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Related: Lockdown Learning, discuss home schooling during lockdown.
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Related: Lockdown Learning, discuss home schooling during lockdown.
Covid
What are you doing about your cleaner / dog walker / babysitter?
Whydoesit · 21/03/2020 16:09
I wanted to know what everyone is doing about cleaners etc.
I’m symptomatic and in isolation so I cancelled the cleaner last week and paid as it was only fair. I will probably do the same next week as my cough is getting worse after over a week so it’s safe.
But likely this social distancing will go on for the better part of 2020 and I’ll be at home with the kids for 95% of the day barring maybe a scoot round the roads. Options I guess are:
- Tell cleaner not to come but pay anyway. Until schools likely open again and we are out of the house a bit this will be almost £1,000 I’ll be paying someone not to come round. Is this what other people are doing?
2. Ask cleaner to start coming round as usual once we’re all symptom free for long enough to be safe. Try and stay out of her way as best as possible. This may mean cleaner has to travel on public transport, I’m not sure.
3. Suspend paying for cleaner. Maybe with a month notice?
littlenamechanger · 21/03/2020 16:27
I've told my cleaner that I'll keep paying her for as long as I'm employed. She's a single parent and her other non-cleaning job is uncertain. She's always been wonderful and this is the least I can do. I'll be at home more so no drama for me to do my own cleaning for a while!
Dog is still going to doggie daycare, the man comes with his collection van and I open the door to let the dog run out and into the van. I don't want these businesses going under when I'm still being paid as normal. Otherwise I'd be profiting at their expense, is kind of how I see it.
Bloke23 · 21/03/2020 16:28
We have decided to stop our cleaner coming, but have offered to pay her anyway, but she is refusing to accept payment, we do it cash in hand
GoodStuffAnnie · 21/03/2020 16:29
I’ve told cleaner to not come for 3 weeks. I’ll probably extend by 2 weeks. Full pay. Then I’m going to get her to come but we will go out. She’s been with us 5 years and is fab.
IceKitten · 21/03/2020 16:32
I'm social distancing but haven't had any symptoms. I'm planning to have my cleaner anyway (and pay them obvs). I reckon the fact that they're cleaning surfaces (ie touching them with a cloth rather than their hands) makes it pretty safe? Also will stay as far away as possible.
Maybe this is wrong but trying to work from home and supervise three DC with their home schooling will be hard enough without giving up the cleaner too! Also they need the income.
DelurkingAJ · 21/03/2020 16:36
Cleaner has informed me that she will be coming unless we or she have symptoms. I know better than to argue with her.
Rio5555 · 21/03/2020 16:37
I’m planning to keep my cleaner whilst ever not in lockdown. And whilst ever my DH has work.
I don’t want to see her out of work but likewise it’s a luxury for us that I can’t afford to pay and not receive the service. We pay cash in hand, no contract.
I’ll try and take the baby for a walk whilst she’s here and open the windows after she’s left. She wears gloves anyway and like PP will be using cloths etc and uses all own equipment so hoping risk is low?
Bunnylady54 · 21/03/2020 16:38
Nothing because I am not fortunate enough to be able to pay for a cleaner
Bluejuicyapple · 21/03/2020 16:43
I’m keeping my cleaner which may not be wise but it’s my decision and it’s a fairly big house so I’m never near her. Likewise dog walker but she comes to the door and the dog goes straight to her we don’t have direct contact at all
NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 21/03/2020 16:54
My doggy daycare/walker lady's business has already collapsed . People aren't using her dog walking because they are working from home and they aren't using the doggy stayovers because all their holidays have been cancelled.
I really feel sorry for her. She's self employed too.
Whydoesit · 21/03/2020 17:01
IceKitten I’m leaning towards having her come as normal provisionally from April. I’m not sure she’s at any great risk being here (you’re right about the fact that she’ll have gloves on half the time etc) plus I think there is a very high chance we all have it now anyway so should be a CV free house soon... it’s just getting here probably involves tube or bus...
I do however think that paying for 5 months that I won’t use is a bit silly. I’m a SAHM so honestly I think if I’m without a cleaner for that long I probably won’t need one anymore and will just carry on doing it myself.
Xiaoxiong · 21/03/2020 17:02
Whereas my dog walker voluntarily closed her own business, even though it was apparently booming because more and more people were asking her to walk their dogs while they were self-isolating, especially the elderly. She was apparently finding it all too frightening so she has cancelled everyone, even though we discussed how she could pick up our dog contact-free and use her own lead and collar. She said she was too confused and didn't want to risk getting it herself, but then sent me an avalanche of extremely terrible videos about how directing a hairdryer up your nose would kill the virus, homeopathy, antivax etc etc. So I think she has just fallen prey to a load of absolute rubbish misinformation but you can't argue with someone if they are convinced by something like that.
I feel bad for her being so scared that she has deep-sixed her own business just when she had loads of dogs to walk and to be honest could have expanded her offering to help house-bound elderly people out with shopping, posting a letter, etc at the same time as exercising their dogs.
We're looking for a new walker now - we could easily walk our own dog but she needs socialisation with other dogs and when we walk her she is sometimes protective of us (whereas with dog walkers she happily walks in a pack). Her protective/reactive behaviour while walking means we are the original social distancers though!!
moose62 · 21/03/2020 17:13
My dog walker has had a number of clients say they don't need her as they are working from home. Under these circumstances as long as they are being paid they should pay her or at least offer a weekly retainer. These people have rent, mortgages and children to feed and if you are being paid I feel you owe it to them to help out. Once normality resumes (if ever) they might find themselves having to hunt for a new dog walker, cleaner etc..
PatchworkElmer · 21/03/2020 17:17
Cancelled ours today- will pay her as long as I’m being paid. Miss her already!!
MysweetAudrina · 21/03/2020 17:18
I have a minder for afterschool. I am now wfh. I normally pay her 200e per week but text and told her I would give her 100e for every week I am off. Not sure she was impressed as she didn't text back. I am still getting paid but I would find it very difficult to give someone 200e a week for doing nothing when I am looking after them and doing my full time job from home.
imamearcat · 21/03/2020 17:20
She came last Monday but I've said it's up to her going forward.
I really want her to keep coming as long as pos so we will pay her but I've not mentioned that until she says she's not coming!
WeAllHaveWings · 21/03/2020 17:29
Stop the cleaner coming - social distancing means distancing from everyone that is not essential. That includes cleaners coming into your home. How many people are still not getting this?
If you are still being paid, then pay the cleaner.
rookiemere · 21/03/2020 17:32
We are continuing to use and pay our dog walker. At the moment we're in isolation because of symptoms but we've let therm know and they do a no contact collection and drop off. Once DH and I are well again we'll cancel but continue to pay as its nice to have a reason to go for a walk at lunchtime when working from home.
Dog walker has also emailed to say that if people choose to pay but pause the walks she'll make it up to them by having dogs for overnights or extra walks when things are hopefully back to normal which is very proactive of her.
BlueJava · 21/03/2020 17:36
I cancelled our cleaner today (it's a company, not an individual). I just politely said I was sorry but we'd taken the decision to stop having people enter the house other than our family due to Covid-19. She was very understanding, emailed me an invoice for March's bill so far which I paid. I said I'd be in touch when this is over. I realise that's bad for the company and staff, but I may lose my job too so need to conserve funds (as well as isolate).
BiteyShark · 21/03/2020 17:37
I am still paying and using dog care even though I am at home at the moment as I am getting paid and want to keep them in a business at the same time.
Thehop · 21/03/2020 17:38
Our dog walker is collecting dogs and avoiding us when she does, but wearing gloves and we spray leads with dettol when they’re home.
Whilst I’m working, I’ll pay her.
BuzzingtheBee · 21/03/2020 17:40
I am paying mine to not come, if you can afford it then I think you should. Babysitters shouldn't be coming over... I’m not sure how safely dogs can be handed over.
adaline · 21/03/2020 17:40
I'm a dog-walker and have had to close as I'm self-isolating.
Nobody has offered to pay me.
allhailthegingerninja · 21/03/2020 17:41
I gave our cleaner notice last week and she came for the last time yesterday. We'd been meaning to end it for a while so this was the final shove we needed to do it.
It makes no sense having a additional person in the home once a week, and in addition she'd be bringing her DD with her from next week once schools had closed. I do feel guilty, though.
Whydoesit · 21/03/2020 17:50
If you are still being paid, then pay the cleaner.
I can see this but for 6 months probably until some degree of normality back?
That’s about as long as I’ve had this particular cleaner for.
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