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What would you do?

11 replies

timewilltel · 05/03/2023 09:59

So the other day we had the electrician come to fix something with the gas meter, apparently our whole block had to be done. So he came that morning and went straight to the kitchen where the meter was located. It was in the top cabinet so he had to get his ladder to reach it and then he said something about it being located in an awkward position. Anyway,
I went upstairs to get something and came back down and walked past the kitchen and literally I saw him standing on top of the countertops. I thought oh ok he must have laid down newspaper or plastic bags or something but when I looked carefully, I was absolutely horrified! He was standing there with his big dirty work boots and exactly where I prepare my 6 month old baby's milk (prep machine and her clean bottles) I already have OCD but come on, this is a place where you prepare food! This can't be normal. Thing is I really wanted to say something but I thought this is so awkward like what do I say? Can you get off from there please? It was so awkward to say the least. Well the damage was already done so it would have made no difference if I told him to get off anyway. So basically after he left I think I spent like a whole hour bleaching and scrubbing it down. I told my husband about it when he came home from work and he wasn't happy at the fact that I didn't say anything to him. I just felt so uncomfortable. He said maybe say like “is it ok if you just put something there to stand on” and I know I should have but it was just so awkward anyway the damage is done now and I was thinking shall I call his company and tell them about it but I seriously don't want to get him into trouble. Saying that, do you think this would even get him into trouble, I mean, is it even something that you can just do normally?

OP posts:
Workinghardeveryday · 05/03/2023 10:06

I can understand this would be annoying for all the reasons you mentioned - but no damage was done?

His work boots would have been dirty, but you can easily clean up the mess no? No damage to property?

He was doing his job. How could he have put something on your work top to stand on, that would have been really dangerous, he could have slipped and you would have had to clean just the same afterwards because of the dirty sheet etc.

I get it is very annoying but it is just one of those things, it couldn’t be helped. Please don’t complain and get the poor guy in trouble because he was just doing his job.

I say this from a fellow OCD cleaning mum, you are being over the top x

Wolfiefan · 05/03/2023 10:13

What damage? This is a you problem. Not him. Are you getting help?

RunTowardsTheLight · 05/03/2023 10:16

I agree with you he should have taken off his boots, but you are overreacting here. Clean the surface thoroughly afterwards (as you did) and move on.

Pinkflipflop85 · 05/03/2023 10:17

Just clean the counter...

bitingthedust · 05/03/2023 10:19

I would be worrying about the mould building up in prep machine? More then dust and dirt on a work top which can be easily wiped.

Had lots of little jobs done at my house I expect a wipe down and hoover when tradespeople have been.

QueenMabs · 05/03/2023 10:22

If you have medically diagnosed OCD and are under the care of a mental health team or a psychiatrist you can call them to talk about this and how this has affected you and your baby. You will also or may also realise that this is an over reaction caused because you have a serious mental health condition.

If you just are "OCD with cleaning" then yes it's over the top but I can see why you would be annoyed and I'd have been pissed off too if it's near the prep machine (but I would have put it away as it sound like the work area was near it, but you may not have been aware the meter was being changed ) but it's no harm done. You can buy some cover shoes for trades to wear and keep them in a box by the door. Sky provide their workers with them.

If you don't have diagnosed OCD you can contact your GP and they will be able to help you further if you feel you need extra support. 💐

ScottBakula · 05/03/2023 10:24

I certainly get that it not at all nice but as pp said him putting paper/ cloth /plastic down 1st is a big H&S risk .
Ideally he should of put overshoes on ( they look like shower caps but for your feet) before he stood on your worktop or had some disinfectant wipes and given the eorktop a quick once over when he was done .

I occasionally have to stand on people's desk at work , which I realise isn't quite the same , but it's what I do .

Instead of complaining to the company email them explaing what happened offer up this solution instead, keep the email formal but non aggressive/ accusatory.

SpottyLip · 05/03/2023 10:29

In your situation what I would do is talk with the professionals involved around my condition. An hour bleaching the surface is overkill and suggests your condition is not well managed

user143677434 · 05/03/2023 10:30

He should have wiped it after he was done.

He should possibly have asked you to move the things that were on the counter (I’m surprised that you didn’t do it beforehand).

But no, he shouldn’t have put plastic down. His safety is a priority.

But I empathise - OCD sucks. As others have said, talk it through with your mental health team. It’s good to discuss these things and recognise what is a normal reaction and what isn’t.

TidyDancer · 05/03/2023 10:38

I wouldn't like this either but what else could he have done if he couldn't reach where he needed to get? Unless your statement of cleaning for an hour is an exaggeration then of course your reaction is excessive but I do understand what OCD can do to a person. Do you have some professional support in place that you could make contact with?

You shouldn't complain, the man hasn't done anything wrong.

timewilltel · 06/03/2023 09:30

Thank you all so much for your comments. I will definitely get the necessary help I know I need.

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