Supermarket worker reveals ‘gross’ cleaning task that is ‘not part of her job’

A supermarket worker has divided opinion after sharing that she was asked to clean up a mess in the aisle that she felt was not part of her job description.

While an accidental spillage might be business as usual, this supermarket employee says she was asked to clean up urine, after a young child peed on the floor and the parents did nothing to help.

In a post on the popular Mumsnet forum the woman explained that she works in a medium sized supermarket with four tills, no customer toilets and a cleaner.

“A child wet themselves” 

“Today a child wet themselves in one of the aisles,” she begins her post. 

“My manager told me to clean it up with paper towels and I refused. It’s not part of my job description and I’m not cleaning up human waste – even if it’s a child’s.

“To be honest the parents walking away and not offering to help was lazy and gross in itself but regardless, am I being unreasonable?”

While many of the comments were confused as to why the cleaners were not on hand to deal with the situation then and there, others felt the poster was not being unreasonable by refusing to deal with the wee.

“I doubt it’s in anyone’s contract to clean up human waste in a work environment where you don’t expect it,” said one reply.

“It happens a surprising amount where I work. As the manager I usually clean it up myself. Someone’s got to do it and I’m paid more. Your manager should have done the same. It gets a lot of good will and I find people will offer to take turns. Some managers have no interpersonal skills.”

Another added: “I totally agree that you shouldn’t have to clean up human waste. And especially not with paper towels! You could be putting your health at risk. It should be cleaned up by someone properly trained and using the correct equipment.”

“Probably takes all of two minutes”

Some of those commenting felt that the poster was overthinking the situation as this teacher explains.

“I’m a primary school teacher, not sure if it’s in my job description but I’ve had to clean up vomit, pee, blood and snot on many occasions.  Same applied when I used to work in a bar.

“It’s not pleasant but just spray it with some antibacterial liquid, throw down some kitchen roll and pick it up with plastic gloves. Probably takes all of two mins.”

With another remarking along the same lines: “Urine is sterile until it reaches the outside world. Really not a huge deal, although the parents should have dealt with it.”

Most agreed that the fact the parents didn’t help clean up the mess was problematic.

“If the parents can’t control their child, then they should be made to clean up the p**s from it,” wrote one particularly angry respondent. 

Whereas others felt parents are hardly equipped to manage this sort of situation, so there wasn’t really much they could have done anyway.

“I’m not sure where you expect parents to put their mop and bucket every time they leave the house with a child?

“You are outraged at being asked to clean up wee but expect parents to do this without any real cleaning equipment? They can’t clean it up with baby wipes and lending them the shop’s cleaning equipment is likely to be an insurance issue, so you are being ridiculous.” 

“Don’t have kids!”

Another felt that her refusal to clean up the wee was a sign not to have babies.

“Please don’t ever have children!!  You’ll be in for a massive shock!”

To which the OP replied: “I’m sure most people are fine with cleaning up after their own child. Bit odd to not see the difference.”

The last word goes to this nurse who felt sometimes, you just need to get on with the job at hand, as she has done many time before.

“It was incredibly bad mannered of the child’s parent. But it all feels a bit jobs worth and childish refusing to clean it up.

“I think the first employee on the scene should just deal with it. It doesn’t need a whole team!”