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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:
Giraffeski · 23/03/2020 08:01

We've cancelled our cleaner but still paying her.

ooooohbetty · 23/03/2020 08:04

Pay her the full rate and don't let her come round. I don't know how anyone can consider not paying. You'd be paying out the money anyway so presumably have budgeted it for it.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 23/03/2020 08:06

The sooner we are in lock down the better. People aren’t practicing social distance and staying home with just own family.

Tell her to stay home safe, up to you if you pay her in the meantime.

keentohelp · 23/03/2020 08:08

We've cancelled ours and paid her in full for the next four weeks. We will just have to reassess at that point if we can still pay her as my DH is in finance so his job could be in jeopardy, and I'm on mat pay.

SarahInAccounts · 23/03/2020 08:08

So many harsh words.

A cleaner is essential for some disabled people. Wind your necks in.

ScribblyGum · 23/03/2020 08:08

I have cancelled mine and will continue to pay her weekly wage.

crazydiamond222 · 23/03/2020 08:10

My cleaner just cancelled on me as she felt it was too risky. We had only be using her for 2 months. Not sure if I should offer to carry on paying her.

Soontobe60 · 23/03/2020 08:13

What is it with all these people who are WFH but still expecting their cleaner to come in?
You should be asking yourself the following.
Am I able to use a cleaning cloth?
Am I able to use a vacuum cleaner?
Can I guarantee that anyone who comes into my house has not been exposed to CV?
Am I still being paid for being at home?
If the answer is yes to 1+2, do your own cleaning.
If the answer to 3 is no, do your own cleaning.
If the answer to 4 is yes, pay your cleaner normal wages to STAY AWAY.

It's not rocket science.

abitoflight · 23/03/2020 08:13

Paid mine to stay away too

Soontobe60 · 23/03/2020 08:14

@crazydiamond222

Are you still being paid? Then please pay your cleaner.

PurpleDaisies · 23/03/2020 08:15

A cleaner is essential for some disabled people.
Wind your necks in.

I missed where the op is in this position?

No visitors to the house means just that. That should include cleaners. Think about the potential for one asymptomatic cleaner to spread the virus to all her clients. Or pick it up at one house and spread it to all the others.

We’re paying our cleaner in full.

Sugarplumfairy65 · 23/03/2020 08:18

I'm disabled and rely on my cleaner. However, I'm now on 3 months isolation so have canceled her but will keep paying her. Her suggestion is that as long as she is able, she will do a shop every week for me and leave it on the doorstep.

Random18 · 23/03/2020 08:31

Lots of people are having to make very difficult decisions at the moment that are going to make their lives a whole lot harder.........

And mostly it will have much more impact on their life and mental health than cancelling the cleaner.

Only on mumsnet..............

Cosyjimjamsforautumn · 23/03/2020 08:38

Our cleaner has cancelled - quite right too as she would be going into 3 or 4 homes a day and needs to protect her health as well as her families.
I'm about to cancel my upcoming dental and hair appointments as neither of those can be done at 2m apart!

Madhatterhouse · 23/03/2020 08:48

Yes have cancelled ours, will continue to pay in full as long as our incomes remain unchanged.

tootsey · 23/03/2020 09:08

Cleaner here. Most cancelled on me last week, not one offered to pay. I am not going to any this week, to be safe.

Please people, if you can afford to pay your cleaner something, then do so. When this is over, I am going to re-evaluate everyone, and also if I am going to continue on or look for something else.

Stripyhoglets1 · 23/03/2020 09:12

Ours isn't coming. Still paying her as I'm still getting paid and will do for as long as I can afford to pay her.

FairfaxAikman · 23/03/2020 09:12

My grandparents are continuing with their cleaner despite both being in the high risk category. However due to their age and lack of mobility they don't really have much choice - it's catch 22.

Original poster
Howdidido · 23/03/2020 09:28

You're all right of course. I'll cancel

OP posts:
WidowTwonky · 23/03/2020 09:33

Ha! This thread is bonkers. I see a poster on here justifying having a cleaner coming into their house yet ranting at posters on another thread about ‘safety being a priority FFS’ with regard to being out and about. Pot and kettle

BessMarvin · 23/03/2020 09:38

Our cleaner is through an agency but I think is actually self employed (however that works).

We have decided to cancel but before I messaged the company we were told she wouldn't be coming due to child care so did we want a replacement.

I'm going to say no, but as our household earnings aren't impacted I want to still pay our usual cleaner.

But the one thing I'm wondering is, would this affect their claim for benefits etc which I think is the only option for self employed people who can no longer work? Don't know if anyone knows anything about this?

Branleuse · 23/03/2020 09:38

My cleaner is beside herself that everyone is cancelling her, as being self employed, she has nothing to fall back on.
Ive said to her that if she wants to still come, she can, and that she can do main areas and we keep out of her way, but if she prefers to self isolate, I will pay her a retainer while she gets her universal credit sorted out

Winter2020 · 23/03/2020 09:51

@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."

Could you offer your elderly and vulnerable clients an alternative service of phoning them for a chat and to see what they need and then picking up some shopping for them and leaving it on the doorstep. Some of them might really value that x

Rebellenny · 23/03/2020 10:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tootsey · 23/03/2020 10:08

Rebellenny, it is very disheartening that your work and you mean so damn little to the majority of people. Some not all of my clients are very well off. They are all working away, salaries still being paid. I will be looking at those in an entirely different light from now on.

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