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Original poster

Nursery workers drinking at lunchtime.

534 replies

Brendathedoll · 18/07/2024 13:12

Had a rare day off yesterday so went for a pub lunch with my sister. In there I saw 2 nursery nurses from my child’s daycare having lunch and they each had a glass of wine. There were also 2 empty glasses in the table but possibly from previous customers. I wasn’t happy but my sister says it’s there lunchtime they don’t get paid for and 2 glasses won’t make any difference. They saw me and looked a bit sheepish but it means I can’t report them anon now. I’m scared if I say something they would treat my child differently. Am I being ott thinkinb they shouldn’t drink while caring for kids?

OP posts:
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5
Crayfishforyou · 18/07/2024 13:56

Yanbu.
my work had a no alcohol policy, and it is an instant dismissal if you drink on a day you work.
You can’t drink and look after other people’s kids. You save it until after work.

OliviaFlaversham · 18/07/2024 13:56

Whether the OP has a drink with her child around is totally different to if nursery staff should drink at lunch.

I would ask if they were working that afternoon and decide from there.

Shielehdie · 18/07/2024 13:56

I don’t think that’s acceptable and you would be well within your rights to report them (presuming they were returning to work after and weren’t on a half day).

easylikeasundaymorn · 18/07/2024 13:55

Mrsjayy · 18/07/2024 13:38

So you know nothing about anything just saw two women drinking wine who may or may not have been working that day!

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Not even that, she saw two women who MAY have been drinking wine (or could have been drinking something else in a wine glass or non alcoholic wine) who may or may not have been working.

If the nursery has such severe staffing issues it seems unlikely that 2 members of staff were given a long enough lunch break, at the same time, to get to a restaurant, order, have a leisurely lunch together and two glasses of wine each and then get back to work!

I think it's much more likely they had a day or half day off

PoliteCritic · 18/07/2024 13:55

Also even if they are off work most nursery management is shite. So they will get a lecture about not drinking close to work to avoid complaints from parents. This kind of stuff is why nurseries can not recruit enough staff.

Bananaadramaa · 18/07/2024 13:55

lazyarse123 · 18/07/2024 13:51

Did you have wine with your lunch? If you did who looked after your child afterwards?

This isn’t the point. You can’t have nursery staff drinking alcohol whilst working with kids. Surely this is some sort of sackable or discriminatory offence? You pay for them to be safe within their care. A glass of wine most likely won’t affect their ability at all to look after a child but I know there’s no way my friends and family who work in nurseries can drink and then care for young kids in their care.

Imagine teachers going out for drinks at break then teaching a class. You cant be telling me you think it’s acceptable as well

Despair1 · 18/07/2024 13:53

CelesteCunningham · 18/07/2024 13:49

Seriously?

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Yes, seriously

Coconutter24 · 18/07/2024 13:52

It doesn’t look good on the nursery if they are drinking on lunch hour but you don’t know if they were returning to work or had even been at work. Have you ever had a glass of wine with a child present?

PoliteCritic · 18/07/2024 13:52

BallerinaFall · 18/07/2024 13:25

So 2 people you know work in a nursery were out for lunch, not in their uniform, and drinking with a meal, on a day you don't know if they're working?

This is why I no longer work in a nursery. The complaints from some parents for what is just over a minimum wage job is fucking ridiculous.

lazyarse123 · 18/07/2024 13:51

Did you have wine with your lunch? If you did who looked after your child afterwards?

Original poster
Brendathedoll · 18/07/2024 13:50

Well I don’t know for sure they were not off however it was almost next to the nursery so i probably wrongly assumed. I know for a fact they get an hour lunch as my sister used to work there. However as people have said not enough evidence of anything so I am not going to say anything.

OP posts:
FragileWookiee · 18/07/2024 13:50

I've worked in nurseries and never had a lunch break long enough to go off to the pub for. Surely they were on a half day.

CelesteCunningham · 18/07/2024 13:50

Chatteringmagpie7 · 18/07/2024 13:49

I think it says don’t be drunk, or under the influence. That is different from having a glass of wine.

the key part of the sentence is …’which may affect their ability to care for the children’.

if it doesn’t affect their ability to do their job, then fine.

id have no problems with someone having a standard glass of wine. It’s interesting how everyone is assuming they had two large glasses- we don’t know!

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I was assuming a standard glass. No I don't think that's acceptable at lunchtime for nursery workers and I don't think most employers would either.

The most likely explanation is that they were off though.

CelesteCunningham · 18/07/2024 13:49

Despair1 · 18/07/2024 13:48

What's wrong with the nursery workers having a drink with their pub lunch?
Nothing at all as long as they aren't intoxicated. If they were, their co-workers/managers would know

Seriously?

Despair1 · 18/07/2024 13:49

BananaPalm · 18/07/2024 13:47

If it's possible, I'd ask the nursery manager to check whether they had half day off on that day as you might (or might not) have relevant information to pass on. If the manager says they were off, you say fab, thanks, and you don't share any details of what you saw. If they were working that afternoon, well, then you need to report them for all kids' safety.

Why? They could have had a drink and NOT be intoxicated! Too many busy bodies

Spinet · 18/07/2024 13:49

Katbum · 18/07/2024 13:48

Are people seriously this pathetic?

if you are that bothered act like a grown up and say ‘did you have the afternoon off when I saw you in the pub, because I noticed you were drinking wine and it concerned me.’

too much of a coward to do that? Keep your mouth shut.

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rude.

Chatteringmagpie7 · 18/07/2024 13:49

daffodilandtulip · 18/07/2024 13:34

EYFS says no...

I think it says don’t be drunk, or under the influence. That is different from having a glass of wine.

the key part of the sentence is …’which may affect their ability to care for the children’.

if it doesn’t affect their ability to do their job, then fine.

id have no problems with someone having a standard glass of wine. It’s interesting how everyone is assuming they had two large glasses- we don’t know!

Bananaadramaa · 18/07/2024 13:49

Despair1 · 18/07/2024 13:48

What's wrong with the nursery workers having a drink with their pub lunch?
Nothing at all as long as they aren't intoxicated. If they were, their co-workers/managers would know

I don’t work with children but even my boss wouldn’t be happy if he knew I was drinking a glass of wine on my lunch break.

Katbum · 18/07/2024 13:48

Spinet · 18/07/2024 13:47

I think those saying the lunch break would be too short have it. I might be tempted to shout across the room 'Did you have a nice afternoon off yesterday? What did you get up to after I saw you in the pub?' if I could do it convincingly enough though. Just to see what happened.

Are people seriously this pathetic?

if you are that bothered act like a grown up and say ‘did you have the afternoon off when I saw you in the pub, because I noticed you were drinking wine and it concerned me.’

too much of a coward to do that? Keep your mouth shut.

Oversharingsonewusernamehaha · 18/07/2024 13:48

BallerinaFall · 18/07/2024 13:25

So 2 people you know work in a nursery were out for lunch, not in their uniform, and drinking with a meal, on a day you don't know if they're working?

Agree with this! They might have the afternoon off, especially if they've been understaffed and worked more hours recently. They're probably friends! They've gone out for lunch. Are they not allowed a weekday meal together?

Despair1 · 18/07/2024 13:48

What's wrong with the nursery workers having a drink with their pub lunch?
Nothing at all as long as they aren't intoxicated. If they were, their co-workers/managers would know

Spinet · 18/07/2024 13:48

It is not being a busybody to worry about your kids' nursery staff being drunk at work. Hmm

Whatabonkersworld · 18/07/2024 13:47

LovedFedAndNoonesDead · 18/07/2024 13:18

Perhaps they had a half day 🤷🏼‍♀️

My thoughts too. Unless you saw them at the end of that day at the nursery, it's not really fair to do anything.

BananaPalm · 18/07/2024 13:47

If it's possible, I'd ask the nursery manager to check whether they had half day off on that day as you might (or might not) have relevant information to pass on. If the manager says they were off, you say fab, thanks, and you don't share any details of what you saw. If they were working that afternoon, well, then you need to report them for all kids' safety.

Spinet · 18/07/2024 13:47

I think those saying the lunch break would be too short have it. I might be tempted to shout across the room 'Did you have a nice afternoon off yesterday? What did you get up to after I saw you in the pub?' if I could do it convincingly enough though. Just to see what happened.

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