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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

This isn’t fair surely ??

21 replies

cleaningGleaming · 29/08/2021 11:35

Job interview for cleaning agencies ….

The 3 local to me all want to interview me in my home and to check my own standard of cleaning and look round.
I explained I have references from a past job cleaning for an agency and then references from individuals.

They have said no they need to see my home?? My house isn’t dirty but that isn’t the point we are busy and it’s not perfect that doesn’t mean my cleaning of other peoples home or businesses won’t be up to standard

I’m happy to demonstrate I can clean and iron but i don’t want to have my home checked !

Would this be acceptable for any other job ?
‘Oh you’re a gardener and you have references but we need to see your garden’

‘Yes you can apply for this dental nurse job but I’ll need to pop round to see how well you brush your own teeth’

‘Of course you can join the team here at the restaurant but first before we make it formal I’m going to have to come round for a meal as although you have experience I’ve verified and great references and a food hygiene certificate I really must insist you cook me a roast’

Wouldn’t work would it or is this a thing now ?

OP posts:

Threearm · 29/08/2021 11:39

I'd find it weird. I wouldn't vet a teacher on how well they teach their own kids because it's well accepted teaching your own is different. I can very well imagine cleaning your own home is a different standard to what you would do elsewhere.

CarrotTops · 29/08/2021 11:39

Yes that's completely unacceptable. How clean you chose to keep your home doesn't reflect on your ability to clean other people's. One you have paid time set aside to do the job, the other you have find your own time to do.

It's more like asking to sit in on a chefs weekly dinners, just to make that they can cook Michelin star for breakfast lunch and dinner. Or coming to me house at 10pm to see if I can dress smartly for work. Total bs

Original poster

cleaningGleaming · 29/08/2021 11:41

@Threearm

Yes exactly ! My home is clean but it’s not perfect I wouldn’t like to be judged on it but it’s a busy working house with dc and I do quick wipes with antibacterial wipes and quick hoovers etc whereas for work I’m much more thorough

OP posts:

Sparklfairy · 29/08/2021 11:45

Ha! Ex cleaner here and currently looking at the sorry state of my kitchen cleaning your own home isn't the same once you're used to being paid for it!

Thats standard anyway isn't it, builders always have some unfinished DIY job on the go, accountants are shite with their own money...

If they're insistent I'm not sure what you can do. I always met cleaners in a coffee shop and wouldn't have dreamed of being so invasive. Theres a huge difference between cleaning your own home with a busy life to make it passable and doing it to a high standard when being paid.

If it were me, I would schedule all the interviews for the same day, and the day before book in a professional company to deep clean my place just to rebel

iamtheoneandonlyyy · 29/08/2021 11:45

I was recently advised by universal credit to start a cleaning business and told I should do exactly what it says in your OP. It must be the new 'thing'

Original poster

cleaningGleaming · 29/08/2021 11:47

@iamtheoneandonlyyy

I was recently advised by universal credit to start a cleaning business

and told I should do exactly what it says in your OP. It must be the new 'thing'

Yes I’m assuming so as when I previously worked for an agency a few years ago it wasn’t a requirement but now I’ve had 3 agencies state this is part of the recruitment process but I can’t see any other job where this would be done !

OP posts:

pigsDOfly · 29/08/2021 11:49

That would feel very invasive to me having a complete stranger coming into my home with the express purpose of judging it, and me.

How exactly are they judging your home for their purposes?

Are they going to go into each room, run their fingers across the top of the skirting boards or mirrors and then mark you out of 10?

Are they going to go into your loos and lift up the lid to see how you cope with limescale?

Does it matter to them if you haven't dusted within the last day or so, or does that mark you down?

Are they going to judge you harshly if there's a pile of ironing not finished?

Unless you live in a completely filthy tip I really don't think that what your home looks like is relevant to how you'd clean someone else's home.

You have references, that's is all they need to see.

CouldItBeCake · 29/08/2021 11:54

This seems crazy to me, and also somehow a bit discriminatory based on the type of work (?) Imagine someone in financial services having their incomings / outgoings / credit arrangements vetted. Or just an applicant for [insert generic desk-based professional job] being turned down because they have 452 unread emails in their inbox on their personal email account. I’m with you 100%

Seeline · 29/08/2021 11:58

Actually many financial service jobs to require a credit check and other financial checks.

GreenWillow · 29/08/2021 12:20

@CouldItBeCake

They do.

My DBro is a Financial adviser and has to regularly submit 3 months full and unredacted bank statements together with a full credit check to maintain his authorisation with the FCA.

CouldItBeCake · 29/08/2021 13:39

Ah fair enough, shows what I know! Thank you @Seeline and @GreenWillow for putting me straight

pigsDOfly · 29/08/2021 14:05

In view of what GreenWillow has posted, maybe this goes on more than those of us not affect realise.

All seems overstepping the mark to me.

GreenWillow · 31/08/2021 22:26

@pigsDOfly

In view of what GreenWillow has posted, maybe this goes on more than those of us not affect realise.

All seems overstepping the mark to me.

It’s to ensure he’s financially secure, so not vulnerable to being corrupted.

Perfectly sensible IMO.

That said, I do think insisting on judging your home is a bit much.

JustLyra · 31/08/2021 22:29

That’s very odd.

My cleaner has a cleaner so they’d not be judging her, but her cleaner!

Bargebill19 · 31/08/2021 22:39

Definitely not normal at the bigger agencies.
Those interviews are usually held at the place you will be employed to clean at, once shown around you generally are asked if your happy to do what’s needed and that’s about it!!

Bargebill19 · 31/08/2021 22:41

Should add - they do do all the employment chiecks too.

Stars1979 · 31/08/2021 22:41

Strange......what if you don't clean your house, but a partner does? Lots of assumptions here, how very odd. I would be completely put off.

ISpyCobraKai · 31/08/2021 22:44

That's nuts.
I used to be a cleaner, in my job I was excellent, my home, not so much.
The two aren't related.

purpleme12 · 31/08/2021 22:47

Noooo I couldn't be dealing with this

NotJuryDutyAgain · 31/08/2021 23:02

That's weird. If I were hiring someone to clean, I wouldn't really care about the state of their own home, so long as they did a good job cleaning mine.

Notjustanymum · 31/08/2021 23:19

I would think that this breaches UK Employment Law on Employee privacy and right to family life. As far as I can tell, the only checks your prospective employer can make are on your Right to work in the UK, Criminal checks and Health checks...
I would regard their request to inspect your home as a gross invasion of privacy.
Check on the Gov.co.uk website and point this out when they ask again. If you don’t get the job, or even if you do, you can report them to the Local Authority for this breach (make sure you get their inspection request in writing).

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