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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be annoyed cleaner opens the window...

141 replies

ImStillMe · 17/11/2022 22:06

....because of Covid. I ventilate when the office is busier later in the day but early morning it's just me in and it's cold.

But the cleaner walks in and opens the windows. I'm sure she wouldn't do that to the MD sitting in his office.

She popped back in one day and gave me a dirty look as I had shut them. I've already told her that I open them later.

I know I need to just tell her not to open them but I think she's going to answer back and it'll all be very awkward.

What to say?

OP posts:
Delatron · 20/11/2022 14:17

I’m sure the poster who said Covid has finished meant most people aren’t really concerned by it anymore or letting them dictate their lifestyle. It’s another virus which when you’re triple vaccinated and have had it mildly a few times, it isn’t on your radar. Most people aren’t testing so wouldn’t know if the cold/illness they have is Covid or one of the other coronaviruses. That’s the definition that of ‘finished’ the poster meant.

People should be more concerned about the horrific Norovirus big that’s doing the rounds. That shut our school last week. Or the flu that is more serious because of lockdown affecting immunity. Ditto the RSV outbreak which is landing far more children in hospital than Covid ever did. People really do focus on the wrong things…

Anyway, because of the amount of illnesses around I would welcome some fresh air in the office and it’s fair enough for the cleaner. However you shouldn’t be cold. Can you get the heating turned up for a while. Any other space you could work from?

ThatGirlInACountrySong · 20/11/2022 14:19

@rwalker
Cleaning products are still unpleasant at times, cosh or otherwise!

ImStillMe · 20/11/2022 16:28

ImStillMe · Today 16:25

She comes in to do a specific task (not a full clean) and then leaves shortly afterwards.

So, most of you can walk into a colleague's office, open their closed window, do what you need to do in that office and then leave, having not shut the window.

This is peak MN.

OP posts:
rwalker · 20/11/2022 16:34

ThatGirlInACountrySong · 20/11/2022 14:19

@rwalker
Cleaning products are still unpleasant at times, cosh or otherwise!

Depends on what they are caustic oven cleaner or washing up liquid
she’s cleaning an office desk and touch points let not kid ourselves there’s hardly going to be clouds of toxic fumes
its desk she’s cleaning not industrial ovens

stuntbubbles · 20/11/2022 17:05

ImStillMe · 20/11/2022 16:28

ImStillMe · Today 16:25

She comes in to do a specific task (not a full clean) and then leaves shortly afterwards.

So, most of you can walk into a colleague's office, open their closed window, do what you need to do in that office and then leave, having not shut the window.

This is peak MN.

If I’m the cleaner, then yes. Unless your drip feed is that her single task is to drop her timesheet in your in-tray or something, YABVU.

ButterflyLeg · 20/11/2022 17:30

ImStillMe · 20/11/2022 16:28

ImStillMe · Today 16:25

She comes in to do a specific task (not a full clean) and then leaves shortly afterwards.

So, most of you can walk into a colleague's office, open their closed window, do what you need to do in that office and then leave, having not shut the window.

This is peak MN.

Lol, nah ....you are the personification of munsnet if there ever was one.

tootsyfruitsy1974 · 20/11/2022 19:59

I am having a very similar issue at the moment with a nurse who is a bully and that's being polite. I am cleaner that cleans the reception and back staff areas of a medical clinic during the early afternoon. It can get incredibly hot and stuffy with wearing masks especially when you combine this with doing a physical job and menopausal hot flushes.

During the Winter it is a lot worse- central heating is left on max the entire day which is understandable for patient areas like the reception and clinic. For the back area it is unnecessary. Most staff only fleetingly pass through for brief toilet/drink stops between their early morning and lunch breaks. As it is this area has little ventilation and rooms which do have windows are rarely opened by them unless it's the height of a Summer heat wave despite peaks of Covid, flu or norovirus. If I am ill from one of those I can't go in to work and with no sick pay my bills don't get paid.

Cleaning the staff kitchen (way before their lunch breaks) is one of the few times during my shift I can get some respite of decent air quality and not feel fatigued in an otherwise humid building. I automatically open the windows after emptying rubbish to air the room and occasionally need to turn the radiator down before I return a short while later to finish cleaning it. Having hyperosmia (hypersensitive sense of smell) I need to do this to reduce lingering smells of rubbish, food/cooking, body odour and damp caused by inadequate plumbing issues that have rotted the inside of kitchen units which will never be replaced.

I dread it if said nurse pops in the staff kitchen for one of her many vaping breaks if I am in the middle of cleaning it or airing it before I return. Or the odd occasional times I've turned the heating down a notch. She takes issue (one of many) with the fact it leaves the room cold and has even gone as far as pinning out a passive aggressive note on the window. If anyone's wondering she leaves a cardigan permanently attached to 'her kitchen chair' as well.

God forbid if I forget to close the two windows after due to my increased workload with no extra time or pay and she/or another staff member have to close them. There is no compassion over my working conditions from her. Her solution during one of her many rants yesterday was to leave the back door propped open instead (as she does when vaping). This isn't practical and creates a security issue with anyone being able to wander in as I air the room first which seemed to bypass her. I politely pointed out the radiator didn't need to be on max all day either which was wasting heat and got snapped at 'What's it to you?- you don't pay the bills'. I dare say she'd of probably done her best to get me sacked if I'd retaliated with the fact that in today's current climate all homes and businesses are supposed to be doing their bit to conserve energy!

I have remained polite and professional to her throughout many years of her verbal abuse over petty things or beyond my control, humiliation, being talked down to or falsely accused. The fact that I go above and beyond in this workplace due to staff shortages of cleaners and at times HCA/nursing staff is lost on her. The majority of the other staff are lovely as are the patients but she makes me feel like utter crap. I've lost count of the number of times I've broke down crying after or suffered panic attacks if she's on a shift after one of her latest verbal attacks.

The frustrating thing is I am not the only one who has been on the receiving end of her vitrol- most cleaners and health care assistants have, even patients. Previous staff nurses have even resigned partially due to her bullying. Despite going to the clinic manager with complaints her 'good behaviour' rarely lasts long. Due to her longevity and ongoing nurse shortages she knows she can get away with it, especially with staff she considers 'beneath her'.

To the O.P, though you are probably nothing like the staff member that I have to deal with and it is totally different work environments I tell you my story in the hope that you see things from a cleaners perspective. It doesn't matter whether it is a covid issue or something else- please show some compassion and understanding. Good cleaners are hard to find and keep hold of.

rwalker · 20/11/2022 20:01

tootsyfruitsy1974 · 20/11/2022 19:59

I am having a very similar issue at the moment with a nurse who is a bully and that's being polite. I am cleaner that cleans the reception and back staff areas of a medical clinic during the early afternoon. It can get incredibly hot and stuffy with wearing masks especially when you combine this with doing a physical job and menopausal hot flushes.

During the Winter it is a lot worse- central heating is left on max the entire day which is understandable for patient areas like the reception and clinic. For the back area it is unnecessary. Most staff only fleetingly pass through for brief toilet/drink stops between their early morning and lunch breaks. As it is this area has little ventilation and rooms which do have windows are rarely opened by them unless it's the height of a Summer heat wave despite peaks of Covid, flu or norovirus. If I am ill from one of those I can't go in to work and with no sick pay my bills don't get paid.

Cleaning the staff kitchen (way before their lunch breaks) is one of the few times during my shift I can get some respite of decent air quality and not feel fatigued in an otherwise humid building. I automatically open the windows after emptying rubbish to air the room and occasionally need to turn the radiator down before I return a short while later to finish cleaning it. Having hyperosmia (hypersensitive sense of smell) I need to do this to reduce lingering smells of rubbish, food/cooking, body odour and damp caused by inadequate plumbing issues that have rotted the inside of kitchen units which will never be replaced.

I dread it if said nurse pops in the staff kitchen for one of her many vaping breaks if I am in the middle of cleaning it or airing it before I return. Or the odd occasional times I've turned the heating down a notch. She takes issue (one of many) with the fact it leaves the room cold and has even gone as far as pinning out a passive aggressive note on the window. If anyone's wondering she leaves a cardigan permanently attached to 'her kitchen chair' as well.

God forbid if I forget to close the two windows after due to my increased workload with no extra time or pay and she/or another staff member have to close them. There is no compassion over my working conditions from her. Her solution during one of her many rants yesterday was to leave the back door propped open instead (as she does when vaping). This isn't practical and creates a security issue with anyone being able to wander in as I air the room first which seemed to bypass her. I politely pointed out the radiator didn't need to be on max all day either which was wasting heat and got snapped at 'What's it to you?- you don't pay the bills'. I dare say she'd of probably done her best to get me sacked if I'd retaliated with the fact that in today's current climate all homes and businesses are supposed to be doing their bit to conserve energy!

I have remained polite and professional to her throughout many years of her verbal abuse over petty things or beyond my control, humiliation, being talked down to or falsely accused. The fact that I go above and beyond in this workplace due to staff shortages of cleaners and at times HCA/nursing staff is lost on her. The majority of the other staff are lovely as are the patients but she makes me feel like utter crap. I've lost count of the number of times I've broke down crying after or suffered panic attacks if she's on a shift after one of her latest verbal attacks.

The frustrating thing is I am not the only one who has been on the receiving end of her vitrol- most cleaners and health care assistants have, even patients. Previous staff nurses have even resigned partially due to her bullying. Despite going to the clinic manager with complaints her 'good behaviour' rarely lasts long. Due to her longevity and ongoing nurse shortages she knows she can get away with it, especially with staff she considers 'beneath her'.

To the O.P, though you are probably nothing like the staff member that I have to deal with and it is totally different work environments I tell you my story in the hope that you see things from a cleaners perspective. It doesn't matter whether it is a covid issue or something else- please show some compassion and understanding. Good cleaners are hard to find and keep hold of.

Nursing and nhs is notorious for bullying

lljkk · 20/11/2022 20:28

How long does specific task take cleaner to do?

I hate a cold draft, but Given I have a desk job I would be happy to have a reason to jump up & just close the window, tbh. Maybe OP is on lots of telecons & can't easily close windows as soon as cleaner leaves?

ThatGirlInACountrySong · 20/11/2022 20:38

Also opening windows means everything dries quicker

ImStillMe · 21/11/2022 17:48

I have repeatedly seen the cleaner eat her lunch in a room with closed windows!

OP posts:
DaSilvaP · 23/11/2022 02:52

Dotcheck · 17/11/2022 22:30

How?
Would you REALLY just walk into someone’s office and open the window?
She would only be in the office for a short while when she cleans- it’s rude of her to open the window in someone else’s space and expect them to keep it that way

While she's in there it's HER working space.

MichelleScarn · 23/11/2022 06:22

ImStillMe · 21/11/2022 17:48

I have repeatedly seen the cleaner eat her lunch in a room with closed windows!

How dare she!?! Did she ask you before she did?

CaptainMyCaptain · 23/11/2022 07:49

ImStillMe · 21/11/2022 17:48

I have repeatedly seen the cleaner eat her lunch in a room with closed windows!

Eating her lunch - shock horror! You really are Unreasonable.

rwalker · 23/11/2022 08:35

CaptainMyCaptain · 23/11/2022 07:49

Eating her lunch - shock horror! You really are Unreasonable.

You know very well It’s not about eating lunch it’s about she’s selective when she opens windows
if she was genuinely bothered she’d have a window open at lunch

HuggsBosom · 23/11/2022 08:46

ImStillMe · 21/11/2022 17:48

I have repeatedly seen the cleaner eat her lunch in a room with closed windows!

Funny how she doesn’t need ventilation when she is the one sitting down!

OP, YANBU, it’s cold and an open window would give me a head cold / sniffles.

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