To not want to do my cleaning job while people are in the office

[lucielou182]

I’ve worked for this company in the past. Just recently gone back and have been given an office job to clean for the same company I previously did but in a separate building.

I just feel very uncomfortable as it’s a laboratory office and a very busy one and I’m expected to clean around everyone whilst they are working. They are all lovely and friendly staff but I feel I’m constantly getting in their way!

men’s toilets have showers in too and every time I’m in their I feel like I’m back and forward as there are so many people in and out. Expected to clean showers but I don’t get more than 2 minutes before someone else comes in.

office spaces are full of glass jars lab equipment etc and people walking round in their coats and boots and trays everywhere. I can hoover and empty the bins but can not see how it’s safe for me to be expected to mop. I feel really uncomfortable as I feel I’m getting in everyone’s way.

when I mop the main areas and reception area it’s instantly mucky from people in and out the building in their boots so much. It’s chaos and I feel like I’m doing a terrible job!

The lady who done this building before me always done it during business hours so I feel I’m being picky to even ask them if I can come in afterwards.(& I don’t think they would allow it as they have someone come and lock up all the buildings after they finish) I just feel it’s so unsafe for me to be mopping round people while they are in these spaces and also carrying whatever it is in their lab trays etc.

what do I do about this!? The building I worked in next door was just general office space and everyone had gone home so I could give it a good deep clean every night. I can’t even get to most desks at this one I’m all over the place !

Hi, I'm a cleaner and work in similar businesses. There's no way I would work with staff present.
Speak to your manager as it is a health and safety issue as well as privacy concerns with the toilets.
Good luck x

Not a cleaner but I see the cleaners work in a permanently occupied area and they just seem to take their chances where they can, some areas don't get cleaned as well as others.

The showers thing is a bit much though, you should be able to barrier it off for the time required unless it's a decontamination area in constant use

I work in a lab area with cleaners in every afternoon. It's perfectly normal. The shower issue is different, but there's no reason a busy, occupied lab can't be cleaned.

The cleaners in my office close the toilets to clean them, they just stick a sign on the door.

Yes, I've seen this too. I would have thought it was standard.

Thanks for your replies. It’s more the small space and the mopping and unable to clean desks that I’m finding hard. I don’t want them to think I’m doing a terrible job but obviously can’t do it when the area is heavily populated. Looks like a danger waiting to happen

@jay55 no I’ve been told I need to leave if they need to use showers etc. All their lockers, urinals, toilets and showers are all the same room. They leave all
their lab clothes in there too to hang for cleaning etc so it’s a busy area

Been there done that. It is tbf demoralising.
can you speak to your area manager/boss and explain? In my case, my boss and the company we were cleaning for compromised, by getting the building locked up an hour later, so at least the toilet/shower/lockers could be cleaned without interruption. Although corridors/offices had to be done around office workers. Alternatively could the building be unlocked earlier so you clean at the beginning of the day?