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Original poster

Cleaner during social distancing

109 replies

Howdidido · 23/03/2020 04:38

Sorry if it's already been asked. And sorry for this being a very 1st world problem.

Are people still having their cleaner coming round? I dont want to put her or my family at risk but equally dont want to out her livelihood at risk and also hate cleaning

Is there a way to minimise the risk or should I just cancel her coming?

If so, is it ok to just pay her 50%.

OP posts:
dazzlinggem · 23/03/2020 05:10

Sadly the answer is no, you should not be bringing a cleaner into your home at this time. You are putting your family and your cleaner at risk.
If you can pay her anything, please do. My sister is a cleaner and has now lost her income.

Waterandlemonjuice · 23/03/2020 05:11

I agree, she shouldn’t be in your house.

itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted · 23/03/2020 05:28

Yes - by DH still working and child still has childcare - I'm working from home but will go for a walk whilst she's here but she only comes for 2 hours every other week

Methyl · 23/03/2020 05:29

My cleaner is coming as usual.

CrystalAlligator · 23/03/2020 05:30

How do you vote on that?

We cancelled ours. Too risky when you can be contagious while asymptomatic.

CrystalAlligator · 23/03/2020 05:32

If you can afford to pay her something then do so, it’s a kind gesture. But you don’t have to: she’s self employed not your employee.

Be prepared for lots of shitty replies, MN has really weird class anxiety when it comes to cleaners.

MumInBrussels · 23/03/2020 06:48

Here, the cleaning agencies have (I think all) said that cleaners are not to come until further notice, for their safety as well as ours, and they are eligible for government support. I know the UK government isn't doing the same in terms of support, but the safety issues must be similar...

SarahInAccounts · 23/03/2020 06:53

My cleaner will be coming as usual. She needs the money and wouldn't let me pay her unless she did the work.

The house is big enough for us to stay well apart and I'm disabled so cannot do my own housework.

mymymymymy · 23/03/2020 07:02

Our cleaner is not coming but we will continue to pay her.

HuntIdeas · 23/03/2020 07:10

I’m struggling with this one too. My husband and I are both full time working from home (me in a key worker role which is manically busy due to the crisis) and will also be full time home schooling our 3 children (ages 5-7). We will literally be working all hours to give the kids the attention they need while keeping on top of our work (7am to 11pm). We desperately need the cleaner to carry on coming and are able to stay in completely separate areas of the house but is it safe / fair to do so?

Landlubber2019 · 23/03/2020 07:15

but is it safe / fair to do so?

No it isn't fair or safe for either your cleaner or your family.

There are millions of us in the same position, myself included, but no way would I entertain someone else doing my cleaning.

BudgieHammockBananaSmuggler · 23/03/2020 07:16

Our cleaner is not coming and we will continue to pay her as we can afford to. We used to go through an agency which was more expensive but assuaged our “weird class anxiety” as agency paid for holidays and sickness. Now we employ directly without the agency fees, but choose to cover holiday / sickness ourselves.

In reality any option is ok, but depends on your personal circumstances and the relationship you have with your cleaner.

SimonJT · 23/03/2020 07:18

Our cleaner isn’t coming, I told her not to, she was going to continue despite her husband having COPD. I am still paying her as usual as I’m working.

butteredbarmbrack · 23/03/2020 07:19

My cleaner was up for working out some arrangement, given that my husband and I are both working from home and I'll have two high school students home too. It was likely to be tricky anyway, but the latest direction of the government advice means I've stood her down. I'm continuing to pay though, as we're fortunate enough to still be employed and still being paid.

@HuntIdeas your situation sounds really difficult though. I do wonder if it will be more stress anyway working out for the cleaner to come... If she and you are happy to continue, you could cut back and say she does just bathroom and kitchen and takes away some ironing maybe?

Random18 · 23/03/2020 07:19

itwasalovelydream why have you still got childcare.

And i can't believe you still have a cleaner coming in.

Pay the cleaner and instead of going for a walk, clean your own house.

ChewChewIsMySpiritAnimal · 23/03/2020 07:19

No she shouldn't be coming. A domestic cleaner is not a key worker or essential. Do your own cleaning.

MaggieFS · 23/03/2020 07:22

@HuntIdeas We're in the same boat both working at home now FT and with a toddler to occupy. The last thing I want on top of that is to clean the house (when even, as we'll be working evenings and weekends to make up hours spent on DC during the week) but I'm fast concluding the only responsible thing is to stop her coming. If she's still choosing to visit other clients, I can't affect that, but the more places she goes, the more she could spread the virus. We will keep paying her as long as we are earning or until government support is forthcoming.

Darbs76 · 23/03/2020 07:24

Nope that’s against the social isolation rules. Your cleaner might not have symptoms but then develop them and could be passed on. I believe the virus lives on surfaces?

Please still pay her if you’re being paid. I’ve told my dog walker I’ll be paying her no matter what.

wherethewildthingis · 23/03/2020 07:24

I've paid my cleaner in full for the month this morning and told her to stay away. I will continue to pay her in full until this is over.
Easy decision though as I'm a key worker and will still be paid in full. I recognise its not so easy if you don't get paid

itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted · 23/03/2020 07:25

@random18

How do you know I'm not disabled????

It's once a FORTNIGHT as that's all I can afford. The cleaning cupboard have been texting saying it's business as usual

Doggyperson · 23/03/2020 07:26

I'm a cleaner and most don't want me, those that do, I'm now wondering whether to go?

You who are still paying your cleaner, how lovely of you!! I know some of my clients are well off and will be working from home and I've cleaned for some of them for 7 years + and not one offer. I won't be going back to them.

I've been wanting to get rid of one of them anyway and I've already got different work lined up.

nogo · 23/03/2020 07:27

No cleaner here either. Just not worth the risk for either of us but especially was she's going in and out of homes, public transport etc.

NotEverythingIsBlackandwhite · 23/03/2020 07:30

I dont want to put her or my family at risk but equally dont want to out her livelihood at risk and also hate cleaning
The two things are mutually exclusive. You are putting her family and your family at risk if you continue to let her come into your home.

All your lives are more important than losing her livelihood.

You may hate cleaning but these are unprecented times. Suck it up or just do minimal cleaning yourself.

Is there a way to minimise the risk or should I just cancel her coming?
Just cancel her coming.

If so, is it ok to just pay her 50%.
If you pay her 50% as a retainer I"m sure she would welcome that.

Merename · 23/03/2020 07:30

We debated this but kept ours coming as husband is Nhs and we run a risk of catching from him. I hate cleaning also which is a consideration! We’ve fully informed her of what we do and risks we are exposed to, that she could be by coming into our home, and said we will pay full pay for at least 4 weeks and longer if finances allow if she has to be off or wants to be, which they should. She seems v happy with that and last week wore gloves. Will play by ear, if fuller lockdown happens then I’m not sure we could argue it’s essential.

gamerchick · 23/03/2020 07:31

Yes - by DH still working and child still has childcare - I'm working from home but will go for a walk whilst she's here but she only comes for 2 hours every other week

You're at home and have your kid in childcare and have someone from another household coming to your house to clean it?

You're one of those who says it's 'just a flu' and not that bad aren't you if you're willing to put people at risk.?

No I wouldn't have the cleaner coming and in her shoes I would make a mental note of the customers who could but didn't pay me also. Kind people will be remembered when this is over and shit employers will be as well.

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