Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Thread gallery
5
llizzie · 20/07/2024 22:31

The posters who seem to be excusing these nursery workers amaze me. Do they really think their little ones are safe in the hands of workers who think nothing of having a pub lunch, whether in their lunch hour or after work?

So perhaps they don't drive: does that excuse them? Perhaps they only had one drink: is that acceptable? All you who have babies in nursery school should be keeping watch on the staff where their children are, to make sure they are not doing the same thing, instead of making excuses.

Boymumma2023 · 20/07/2024 22:09

People saying that nursery workers can do what they want on their unpaid lunch is WILD!! don’t be gaslight into thinking your overreacting, you are not! Discuss with the nursery manager in a sensitive manner as they might not of been working but make it clear that you do not think that is acceptable conduct for nursery nurses if that was the case. 100% do not let this go. Although your baby was not in nursery that day, other babies were and as a mother I would want reassurance that no one working with my baby was compromised.

TheQueenWhoNeverWas · 20/07/2024 21:51

VerbenaGirl · 20/07/2024 21:11

You have to be totally sure that they were working that day / afternoon before making any judgement call on this. Staff shortages or not, staff will have an annual leave entitlement that needs to be taken. That makes it a tricky one, but trust your gut and if you feel uncomfortable, call the Manager and explain your concern to seek reassurance.

I'd say that that's the thing the OP really wouldn't have to be sure of - because their boss can check in less than a minute whether they were rota'd to work that afternoon and if they weren't then no possible shadow of blame can attach to them: case closed, thank you for your concern but nothing to worry about.

VerbenaGirl · 20/07/2024 21:11

You have to be totally sure that they were working that day / afternoon before making any judgement call on this. Staff shortages or not, staff will have an annual leave entitlement that needs to be taken. That makes it a tricky one, but trust your gut and if you feel uncomfortable, call the Manager and explain your concern to seek reassurance.

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 20/07/2024 21:10

At least two posters on here have mentioned family/friends who were also out at lunch, drinking. Though not at work

All it takes is someone else to then report them. Or gossip to spread. And people's lives can be ruined or severely messed up because of your judgemental attitude

Original poster
Brendathedoll · 20/07/2024 21:02

How on earth will they know who these people are? No names or locations have been disclosed ffs. You ar being silly

OP posts:
ButWhatAboutTheBees · 20/07/2024 20:11

Brendathedoll · 20/07/2024 19:33

For the millionth time have you read the thread? I am not reporting anyone !!!

No, you're laughing at it being in The Sun aka national news

Which could mean all manner of nursery workers now in hot water at work. Like the PP's daughter.

Blondeshavemorefun · 20/07/2024 19:59

So was it Kent and possibly my friend

betterangels · 20/07/2024 19:37

But you were ready to based on no evidence whatsoever.

Procrastinates · 20/07/2024 19:36

Brendathedoll · 20/07/2024 19:33

For the millionth time have you read the thread? I am not reporting anyone !!!

You don't blooming need to now. The fact you started the thread and it's been picked up by the media means reporting them is pointless. Let's hope people don't decide these two women have done anything wrong because of your baseless allegations and made up tales.

Original poster
Brendathedoll · 20/07/2024 19:33

For the millionth time have you read the thread? I am not reporting anyone !!!

OP posts:
ButWhatAboutTheBees · 20/07/2024 19:31

Ye laugh about the fact someone entirely innocent could get in trouble and lose their job because of your assumptions

Original poster
Brendathedoll · 20/07/2024 18:26

This has made The Sun oh no! Sorry but I’m laughing my head off 🤣🤣

OP posts:
JoyousPinkPeer · 20/07/2024 16:58

ihaventfedthecat · 18/07/2024 13:15

I wouldn't be happy and yes I'd report them - 2 large glasses puts them over the drink drive limit

She did not say they were 'large' glasses of wine.

Inyournewdress · 20/07/2024 16:48

I think you are making a potentially very serious mistake by not reporting this. I feel sorry for the other parents and children who have no idea.

MagicFarawayTea · 20/07/2024 15:09

JudgeJ · 20/07/2024 14:02

So all the Family pubs should be closed as presumably the parents who may have had a drink have forfeited their right to look after their children, they may even have, horror of horrors, exposed their cherubs to the sight of adults partaking of alcohol and even smoking if sitting outside!
This thread shows MN hypocrisy at its very best.

Show quote history

I find your response unfair and ignorant. Why are you equating parents having a drink with their kids present to people who are being paid to look after young children drinking alcohol whilst on duty?
Have I drank alcohol in a pub when my kids were young? Yes.
Have I ever drank alcohol at lunchtime during my career in education with kids aged 3-18? No.
Why? Because whilst at work I am a professional with a duty of care to the children I work with. Children who sometimes have complex emotional / educational needs. But according to your judgment, it’s ok if I get half cut at lunchtime before returning to work. Brilliant.

CheeseandOnionCrispFan · 20/07/2024 14:06

Not really appropriate in their job role & position of caring for young children. However, it does bring back memories of working in the late 80's & my workplace had its own pub - we used to get steaming drunk at lunchtime & even my manager fell off her chair back in the office. However, we weren't responsible for young children. I would probably say something.

JudgeJ · 20/07/2024 14:02

MagicFarawayTea · 19/07/2024 20:11

This with bells on

Show quote history

So all the Family pubs should be closed as presumably the parents who may have had a drink have forfeited their right to look after their children, they may even have, horror of horrors, exposed their cherubs to the sight of adults partaking of alcohol and even smoking if sitting outside!
This thread shows MN hypocrisy at its very best.

Differentstarts · 20/07/2024 13:27

According to the sun op your outraged 🤣🤣🤣. Can you see now why we don't start rumours with no facts.

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 20/07/2024 13:21

If you've just finished work, you may well just go into the pub next door

It's still going on because it made its way to The Sun

Original poster
Brendathedoll · 20/07/2024 13:10

@Debdelight no not your daughter. Wrong area and description.

OP posts:
Original poster
Brendathedoll · 20/07/2024 13:07

I can’t believe this thread still going! I have said I’m not reporting them! As for it was their day off I can’t prove it wasn’t however this is my local pub and near the nursery. These girls do not live local I see them at the bus stop after their shift from time to time. This pub is not really somewhere you would go out of the way to visit on a day off it’s very much a no frills establishment, great and handy for a tuna jacket potato pub lunch for me but not somewhere I would travel to if I lived elsewhere. Like many of you have said though I have no proof of anything so that will be the end of the matter.

OP posts:
Mumofyellows · 20/07/2024 11:50

I'm a teacher and would never consider drinking on my lunch break (although what actually is a lunch break 😂)

Soberinthecity · 20/07/2024 11:44

Spinet · 18/07/2024 13:48

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

They weren’t drunk at work though. They were in a pub, enjoying a drink - not even verified alcohol. You’ve added 2+2 and made 5.

Soberinthecity · 20/07/2024 11:40

do you know for sure they were working? I was a teacher for years. Never once had the time for a full hour to sit down, let alone a pub lunch.