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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To quit this job?

47 replies

MaybUnreasonable · 24/04/2021 09:25

In September last year I took a weekend job cleaning in a gym to get me out of the house and some time to myself after being a SAHM for 3 years. I had to register as self employed to take the job which in hindsight should've been a red flag.

All was fine, easy work, but they had to close twice due to covid so I didn't get much work in before Christmas. They reopened on 17th of this month meaning my pay is only £72 this month due to invoices needing to be in by the 21st.

Upon returning I'm told that the other cleaners have quit so it's just me left, and the management has changed.

The new manager spent last Saturday shadowing me around the place micromanaging me and saying my work had to be better, and because the full time cleaner had left I now have a myriad of new tasks he wants done within my 4 hours.

One of these tasks is taking apart the drains in the showers and manually removing all of the hair. It was absolutely revolting and the smell made me heave. I'm pregnant so heightened senses and all that.

Usually the men's changing rooms take me an hour but I spent 2.5 out of my 4 hours in there last week as the manager kept saying it wasn't good enough. He was being overzealous about wanting immaculate and dry floors despite the heavy foot flow of people using the changing rooms attatched to the showers as I cleaned. The floors are some type of stone which when marked to an extent will never look perfect again but he seemingly wanted them to look brand new!

I got a bit overwhelmed at one point and was reduced to tears as I just wanted to crack on and move on to other tasks.

He wanted the 4 flights of stairs done (it's an upstairs gym) before I left so I ended up leaving late.

He said he had a young woman (18) starting on the Monday so that should lessen my load but he didn't think she would last two days, his words.

I asked why not and he said because she's so young and they never usually do.

I vowed not to go back last week as I found it that stressful so put it out of my mind then OH reminded me I'm due in today.

The pittance I'm paid is helpful but we certainly wouldn't starve without it. On a good month when there's no covid closures I would earn around £230.

WIBU to quit? Would you?

The main purpose of taking the job was to regain a sense of independence but I just don't think it's worth the stress.

OP posts:
Gingerwhinger1 · 24/04/2021 09:30

If you can manage without the job I would leave, especially if your main purpose was to gain a sense of independence, being micro managed will have the opposite effect.

MrsSprogett · 24/04/2021 09:31

Leave, you are worth more than that. He can do it himself and find out how hard it is to keep up to his standards

Motnight · 24/04/2021 09:33

Leave!

Letshavesometea · 24/04/2021 09:34

I would leave if you don't need the money

Original poster
MaybUnreasonable · 24/04/2021 09:35

Thank you, we managed before I took the job so we would manage again but I would like to find something else.

I have a couple of physical conditions that make doing this job a bit harder than it would be for somebody without them, so whilst it was manageable going at my own pace (I never received anything but positive feedback from the last manager) it's not sustainable under this new one who insists I should "get a bit sweaty" from working hard.

OP posts:
CareBear50 · 24/04/2021 09:35

Leave. You're worth more than that OP x

Original poster
MaybUnreasonable · 24/04/2021 09:37

Thanks ladies, I'm glad people can see my POV and would quit too under similar circumstances.

I do think I'm worth more than this, nobody need be reduced to tears for £9 an hour for 8 hours a week.

OP posts:
Original poster
MaybUnreasonable · 24/04/2021 09:50

I spoke to a friend about it last week as she asked how my weekend had gone and I told her what I've written here, her advice was to stick it out and see how it goes.

I'm relieved I haven't received that response here as honestly I don't have the energy emotional or otherwise to keep dealing with a repeat of Saturday on the off chance things might improve in weeks / months.

If it was great money I may have persevered but for what I get, no chance.

OP posts:
Thehawki · 24/04/2021 09:58

I would also quit in this position. Life is too short to be working for horrible people if you don’t have to.

Original poster
MaybUnreasonable · 24/04/2021 10:04

Would you give him an in-depth explanation as to why you're leaving or just say it's no longer for you?

I'm sure he'll chalk me up to just being a bad cleaner regardless as he clearly sees no issue with the way he is.

OP posts:
Yorkshirelass04 · 24/04/2021 10:07

Personally I would be honest about how the job, the conditions and his behaviour made you feel. I think they are being unrealistic! And the poor 18 year old will get the same experience. Or if you don't feel comfortable with that, email the gym managers and tell them what it was like.

TheCheeseBadge · 24/04/2021 10:09

That behaviour is shocking!

We use self employed cleaners at work (we chose that because of cover reasons, our old employed cleaner was always off sick but with 2 self employed cleaners they are far more flexible and can cover each other), we tell them how long we want them to work for and if they finish their tasks early they come to us and ask us if there is anything else they want doing. That is literally the limit of the "management" they get. We also pay them £11 per hour on account of no holiday pay etc.

You're definitely getting the raw end of the deal. I personally would quit now, protect your mental and physical health and find something worth your while.

jessycake · 24/04/2021 10:15

quit , you will lose all your confidence , and stress is not good for your or the baby, there will be other better cleaning jobs about

bunburyscucumbersandwich · 24/04/2021 10:15

who insists I should "get a bit sweaty" from working hard.

That sounds a bit pervy to me. Especially with him standing over you watching you. Yuck.

MagnoliaXYZ · 24/04/2021 10:16

Maybe if it was the first time he'd met you or seen your work, he just wanted to let you know what his standards are.

He must see, though, that it takes more hours than you work to keep the place clean, else he wouldn't be employing a second cleaner. Find out what you and she are each expected to do when she starts and do only that, even if she leaves. He'll have to find someone else to do her hours or offer you more hours (and, as you're self employed there, perhaps you could review your contract at that point and amend your fees).

LittleOwl153 · 24/04/2021 10:16

If you are self employed- bill for the additional hours he's causing you by all his over instruction. That should solve the problem!

LittleOwl153 · 24/04/2021 10:18

Or just challenge the situation of self employment as they would have paid furlough etc if you were employed by them! This is certainly challengable if you have the energy!

Motnight · 24/04/2021 10:24

Op you don't owe this man an explanation. Whatever you say I bet he will twist it around to his own narrative.

Original poster
MaybUnreasonable · 24/04/2021 10:24

These replies have given me the confidence to quit today, thank you!

I'm going to draft a message shortly.

The manager is a professional body builder and is clearly applying that mindset to the bloody cleaners.

"Hi (manager) apologies for the lack of notice but I won't be returning to work. I found last weekend incredibly stressful and no longer feel as though I'm a good fit for the gym. I hope you find somebody better suited. Regards"

How does that sound?

OP posts:
VodselForDinner · 24/04/2021 10:26

Leave.

Also, £9/hr for a self-employed cleaner is ridiculously low. You’re actually worse off than if you were employed by them on the legal minimum as at least then you’d be getting holiday pay etc. and not have to worry about tax returns.

If you’re taking on more work on a self-employee basis, you really should reconsider your pricing.

legosnowqueen · 24/04/2021 10:29

Leave - but in the note don't imply you're not good enough, be clear that the expectations & requirements have been changed. Have a relaxing weekend Smile

VodselForDinner · 24/04/2021 10:30

"Hi (manager) apologies for the lack of notice but I won't be returning to work. I found last weekend incredibly stressful and no longer feel as though I'm a good fit for the gym. I hope you find somebody better suited. Regards"

No, no, no, no, noooo!!

You’re not an employee, you’re not relying on him for a reference or anything, you’re withdrawing a service.

Something more along the lines of-

Dear X,

Due to the conversations we had last week and the fact that you’ve made it clear that you’re looking for cleaning services that are a departure from what I was engaged to offer, I am not in a position to continue providing services to X Gym.

My final invoice is attached, for your attention”

Original poster
MaybUnreasonable · 24/04/2021 10:30

It's quite strange actually because when he called me earlier in the month to let me know they were reopening he asked if I'd consider dropping to 3 hours per weekend day.

I said no because I had to factor in travel time and expenses so we agreed to keep it as 4 hours on Saturday and 4 hours on Sunday.

I can only assume that was before he was made aware that the other cleaners weren't coming back.

He was asking me last weekend if I knew anybody who wanted to take a cleaning job there as he's now desperate.

OP posts:
Original poster
MaybUnreasonable · 24/04/2021 10:34

Crossed posts, noted about my message thank you.

I did wonder at the start whether the job fell under false self employment and looked into it as such, but they've just about covered themselves by throwing a few clauses into the contract.

OP posts:
SelkieIntegrated · 24/04/2021 10:37

definitely quit!
This will just lower your sense of worth in the workplace, as an employee I mean.