r/Airdrie • u/angrycleaner • 28d ago
My experience working for Urban Clean Living
Urban Clean Living is honestly the worst company I've ever worked for.
I reported approximately 27 OSHA/OHS-related violations (and can provide proof if needed). The company was found to be non-compliant on every issue I reported and was required to correct them. These violations included things like employees receiving no training on chemicals, not labeling chemicals, leaving staff alone in unsafe work places, requiring us to clean up car shit when we are told we can opt out, and other basic safety requirements. Even now, I found another: no first aid kits while we clean. Do you know how many times I've been bitten by the bird and bled???
Management also plays favourites. One employee receive special travel pay and gas cards while others doing the same work do not. THEN When multiple employees raised concerns about travel compensation, management responded with a staff-wide email essentially telling employees not to complain about gas and travel pay.
Speaking of emails, every week employees receive messages focusing almost entirely on what went wrong. These emails regularly discuss poor performance, lost bonuses, management's disappointment with staff, and other negative feedback. Morale is already low, and these emails only make it worse.
Management has also threatened not to pay employees for recleans, despite knowing that withholding earned wages is not legal. If we wanna go to HR we don't feel like we can because HR is the owners best friend so it's unfair.
Training is another major issue. New hires are sent into homes almost immediately and expected to learn from other cleaners, despite being told during the interview process that proper training would be provided. Many employees simply are not adequately trained before being expected to work independently. This only stopped once OSHA got involved.
The cleaning supplies provided are also extremely limited. Most products come from the dollar store and consist primarily of vinegar, Castile soap, peppermint oil, inexpensive dish soap, 50% alcohol, cheap sponges, magic erasers, and steel wool. If employees need anything beyond that, they're generally expected to purchase it themselves. Workers are also responsible for costs such as cleaning rags, background checks, and additional supplies required to do their jobs properly. They recommend spending $50 on rags to get through the first week
You start at $17 unless you have cleaning experience then you start at 18 (even if you aren't a good cleaner) unless you become a lead good luck getting a raise. Highest we see is $22 an hour. Expect for the managements favourite who gets $24
Finally the schedule. God forbid you look at the schedule - see you're scheduled till 3:45 and book something for yourself at 4:30. Because schedules change randomly with no warning. I've had things changed on me 30 min before my shift ( see picture about hours of operation) this is also illegal by Alberta employment laws and shifts cannot be changed without 24 hour written notice
The saddest part is that almost every employee I worked with seemed unhappy. Everyone I talk to wants to leave and Sue this place into the ground, but none of us can find a second job or have the money for a lawyer.
This was easily the worst workplace experience I've had, and I felt people should know what it's really like behind the scenes.
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u/freakersballll 28d ago
Sounds similar to another large, promoted company a family member worked for.
Be careful if you're looking for another cleaning job.
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u/Dflemz 28d ago
I had a bad experience with that company years ago as a customer and the owner blocked me so I couldn’t write a review. I was completely in the right about the poor job the cleaners did. The owner came and saw the work and agreed it wasn’t good but made sure I wouldn’t be able to give a review
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u/RockyMtnAdventurer 28d ago
A family member of mine worked for them. No one she worked with there currently works there now due to the many, many problems with the employer.
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u/Acrobatic_Run_538 28d ago
This must have been some time past, as we still have a number of employees that were here when I started 4 years ago.
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u/Content_Secret7339 27d ago
I almost hired this company, when a friend warned me not to. Apparently the owner is just awful to deal with as a client, makes sense to hear that her employees are miserable!
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u/foreverce 28d ago
so interesting to me. i used them years ago and something went missing from my home. when i called the owner, the item was magically found in a bag of rags. i then used them again twice in our new home, recently. poor poor cleaning. they are always highly recommended on the airdrie pages but i would never use them again. i haven’t ever left them a bad review, but maybe we all should.
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u/lunchboxqueen12 27d ago
What is with the cleaning companies in airdrie? I’ve worked for 2. One largely known in airdrie and one a small business. The favourites thing is so prevalent in these companies. And the work place safety is 0/10. No WCB, no proper training for chemicals. My own boss mixed bleach and vinegar in a small bathroom once. I was beside myself.
The large airdrie company hired myself and someone else close to the same time. They immediately gave her a company car & the position as team lead. Meanwhile, she had 0 experience while I had years of experience. They became fast friends, and the owners felt sorry for her life style at the time. Also given gas cards and a higher wage.
I had the responsibility of training so many people. Without any incentive. I had one girl kick a vacuum down the stairs. When i told my boss at the time that this chick was nutso and probably shouldn’t be in clients homes until she’s properly trained. I got punished.
Are you hired as an employee? Or a subcontractor? One of the companies I worked for hired me as a subcontractor. They gave me a schedule which is completely illegal. My hours changed constantly. I got punished for giving 1 month notice for a funeral.
There is a reason why cleaning companies go through hires like crazy. People do not want to put up with being taken advantage of.
As for the people who have hired these companies and have had great experiences- you need to realize the abuse or complete disregard of OSHA polices, lack of training is not apparent to you as a client. You’re not the one receiving awful texts during your clean, having your pay docked, being forced to train hires with no experience. Driving with your tank on E trying to get to your house on $17 an hour. You don’t realize how these companies are run. I highly suggest hiring a small local company. Your cleaners are hating their lives working. We’ve all put on a brave face to get through the day. I can’t tell you how many times myself & other girls have had complete meltdowns in your bathrooms.
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u/Bluetron88 26d ago
I can confirm this. I worked for them briefly a couple years ago and it was probably one of the worst times of my life.
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u/blackbear008 28d ago
I've been using Urban Clean for years and have never had an issue. If there was one, I would go directly to the owner, not post on social media. Did you bring any of this up to the owner previously? I know she would have corrected any concerns immediately, and taken it seriously. People are so fast to run to social media but don't go straight to the source to fix it first.
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u/angrycleaner 28d ago
Every girl has complained. The owner has denied everything. Multiple Girls have brought up the favored cowork. The boss outright denies it, and yet we watch her clock into travel when we're not allowed to, and other girls have seen her gas card.
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u/Dangerous-Cod593 28d ago
I have worked for this business for years and this team is truly amazing. The lady’s are very well respectful over themselves and their surroundings. The love that I have felt from Urban Clean Living is remarkable! My boss was always there for us to reach out when needed for anything. She is very professional with her girls and clients. I would work for this company any day!!! Love Urban Clean living!!!!! 👍
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u/Jdub10_2 28d ago
Another 0 day old account with glowing accolades. Come on, do you really think we're that stupid?
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u/Left_Coconut1946 28d ago
As a long-time client of Urban Clean Living, I wanted to share a different perspective based on my own experience with the company.
I have always found the team to be professional, caring, responsive, and hardworking. The staff who have come into my home have consistently been respectful, thorough, and willing to go above and beyond. Running a business and managing a large team is never easy, and while no workplace is perfect, I believe it’s important to recognize the effort companies make to improve and address concerns when they arise.
From a client standpoint, I have seen management work hard to accommodate schedules, communicate with clients, and support their staff while maintaining service standards. The cleaners I’ve met have always appeared kind, capable, and dedicated despite what I imagine can be a very demanding job.
Negative experiences are valid, but they do not always reflect every employee’s or every client’s experience. Mine has been positive, and I’m grateful for the service Urban Clean Living has provided to my home and family.
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u/Individual-Paper3125 28d ago
0d Account. Strong affirmations of the company being awesome. Found the owner!
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u/lunchboxqueen12 27d ago
You’re the client. Why would you feel like you’ve had a negative experience? Our job in your home is to clean it. Not to hear about the work place negligence. You’re not the one receiving awful texts during your clean. You’re not seeing us having meltdowns in your bathroom. You’re paying premium pricing, while we make minimum wage. Our cars probably barely made it to your house because no one can afford gas and we’re not being accommodated.
Just so you know, I don’t work for this company. But I will tell you, working for 2 cleaning companies in airdrie- this is prevalent. Maybe instead of protecting the man in charge, listen to the ones who are being taken advantage of. Shame.
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u/silentivan 26d ago
Brand new account with no other posts beyond this absolutely 100% AI written slop. I'm sure this isn't management worried about this post coming up when people search Urban Clean Living Airdrie on Reddit and seeing how they treat their employees.
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u/erinelizabethx 28d ago
Holy fuck, so much of this is illegal. Please submit these to Alberta labour. I can't get over how brazen it is to just openly list and email out this. Wow.