Ad Infinitum

Our office cleaner is a guy. He was hired because he told me this story about his meager pay as a guard and how he needs extra income in order to support his son through college. I cannot say no to things like this. So with no room for misgivings, I gave him the job.

He’s been working for us for three months now and so far, he is good at it though I continue to wonder why he never sweeps the floor. I remember telling him on day two, after noticing that he didn’t sweep the floor, that he should do so before mopping. He said yes but I’ve yet to see him do it.

Last month I found out that he rinses the rag for wiping tables in the same pail that he uses for mopping, and with the same water at that! Que horror! I immediately got him a basin the next day and told him to use that "exlusively" for washing the rag. He said yes but with barely disguised puzzlement. He looked like I just forbade him to mix coffee and milk together.

When he mops, and there are all these computer cables and wires lying on the floor, he would push them with the mop so they get dragged to whatever direction he leads them to. Which sometimes causes some wires or plugs to get pulled out from their outlets. I never called his attention about this because he might start thinking of me as this hawk that watches his every move. I am not and I don’t. I just always happen to see him doing these things by accident. What unfortunate accidents on my part because they really get to me.

I remember this conversation I had with my landlady. She said that one reason why she will never get an "ayi" ( a local term for female domestic help) is because her OC-ness will get the better of her, and she will always fuss over the ayi to do things right — or her way. She will find fault in everything she does if it doesn’t conform to her own approach so in the end no work will ever get done, and everyone is unhappy. That hit the nail on the head as far as my own reluctance to get an ayi is concerned.

I am forever complaining about backaches and stress from the never-ending household chores and planning to hire someone to do the job. But never did. Truth is I think I’ll feel doubly stressed if I got someone who uses the same rag to wipe the entire house, never once rinsing it, or if I found out that she washes the mop on the kitchen sink — something I saw our office-neighbor ayi doing! It doesn’t help, too, that I am the type who feels bad after reproving someone for a wrongdoing, and worse if I had to do it again. Alas, I am a victim of my own fastidiousness and politeness which are likely to confine me to a lifetime of household drudgeries and… well, backaches.

With our office cleaner, I try to avoid any chance of witnessing more misses by not watching him work while I can. For a guy he is actually doing a great job. I also appreciate that he is a conscientious worker who does not go around wasting soaps, cleaners and water like most hired helps do. Most importantly, I always put in mind that this job helps augment his income. I cannot take that away from him just because I am finicky, and without the nerve to play the part of the authoritative employer.

By the way, each time after he cleans my table and keyboard, I always go back to my desk with the Internet Explorer’s Help Menu on display. Always. I guess that, also, is a talent.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 8th, 2008 at 11:28 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.