New cleaning rota at work feels sexist

[Kayleigh1234]

The company I work for has a fairly small office space within a bigger complex. We were told last week that as there’s lower office attendance due to WFH/hybrid, our company is no longer paying for the site cleaning service and we will be responsible for cleaning our small kitchen space and bathroom ourselves.

Fwiw, I believe the real reason is because of cost cutting and the price of that service increased in April which I’d heard the bosses moan about previously.

Anyway, our (male) manager emailed round the cleaning rota today and the first 7 slots are ALL females (every female on the team is named consecutively). 4 male colleagues are then named, before it reverts.

The manager and his usual step up/deputy, are not named despite them being in the office as much as the rest of us. His deputy is the same job level as me and a couple of others, and when he was asked why he isn’t on the rota, he said ‘he hasn’t got time for that sort of thing’.

Am I wrong to feel like this is all a bit off?

Nope. Nope. Nope. Absolute Nope. Genuinely - is this particularly well paid or convenient or can you just leave? This is terrible and gross.

I have never worked anywhere, even the most cash strapped of companies, where workers have to do their own office cleaning

Washing their own mugs yes.
keeping the kitchen neat and tidy, for sure.

But hoovering , cleaning the loos and cleaning the desks etc no way. What happened if something went missing off someone’s desk and you were on cleaning duty and had wiped that desk down? The liability issues with this are endless. You won’t have any liability insurance to cover it like a professional cleaner would.

This is all ridiculous Op, I'd wash the sink down but the toilet, no chance. Are they expecting this to be done in office hours or will it be extra time after 5?
Find another job and when you leave tell them exactly why you're leaving.

Yes and it's directly contradicted by her update. If it's just a 'whizz round' using 'common sense' then everyone could pitch in. Either they're all too busy, or it's quick enough that every one does their share. Not both or selective reasoning.

I would simply refuse. It is not the job you were recruited to do, it is not a reasonable expectation. If they tried to sanction you, they'd immediately be in grievance / tribunal territory.

The manager just said ‘we thought you ladies would show the men how it should be properly done so they can have no excuses’.

So it was a deliberate decision rooted in sexism. Ho hum.

I wouldn't mention that in the email just yet though. Maybe cleverer people have other ideas on how to handle it. You'll just get his back up and he'll go on the defence if you try and get him to commit that little gem in writing.

But would you be annoyed because you don’t want to do the cleaning so clinging on to the why are males last fight just because you’re annoyed about cleaning?

Sexism aside, I would not do this, what are they thinking?!

My guess would be this runs for 6 weeks and then they decide it isn’t working and get a firm
in.

Do you even have a sanitary bin ?

that work toilet is gonna start to stink as no one is getting on their hands and knees and giving that a good old scrub are they ?

think you all need to swiftly have a meeting and discuss this issue I’d suggest you come with the contact details if a local cleaner that can under cut the other one they sacked

secondly everyone needs to join the union quick smart and get them to remind your bosses of their obligation to work place equality

Annoyed about the cleaning but also annoyed that sexism formed part of the decision making process. That sexism was then confirmed by the Op in her update where the boss explained he has deliberately put the women first as it is women’s work to show the men how it’s done.

that is an employment tribunal waiting to happen.

This is also sexist. Most men are perfectly capable of cleaning a toilet.

You will need specific training on COSHH and biohazards and be provided with PPE if you agree to do this

I own my own business and if I am not paying someone to do the cleaning, I am doing it myself.
My PA's duties include making sure the kitchen is clean and tidy and running the Hoover over the floors but anything like cleaning out the fridge or washing the bin I do myself. Thankfully we don't have a toilet (the centre has a staff toilet) but there is no way I would ask my staff to clean it if we did!

My response would be very simple.

Thanks for the cleaning rota. This is not part of my role and I will not be fulfilling this request.

If you have a problem with this, please let me know and I'll submit my resignation with immediate effect.

But, I don't need to work.

So there are several issues.

1. Being expected to do it at all. If you want to negotiate, say, s kitchen rota for EVERYONE who ever uses it. And a "clean your own desk" policy ( which all hot-desk places I've ever worked at has antway)
2. Being expected to clock-off and for it for free: for me absolutely non-negotiable if I even agree to do anything more than desk & kitchen)
3. Toilets: firstly EVERYONE should have been on the rota. But immaterial because "no thank you ". Include the info pp posted about disposal of sanitary waste, ot is hugely relevant and important
4. Personally for OP point out the sexism. The man at your level not being included and the batshit assumption the female employees can show the men. That last sexist both ways

Don't offer, hint or in any way imply you will resign. Join a union now, hope this drags out three months (so you're covered) and let it play out.

You do not have to tell anyone (least of sll anyone at work) that you are in a union, btw

Asking people to clean up behind themselves in the kitchen is reasonable including wiping sides of mess and microwave out if you’ve made a mess in it. Toilets no. Completely unreasonable.

At work we are expected to wash up behind ourselves and wipe the sides of anything we’ve spilt.

Just seen your update. What absolute drivel. I bet the Directors don't even clean their own kitchen, bathrooms at home or run the hoover round - they'll leave it wifey indoors!
Shared spaces at work get grim really quickly (especially if people don't aim straight, wipe, or clean the loo bowl after a poo). Unless it's in my work contract to do it I'd say no.
There's also h&s in communal spaces and what cleaning materials can be used to consider. Are they going to be supplying the necessary chemicals or will it be bring your own loo roll and bleach to work? I worked with a colleague many years ago who was well known for nicking stuff from our work loos to take home "Loo roll Lorna!" 🤣

But most don’t though. Not sure why. Social conditioning I think. I don’t think the men i know would notice . The men at my office certainly don’t! (Hence why all the women despise the gender neutral loos!)

I would be making sure they had checked whether CoSHH assessments are required for any of the products, have risk assessments been put in place and will the necessary PPE be put in place.

even if they are normal domestic cleaning products them being used in an work capacity (ie you are being paid to use them) means they need all the relevant bits in place.

Aside from the fact that it's not in your role to do the cleaning? The men are on the rota as well are they not?

Good advice

"Which businesses please, as we're making our own inquiries?"

"You don't need to know."

"Well, obviously we don't yet agree to this, because it seems way off our job description, but we're in the process of making inquiries about it with relevant parties. Your comments about why you put yhe women first have been duly noted. Meanwhile, we also need to know which businesses so we can use the work they did on costing up sanitary disposal companies, PPE and/uniforms, and proper training to keep us safe and therefore you safe as a company. Also best suppliers of cleaning materials, which you'll need to provide. Makes good business sense to use others' contacts if you feel they're doing well with it all. Let us know and we'll keep you informed too. Obviously the current cleaning arrangements stay in place while this is being discussed. Thanks."

All of this too!

"we should have all just walked out and left too but we couldn't because we can’t just leave the room in a tip"

This is probably the most depressing statement I've read recently. Of course the women could and should have had the self respect and confidence to ignore the mess made by their male colleagues