Three quarters of Britons say it is ‘unacceptable’ to let nannies and cleaners work in family homes

Three quarters of Britons say it is ‘unacceptable’ to let nannies and cleaners come to work in your home during the lockdown despite the Government relaxing rules (and they think granny should stay away as well)

  • More than three quarters say it is ‘unacceptable’ for nannies to return to work 
  • And almost as many (73 per cent) feel the same way about cleaners
  • Ipsos MORI poll also found opposition to grandparents helping with childcare 

Cautious Britons are hugely opposed to domestic workers being allowed back into people’s homes, a survey revealed today.

More than three quarters (76 per cent) say it is ‘unacceptable’ for nannies to return to work with families they do not live with, and almost as many (73 per cent) feel the same way about cleaners.

It comes as the Government allowed such staff to return to work – saying those who cannot work from their own homes should be allowed to make money.

The public is also opposed to allowing elderly grandparents to visit or care for their grandchildren, the poll of 1,069 people by Ipsos Mori found.

Some 22 per cent of those polled said it would be ‘fair’ for friends and family to take on some of the childcare burden, but this fell to just 12 per cent if the friends and family were aged over 70 – a higher risk age group. 

More than three quarters (76 per cent) say it is ‘unacceptable’ for nannies to return to work with families they do not live with, and almost as many (73 per cent) feel the same way about cleaners.

Boris Johnson (pictured today) revealed changes to the lockdown rules earlier this week that allow domestic staff to return to work

Boris Johnson (pictured today) revealed changes to the lockdown rules earlier this week that allow domestic staff to return to work

Ipsos MORI Research Director, Keiran Pedley said: ‘As lockdown restrictions are gradually eased, there is some evidence that public opinion needs to play catch-up. 

‘From this week, nannies and cleaners will be allowed to return to work but our survey over the past weekend shows that few think having people in their homes to do these jobs is acceptable in the current climate. 

‘Of course, this may change as new rules are better understood but given public caution at easing lockdown restrictions, we should not expect things to return to normal overnight.’

Workplace safety guidance for people working in domestic settings was outlines by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (Beis) earlier this week.

People working in homes include: repair services, fitters, meter readers, plumbers, cleaners, cooks and surveyors, plus delivery drivers ‘momentarily at the door’.

This group are adviced to travel to work alone if possible, but if they cannot to take steps including: keeping to the same group of people and a limited group, keeping vehicles clean.

Within homes, ‘it will not always be possible to maintain physical distance from customers.

‘If it isn’t possible to maintain social distancing while working in the home then extra attention needs to be paid to equipment, cleaning and hygiene to reduce risk.

‘Working materials, such as tools or domestic appliances, should be assigned to an individual and not shared if possible. If they need to be shared, they should be shared by the smallest possible number of people.’

It does not apply to nannies working with one family, or their employers.

The survey released today also suggests a lack of lockdown romance among the public. Just 15 per cent thought it was acceptable for people to see partners they do not live with, with 71 per cent opposed.    

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