Shoes off, covid!

[NouvelleMamanNouvelleVie]

I know there are a lot of threads about shoes off in the house. People can do what they want in their own houses but I personally have shoes off and 95% of people who come here take their shoes off.

Anyhow a chap came today for a brief professional visit, me as the client. My children are playing on the floor, one being a small baby.

Hello, thanks for coming, do come in. Please could you take your shoes off? I said.

I can't. Because of covid, he said.

What does this mean? Can anyone explain this from a clinical point of view?

Well I had a different professional over last week who was rude to me (Not about his shoes) and when I left I wish I'd grown a pair, so today I did grow a pair and I said very politely,

I'm sorry but I have children playing on the floor. (He was planning to walk into every room in the house)

So he said he'd go back to the car and get shoe covers, I said thanks very much.

A bit of faffing at the door and he decided the car was too far and he just took his shoes off.

My point is, how are his outdoor shoes protecting me from covid? They might protect him a bit, but not me. What have I missed?

Thanks!

What was his explanation, I don't think I can pass any comment without knowing his reasons

Well I could say it's a load of bollocks but I'd like to know what he said too

He said, I can't take my shoes off, because of covid. 🤷‍♀️

Sounds like he simply didn’t want to take his shoes off and “because of Covid” is just another lame over used excuse.

I would have said well I can't have you in here with your shoes on, because of covid.

He just couldn't be bothered and was using COVID as an excuse.

I don't ask visiting workers/tradespeople to remove shoes, though, as I'd not want them to accidentally get injured. Shoes give an added level of protection. If they traipse dirt in, I just run the vacuum round after.

I work in care with hoists in houses where they want no shoes but there is handling equipment that might squish our feet we put on shoe covers. It's pretty normal to remove our shoes for companionship visits though. Most assessors or surveyors will remove shoes.

@NouvelleMamanNouvelleVie

He said, I can't take my shoes off, because of covid. 🤷‍♀️

Sorry, I meant what did he say when you asked what shoes had to do with covid.

3scape yes it was an assessor type person. No possibility of an injury really!

Oh sorry ch3rish. I didn't want to irritate him too much so I didn't go as far as asking that!

Shoes off is always more "dangerous" than shoes on in that regard, though. I work in people's homes and never take my shoes off for that reason. If I get a foot injury, I can't work.

It's not just stubbing toes - if something fell on his foot, or he cut his foot on say, some glass or a nail or something, it could cause him a load of unnecessary hassle.

My dd is at dance college and they have a no bare feet rule because of covid to avoid transmission from the floor.

I wouldn't dream of asking a tradesperson to remove their shoes.

I suppose but from that point of view we are all running a risk from nails and glass in our own homes every day. The risk of him walking a disease into the carpet which his shoes picked up from traces of pigeon or dog poop on the payment is surely higher, and then my 7 month old faceplants the carpet and develops a sickness... ugh.

If it's that dangerous, then he should just have brought shoe covers I guess.

*pavement

I'm a shoes on in my house kind of person because I grew up in a house where your shoes stick to the floor, but anyone who is visiting another person's home should absolutely either take their shoes off (but having had to go in some people's disgusting homes, that would be taking your life in your hands... or should I say, feet) OR have shoe covers in their pocket or bag. To insist you wear uncovered shoes in someone's house is unprofessional and very rude.

The only place I insist on keeping mine on where the homeowner wants them off is my mother's house which hasn't seen a mop since I did it while she was away 2 or 3 years ago. I had to buy a mop and bucket for it. And I don't care if I am the rude one there.

In case you cough on his foot and he then licks it?!

@PurpleyBlue

In case you cough on his foot and he then licks it?!

😂😁

@NouvelleMamanNouvelleVie

I suppose but from that point of view we are all running a risk from nails and glass in our own homes every day. The risk of him walking a disease into the carpet which his shoes picked up from traces of pigeon or dog poop on the payment is surely higher, and then my 7 month old faceplants the carpet and develops a sickness... ugh.

If it's that dangerous, then he should just have brought shoe covers I guess.

I suppose but from that point of view we are all running a risk from nails and glass in our own homes every day.

But it's different when it's in your own home. I don't wear shoes in my own house but I always wear them when I'm working in other peoples' homes. I don't know how safe their floors are and I don't want to be injured.

I'm not paranoid about hygiene as I have a dog who obviously doesn't wear shoes or clean his feet before coming inside, lol.

He should have brought shoe covers but it's really not something I can ever imagine asking a worker to do, tbh. Just vacuum/clean the floors afterwards if you're that worried.

When I was a lone worker we were instructed never to remove shoes, as doing so makes it harder to get out in a hurry if someone becomes aggressive.

It's nonsense. Every tradey who's been in my house since march 2020 has either taken their shoes off or (more usually) worn shoe covers. None of them batted an eyelid.

‘because of covid’ translates to ‘because I can’t be arsed’ in 99% of situations.

@nocoolnamesleft

When I was a lone worker we were instructed never to remove shoes, as doing so makes it harder to get out in a hurry if someone becomes aggressive.

I lived with someone who did a job in and out of people's homes, and sometimes give them bad/expensive news, couldn't wear a tie or jewellery. Always check you can get to exit. I can understand not removing shoes for safety but not specifically for Covid. Unless he had no socks on.

Shoeless feet transmit more germs, but each to her own.

@Daphnise

Shoeless feet transmit more germs, but each to her own.

That maybe true but what would be the mechanism for a socked foot to transmit covid?

Would that not involve someone with covid coughing onto their foot after they've taken their shoes off, the covid germs managing to survive on the carpet long enough for someone else to lick the carpet or otherwise breathe in the germs

Is there another way it could be risky?

You can keep a few pairs of disposable overshoes (the sort used by builders) to supply to tradesmen who need to enter the house

Mustlovegin yes, good idea.

This was a man, and I am a woman alone in the house with children.

And yes he definitely cited covid.