To think my cleaner shouldn’t bring her own child to work?

[Informercera]

I’m really torn on this and would love some outside perspective.

We’ve had the same cleaner for just over a year and she’s been fantastic, reliable, thorough, really kind and trustworthy. We’ve always got on well and I genuinely like her. But over the past few weeks, since the summer holidays started, she’s been bringing her 10 year old daughter with her when she comes to clean.

Her daughter isn’t badly behaved at all. She just sits quietly on the sofa in our living room watching things on an iPad. Sometimes I hear little giggles or the sound of whatever she’s watching, but she’s not running around or causing chaos or anything like that.

Still, I’m finding it awkward. I work from home and I’m usually upstairs on Zoom calls or writing reports, and it just feels a bit strange knowing there’s a child downstairs while her mum is hoovering or mopping the floors. I don’t have children myself and I suppose I’m not used to having someone else’s in my personal space. It changes the dynamic a bit and makes it feel less like a professional service. I also can’t help worrying about the what ifs - what if something broke or she hurt herself? Would I be responsible?

I completely understand that school holidays are a nightmare for working parents and childcare is expensive. I don’t want to be unsympathetic. I haven’t said anything to her yet because I don’t want to come across as precious or unkind. But equally I’m paying for a service and this isn’t what I signed up for.

AIBU to feel uncomfortable about this and consider raising it gently with her? Or should I just let it go for a few more weeks until the holidays are over? I want to be fair but I also feel a bit blindsided. Would love to know what others think.

Agree with this…

Because some people think that people who have humble jobs should not let their kids have anything, or be given anything nice. They only need to call to bring back the workhouses.

My cleaner worked and made sacrifices to buy two computers for her kids that they needed for school and one was given an ipad by a relative. More power to her.

We also know that this is the first time it has happened in just over the year OP has had her cleaner. If this includes the last summer holidays, it means her child was in some kind of childcare last year.

Not to mention the other school holidays.

Again, we are all just making assumptions.

Some assumptions are less kind than others, of course.

I wouldn’t look at it as an act of charity. Just trying not to make the kid feel unwelcome/ashamed. I can’t imagine it is an easy decision to bring a child to work.

Yes of course she should have asked OP before bringing her child.

Agree, but maybe the mother already feels bad/afraid about the situation and is trying to minimize her child’s presence.

Do explain how cleaners and their children are magically protected against making any sort of damage or breakage in an employers house/flat/office/premises. In this case I would not trust this cleaner but that’s me. I’ve heard friends experiences of theft that can’t be proved. Unsupervised child in my home wouldn’t be happening.

But the OP trusts the cleaner, you’re saying you don’t trust this specific cleaner because are brings her child to work? What’s the correlation between the two?

Yup, including the one that said "it's only cleaning up other peoples ' shite" . Some people amaze me the way the way they see a cleaners job. It can be bloody hard physical work and at time a literally shitty job. It's honest work and deserves as much respect as any other job

I completely agree.

She didn’t ask beforehand

What's that got to do with theft though?

Public liability insurance ?

What’s the correlation between that and theft/dishonesty?

She didn’t ask isn’t the answer is it?

I work from home when my cleaner is here. I see it as a non-issue.

I think I'd feel the same as you OP. I'd find it weird if the child were in my space but I'm usually working in the office upstairs when our cleaner comes and I just go downstairs while she's cleaning the office. I suppose I might find it odd if the cleaner were upstairs and I came down and the child is downstairs so I have no space. I'd feel bad saying something. Can you get her to come when you're not there?

I suppose on the plus side it's only for the summer holidays

I seems difficult for you to follow the discussion. I can’t explain it in any other simpler terms for you. Hopefully someone will explain the connection between your place being used without asking and the concept of trust.

Tough one - have a think. Someone using your place and trust. There’s damage and breakages to think of as well.

How nice of you to know your cleaner scrubbed your floors as their humble job and that you listened understandingly about them making sacrifices to fulfill their school requirement to buy computers for her kids. So kind hearted. Did you pay a pittance or did you pay a good wage for the tough job of cleaning your place?

No no no. You specifically said "she didn't ask". You have been asked by different posters to explain the correlation to theft. You clearly can't explain it and instead you're dodging answering it. We know what you're implying.

Good luck with finding affordable public liability insurance for that situation . . .

Oh do say what I’m implying… it’ll be a laugh. I ready for your rubbish.
It’s clear you can’t understand basic ideas - seriously give your head one big long wobble.

Exactly!