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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be annoyed that my cleaner has been using my PC without asking?

124 replies

LaDiDaDi · 01/02/2010 16:32

Today I came home and, after looking on mumsnet, went to go on facebook. I noticed that the email address on the log in page is my cleaner's. She must have been on my PC on facebook when she was here cleaning.

Now usually I really like my cleaner, I give her 20 pounds a week for around 2 hours work, she is friendly and if I'm in then we have a chat. When I had ds recently she brought him a lovely gift and if I ask her to do some more hours, paid for obv., then she tries to fit them in. BUT, I'm a bit annoyed about this, I don't think that she should have been on my PC without permission.

AIBU? If not should I say something or just make sure that my PC log in is passworded and not mention it?

OP posts:
MoochingNoshingPondering · 01/02/2010 16:34

I would password lock your pc and see if she says anything.

But tis bloody rude behaviour (her's) IMO

belgo · 01/02/2010 16:35

agree with mooching

Mutt · 01/02/2010 16:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

onlyjoinedforoffers · 01/02/2010 16:41

even as an ex cleaner i would hate this she would be getting her marching orders off me i cant stand invasion of peoples privacy at home

AMumInScotland · 01/02/2010 16:43

YANBU

She should be working
She shouldn't mess with your property
She shouldn't look at something which might contain personal stuff

I'd have a serious word with her about boundaries, and get rid of her if she doesn't seem to understand what you mean.

emsyj · 01/02/2010 16:47

YANBU. I wouldn't help myself to the PC in a close friend's house, during time that I wasn't being paid for!!! DH is self-employed and has all sorts of stuff on his computer that he wouldn't want other people to access, partly because he works in IT and partly because his financials are all on there. It's a gross invasion of privacy to help yourself to someone's computer, plus it's not a valid use of time that she's being paid for [on mumsnet during office hours and therefore a bit of a hypocrite emoticon]

Our old cleaner (don't have one any more as too poor) used to do her laundry at our flat I think - we found a number of items that didn't belong to us in the washing machine and tumble drier on several occasions and concluded they must have been hers as they were children's items and she had 2 boys. We didn't say anything at the time but quietly didn't ask her to come and clean for us at our new place when we moved.

taxmoppet · 01/02/2010 16:48

And if she's been on facebook, what else has she looked at on your computer - either on the Internet or files on your pc itself?

Don't know if you have any other things that you leave permanently logged in or have a list of passwords or other useful info on - might be worth having a quick look at...

I would be annoyed - I leave my pc as I like it, I don't expect to have to password protect it in my own home. My dp would always ask to use my computers and I'd ask him if I wanted to use his (or beg him to sort something out on mine [grin[) - just common decency and respect. There's all sorts of stuff on that I wouldn't be happy if other people had been on computer for - nothing illegal or dodgy but most personal or work stuff that has had non-disclosure forms signed, letters written to various people, passwords, photosl allsorts!

emsyj · 01/02/2010 16:52

Yes actually I ask DH before I use his (work) laptop as he often has stuff running on there for work that mustn't be tampered with. In the same way as I would ask before using his mobile phone (and he mine of course).

Fluffyone · 01/02/2010 17:54

I think that is out of order and, if it was me, I would tell her not to come back. If she's helping herself to your PC I'd be worried about what else she's been nosing into. It's a betrayal of trust.
This is coming from a cleaner by the way, when I'm working I work!

crankytwanky · 01/02/2010 17:57

YADNBU!

It'snot just a massive security risk, but a huge breach of trust. You are paing her to work. One can easily waste 45 minutes on FB.

If you don't want to sack her, deffinatelyhve a word and put a lock on your pc.

I'd feel really violated if someone looked at my laptop!

MinkyBorage · 01/02/2010 18:01

I'd sack her, she is not trustworthy. This is a huge infringement of your privacy, and a betrayal of trust, not to mention the fact that she should be bloody well working for £10 ph. This person is in your how often when you're not there, she has access to your drawers, your jewellery boxes, your personal letters and photos, (toothbrushes!) and other items of value, financial and sentimental.

twoistwiceasfun · 01/02/2010 18:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ASecretLemonadeDrinker · 01/02/2010 18:15

Hmmm... I wouldn't sack her but I would have a word. There may have been a good reason - she may have needed to get a message or something, or quickly message someone... I would talk to her first and see what her explaination is.

AitchTwoOhOneOh · 01/02/2010 18:18

really? i wouldn't be bothered particularly, but then i wouldn't leave my computer un-passworded with someone else in the house.

madusa · 01/02/2010 18:56

that is dreadful behaviour.

Even if my laptop is switched on and was left in a prominent position, I wouldn't expect anyone else to go on it without first asking me.

thesteelfairy · 01/02/2010 19:03

"that is dreadful behaviour."

Really? Now if she had been trying on OP's knickers now that could be classed as "dreadful". She only had a quick browse on her pc.

Put a password on it, that way she will know next time a. that you know and b. you don't want her to do it.

Pikelit · 01/02/2010 19:08

I'd expect to be asked first. It is a question of simple courtesy. I wouldn't sack the cleaner (when you employ staff in your home, you've got to accept the possibility of them getting behind the scenes, so to speak) but I would tell her that you were surprised and very unhappy to discover your computer had been used without your knowledge. I'd probably say that a
a repercussion would come with unfavourable consequences too!

MitsubishiWarrioress · 01/02/2010 19:20

I think this is way out of order. I have a small number of cleaning customers and there is no way I would dream of touching anything like that.
It is a big breach of confidence, even more so as you seem to have a good relationship with her.

MrsTittleMouse · 01/02/2010 19:25

I think it's worse than trying on knickers. Far worse! We've had stuff about infertility on our computer (that even close friends don't know about), I organise all our finances and investments with my spreadsheets - there's loads of stuff that I wouldn't want even good friends to see.

Plus she might have stumbled across the OP's Mumsnet nickname.

Earlybird · 01/02/2010 19:29

It is good advice to say 'password your computer', but how can she possibly think it was OK to use another person's equipment without their permission - especially an employer's?

I would wonder if there are other things she is 'taking liberties' with that OP hasn't yet discovered.

Very bad judgement, and huge breach of trust, IMO.

I had a babysitter use my PC to send emails without asking first. I've never used her again.

DandyLioness · 01/02/2010 19:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

FabIsGoingToBeFabIn2010 · 01/02/2010 19:37

YANBU

You have several options -

  • do and say nothing
  • tell her you know she has been using your computer and you would like an explanation
  • tell her you know and say under the circumstances you will not be paying her
  • tell her you know and sack her
AitchTwoOhOneOh · 01/02/2010 19:40

eh? you'd not pay her? that's outrageous. ffs, you people, the fact that she's cleaning your lavvie doesn't strip her of her status as a human being.

Eurostar · 01/02/2010 19:40

YANBU. She should have asked.

..but your computer should be password protected anyway...otherwise simple for someone to put a keylogger on it and get copies of all your passwords, everything you do etc..

FabIsGoingToBeFabIn2010 · 01/02/2010 19:48

Well, if she was on the laptop for one hour for example, she wasn't cleaning for one hour so why should she get paid?

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