News1 min ago
Can my employee make me clean the the work place?
74 Answers
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?
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?
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I work for a small homeless charity. We ALL have a hand in the daily cleaning-because of budget/funding restrictions,there is no money to pay daily cleaners.
As cooks-my boss and I are solely responsible for the kitchen. All the support workers-half a dozen of them-do the rest of the cleaning:hoovering,sweeping and mopping the floors,windows...and toilets. That includes those for staff use-and those for our clients-who are not the cleanest or most considerate of users sometimes. No-one complains-we all just get on with it.
I am sure that a lot of small businesses are cash strapped now-and a daily cleaner may be one of the first expenditures to go.
As cooks-my boss and I are solely responsible for the kitchen. All the support workers-half a dozen of them-do the rest of the cleaning:hoovering,sweeping and mopping the floors,windows...and toilets. That includes those for staff use-and those for our clients-who are not the cleanest or most considerate of users sometimes. No-one complains-we all just get on with it.
I am sure that a lot of small businesses are cash strapped now-and a daily cleaner may be one of the first expenditures to go.
Firstly, thank you all for you responses. I guess I was looking for a bit of outside perspective. And apologies for not coming back to you earlier (I've been out all evening).
Something I should have said in my original post... I don't ever use the kitchen. I bring in my own dinner in, eating at my desk and take away any rubbish. I don't drink tea, so never even venture into the room. Maybe I'm just selfish? I don't know.
I certainly don't think cleaning is below me, nor do i believe it's women's work. I am happy to tidy up after myself and regularly do empty bins and tidy in the office.
A few other things that have come up that I'd like to clear up.
I'd say it was a medium size company (approx 20 members of staff). Not many have contracts, that I'm aware off, it's just accepted that we have set holidays, basic t&c's, etc... Right or wrong this just the way it is.
NI is paid.
Generally it's a good place to work, everyone's pleasant and the job challenges. And I realise that times are bad and there are many people out of work. But comparing the UK to other (less developed countries) is ridiculous.
All that been said I still can't help but thinking tidying other people's mess (kitchen) is outside of my role (even though I don't have a contract that specifically says so).
I look. Forward to your responses.
Thanks again.
Something I should have said in my original post... I don't ever use the kitchen. I bring in my own dinner in, eating at my desk and take away any rubbish. I don't drink tea, so never even venture into the room. Maybe I'm just selfish? I don't know.
I certainly don't think cleaning is below me, nor do i believe it's women's work. I am happy to tidy up after myself and regularly do empty bins and tidy in the office.
A few other things that have come up that I'd like to clear up.
I'd say it was a medium size company (approx 20 members of staff). Not many have contracts, that I'm aware off, it's just accepted that we have set holidays, basic t&c's, etc... Right or wrong this just the way it is.
NI is paid.
Generally it's a good place to work, everyone's pleasant and the job challenges. And I realise that times are bad and there are many people out of work. But comparing the UK to other (less developed countries) is ridiculous.
All that been said I still can't help but thinking tidying other people's mess (kitchen) is outside of my role (even though I don't have a contract that specifically says so).
I look. Forward to your responses.
Thanks again.
If it's outside your role then it's probably outside everyone else's too - but it's your choice not to use the kitchen, the facility is there for you (and don't you ever put any rubbish in the kitchen bin, or go get a drink of water?). It doesn't seem unreasonable to me - it's your choice that you don't use the facility, it's still there for you.
I can't see anything wrong with the request Smoggy, provided everyone is expected to do their fair share. I used to own a chauffeur company and cleaning vehicles was something we all did as and when required. In fact, I used to start at 4am sometimes just to make sure wedding cars were clean to my satisfaction rather than leave it to the chauffeurs later that day.
It was the same with the office, loos and the driver's room. If they needed cleaning we all did whatever was required. I would often be on my knees cleaning the loos - after all, if all the chauffeurs were out who else would do it? Often I would find one of my staff cleaning the loo instead. I realised that people were quite happy to do whatever was required provided they saw me doing it too. I hope your boss is the same and does his or her fair share.
It was the same with the office, loos and the driver's room. If they needed cleaning we all did whatever was required. I would often be on my knees cleaning the loos - after all, if all the chauffeurs were out who else would do it? Often I would find one of my staff cleaning the loo instead. I realised that people were quite happy to do whatever was required provided they saw me doing it too. I hope your boss is the same and does his or her fair share.
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I think that a written contract is a good idea if there are problems in the future.I know this from an instance where my daughter was not paid and then the company went into administration,and in order to get her money that was due,she had to prove she was officially working there.(just an example)
As far as the cleaning is concerned,I still think you should all just clear up after yourselves as we are only talking about the kitchen.You are quite a small company and I still don't think a rota is necessary.That way as you don't use the kitchen you would not need to do it.That's still a big enough place to warrant a cleaner though,who actually dusts and hoovers and cleans the loos then?
As far as the cleaning is concerned,I still think you should all just clear up after yourselves as we are only talking about the kitchen.You are quite a small company and I still don't think a rota is necessary.That way as you don't use the kitchen you would not need to do it.That's still a big enough place to warrant a cleaner though,who actually dusts and hoovers and cleans the loos then?
Cleaning is generally done very infrequently. It's generally done by 3 or 4 people, generally when they are have a quiet couple of hours.
When I say infrequent, I don't think toilets have been cleaned since October-ish. The kitchen more frequently. I assume it's the employers responsibility to ensure a clean and safe working environment? And I don't know to what extent he has to go to to ensure this?
I'd agree that people should clean up after the selves but obviously some don't (as I don't use be kitchen I don't know who they are) and hence the rota.
When I say infrequent, I don't think toilets have been cleaned since October-ish. The kitchen more frequently. I assume it's the employers responsibility to ensure a clean and safe working environment? And I don't know to what extent he has to go to to ensure this?
I'd agree that people should clean up after the selves but obviously some don't (as I don't use be kitchen I don't know who they are) and hence the rota.
In our small business the cleaner comes in once a week. Two of them, clean for 1-2 hours, we pay through an agency, it's £26 per week plus VAT.
We had loads of crap cleaners before and we're grateful for the good cleaners we have now, but there's no way the business can afford them to come in five days per week - nor is there the cleaning load to really justify it.
The rest of the time the staff have to keep the place ticking over ... washing up, keeping the loos presentable for visitors, etc.
Perhaps one idea then is, like us, to get a professional cleaner to come in weekly or fortnightly to keep the place properly clean.
But when push comes to shove, if cash is tight and the place needs cleaning ... do you want to be fired in order to free up the budget to pay for a cleaner, or do you want to pitch in and help?
We had loads of crap cleaners before and we're grateful for the good cleaners we have now, but there's no way the business can afford them to come in five days per week - nor is there the cleaning load to really justify it.
The rest of the time the staff have to keep the place ticking over ... washing up, keeping the loos presentable for visitors, etc.
Perhaps one idea then is, like us, to get a professional cleaner to come in weekly or fortnightly to keep the place properly clean.
But when push comes to shove, if cash is tight and the place needs cleaning ... do you want to be fired in order to free up the budget to pay for a cleaner, or do you want to pitch in and help?
Who cleaned the loo in October?
Originally it was the bosses job to clean the toilets.
Great thread by the way.
Although I worked in warehouses/factories during my days at university this is my first 'permanent' job and have been with the company for several years. It is interesting to see how other companies operate,
Originally it was the bosses job to clean the toilets.
Great thread by the way.
Although I worked in warehouses/factories during my days at university this is my first 'permanent' job and have been with the company for several years. It is interesting to see how other companies operate,
Everyone is talking like the company is so strapped for cash,it'll go under if the workers don't cleanup the kitchen,can't afford a cleaner etc.We don't know anything of the sort.The boss may be making huge profits ,the company is doing well,and he may just be exploiting his staff,for all we know.He hasn't even cleaned the toilets since October-what kind of guy must he be??????LOL.Maybe you could enlighten us,smoggy.
I am with ganesh on this one. I believe in keeping the workplace tidy, but no way would I be prepared to clean loos, and do any heavier cleaning unless I worked for a very small enterprise with only a few staff. Of course I would wash up cups after me, and I do not think it is demeaning to clean.
Mr LL works for a very small company and doesn't clean the loos or clean the kitchen!!
If I ran a company, no way would I expect my staff to do the cleaning. I would get someone in at least once a week for a few hours. It would give someone a job.
Mr LL works for a very small company and doesn't clean the loos or clean the kitchen!!
If I ran a company, no way would I expect my staff to do the cleaning. I would get someone in at least once a week for a few hours. It would give someone a job.
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