Can my employee make me clean the the work place?

[smoggyuk]

I'm employed in sales/design/production at a sign manufacturer. The problem I have is ive never signed a contract with specific responsibilities.

Today the boss brought everyone together and told us that we would be put on a rota to made to clean kitchen (and I imagine it's only going to be a matter of time before toilets become part of the rota).

We have never had cleaning staff but every now, when work allows, someone will give the place a tidy up. I don't think cleaning should be part of my job. And feel my duties are quite diverse as they are.

I am always happy to help anyone out, even going well out ofmy way. But I don't feel cleaning is something I should have to do. Can a boss make you clean? Or is it his responsibility to do it or hire cleaning staff?

[B00]

Smoggy hasn't time to reply, he's currently cleaning the works bogs :P

[ganesh]

Smoggy is entitled to a written statement of main employment terms (though that can be very basic) within 2 months of starting work.It's really a good idea just to serve as proof that you are actually an employee should there be problems later.

[RAV1D]

If you don't like it then you know where the door is! There are people desperate for a job to feed their family's and jobs these days are like gold dust. There are people working to the bone in other countries and they get about 20p a week for it and that buys them a bit of bread to eat to stay alive. Why even go to work if your not prepaired to work! cleaning is work and you are getting paid a wadge. No one likes work but its life!

[cathfromsaron]

above it are you?

[owdhamer]

get the kitchen tidied up in yout turn and stop moaning

[China Doll]

Pah... I don't think picking everyone elses post up is my job but I still have to do it once a month, it's not exactly a hardship. If everyone thought that certain jobs were beneath them where I work we'd have one god awful shared kitchen area! S'no big deal.

[Maydup]

I think there are more people helping to clean the work place that you might realise smoggy. Only medium to large companies have enough work for or can afford for a cleaner.

Especially if your company have cut back on cleaning staff, join in, help out and be a team player, otherwise you're doomed in this climate, and putting yourself next in line..

[firewatch]

we used to have to do it in the factory where i worked and none of grumbled as we knew it would benefit us in the long run to have a clean kitchen loo and food prep space.

[vodkancoke]

I have 5 members of staff. They clean up after themselves in the kitchen and in other areas of the shop too. It's not in their contract to do it, I don't ask them, nor expect them to do it either....it's just what they do. I don't think they can "make" you clean the kitchen, but you all use the kitchen, so where is the harm in cleaning up after yourselves. There must have been an incident that has made your boss come to the conclusion they need a rota.

[ganesh]

You may be lucky to have a job these days but that doesn't mean you should let yourself be exploited which is probably what's happening.Should a pilot bring round the drinks trolley to the passengers? Should a chief executive be doing the secretary's work-let's ask the prime minister if he cleaned the toilets and mopped the floor today?We get paid for the job we have trained for,or studied for,or worked through the ranks for.If I had trained 7 years to be a doctor I would expect a good salary and a decent job without having to clean the floors in the hospital every night.I'm sorry but I think you are all wrong.By sharing out these jobs,you are denying cleaners their jobs and are making THEM unemployed!

[vodkancoke]

A pilot bringing round the drinks trolley is hardly the same thing ganesh. The point is smoggyuk USES the kitchen, therefore they should clean up after themselves. If they DID clean up after themselves, the employer wouldn't need to raise the issue of a rota. I don't understand the hoo-hah personally. Anywhere I have ever worked, even if they had cleaning staff, I have always cleaned up after myself and others. I was a chef too, and I always made sure the kitchen was left spotless, even though we had a KP. It's just my way, maybe it's the wrong way to be though.

As I said before I don't think they can force you to clean the kitchen. Maybe you should ask why they have come to this decision. How many of you work there?

[ganesh]

It may not be the same thing in this case,but in principal,I think it is.Of course you can rinse out your cup and tidy up after yourself,and if his employer just wanted that there would be no need for a rota.I suspect there is more to it than that.And I'm sure you would agree as a chef,that you may get a bit annoyed if you had no KP at all and you had to use a greater portion of your time cleaning.I'm sure you would object to cleaning the restaurant's public loos wouldnt you?

[vodkancoke]

Nothing is beneath me ganesh. If I was asked to do it, I would do it. At then end of the day, if my employer asks me to do something, I do it, whether I like it or not. They pay my wages and no-one is irreplaceable! As an employer though, I don't ask my staff to do anything I wouldn't do.

[Maydup]

But smoggy hasn't mentioned cleaning public toilets ganesh. He's asked about having to clean a kitchen.

Since he's not come back to the thread, we know no more but I think we can assume its a small communial kitchen for the employees use. Not a commercial one.

Few companies can afford cleaners to tidy round such a small space, regardless of the status of the employees. Brain surgeons, pilots, leading actors and scientists are all capable of washing their own mugs in my opinion.

[ganesh]

Well I wouldn't.Certainly not cleaning loos.I would be happy to spend a little time washing up a few cups and even wiping surfaces and hoovering but that's as far as I'd go.People being scared to lose their jobs has led to exploitation by employers and in the current climate it's a real problem.I'm glad to hear you're a nice employer.

[ganesh]

He DID mention cleaning toilets in his first post but I think he was thinking that might be next.I am talking about job descrition and principles and as I said if it was just about rinsing a few cups then I can't see any need for a cleaning rota.

[boxtops]

This is a longstanding problem in many workplaces - several people use a kitchen area, but everyone seems to think that the washing-up fairy comes in overnight, and just leaves stuff lying around dirty.

I think a kitchen rota is entirely reasonably - it is not the job of office cleaners (if you had them) to clear up after lazy office staff.

Toilets are a different matter and smoggy's boss hasn't mentioned that - if you are toilet-cleaning you enter a whole new world of protective clothing and health and safety

Smoggy, if you are on a rota, I think it's entirely reasonable. I do it, I use the kitchen, it's only decent behaviour to clean up, and if you are on the rota is will only be once in a while, not every day.

[Maydup]

Rotas are often necessary, even to wash a few mugs, when the users think their Mum's will call in to do it.

[Eve]

One of the problems I've noticed is disparity in people being responsible for workplace cleanliness/tidiness and maybe more of an even split is needed to make people more aware of their own responsibilities and pulling their weight. Could it be that cleaning up is an issue or falling on particular people?

Adjustments should be considered, for example, anything particularly physical should have reasonable allowances made for anyone who would reasonably have difficulty such as a disability.

I will naturally tidy round as I go in our kitchen, if there are marks on the work surface from tea and coffee or spilt sugar etc... I'll wipe it up, if I tip something down the sink I'll wipe round to make sure it (and the draining board) is clean and sometimes wash other peoples' stuff up if it's been left or throw out of date things out in the fridge if I see it (usually gone off milk!). If everyone pulls their weight to keep things clean as they go along then it shouldn't get into much of a state to need much/often heavy duty cleaning doing.

I've worked in places where all the staff were responsible for cleaning up before close, it was just a part of the job.