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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

should the lollipop man be smoking?

102 replies

biddysmama · 05/10/2011 09:24

i live across from the school and the lollipop man stands in front of my window.

he usually has 2 cigarretes while he's there

aibu to think he should wait and its not showing the children a good example?

OP posts:
Alibabaandthe80nappies · 05/10/2011 09:25

YANBU

southeastastra · 05/10/2011 09:25

i'd be chuffed to have a lollipop man at all, certainly wouldn't begrudge him a fag or two

ClartyScutter · 05/10/2011 09:26

probably not - but people smoke

do you count them Grin

sunnydelight · 05/10/2011 09:27

Complain. No doubt he'll lose his job and you won't have a lollipop man anymore. Complain to the local paper about loss of lollipop man...........

GypsyMoth · 05/10/2011 09:28

He's at work, so no he should not be!

Where is he throwing the ends when he's finished?

pozzled · 05/10/2011 09:29

YANBU. Anyone whose job is based around children should not smoke 'on duty' IMO. It's not as though he has a very long shift, he's probably there for what, an hour?

BeerTricksPotter · 05/10/2011 09:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
biddysmama · 05/10/2011 09:34

usually about 45 mins and i dont need to count, if my windows open i can smell them
i used to be a ta when i had a life and i smoked but we had to go off school premises where the children wouldnt see us

OP posts:
ClartyScutter · 05/10/2011 09:35

but if he's in the road, he's already off school premises Grin

twinklingfairy · 05/10/2011 09:36

YANBU I would be extremely crossAngry if I saw that happening.
Does he wait until there are no children about. I guess that might make it a bit more acceptable, but honesty.....NO!
As the others have said, he is not here for long, surely he can hold off. If not, get another job.
I would be calling the council. I doubt he will immediately be sacked. Just warned.
And that can't be a bad thing.

aldiwhore · 05/10/2011 09:36

I don't think its acceptable really, and I say that as a smoker. Unless he's having a quick one when there's no children around.

MrsBuntyCuldeSacFunnyLady · 05/10/2011 09:37

As long as he has a hand free for his lollipop, does it matter?

Now for my sensible response - YANBU. He is working around children, he shouldn't be smoking.

OTheHugeWerewolef · 05/10/2011 09:38

Yes. Complain. Perhaps you can get him sent for compulsory psychotherapy to adjust his attitude. And you could always get him chucked in the gulag if that doesn't work.

Seriously, if that's the most serious thing you have to worry about then get a grip and find something constructive to do.

slartybartfast · 05/10/2011 09:39

i wouldnt worry about it.
no, he shouldnt.
but you dont want to lose your lolly pop man. we lost ours. and they tend not to replace them.

pozzled · 05/10/2011 09:43

"if that's the most serious thing you have to worry about then get a grip and find something constructive to do"

I really don't understand why people post this. Just because something isn't earth-shatteringly bad, we can't disapprove or make a comment on MN? Better close the whole site down then.

It's not the worst thing in the world, but it shouldn't happen. Those people who think it's ok, would you be happy with a teacher smoking on playground duty or a kid's football coach smoking while working? Is it ok for any job, or only some?

SeenButNotHeard · 05/10/2011 09:44

I wouldn't want to lose our lolly pop man, but then, I wouldn't want to see him smoking either.

If it bothers you (and it clearly does) I would go into school and ask them to have a word. School will want to keep him, so are unlikely to go down any formal routes, but he will get the message that it is not OK to smoke on the job.
I would not tell the LA who employ him - if it is anything like mine, any breach of this policy could result in disciplinary action and could lead to dismissal.

onagar · 05/10/2011 09:47

Get him sacked if you can. If not then accidentally run him over as a lesson to the others.

People have no right to do perfectly legal things that you don't like.

slartybartfast · 05/10/2011 09:49

where i am it is the school that does the disciplining, hiring and firing.

squeakytoy · 05/10/2011 09:51

I would be more worried if he had a hip flask of scotch and was sipping away on that, as that would be something that may impair his judgement and put the children at risk.

Francagoestohollywood · 05/10/2011 09:51

You are kidding, right?

SharrieTBGinzatome · 05/10/2011 09:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Floggingmolly · 05/10/2011 09:57

No he shouldn't. He works for the council, so it's against the rules anyway, and he works in close proximity to school children which is a big no no. Report him to the school.

SharrieTBGinzatome · 05/10/2011 09:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

slartybartfast · 05/10/2011 10:00

oh i have a good idea ?
that shoudl shame him

twinklingfairy · 05/10/2011 10:01

hmm, yes perhaps going to the school would be a better idea.

I don't get that there are actually people out there that think this ok and the op is over reacting.
Are you all smokers?

My mother hides (walking round her house in the garden) from my children when she smokes and immediately puts it out if she hears them approaching. I would rather she didn't do it at all, but I think it is a pretty good compromise.
She doesn't want them to see her smoke.
No child should see it, especially not from those in the public service.

OP, have you clarified, does he smoke in front of the children?