Housekeeping slob employer or normal.

[Treesandsheepeverywhere]

A friend has started a job as a housekeeper.

The very first week there the kids and parents leave clothes on the floor for her to pick up. Fine for kids, also kind of fine for parents clothes, but, they also leave their underwear on the floor!!

I've said for her to quit bit obviously that's easier dlsaid than done.

I posted about her job previously where they expect her to do overtime hours for bo extra pay.

She's months in now so wishes she'd said something sooner, but what and how?

When I've worked as a nanny I used to pick up the kids clothes and put them o. Their beds for them to sort.

I've suggested similar but she thinks it's passive aggressive.

Any advice please?

She'll read the replies as she's not on Mumsnet.

Just to add, picking up boxers feels different to thongs with discharge or

Y-fronts.

Thanks.

I don't think there is a "right" for a housekeeper to ask employers to put their laundry in the baskets. (Although it's obviously the considerate thing to do.) She could ask nicely that the family put undies in the basket (maybe say it'll help her get through more work?) but I don't think she can insist.

If she doesn't like the work I'm afraid she will need to find a new client.

Is she doing the role every day? If so, presumably she's also doing their laundry (ie touching bedsheets and towels), and cleaning loos and showers - all inherently a bit ick. So some ickiness comes with the territory of a full time housekeeper (Though the thong situation is really another level...)

Unpaid extra hours on the other hand... that's not ok on any level, and she would be well within her rights to insist her hours are as stated in her contract in my view.

ps I hope you don't know the family in question... I'd be pretty livid if my cleaner was slagging off my household habits to any mutual acquaintances! That might be the end of our employment relationship tbh

Is this a “live in” arrangement with accommodation provided?

It all sounds very sketchy with no clear work duties/ work hours? Is the job salaried or paid per hour?

Some employers are minging. Leaving used sanitary towels on the floor, so it could be worse.

Cleaner or housekeeper - kind of different in my mind.
Cleaner doesn't tidy just cleans.
Housekeeper keeps the house nice... even if that includes picking up pants!

There'd have been a lot of binned underwear if that had been me!

Does she do the laundry as part of her job? If so presumably she handles their dirty clothes and underwear then so presumably they see it as no different?

(No I would not expect people to pick up my underwear but neither would I expect anyone to do my laundry but perhaps I might expect laundry to be a duty if I had a full time housekeeper).

I suspect as she didn't say from the outset as soon as she realised that she would do any laundry in a basket but wouldn't gather dirty underwear from the floor it may be rather late to speak up now. But it bothers her then she should otherwise they won't knkw because she has always just done it.

I’m not a housekeeper but work as a cleaner and there are tactful ways to approach things.

For example, I suggested putting a small bin in the teen daughter’s room as there were food wrappers/ make up packaging, general rubbish being left on her floor.

For another customer- I found drying and picking up hundreds of plastic bath toys out of the bath so I could clean was a pain so showed her a plastic netting bag with suckers on Amazon which could hold all the toys and attach to the wall- she was happy with the idea- my job’s easier!

Why not suggest a small laundry organiser in each bedroom, maybe locate one online? As a housekeeper, you can take the initiative and they might appreciate your suggestions (and it makes your job easier).

Thanks again all. She has a contract but it says housekeeping duties, not specific ones. Not live-in.

She speaks English but is away from family or any support network.

I'm probably her only friend she can talk to here.
She's American and asks for my input in case it's a cultural thing she doesn't understand and doesn't want to come across as rude or work-shy.

She's only brought it up now as at first she thought they'd left in a rush but it's now becoming the norm.

They do have laundry baskets that everyone walks past from their bedrooms or bathrooms.

She does the laundry but I think that's what's frustrating her more as it's literally a 3 second walk to the laundry basket.

@bleughgreen , that's so rank! Sorry you had to go through that.
sad when step mothers behave like this. Your dad too!

Thanks again.

Well you can assure her it’s not a cultural thing for brits to leave knickers on the floor 🤨😂

However, if she’s paid as housekeeper that essentially covers all household chores including tidying, cleaning, stripping beds, laundry, ironing, emptying bins, etc then this underwear thing seems like a minor issue to me.

Its never a good mindset to resent being treated like a maid when you are paid to be a maid! And I say that as a cleaner myself.

It’s important to agree responsibilities and manage a customer’s expectations but there’s little to be gained by feeling sorry for yourself.

This morning for example I was on my knees pulling gunk and pubes out of shower drains by hand and scrubbing toilet rims - picking up some underwear wouldn’t faze me at all.

Theres no harm in politely reminding her customers to ensure laundry is left in the baskets for washing. That’s not rude at all.

In fact housekeepers are generally expected to take the initiative when organising all the household tasks so a meeting with her employers might be a good idea to review things, make her own suggestions on laundry systems or discuss any issues.

I can't see picking up knickers is any worse than cleaning toilets or emptying bins which will have all sorts in. Cleaning is often a grotty job. She just needs to wear gloves as she would for any other "dirty" job.

It is different. It is disrespectful. But very common.