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Covid

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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:

Rebellenny · 23/03/2020 07:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

littlemefi · 23/03/2020 07:33

I'm a nurse in NHS and no way do I want to expose our cleaner ( or anyone else) unnecessarily- have asked her not to come for the foreseeable. We are paying her half usual wage which she is happy with.

NotEverythingIsBlackandwhite · 23/03/2020 07:34

Doggyperson

I'm a cleaner and most don't want me, those that do, I'm now wondering whether to go?
Please do not go. If you go you are adding to the problem and putting your life, and the lives of everyone you come into contact with, at risk.

Inforthelonghaul · 23/03/2020 07:38

If we can’t have a friend come to our home why on earth would you let a cleaner? I think you have to cancel for now, pay a retainer if you can afford to but definitely not let someone who has been to multiple homes come into yours and potentially spread the virus on surfaces.

underneaththeash · 23/03/2020 07:38

We use a cleaning firm and I've told the owner that I'm not a priority and that she should cancel me if they don't have enough staff. So far they still want to come, but we're taking it week by week and I'm assuming this week will be the last one anyway.

We go out when they come in - so following the social distancing policy and they wear gloves and masks when they clean.

lastburritos · 23/03/2020 07:42

I can't believe this is even a question at this moment in time. No, you should not still have a cleaner in your home. If they have the virus, they will be touching things in your home and spreading it. If you have it, they will be picking up the virus in your home and taking it out with them.
I can't understand why people aren't understanding these simple rules. If it's not essential then stay at home!
Clean your own damn house!

FrankieManca · 23/03/2020 07:42

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

If your own income stays the same, keep paying her.

nogo · 23/03/2020 07:42

husband is Nhs and we run a risk of catching from him.

And so does your cleaner. That's not on at all.

Merryoldgoat · 23/03/2020 07:42

I’ve told mine not to come but I’m paying her in full as DH and I are both able to wfh and are still being paid as normal.

If our pay goes then we’ll have to reassess.

PatchworkElmer · 23/03/2020 07:43

Ours is meant to come today, and I have cancelled them- have paid in full for the month though, and will reassess when we get to that point.

NotEverythingIsBlackandwhite · 23/03/2020 07:44

Merename

We debated this but kept ours coming as husband is Nhs and we run a risk of catching from him.
What about the risk to your cleaner and everyone else she, you and your husband comes into contact with? Your husband clearly does not understand the implications and I'm gobsmacked that he works for the NHS with this attitude.

if fuller lockdown happens then I’m not sure we could argue it’s essential.
It is not essential for you to have a cleaner when we are all being advised to socially distance ourselves.

Rosenspants · 23/03/2020 07:45

We sadly have had to ask our lovely cleaner not to come for the time being. We just felt we had to make the home our safe place and it was the responsible thing to do for her and for us. We offered her a retainer which she wouldn’t accept!! Four of us (me, and two young adult DC) are working/studying from home and I’ve given everyone extra cleaning jobs so we keep the house vaguely clean and tidy.

hoorayforharoldlloyd · 23/03/2020 07:46

Cancelled ours but am paying next month upfront as we both currently have our jobs so that's only fair. Will see where we are in a month's time.

If full isn't possible, a retainer would be good. Or you coudl agree to pay now with a deep clean once things are more even keel?

Where possible, pay people. We are all in this together.

dustyparadeground · 23/03/2020 07:46

We cancelled but I think she would have cancelled us anyway as she is prone to illness anyway

Doggyperson · 23/03/2020 07:46

@NotEverythingIsBlackandwhite I'm just messaging them now to tell them I won't be coming in. I'm so sad for my elderly and vulnerable clients.

AnnaFiveTowns · 23/03/2020 07:48

I've cancelled mine for the time being but paid her fully for a month. We'll have to see what happens after that.

HuntIdeas · 23/03/2020 07:48

@butteredbarmbrack yes, maybe kitchen and bathroom only is a good compromise

To give more context, this is my official agreed working hours for the foreseeable (although will be working late into evening to get work done):

7am:11am
3pm:5pm
7pm:9pm

My husband is working alternative shifts, so we will always have someone dedicated to children. Literally any spare minute will be spent on work hours, as we each work more than 40hrs per week anyway and additional at the moment. I am in tears about how it’s going to work and can’t try and factor
cleaning in!

Will absolutely maintain more than social distancing roles while she is here

SmellMySmellbow · 23/03/2020 07:49

Pay her as much as you can afford - full pay if you possibly can, (espcially if you are salaried) and cancel her coming. It's the right thing to do.

PatchworkElmer · 23/03/2020 07:53

@HuntIdeas our working arrangements are similar to yours, and I was in a right state about it on Friday, especially minus cleaner. However, we blitzed the house whilst DS was in bed on Saturday (hoovered Sunday morning), and it was fine.

NorthernBirdAtHeart · 23/03/2020 07:53

YABVU for thinking that social distancing doesn’t apply to you. That attitude is exactly why this damn virus is spreading so quickly.

Random18 · 23/03/2020 07:55

Hunt you are not homeschooling your children.

Please do not put too much pressure on yourselves.

Help the children when you can but you have to work also.

Northernsoullover · 23/03/2020 07:55

I'm a cleaner. Only two of my 11 clients have offered to pay me. All are working from home so no loss of earnings. Except me. I believe that there is a 94 per week assistance but I'm still 100 pw down. Even 50% would mitigate. Thank goodness I have only one year of cleaning left.

oblada · 23/03/2020 07:57

I'm not sure on this. Our cleaner isn't in a position to come anyway as she has young children at home now. If she wanted to come I am not sure what I would do. We work from home and the kids are here. Social distancing doesn't mean everyone stopping work unless essentials so many other jobs will continue "as normal" until we get into lock down. She needs to earn a living and cleaning at private homes is probably safer atm then many other workplaces.

gamerchick · 23/03/2020 07:58

Will absolutely maintain more than social distancing roles while she is here

Christ, for all your sakes I hope she cancels on you. Someone needs to have some common sense.

oblada · 23/03/2020 08:01

"(espcially if you are salaried)"
Being salaried is irrelevant. If you are put on short time working you will still be paid according to hours worked and if you cannot work due to childcare you will not be paid at all.

My issue with paying full pay for someone not doing the work is that we do not know what is around the corner - many jobs could disappear in 2-3 months time. For now the government scheme is protecting laid off staff but redundancies will come soon. So personally I am not planning on putting my family at risk. I'm going to try and juggle everything as best as I can and save money if I can as I just don't know what we'll be earning in 3-4 months time.

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