they can't be out for the full 90 mins.

I would advertise for a client and give them your notice. I am sure there are people needing help.

Look for another client and then resign. Sounds like the husband is doing it on purpose. In the meantime, could you leave the kitchen every time he comes in?

@MumOfPsuedoAdult

I agree with a pp who said this is not essential work. If they are still in work (ie not financially impacted by the pandemic) then they should be telling you not to come, but still paying you. That's the decent thing to do to keep everyone safe and financially secure.

We’re allowed to do “non- essential” work. It’s work from home unless you can’t avoid it.

@ScottishStottie

Could you start prompting them before starting a room, like asking 'does anyone need anything from the kitchen before i start cleaning, will be out of use for about 20 mins' or something like that?

Would allow you to have a daily (or however often you are there) reminder for them that they arent to come in.

Good idea

I might just not do the kitchen and say "sorry, couldn't do the kitchen, too much traffic" as I was leaving.

I'm a secretary and some bosses really do believe they're a better person than I am. (To be fair they don't generally put my health risk.)

YANBU at all and this family are being very disrespectful towards you.

I haven't had a cleaner for years but when I did I made sure that I had everything I needed in one room whilst they cleaned. Then moved rooms when they needed the last room. It might be more tricky in Covid times if everyone is working/home schooling but this can be worked around if they wanted to. They are making your working environment difficult and that is not on. I think I would be approaching the wife and having a frank chat and if you are feeling brave just downing tools and leave if they keep invading your personal space. Although I appreciate that is easy for me to say but obviously you need the income. If you can find a new client I would.

Considering you are breathing the air within someone else’s house, your concern that they walk a bit too close to you is just utterly redundant.

@Dayofpeace

Considering you are breathing the air within someone else’s house, your concern that they walk a bit too close to you is just utterly redundant.

If you have some up to date research about aerosol spread of Covid-19 please send a link. If the man is hanging around the kitchen when i first enter, i avoid the kitchen for a while. I open windows in the rooms i'm working in. I'm doing my best to work within the govt guidelines and make some sort of living.. The clients are educated, literate professionals who are aware of the guidelines, they're choosing to ignore them and each week more boundaries are pushed.

@B3ttyBoop

I think you are utterly selfish and unreasonable. If you are so upset you should resign this job and find people that suits you better.

You have accepted a job, you have admitted you want the money. Now YOU have got decide what is YOUR priority: the money or your safety.

If the latter, sack them and find new clients. This is perfectly understandable.

But you cant take their money and moan about them. This is utterly unfair.

But you cant take their money and moan about them. This is utterly unfair.

Of course she can moan about them all she wants. I moan about my job everyday, should I not take the money? So silly. And how is she being "selfish". That makes no sense at all.

B3ttyBoop

If you care to google you will find plenty of mounting evidence in credible places.
But you don’t have to wait for the slow wheels of multiple approved studies and reviews to finally conclude years later to tell you what common sense should already tell you - that virus particles are airborne, and more so when aerosolised, dry and lighter, for longer and over greater distances, moved further with air currents caused by people moving, and don’t magically drop to the ground after they have travelled 2m?

first10em.com/covid-19-is-spread-by-aerosols-an-evidence-review/

www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3739

www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30514-2/fulltext

www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-how-is-it-transmitted

To be clear, I am not suggesting it is a bad idea to keep doing your job.

@Bubblesgun i don't understand how i'm "utterly selfish and unreasonable"? Your post doesn't make sense. I clean their house and they pay me. I haven't shared any details which could identify them.

We have been given guidelines about social distancing, handwashing, masks to mitigate the spread of Covid-19. I'm doing my best to follow these but some of these people are not fussed. I've raised this as i feel concerned for a variety of reasons. I would've thought that not following guidelines would make someone unreasonable and selfish?

@Dayofpeace

B3ttyBoop

If you care to google you will find plenty of mounting evidence in credible places.
But you don’t have to wait for the slow wheels of multiple approved studies and reviews to finally conclude years later to tell you what common sense should already tell you - that virus particles are airborne, and more so when aerosolised, dry and lighter, for longer and over greater distances, moved further with air currents caused by people moving, and don’t magically drop to the ground after they have travelled 2m?

first10em.com/covid-19-is-spread-by-aerosols-an-evidence-review/

www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3739

www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30514-2/fulltext

www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-how-is-it-transmitted

To be clear, I am not suggesting it is a bad idea to keep doing your job.

Thanks Daysofpeace. I'd read some research re aerosol transmission and it's something to be wary of so i wear a mask, ventilate rooms and socially distance. Unfortunately others don't adopt these measures when i'm working...The science on this is still lacking detailed research: how much Covid aerosol is needed to infect an individual? What's the minimum amount of time needed to become infected? Isolating this part of Covid transmission is difficult as there are so many variables.

@B3ttyBoop It sounds to me like you have reached the stage where you need to tell these clients if they don't respect your health & safety needs (which are eminently reasonable imo), you'll have to sack them.
That might shock them into compliance, and if it doesn't, you can leave with a good conscience. And use the time in between to find a new client!
I don't suppose you are in North London? I desperately need someone to help me keep things under control, and would be completely committed to that level of precaution.

@Allfednonedead Unfortunately i'm not in N London otherwise i'd give you my details. Thanks for your suggestions, i've had alot of sound advice here which gives me a plan of action.

@B3ttyBoop

What i mean is they are clearly not going to respect the guidelines. So either you re fine or you re not. If you re not then sack them.

But you said in your original post that you dont want to sack because you need the money.

That is making in my opinion unreasonable and selfish. It is THEIR home. So either you re fine and you keep them as clients OR you re not and then you quit.

You cant take their money then moan because it doesnt suit you.

If you re confortable then QUIT

*not confortable

@Bubblesgun as others have mentioned, ordinary workplaces have rules in place about masks and social distancing and they're enforced.. The family and myself agreed to reduce hours in order to make it easier to socially distance. This isn't happening now. Yes it's their home but Coronavirus has forced us to alter how i work. This isn't selfishness on my part. Their behaviour is forcing me to make some difficult decisions.

I'd hate to be your cleaner Bubblesgun!

As the OPs employers they should have respect for her safety, as she does for theirs wearing a mask. People i clean for either go for a walk, go into a different room or wear a mask and socially distance, its standard behaviour atm.

.. and btw, anyone can moan about their job, its not unreasonable or selfish to do so particularly if you don't feel comfortable in your workplace at this present time..

@Jellykat

I d say you would love it. I pay £18 per hours she comes 4hrs a week. I pay her when she is sick or when she chooses to be on holidays. She has a summer bonus and a christmas one. She gets birthday gifts for her and her children.

During this pandemic i asked her what SHE wanted to do and i reminded her to do what would make HER comfortable.
She CHOSE to come back to work this lockdown, i had paid her the whole of the first lockdown even though she didnt come.

We discuss the rules and what she wanted. I told her what we could do as a family realistically and she was fine.

I expect her to make HER OWN decisions and if she isnt happy to then decide whether to carry on or to sack me. I wouls be very upset if she was unhappy with the situation and moaning about it BUT all the while taking my money happily.

At the end of the day when you re an adult you ve got to be able to make decisions.

I m not saying the clients are right. I m saying the OP cant rake the money and moan.

I would be sad if my cleaner was to sack BUT i ll find a new one. It isnt life threatening no big deal.

Somehow i dont think i would Bubblegun..

So, if after you and your cleaner discussed and agreed on what would make her comfortable atm, YOU then completely disregarded that arrangement and carried on as per normal.. you would call HER selfish and unreasonable for being peed off and seeking advice on what to do on MN?
Plenty of people in the UK have a moan about work you know.