Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
approach boss about cleaning lady?
I work in a very small office (5 people total) so we are all very close. We regularly hang out outside of work. I'm the newest person there (1.5 years) where the others have been there 10+ years. That's the background...
We have a cleaning lady who comes on the weekend. She just so happens to be coworker A's best friend's mom. They are practically family.
This lady has always sucked at her job. She only vacuums the conference room and nowhere else, cleaning supplies are often left on our desks (rags, etc), sometimes she leaves the garbage cans on our office chairs, you get the idea. It's pretty bad. I had to leave a note for her this past weekend to please vacuum near my desk.
I don't know how to approach the situation with our boss. Coworker A doesn't really see this stuff because she doesn't work Mondays. How can you tell your boss to fire somebody who is basically related to a coworker? I don't know what to do but we are tired of it.
A secondary point to this is I am looking for extra income and have applied at many places, even cleaning services. Would it be out of line to offer to take up this job? I enjoy cleaning and would do it thoroughly.
Advice?
Re: approach boss about cleaning lady?
I wouldn't jump immediately to "fire this chick". It may be that they took A up on her offer to have this woman clean, but no one gave her any guidelines as to what that entailed. She may also be used to cleaning homes vs offices, doesn't know what's off limits, or a host of other things. I don't see a problem with approaching the boss and telling them that you've noticed some issues with having the office cleaned, and that you'd like to see them addressed. You might also want to do it as a group, since you say "everyone" is tired of it.
I would NOT offer to clean the office. For one, if you go in saying "this woman sucks and I could do better", or even give that impression, it's going to create hard feelings. For another, you work there. Cleaning there seems to give the appearance of conflict of interest. I can see putting your name out there if CWs want their homes cleaned and you want to start something on the side, but I'm also for keeping work and the rest of your life separate for the most part. If there are only 5 people there, I'd find other places/ways to network to get extra income.
Our little Irish rose came to us on March 5, 2010
Don't drink the water.
Disclaimer: I am not an MD. Please don't PM me with pregnancy-related questions. Ask your doctor.
Yeah, I think to go in w/ "fire her" is a bit much.
How long has she been cleaning? If it's longer than you've been there... I would tread VERY carefullly.
If anything, I'd approach the boss from the point of view of "What expectations were laid out when she first started?", and if asked why you ask - just gently explain that you've noticed she doesn't vaccum the whole office, cleaning supplies are left out - just a few things. And see where it goes.
I agree w/ Dr. L - don't offer to clean yourself. If for no other reason you don't need their perception of you to be your "the cleaning lady". I don't know what you're office is like, but if there's a kitchen - they may start to expect YOU to keep it clean on a daily basis, to do their dishes, etc.
I just don't know that these are 2 worlds you want to bring together.
~Benjamin Franklin
DS dx with celiac disease 5/28/10
You're probably right about not mixing the two worlds so I won't do that. That's the part I felt most uncomfortable about anyway.
And you're also correct in that there probably were no clear definitions of what she was supposed to do. I guess I think bringing your grandkid, who eats all my candy set out for clients, as well as random office supplies going missing, is unprofessional no matter the expectations.
I'm going to ask a coworker to talk to the boss with me.
Thanks for talking me back.