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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have refused to clean it up?

190 replies

SickOfRoses · 18/12/2021 08:48

I’m a cleaner. Got to work yesterday and other members of staff kept following me around - they ultimately recorded me going into the men’s toilets. On the floor was wet torn up toilet roll, toilet roll “balls” splattered on the walls, toilet roll slung all over the toilet and what appeared to be shit smeared all over the toilet and floor (turned out to be chocolate syrup). There was also an elf on the floor holding an empty toilet roll tube.

The other staff members were in hysterics recording my reaction. I didn’t see the funny side at all and walked out suggesting they clean up their mess so I could get on with my job. In my defence I didn’t feel that well to start with, hadn’t slept well and had slipped on the way into work and hurt my hip.

I was called a misery, reminded that it was Christmas and told to lighten up. They have now uploaded the video of my reaction to Facebook and it has been shared twice already and I’m worried it will end up going “viral”. I have asked them to remove it and will be going to management if they don’t.
Am I being unreasonable??

OP posts:
ShinyballsAndChocolateTinsel · 18/12/2021 11:08

They are having a laugh at your expense, not on. I would copy it and complain loudly to HR
I'm so sorry you work with such tossers

BligeMe · 18/12/2021 11:10

I agree with previous posters, report to HR etc etc. But also maybe look for a new job? Do you want to carry on working with these bullying tossers? And once you have reported it, will their treatment of you get worse but in ways harder to prove?

ShinyballsAndChocolateTinsel · 18/12/2021 11:10

It's made The Mirror online

Pinkypenguin · 18/12/2021 11:13

@SheldonesqueTheBstard

They are a bunch of arses.

Pranks are supposed to be funny. Creating a heap of extra work for something is not that.

The video? That needs to be taken down. And sharpish.

It has to be funny for everyone or else it is just nasty behaviour.

Exactly this!
CurlyhairedAssassin · 18/12/2021 11:13

Nowhere has OP said that the clear expectation by the other staff members was that she was supposed to clean it all up. Nowhere has she said who actually cleaned it all up in the end.

Because of this it’s not clear at all that this WOULD have actually added to OP’s workload, just that OP took one look and assumed it would and then walked out. OP has not come back to clarify that yes, the staff had indeed expected her to clean it up or to clarify who actually did clean it up in thr end.

There are a lot of pertinent details left out as to what the initial intention of the prank was. That said, the way they handled themselves after it had obviously backfired was appalling, in terms of sharing the video. That part of it is clearly bullying.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 18/12/2021 11:15

And the fact that OP hasn’t been back to clarify things is a bit…..combined with the story appearing online all of a sudden.

I hate this kind of shit. What a waste of time.

sst1234 · 18/12/2021 11:19

www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/cleaner-walks-out-office-over-25731409

Wonder what the workplace are going to do now. One of their staff is distressed because of workplace bullying. Are they going to take action? OP shouldn’t even need to report it now. If they don’t take action, that’s an indictment on them. Does anyone know what the workplace is?

purplemunkey · 18/12/2021 11:21

At my work, uploading the video would land them in serious trouble - a) the video puts the company in disrepute (is this how staff spend their time and treat their colleagues?) and more importantly b) they’ve uploaded it without your consent.

sst1234 · 18/12/2021 11:22

Has anyone seen the video? The workplace should be named and forced into action.

Astella22 · 18/12/2021 11:22

Stupid shitty ‘prank’, if they thought it was so hilarious they wouldn’t of had an issue cleaning it up.

BobbieT1999 · 18/12/2021 11:25

That would be a stackable offence in my book. I hope management come down on them like a ton of bricks.

BorsetshireBanality · 18/12/2021 11:26

@sst1234

Has anyone seen the video? The workplace should be named and forced into action.
but not by you, by someone else for goodness sake so you don't get dragged into bringing the workplace unto disrepute!
loislovesstewie · 18/12/2021 11:26

Extremely disrespectful, and also bullying. Tell HR and make it plain that you don't come to work to deal with infantile behaviour. I would never, ever treat the people who cleaned at my place of work like this We are all workers and worthy of respect.
BTW 'banter' or 'pranks 'are just excuses for bad behaviour in my opinion. Not funny!

Wheresthebeach · 18/12/2021 11:37

@Mumoblue

Go to HR asap. It’s bullying and creating a hostile work environment.
Absolutely this
SocialConnection · 18/12/2021 11:47

This is called bullying and harrassment.

And the great thing is, they've provided video evidence.

Have a look at the company's policy on the issue.

Do you have a union?

Be proactive and call a meeting with HR.

Practice your statement about what they planned, ganged up against you to do, then videoed to mock you publicly.

Time to take back control of how you feel and how you are treated.

Let us know!

Foolsrule · 18/12/2021 11:48

It’s bullying. Constructive dismissal claim right there.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 18/12/2021 11:49

@TimeIhadaSeasonalNameChange

Go to HR. It's bullying.
This ^

And they should be sacked, or at least disciplined for this, and for uploading the video which shows their workplace in a very poor light.

You did exactly the right thing. You are a cleaner, not a slave.

They should be ashamed.

Crinkle77 · 18/12/2021 11:51

@Homeatlast2

How well Do they know you? Would they have thought you might see the funny side? Was you aware of the pranks that were happening with others how did you feel about them. If you had not had a crap morning would you have found it funny?

Although I can understand you may not have found it funny. I would not call it bullying. I think it was a prank that did not go down well. And pranks had been done to power people so op was not singled out.

But the video part of it is way out of order they do need to take that down. Surely by then they knew you were not happy with the situation so they should have just cleaned up the mess deleted the video .

I agree with this. We don't have enough information. If it's a one off joke that's gone wrong then going to HR is a bit dramatic. Ask them to remove the video and if they apologise and remove it then the situation is dealt with. If they refuse or its part of a wider bullying issue then yes go to HR.
IMarchToADifferentDrummer · 18/12/2021 11:51

@Chr1stmasCarole

They pulled this prank deliberately to humiliate you and make your job harder. Then, rather than apologise when they realised you were upset they tried to make out that you were the one with the problem. Then they have filmed all this and shared it on Facebook without your permission. There were several of them and one of you. Report it to management or HR. You are not overreacting... it wasn't ok.
Exactly this!!
Subbaxeo · 18/12/2021 11:53

I’m absolutely shocked and disgusted on your behalf. What happened to the season of goodwill to your fellow creatures? Tell them as they think it’s so funny they can have a laugh clearing it up. Appalling.

Bitamine · 18/12/2021 11:54

YADNBU it’s disgusting behaviour

liveforsummer · 18/12/2021 11:55

Yeh sure, giving you extra work to do when I bet you are already tight for time is utterly hilarious- for them only though. And sharing on SM without your permission must be breaking some code of conduct surely. I'd be furious OP. I'm furious on your behalf.

Musicaltheatremum · 18/12/2021 11:56

If my staff did that to our cleaners they'd be out on their ears

That is the most disgusting horrendous thing I have ever read in a long time and to put it on Facebook leaves me speechless!

I hope you report it and each and every one of them gets a serious warning!

Thankyou for cleaning. We all need people like you.

BatshitBanshee · 18/12/2021 11:57

Screenshot the video and who shared it (if you can) and go to management. That is disgusting behaviour.

WhereYouLeftIt · 18/12/2021 12:00

"They have now uploaded the video of my reaction to Facebook and it has been shared twice already and I’m worried it will end up going “viral”. I have asked them to remove it and will be going to management if they don’t."

Rather than remove the video, preserve it if you can. I would forward a link to it to management and HR at the company. Action needs to be taken against these arseholes.