Cleaners what will you do now?

[Northernsoullover]

The latest advice is to not have non essential workers in your home? Have many clients cancelled you yet? Are you messaging clients offering to withdraw? I'm using bleach based products (with caution) in every room. I'm terrified of losing my income. (I know I'm not alone)

It’s such a tough one. I know you asked for opinions from cleaners, but from the customers point of view, I’m going to cancel. I feel bad doing it as I know that if they don’t work, they don’t earn but I’m worried about them bringing it into my house as they’ll be in lots of different houses. My husband and son have asthma so I can’t take any risks.

My cleaner is till coming this week but I think at end of week I’ll cancel. I’ll still pay her - bit shitty not to.

Ditto, cleaner coming this week then may postpone but continue to pay.

I'm contacting all my customers to say I won't be coming for 12 weeks. Not much else I can do. I can't go wandering around other people's germ-ridden houses with a killer virus around.

I've a few weeks savings, then who knows.

Weirdly, I'm looking forward to a rest and spending time at home. God knows why when I'll run out of money sooner or later!

We have a cleaner, as we are both disabled. I have asked her not to come this week (paying anyway) - not sure about future weeks, it's hard to cope without her but we can't risk ourselves/another person.

@ACleanerCovid19 Have any of them said they will still pay? Can you ask them for a percentage of the amount to keep your business afloat so they can be your clients after?

My cleaner is an older lady ( late sixties). She's fabulous and has been with us fur 8 years. I know she'll dutifully turn up until s ask her not to, which we plan to do on Wednesday. She was unwell last year and really should be at home. Of course I'll pay her for her time off, that's only fair!

I just don't know how to word my texts. My clients are elderly/vulnerable . I have enough money saved up to last a few months but I feel so sad and worried

I have cancelled for the next three weeks but will pay her. As long as I am getting paid then I will continue to do so however long this drags out. It’s obviously different for people who are not getting paid themselves.

I'm sure a few would still have me but am I then risking myself?

I'm planning to cancel my cleaner but will still pay. While I'm getting paid she will be getting paid!

I cancelled the cleaner indefinitely but I have promised to keep paying her. My employer is paying me so it seems fair.

@MilkTart That is a good way to look at it, and fair.

@theotherfossilsister

I've emailed a couple of them tonight, will phone others tomorrow and write to one!

Don't know what they'll do. Not sure I want them to pay as maybe it's time to think of something else? I don't know, part of me feels I could view this as an opportunity to prepare for something else after the 12 weeks is up. I don't really want to feel obliged to them if you get me.

I’m salaried, we have already said to our cleaner we will pay her for the next few weeks/months - we’re not worried for ourselves but she has asthma.

I’m not sure if the rest of her clients will pay her though

Now I’m working from home I suspect the house will sparkle

I'm not cancelling any clients, all mine are older and very vulnerable. They rely on me coming week to week and would significantly struggle without me. So I'll keep going unless I get ill. If they are ill we have discussed them being shut in another room whilst I do essential tasks.

We can't just abandon people who need us most

I will keep my cleaner on as I am allergic to dust. Yes, really!

I hadn’t even thought of my cleaner - she usually comes when I am at work. Will text her and see what she wants to do - I don’t think it’s a big risk - but I suppose the risk is there.

Man coming tomorrow to measure for new carpets - have been waiting ages for it so going ahead,

My elderly mother lives with me which makes a difference to my situation.

One of my customers is elderly. I'd not want to feel responsible for the possibility of bringing the virus to her anyway.

I'm also incredibly tired and have been ill on and off for months, so a three month rest is heaven to me whatever the reason.

Our cleaner messaged to say she's still coming.

Both DH and I still havevto go to work; neither of us can home work, so we'll be bringing things in as much as she will, and the schools are closed and the children are home and there's morevto do, not less.

Have cancelled my cleaner but will also continue to pay her. She has a few vulnerable clients and I hope if she still visits just those then the risks to them all will be minimal.

I hope some of you are my clients . Some of you sound lovely. I say I have money to tide me over but its saved up for my tax bill. So I won't be without food but I will have problems later down the line.

Actually you all sound lovely

Mine is still coming. Dp is now working from home, but it's easy enough to stay at a distance. If we have to isolate or she does then I'll still be paying either way, and I think with rare exception that should be the rule.

There might be the odd person on a low wage that won't be getting paid for isolation and therefore can't afford to pay the cleaner, but for most that isn't the case, it's just being selfish. Dp is still receiving his full salary despite the fact his job doesn't generate the same income for his employer from home, and if I have to work from home I'll be paid in full. Ditto if we were isolating or ill. I don't see why a cleaner shouldn't be entitled to the same.