Sexism in the work place in relation to covid19?

[kaykkies]

Excuse the rant guys..

I work in an office of 6 people. 3 females and 3 men. One male boss and one female.

Ultimately we have been majorly dissatisfied and dissapointrd with our offices lack of a response to the current issues.

We asked for hand sanitising products 2 weeks ago.. the laughed. We cracked up about not having hot water, one unwashed towel to use between us all and other general missing neccesities.

They have sorted out hot communal water in the kitchen area however this is not enough! Although we are a small office we are all in veryy close proximity to each other. Particularly when eating for breaks etc.

Myself and other persons in the office have bought and brought in our own cleaning and sanitising products to clean our own desks, phones etc.

We left and example of a work place procedure on their desks yesterday. Today we all got a very vague email.. ultimately saying its the duty for myself and another female to clean the office. Clean and sanitise everyones phones, desks etc. All cleaning duties on the two female employees l. Exposing ourselves to everyone elses handsets and germs.

Myself and my female colleagues are about to approach them on this. Thoughts on my reaction?

Also NOTHING has been put in place for us to be able to work from home dispite recommendations from the government.

Ultimately i feel like we the staff have been majorly let down. And im not about to go cleaning others personal spaces

Call out the obvious sexism..

Why are you tasking the women to do this?

And just stand there

That’s appalling generally but to say that women are in charge of cleaning....crazy.

Be very plain with them... don't pull your punches on this one!

That's awful. Just say clearly that cleaning should be equally shared between all employees and that to do otherwise is against the law.

You should also point out the government guidance about working from home. It's not hard for small firms to sort out.

That’s overt sexism. Everyone should be cleaning their own area daily and a rota for cleaning any communal areas. PPE should be provided as well.

That is shocking! You must refuse and insist that the cleaning is shared equally.

Since it's in writing that's brilliant! I'd go straight to ACAS with it. They've shot themselves in the foot if it's clearly sexist in an email.

Have you read this thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3849189-How-not-to-fill-the-gaps-for-men

I think this is time to learn to say no and mean it.

I’ve been psyching myself up in case my boss makes any unreasonable requests. They haven’t had my back and now the chips are down, I’m not going to do anything that puts me at additional risk.

No is a complete sentence.

Agree with other posters.

They have no legal leg to stand on if you refuse on grounds of discrimination.

Tell them to put together a rota with work equally distributed amongst all staff members.

There must be cleaners normally. Surely asking them to do extra hours would be the obvious approach?

But, as it is, say no. Are they giving you appropriate saftey-wear?

Gloves and zaflora..

Def say no and demand a rota - if any of you accept it's your job to do it at all.

Would your male colleagues be supportive of you putting your foot down? Will you get solidarity?

You don't do it. It's not your job. Your employer should be making arrangements for the office to be cleaned via actual cleaners trained in cleaning with proper equipment.

A rota is not the way forward. If they can't find professional cleaners then each person should clean their own workspace and someone should be in charge of monitoring that to make sure that happens.

The only "rota" would be that everyone ticks a chart to show they have cleaned their workspace when obliged to.

Point out possibility of breaches of employer's liability insurance/claims for making you breach the distancing rules by asking you to enter other people's workspace.

I have been astounded at my work. The men have stepped the fuck up, both at home (doing equal WFH) and at the office (cleaning and caring). Which means it is possible and I would push push push at your work.