To ask engineer to take his shoes off?

[singingtonight]

Or at least wear foot coverings?

I'm not normally bothered about things like this but I've just moved into my new home and had new carpets fitted on Monday which obviously cost a lot of money.

Sky engineer is coming tomorrow to connect the broadband. WIBU to ask him to take his shoes off or cover them in the house?

I probably sound really silly but I don't want to be that "person" and make it awkward by asking but the carpets are only a few days old after all.

We have a chair in our front porch. No need for anyone to be "hopping about".

I regard loose cover cloths on floors as more dangerous as they're trip hazards and can easily slip. As I said upthread, we once had a bolshie plumber who wouldn't put on shoecovers and insisted on putting his own dust sheets down on the floor, including the stairs, and then promptly fell down the stairs due to one of his dust sheets slipping! Thankfully, they were his and he put them down, so it was 100% his fault and liability, but there were no injuries, just his hurt pride!

No. But I work home visiting in health care and absolutely yes I have come across more than a few from drug abusers etc. Well, I couldn't tell by looking at them if they were infected, but more than likely!

I had Sky broadband installed two weeks ago and the engineer put on shoe coverings when she saw I had carpet. think it's pretty standard now.

And your own time, and you’re the one who then doesn’t have the service you were hoping/paying for. Plus this is only one company, what about any other tradies or service people?

It’s not really beyond you to make your own sensible provision.

When I was in a role that required home visits, we were expressly forbidden from taking our shoes off, partly because of the risk slipping or treading on stuff that might be sharp, but also in case of needing to make a quick getaway if a client became aggressive or threatening.

We all carried a box of shoe covers in our cars for use when clients wanted us to remove our shoes.

I would definitely be expecting shoe covers to be worn.

Absolutely insane but I live in Ireland where taking off your shoes when entering a house isn’t considered normal.

You would be that person. Leave him alone and hoover when he goes. If your carpets can't withstand someone walking on them then they're not good carpets.

They have always offered/had shoe covers in my experience. They are usually very nice too and won't mind you mentioning it if they forget to offer.

I will add every trade I've had in my house has offered to cover or remove their shoes. My living room is upstairs so they need to walk on carpet, I've never once asked they offer as soon as they see carpet.

I'm wondering if it's a bit regional, I never go into a house without removing shoes at the door. Everyone I know does the same including my (alas regular) plumber

DP operates a home service-based business, and all employees wear shoe covers. However, there is a disclaimer stating that access to the home and any liability for damages are the responsibility of the homeowner. It would have been wiser to install the new carpets after the work was completed.

Every time Sky have been here they've always put shoe covers on without even asking did we want them too. Different people too so it must be standard

You'll be lucky if he agrees to this. My DD asked an internet engineer to take his shoes off and his response was 'I'm not allowed to, health and safety reasons'. How much truth there was in that I don't know.

Won't somebody think of the plastic waste of disposable shoe covers? In an age where the nanny state regularly pontificates about saving the planet, including using less plastic waste.

All that single-use plastic ends up in landfill, innit.

And I agree, Mumsnet needs a sub-forum specially dedicated to shoes on and off, and whether tradesmen should be allowed to use the toilet.

Our "sensible provision" is a box of shoe covers and for major work, plastic adhesive cover sheeting. But as I say, most of them bring their own plastic/rubber coverings these days.

When you see how much plastic and polystyrene waste is used to pack/wrap the equipment/goods they bring, a couple of plastic shoe covers is totally irrelevant.

@Missamyp easier said than done. There was a 4 week delay with Sky as they didn't have any engineers in the area until tomorrow and I had to move in before then. Yes I could have moved in without the carpets but then theres the hassle of having to move heavy furniture around for the carpets to be fitted.

I am neither awkward or obtuse, but you are very rude! I’m fully aware of floor protectors, and the use of old sheets. Not everyone has them to hand, and as another poster said, old sheets could be a trip hazard. Why call those who like to keep their floors clean obsessed?

lol, I’m not rude, however it gets boring people coming up with every ridiculous reason to discount sensible solutions to problems.

If you want to make it more difficult that it has to be, you carry on.