to expect my cleaner to turn up at the time she's meant to?

[HeadFairy]

She's supposed to work 10am to 1pm on Monday mornings, I never know if she does as I'm always at work. Today I'm off sick and desperate to go back to bed but I can't until she's gone. She hasn't even arrived yet. It seems trivial but I'm so poorly I just want to sleep!

LEM - I appreciate that and not criticising people who do cleaning.

It is just that it really shows the depth of gender (and often race) inequality in the workplace and I don't advocate that.

I think that is a very valid point

My friends Mum was a cleaner for some lovely families in Kensington/Notting Hill area. She would come home laden with Chanel products as gifts, extra cash for babysitting when needed, would be asked to finish early and enjoy a glass of wine and a chat in the garden, was highly respected and went to lots of events for free due to her job.

I never got those perks from 5 yrs in the city wearing a suit in a so-called good job.

You are very narrow minded gpac

I find that hard to believe crush.

Did the cleaner in question get holiday pay? Sick Pay? Or even contribute to her NI for her pension?

Or did she just get a few boxes of Chanel and the odd glass of wine ? And why would that be so unusual to have a glass of wine with your boss??

Oh give it a rest, peas. Someone has to do the cleaning and the menial jobs. That's an economic fact of life.

Where on earth would we be if no one was prepared to do it?

Fortunately for me, and a few others on this thread, we don't assess our worth by what we do for a living.

why do you find that hard to believe? Because you don't know any cleaners maybe? Yes she got holiday and sick pay whilst with the agency but got hired as a private nanny from one of her regular clients.

No I never came home laden with Chanel gifts from my boss. Glasses of wine yes.

Crikey, didn't mean to start a war here. Personally speaking I agree with Desi, there are lots of different types of people in this world with all sorts of requirements from their working lives. My cleaner is Lithuanian and is currently studying in the evenings, so cleaning gives her some badly needed money and allowing her time to study too. She's very sweet and efficient and I value her work immensely, I most certainly do not look down on her because she's a cleaner. She provides a very valuable service to us. I've always believed that of anyone who does a so called menial job, it's all part of creating our society, we're all important whether you empty bins or sit on the bench at the high court.

my MIL is a cleaner (aged 73!) and does come home with xmas pressies etc. Doesn't get holiday or sick pay though. I think with alot of people it is very much a cash in hand agreement. That is the only way i would do it actually - too low pay otherwise. So i guess it does work out both ways.

Oh and my mum and dad have a cleaner who has paid holiday and sick leave and they give her lovely presents on her birthday and Christmas... I guess it's about valuing people and treating them as you wish to be treated.

I would imagine most people who hire cleaners do so out of necessity, as they work full time, i will certainly do so when i go back to work full time (if ever i can get my house to an acceptable state in the first place ). I don't understand the looking down on someone because they are a cleaner, or the whole "bless em" mentality. Its a job, like any other - I do think that these people wouldnt dream of looking down on their cleaner. But you just know there is an element out there who have cleaners as a social statement etc. But these are probably ladies wot lunch and look down on the cleaners because it makes them feel better about themselves.

I agree fairy, my DP is a builder and often comes home with presents from clients, i think it is really sweet. He once came home with a whole outfit for DD that a client bought for her when she went to ireland, because she thought it was unusual and wanted to thank DP for a good job. We have had champagne and choccies too - the more the merrier .

I only work 1-2 days a week but I'm pregnant with my third child and have two pre-schoolers. Having a cleaner two hours a week makes my life much easier and me much calmer. Having a messy house makes me anxious and, quite frankly, I'm knackered and have enough to do keeping the house/laundry/cooking going on a daily basis. Why should anyone feel guilty about having a cleaner, whether they are a SAHM or a WOHM, if they can afford it? There are lots of other things I'd go without first before giving up my cleaner.

I treat my cleaner as I expect to be treated by my employer, with respect and courtesy. As a freelancer, I don't get holiday pay or sick pay (or presents!) but those are the terms I accepted and live with.

good point star, my DP is a builder and we don't get any sick pay, holiday pay, etc. So i suppose it is not so much of a gender issue. And no, he doesnt earn very good money either.