House Keeper Showed up to Work with the Flu

If she had to pay you back, it's possible that was the sticking point. She may be living day to day. I'm so sorry she came sick and wish you well.

Do you have sick days worked into her contract? And requirements that she go home if she's ill?

If not, perhaps you ought to do so.

I've always given my housekeeper "sick pay" even though I'm not legally obligated to, as a mom, and as an American, it just feels right.
And of course it's worth it if you think she's really sick!
Treat your employees the same way YOU, as an employee, would hope to be treated.

This is so sad. I am glad that you tried to be human about this and pay her the money regardless. I think that if you wipe down surfaces like you said, you will be just fine. I remember being in your housekeeper's situation. I was in college and working in restaurants waiting tables. I had no health insurance. Any doctor visit had to be paid out of pocket which was absolutely unaffordable on $2.15/hour plus tips. I didn't have sick days or vacation days. If I didn't work, I didn't get paid period. There were days that I went in to work when I shouldn't have... I went out and bought OTC medicines and hoped to be able to get through the day.

There are many, many people in this Country that are in this situation every day. A little compassion goes a long way. Thanks for understanding her situation.

The problem is that people who work in the service industry aren't unionized, don't received paid sick days and often can't afford to take a day off work due to illness. It's unfortunate, but it is a choice so many have to make just to survive.

Are you sure it was the flu, or maybe just a cold? With the flu she likely wouldn't be capable of doing any house cleaning. I'm pretty sure that if you wiped doorknobs and such you will be fine. Just have your family practice good handwashing.

I would have wiped everything down as well, no matter how irrational it would be.
Viruses can only survive a short time outside the body, you cleaned up with wipes. My uneducated guess is that you are fine.

I've always given my housekeeper "sick pay" even though I'm not legally obligated to, as a mom, and as an American, it just feels right.
And of course it's worth it if you think she's really sick!
Treat your employees the same way YOU, as an employee, would hope to be treated.

Assuming you and your family go out to stores, school, work, malls, restaurants, you are constantly exposed to flu germs (and others). So immune system strengthening and proper vaccinations are the most important things. I know this year's flu vaccine is largely ineffective, but when I look at the massive problem we are having with measles simply because people won't vaccinate themselves and their children, I really get enraged. Measles deaths are awful. (And after everyone was screaming about one U.S. death due to Ebola up until the election, it's even more frustrating that more deaths due to preventable diseases aren't a concern.)

But you (and some posters below) raise an important point about all the workers who do not have paid sick leave. I think it's great that you offered her the day, but she was already there and already desperate. How much nicer it would have been for both of you if she had had the security of staying home. We don't pay a lot of people a living wage (maybe you do, but not everyone does) - housekeepers, daycare providers, wait staff, fast food workers, retail workers.

I think you need two things: a simple written agreement in English and in her language stating what her paid time off is (sick and vacation), and you can include a job description/list of responsibilities too if that would be helpful. You also need a good contact to serve as an interpreter in the meantime for day-to-day communications.

I'm sure you're fine as you've wiped down all the surfaces.
Just be sure to include doorhandles etc.
Glad you paid her. How nice.
Usually ppl that work as housekeepers really need their money so I'm sure that's the only reason she showed up.

I wouldn't worry about it at all. You and your family had more exposure to sick people at work and school.

sucks for all of you, doesn't it?
you're a good egg for offering to pay her a sick day. i've been in her shoes- desperate for a paycheck, desperately sick, and working through it. it's not a happy place.
it's good to be pro-active and wipe the house down. now don't take it too far and be obsessive. this is the world, and you and your kids were both out in it today and could well have come into contact with someone ELSE who has the flu.
it's not a matter of being screwed if you come in contact with a germ. it's about keeping your immune system robust and minimizing risk (not eliminating it- that's impossible.)
khairete
S.

Honestly, I really don't think cleaning the house prevents people from getting sick. I know that sounds crazy and I almost can't believe I'm typing it. But, I used to clean my house once per week and we got sick more frequently than we do now that I clean once every 2 weeks. I know someone who only cleans their house once in a while (with no harsh chemicals and not even that well) who hardly ever gets sick. Because no matter what, you go somewhere pick up germs, touch your face, bam you're sick. It just doesn't make that much of a difference. All those lysol commercials make us think it's critical. It' just ain't.

It's the stress of worrying about stuff like this that makes you catch every little bug you encounter and maybe improper amount of sleep.

If you've wiped down the hard surfaces, you're probably golden.
Here's a link that may help you relax. http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/features/killing-flu-ge...

Oh, that poor woman!
Use some Lysol wipes.

If we knew exactly how to prevent flu? No O. would get it. Just use common sense & try your best.

If your kids recently recovered from the flu, then your family has already been exposed. Your kids, at least, are now immune.

Beware of becoming germophobic. I did, a little, when the kids were younger.

Lovely post, Tracy M.

Please don't worry about it! There's no point. You could have your house completely sterilized and one of your kids can bring in a germ from anywhere and set off the chain reaction. Seems like my kids have been alternating sicknesses all winter. Wiping down was great and now WORST CASE SCENARIO, you guys get sick. It could have happened anyway. Good job being nice to housekeeper. I guess you couldn't force her to leave. I probably would have tried my best to push her out the door with the money and demand she take it, but who knows if that would have worked. I've been in her shoes so I understand not being able to miss one day's pay no matter what.

I should be fine, but if you're worried, straight vinegar kills the flu virus too, so you could just wipe down surfaces with vinegar and paper towels.

I agree with Tracy M. too, good on you for offering to pay her anyway. :)

ahh i would have paid her to leave, no money back, until she got better.

You probably don't have to worry about it, the fact of the matter is that no matter how hard you work to clean your house germs will still be everywhere- some good some bad. Your kids are probably immune from it since they just had it, you or your husband might get it but you could also pick it up at work.
I'm sure your housekeeper is a very hard worker, and wouldn't think of taking a day off even for the flu, it's tough. I wouldn't do a contract but just have a talk with her about it being okay for her to call in sick...that you'll pay her anyways and she can make it up another day. She was probably afraid she'd lose her job because of her mentality.

You might want to offer her a written agreement that when she is that sick, she can call and you'll reschedule. In our case, we only have her come 2x a month so we change the day she comes and she still visits 2x that month and gets paid the same. I also say written, because you want to be sure she understands. I would put it in English and get a native speaker to translate for you and you each keep a copy. She may not have wanted to feel like she "owes" you. An agreement like that would be a way she could talk to you upfront.

As for the house, I think you've done what you can without re-cleaning.