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Original poster

Do you think I should reconsider this nanny - phone calls and smoking

33 replies

oranges · 02/12/2010 13:41

I;m going back to work next year, and ds;s old nursery nurse asked if she could be our nanny. SHe's babysat for us before and I like her - she seems cheerful and competent. But this week, I asked her to do childcare for a day. My MIL popped in and said she found the backdoor open, and the baby seemed cold. I asked the nanny later, who said she'd opened the back door, to have a cigarette. I didn't know she smoked and feel a bit uncomfortable at her holding baby outside while having a cigarette. I don't think the baby was napping at the time, and even if she was, dh has asthma and I really don;t want smokers in the house.Is it normal for nannies to smoke, even outside their charges house?

I also found she's made about five phone calls to mobiles.
We haven't signed a contract yet and I'm a bit alarmed that she did all that on what was effectively the first time she'd worked for us properly. But then again, they are issues that can be dealt with. She is a nice girl. WWYD?

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orangina · 02/12/2010 14:38

I think you have answered your own question....

Ebb · 02/12/2010 14:19

I would be the same as Strix and say absolutely no smoking on duty at any time ( including outside at the park etc where she might think it's ok as it's outdoors. ) and put it in your contract. I would definately be concerned that she seemed to think this was ok.

If you decide to keep her then I think you need to have a very detailed contract and set out your expectations in black and white. If she is very young she may need 'micro managing' but do you think she's worth it?

For what it's worth, I went from working in a nursery to a 24/5 nanny job with a very young baby and would like to think I was totally proffessional and knew what was appropriate and was not. I was 23 by then though.

Original poster
oranges · 02/12/2010 14:01

I don't think she realised how bad it seemed to me, and my MIL, that she airily said the door was open as she was having a cigarette. In the freezing weather too, and the baby seemed cold. That lack of awareness bothers me too. she's very young and has been a nursery nurse so is good with children but may not not be mature enough yet to work on her own.

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Strix · 02/12/2010 13:58

Smoking is forbidden in my contract. It is not negotiable. I wouldn't consider it gross misconduct, but it would instigate some form of disciplinary action.

There is no smoking whilst she is on duty -- no mater where they are. And there is no smoking in my house or on my property even if she is not on duty. It is not negotiable.

Original poster
oranges · 02/12/2010 13:49

She didnt mention the calls. I only realised because one of her friends called in the evening (waking up the baby grr) saying she had a missed call from my number and I twigged. She said she had to call about some admin, which would be fine, but that would be one call, to a landline, and I've since looked at my phone and realised there are calls to five different mobiles. Oh dear, I'm answering my own question Sad

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Original poster
oranges · 02/12/2010 13:47

to be fair the baby didnt smell of fags and i can usually detect smoke smells. but i'm slightly concerned at lack of prifessionalism on day1

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fedupwithdeployment · 02/12/2010 13:47

I wouldn't. The smoking would be a huge deal for me. And re the phone calls - why is she making calls when she was looking after your baby? What about the length/cost? did she mention that she had to make calls? I would have trust issues.

rainbowinthesky · 02/12/2010 13:43

Personally I wouldnt mainly because your baby is going to smell of fags, not nice.