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Original poster

Message from Cleaner

43 replies

sunandrose · 29/04/2020 13:48

Just had a message from our cleaner to say if we’re happy then her company has said they can start back again.

What’s going on? Surely this breaks lockdown rules!

OP posts:
fluffy71 · 29/04/2020 13:51

All my neighbours being using their cleaners all thru this so far

WorraLiberty · 29/04/2020 13:53

If she can socially distance, she can go to work.

Just the same as anyone else who can't work from home.

Palavah · 29/04/2020 13:53

Well, she can't work from (her) home due to the nature of her job, so she is allowed to travel to work. If you can maintain 2m distance while she is there then it's certainly not against the rules. Up to you and to her to assess the risk to each of you/your households.

Inconnu · 29/04/2020 13:56

We're not having our cleaner and I don't know anyone who is. But I agree that the rules aren't completely clear on this kind of thing.

WorraLiberty · 29/04/2020 13:57

The rules are crystal clear and always have been.

If you can socially distance and you can't work from home, you can go to work.

bestbefore · 29/04/2020 14:03

Yes @WorraLiberty that's true but it's also against the rule of mixing households...I don't see it as any different to a friend visiting us - which we don't do and which isn't allowed Confused

goshdarnitjanet · 29/04/2020 14:04

Yes I fail to understand why people still think the rules are unclear. All it takes is a little reading on the relevant sites. The Government website even states:

The government is not saying only people doing “essential” work can go to work. Anyone who cannot work from home can still go to work.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do#im-not-a-critical-worker-and-i-cant-work-from-home-what-should-i-do

wonkylegs · 29/04/2020 14:04

It's up to you - the rules have always said if you cannot work from home you can go to work as long as you can comply with social distancing & hygiene practices
If I had a vulnerable person in the house or anyone with symptoms then I would say no but otherwise if you are happy to have her there just make sure she can do her job within the bounds of social distancing (do your exercise when she's there, stay in other rooms or the garden) and make sure she has access to hand washing facilities which shouldn't be a problem for a cleaner.

PaulTheWineGuyPaul · 29/04/2020 14:05

@bestbefore it’s completely different to seeing friends...you are their employer. People going out to work every day do so because it’s their job, not because they want to see the people they work with.

SavoyCabbage · 29/04/2020 14:05

It's not the same as mixing households as she's going to work. If you can't work from home you can go to work unless you've had specific instructions that you must close. Like pubs.

P1nkHeartLovesCake · 29/04/2020 14:07

The rules are very clear and always have been

If you can’t work from home you can go to work.

Millions are still working everyday, but as always people on here make up little added rules like only key workers being able to work or the 1 hour exercise rule etc etc

Chockablok · 29/04/2020 14:07

It's not mixing households

It specifically says this.

People need to actually read the guidelines rather than pulling rules out of thin air and spreading them around the internet.

Work carried out in people’s homes, for example by tradespeople carrying out repairs and maintenance, can continue, provided that the tradesperson is well and has no symptoms. Again, it will be important to ensure that Public Health England guidelines, including maintaining a 2 metre distance from any household occupants, are followed to ensure everyone’s safety.

Source:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others/full-guidance-on-staying-at-home-and-away-from-others#closing-certain-businesses-and-venues

Tradespeople is an example but covers anyone who works in other people's houses. So this wouldn't include hairdressers due to the 2m rule but would cover cleaners.

The rules could not be any clearer.

RitaConnors · 29/04/2020 14:08

I don't see it as any different to a friend visiting us

This is why there is so much confusion. People are interpreting the guidelines because they don't see why people should be doing things. But it isn't about what you think people should and should be doing or not doing.

pocketem · 29/04/2020 14:08

My cleaner's been coming every fortnight. I'm out at work so no mixing

goshdarnitjanet · 29/04/2020 14:12

Yes I do wish people would read fully the relevant guidelines instead of deciding what they think should be happening

TimeWastingButFun · 29/04/2020 14:13

We don't have a cleaner but if we did I'd say no - obviously she'd be going around touching everything in the house and there's a risk. We do have a gardener here a couple of days a week though and he's been coming throughout. We keep to totally different parts of the garden when he's here, he uses a different toilet that we hardly ever use anyway and he brings his own drinks now.

Disfordarkchocolate · 29/04/2020 14:23

I'd go for a walk for the time she cleans and be overjoyed to come home to a clean house. As long as she uses gloves and a mask all the time and you're not high risk.

bestbefore · 29/04/2020 14:25

Well I am not having our cleaner here - she's here for ages and with a house full here we can't avoid her for that long. I am paying her though before you all jump on me for that. We are all doing our best to comply and work out what's best in these shitty times

KingaRoo · 29/04/2020 14:26

The cleaning company I used have told all their cleaners to stop work and frozen payments. I am still paying mine as she is a single mum and needs the money but trying to wfh myself, supervise home schooling and do all the house work and cleaning is exhausting! Can't wait until she can come back.

Nearlyalmost50 · 29/04/2020 14:39

I know technically my cleaner could still come, as her work is essential to her, but a) it does mix households in a not desirable way as she's in close contact with all the surfaces/crockery, b) she has a child who is vulnerable and has to travel on public transport so we are risky if we insist she comes and c) we are all in most of the time so end up hiding! She comes for 4 hours at at time, I can't go out for that. So I've paid her and suggested we reassess in another couple of weeks.

unfortunateevents · 29/04/2020 14:53

I am also paying my cleaners but they are not attending (my request). It's an agency so even if they just sent one person, surely the fact that she is travelling between homes is a risk - to me and her? I thought we had established that the virus can live on surfaces and be tracked on shoes so surely it poses a risk if she is touching surfaces everywhere - even more so than usual - taps, vacuum cleaner, cupboards etc and then going to someone else's house after?

GetOffTheTableMabel · 29/04/2020 15:05

We use an agency. Two people (not the same two each time) are here for 3 hours and with 2 DDs and DH working from home it just seems too difficult. They can’t go out for 3 hours when they’re supposed to be working. We’re still paying the agency. I really want them to survive this.

Original poster
sunandrose · 29/04/2020 15:18

Thanks for pointing out the guidelines.

It’s not a case of spreading false information! I genuinely was under the impression it would be mixing households.
Now I know otherwise I can act accordingly...

I’ve been paying her since she stopped working. It’s still going to be difficult for three hours with DH working from home, a toddler and a crawling baby but I’m sure we’ll work something out.

I’ve asked around and none of our friends are currently using their cleaners, the companies have all cancelled the work. I’ll be interested to see what happens with them....

OP posts:
Pluckedpencil · 29/04/2020 15:27

People saying this is clear then...

So a hairdresser can go to work...as long as she is two metres from her client? Does that mean hairdressers can stay open to sell products?

And a cleaner can clean someone's house, as long as she is two metres from her client. Even though the work involves getting up close and personal with people's bed sheets and dust and toilets...and the virus sheds everywhere, and the cleaner will be there for a minimum of an hour.... Hmmmmm....

hotdog44 · 29/04/2020 15:29

It’s not really an essential at this current time and I am a cleaner myself ! Yes i need the income, but the risk of being in a household would make me feel uneasy and no doubt the client as well ! As we know. I would touch every surface and the fact I would undoubtedly have been in other houses before yours !