To have asked nanny to take her shoes off

I don't know. If it's a shoes off household then why wouldn't you start as you meant to go on.

I'd be annoyed if I was starting the job and then found out there was something I found annoying.

It's not as if it was personal to the nanny. They were all taking their shoes off. I'd be more concerned that the nanny was so unobservsnt that they didn't notice and follow suite.

It could signal you being overly precious as employers. It’s a bit of a daft reason to turn down an otherwise good job offer, but if she has other interviews then she doesn’t need to compromise.

Have you had a nanny before? A taster session isn’t technically allowed – you either employ her or you don’t. The ‘taster’ is her probationary period, so offering that may have also put her off.

If she reacts like this to a simple request in your home and has behaved like this, I say she's done you a huge favour.

Find someone else OP, and actually, I would request this of any other interviewees to gauge their reaction. It's not unusual to be asked to remove shoes, and it wasn't like you had shoes on and only asked the candidate.

You've weeded out one who could've potentially had an issue with your instructions, you're paying them to do as you direct.

Agree with pp, I wouldn't have asked at interview, unless prior warned, I'm sure she would have beennfine to take off once working with you. Doesn't mean it's the reason for no response of course. For me, shoes off is quite uncomfortable situation and I wouldn't feel like that at an interview!

I take my own shoes off for comfort in my own home, but don't ask others to, wood floors and tiles downstairs anyway but carpet upstairs. Apart from stains, what on earth do people think will happen if shoes are not taken off? I've also had babies on floor years and there was no ill effects from visitors not all removing shoes!

JMSA
It's simply not appropriate at a job interview though.

@JMSA

it is in someone's home for. Job as a nanny.

Each to their own. My personal priority would be ensuring that the interviewee felt comfortable and not put on the spot.

OTOH, what no body ever speaks about is how they keep dust, dirt, and allergens at floor levels, as opposed to hard floors which allow it to become airbourne. We're all different, like different things, and have different ideas, which is why I would only ever have carpets in my bedroom, as I've had hard floors in the past & the dust is everywhere.

It's totally ok for some households to have a blanket "shoes off" policy.

Rather thaj saying "please take your shoes off' I woukd instead make it the first question and part of your interview process "We are a shoes-off household here, how do you feel about that?"

If a candidate immediately removes their shoes then they get a good score for that point. If they explain that they dislike the policy that is useful information too.

As has been covered in other threads people who aren't expecting to take their shoes off may be upset by this being sprung on them.

In our house the rule is you only have to take your shoes off if you are likely to climb on the furniture. (Ie children only)

I read this ironically, please dont tell me that I am wrong!

Carpets are rank full stop. If you’re that precious about cleanliness don’t have them. Get yourself some nice tiles you can spend your time disinfecting every day.

Very precious behaviour. I would have been put off by this too.

BIL has a prosthesis that he cant safely walk in without a shoe. What would you have him do? Remove his lower leg?

@KeyWorker if she's going for a job interview as a nanny she should be prepared to take her shoes off.

@JMSA

it is in someone's home for. Job as a nanny.

@Bluegreenyellowredorange

Im surprised she didn't automatically take them off, especially if you had shoes discarded by the door.

i doubt it was that, that's put her off. It's rude not to reply to your calls though, so I wouldn't worry about why.

I suspect she just wasn’t expecting to take shoes off at an interview. I don't see why it would be a problem if you employed her, I just think when you think interview you think formal.

@Mum2jenny

other alternative precautions?! Like what?

it’s rank to not take shoes off , who wants any traces of the dog shit, spit, muck, piss, etc that is on people’s shoes being transferred to their carpets?!

There seem to be two types of people in this world - those who remove their shoes inside and those who don't. Each group thinks their way is the norm and will defend that position vehemently. Personally, if I was interviewing for this role and your husband did that, I'd be wondering what other things you're all pedantic about.
(BTW - we don't take our shoes off in the house and I've only come across one house recently where that's the rule...I picked up my child and stayed at the front door.)

I wonder if she thought the set-up rather unprofessional- not many people would expect to have an interview conducted shoeless (and although it is your home, it's her place of work) and you didn't appear to have been prepared for the interview either. I would have expected you to be in and waiting, I think.

If you can't bear the thought of interviewing with shoes on, make it clear to prospective employees that they are to remove their shoes before they actually arrive.

I don't care who you are - you take your shoes off in my house.

If she's put off by this then she's not the right person for you.

I don’t have pets and nor do most of my friends/family , but tbh I’d find it a bit odd if someone has a dog or outdoor cat but insists on shoes off unless they clean their pets paws before re-entering?!

Not sure if I’d want to have my shoes off in a house where someone has dogs or cats coming in and out actually. I have one friend who is so contradictory , she often wear shoes in the kitchen/living room and doesn’t clean her floors often but then will suddenly ask guests to take their shoes off
and the floor ain’t clean 😌 I don’t like that.

There has to be consistency and it has to make sense. I make sure my carpets and floors are clean and free of outside dirt before asking others to take off their shoes

As I mentioned upthread, I give tradesmen disposable shoe covering or they often carry their own OR offer to take their shoes off.

Surprised by this, most people offer to take their shoes off I find, but with a house full of cats, dogs, muddy wellies that kids didn't take off I always recommend people keep them on. When we have had babysitters, they have actually brought house shoes to change into on getting to us.

This topic comes up on a regular basis. I have never removed my shoes going into someone's house. I have never asked anyone to remove their shoes going into my house. I would rather have shoes on my carpet than someone manky smelly scabby feet. What happens if you have animals are they allowed on the carpet or when builders tradesmen or carers come in?

'She arrived just as we’d got home from a walk '

was she very early ?
or were you late for her interview ?

as usually the family would be ready and waiting in the home

what was she wearing on her feet ?
last Saturday was a beautiful day in several parts of England - if you are in England, she may have had on open toe sandals ?

and if she did she may not have liked walking around barefoot ?

What wear you all wearing on your feet ?
nothing ?
or did you all change into slippers ?
or were you all walking / sitting around with socks on, or tights ?

What did you have available to offer her for her feet ?
do you keep ' visitor ' slippers / sliders / whatever
or do you have protective shoe covers ?

' newish ' carpets how new ?
and what colour - cream ?

' a taster session '
what is that ?
not a free trial...

at least now you will be prepared for the next interview.

No you did the right thing, the pavements of the UK and probably most countries are so grimy. Shoes on carpet is a no-no for me especially after living in east Asia where you always took off your shoes even coming into homes with hard flooring.

This woman would be working in your house if she accepted the job so surely it’s good that she got a taste of your house rules. And can decide for herself if shes up for it. If she doesn’t like it she can decline the job. There may be good reasons why she’s not replied yet, but if it turns out she’s just the kind of person who won’t even bother to respond to decline the offer - you’ve had a lucky escape irrespective of her reasons for not wanting the job.

I have shoe coverings which I offer to tradesmen who want to keep their shoes on, but often they say no they’re happy to take off their shoes off. Either way suits me as long as your sole that’s stepped on a dirty ground isn’t coming onto my carpet.

It’s because the shoes on brigade feel judged!!! Just read the post by ‘alternative perceptions’ woman upthread - it’s so desperately trying to be sniffy because she feels it so keenly, that the shoes off people think she’s skanky 🤣🤣

And they are judged - it’s rank. Dog poo and fag butt micro-residue carpets - bleurgh!