Retail store assistant jobs- do they have to keep toilets clean?

[Catonthefence]

Hi,
I have got an interview call for the store assistant job I applied at Matalan. This is my first job as I have been sahm for many many years.
I would like to know if store assistants need to clean toilets (or accidents like if someone pukes on the shop floor etc).
Thankyou :)

Most of the time yes

Depends on the company but even when cleaning is outsourced there aren’t always cleaners in store so you should assume you will have to

I never had to clean a toilet in all my (student) years working retail. I was the youngest and lowest in the pecking order but we had cleaning staff. I did have to dust display shelves though.
I suppose if there was an incident like you say you might as cleaning staff often work after the store has closed.

Ask during the interview

I can't imagine you'd have to in a large store like matalan. That would be my nightmare though - I'd rather leave a job than do that 😬

Don't you clean your own toilet then?

Probably not cleaning the toilets, that will be a cleaner's daily job. But yeah, if someone pukes in the shop there won't be an on-call cleaner, one of the shop staff would have to deal with it.

Yes. I’m the retail jobs I’ve had, we did it on a rota.

"Don't you clean your own toilet then?"

What a daft response

I worked retail for years all size shops never once cleaned a toilet. And with sickness people are generally kind and if you really struggle you wont be made to do it.

I work in one of the 'big four' supermarkets and any cleaning job involving bodily fluids such as vomit will be dealt with by a first aider. The majority of the time though the cleaners handle the upkeep of the toilets.

@Spidey66

Yes of course I do but I wouldn't clean a public toilet 🤔🤔 slight difference

I worked in a supermarket and the in store cleaner dealt with the staff and customer loos.

Our student son is part-time in hospitality. They have dedicated early morning and night time cleaners but obviously the facilities need to be maintained during the day and he has to take his turn sometimes. So Yes, I expect you would.

Mumsnet are certainly odd about toilets. They’re toilets. People poo and wee in all of them, but clearly some Mumnetters believe their own smell of roses and Chanel No 5.

Usually but if you know a colleague struggles with such stuff you help and support each other. Where I worked the managers often did it.

BTW what is it with people and how messy they are in such places when out?

Tesco don't have cleaners any more. So yes, store staff have to clean the toilets , so possibly it's the same elsewhere

Spidey66 · Today 11:42

Mumsnet are certainly odd about toilets. They’re toilets. People poo and wee in all of them, but clearly some Mumnetters believe their own smell of roses and Chanel N”

Some do. There was a (terrible, cheap) TV ad a few years for something called VIPoo. Used to make the kids howl. I honestly thought it was a joke, part of sone sort of campaign, looking out for bowel cancer or something, that would be revealed in a second ad. Turns out it’s a real thing and people buy it.

Thankyou all. The responses are mixed, guess it depends on the employer and general work expectations.
Also, someone suggested to ask in the interview, would that be ok?
Also, it is different cleaning your own toilets vs public ones. I am also in the process of getting an interview with one of the big 4 supermarkets.

I am really appreciating all the answers with experience.🙏

It's perfectly fine to ask in the interview exactly what the role involves. I'm sure they would rather you know before you start what the expectations are.

Another daft comment.

I’ve worked in a supermarket as a student and no we didn’t clean the loos. There weren’t any for customers anyway. Thankfully never encountered any bodily fluids on the shop floor but we’d have to clean up if something got dropped and smashed, wipe down your own checkout, that sort of thing.

So many people are above the small jobs these days!
Previously as said up thread, it was just on a rota basis.

I wouldn't specifically ask about whether you'd be expected to clean toilets or vomit accidents. You'll come across as insane.

But you can ask more generally what the role entails day-to-day, what kind of tasks and duties in includes.

Nope .. if they get out of hand the managers close them or sort them .

No way am I touching the toilets .. humans in public are gross !