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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask the sales assistant to wash her hands

259 replies

careergirl · 23/03/2013 10:25

I don't think i was tbh
It was Boots. I bought a yoghurt, wrapped sandwich (thank god!)

As I went to the counter the sales assistant was sniffing then wiped her nose with the back of her hand then picked up my items saying do you want a bag....

I actually said... I would like to put those back please and change them..and really you should have washed your hands before touching them because you've just wiped your nose with the back of your hand.

She went a bit red and washed her hands with some anti bac on the counter so I wondered if someone had mentioned something earlier

But I felt very awkward like I was being difficult..but really I'm not am I?

OP posts:
Original poster
careergirl · 23/03/2013 10:39

i accept there are germs. I do not have an issue. I do have an issue with someone's appalling hygiene

OP posts:
fluckered · 23/03/2013 10:39

OP asked if she was being unreasonable. i think her reaction was. and rude to boot! (no pun intended). the other lady most definately should have used a tissue or turned away or something thats every day manners. but if the OP is trying to justify it on the basis of germs she is delusional.

Original poster
careergirl · 23/03/2013 10:40

wrapped or not I didn't want it after someone's poor display of manners.

OP posts:
Original poster
careergirl · 23/03/2013 10:40

nothing to do with germs just disgusted

OP posts:
fluckered · 23/03/2013 10:40

why ask if you were bu if you obviously feel you weren't! [eyeroll]

Original poster
careergirl · 23/03/2013 10:41

shocked by all the people who think wiping noses with hands is acceptable

OP posts:
VinegarDrinker · 23/03/2013 10:41

Yes, you were VU and rude.

ElliesWellies · 23/03/2013 10:42

YANBU - I wouldn't want them either. Yes, there are germs everywhere, but no need for her to add more unnecessarily. Also looks grim to be standing there at a till wiping your nose on your hands.

piprabbit · 23/03/2013 10:42

I've often seen anti-bac gel on the checkouts at Boots - I've always assumed it's to protect staff from germy customers rather than the other way round.

fluckered · 23/03/2013 10:42

ah here will you read the replies careergirl!! i personally said its not acceptable but your response was rude.

TheNebulousBoojum · 23/03/2013 10:42

So you are all saying that it's perfectly OK for someone to sneeze and wipe the snot on their hand?
How do you feel about nose picking?
I'm just considering career guidance for some of the snotty beggars in my class.

MarmaladeTwatkins · 23/03/2013 10:42

Appalling hygiene? Hmm

Fair enough, it was a tiny bit rank. But come on. She used the back of her hand. She didn't have a good rummage up her nostrils then touched your sandwich wrapper. Was she going to touch your sandwich wrapper with the back of her hand? No. So the surface of the back of her hand didn't actually touch your wrapper.

If you want appalling hygiene, go and have a look on the food standards website for some truly bad examples. Getting rid of an itch on the nose with the back of a hand would probably rate a 1 on a scale of 1-10 of shit hygiene.

Original poster
careergirl · 23/03/2013 10:42

I asked her to wash her hands? the problem?

OP posts:
jamdonut · 23/03/2013 10:43

A bit rude.
If she was at work with a shocking cold, blame the culture of treating people who are feeling unwell like shirkers. She probably didn't want to be there,but won't get paid for the first 3 days of being off sick,like most people who work in a shop. If you take the full week so that you do get paid, it affects your attendance and then you get the Third Degree and a bollocking (especially if you work for Tesco) for having time off. Or threatened with the sack if you have any more time off, so you drag yourself in and spread your germs amongst your colleagues.

Yes, she probably should have used the anti-bac before serving, but I think you are being a bit over-the -top.

I work in a school...children cough without covering their mouths,sneeze snot everywhere,and don't always remember to wash their hands after the toilet! Germs are everywhere. Sometimes you just have to get on with it.

VinegarDrinker · 23/03/2013 10:43

Can I be the first to offer you a grip?

Seriously, the hygiene issues are non existent. Basically you thought she was a little uncouth, that is it. Extremely rude to say so to a stranger.

Original poster
careergirl · 23/03/2013 10:43

no issue with germs. Issue with bad manners ....

OP posts:
ImTooHecsyForYourParty · 23/03/2013 10:44

It is, MrsS. And I don't think the OP was rude, I just don't think she needed to embarrass the assistant. I think it was pointless because the truth of it is that that wrapped sandwich (and yoghurt) will have been picked up and looked at many, many times. It may have been sneezed over. It could have been picked up by someone who had had a shit and not washed their hands, and someone who had popped a boil and not washed their hands and someone with a streaming cold who had been wiping their nose with their hand and someone with an infectious disease and someone who had just scratched their crotch and someone who had just picked their teeth and...

realistically, the potential for contamination on the outer packaging of our food is MASSIVE and I think the best thing to do is to be mindful of that and either wipe it down or open it with a corner and ease it out.

And I have known people who work in places that make food and what's on the outside of it is the least of your bloody worries, I tell you that for nothing! Grin

Original poster
careergirl · 23/03/2013 10:44

asked her to wash her hands? Rude, how?

OP posts:
FakePlasticLobsters · 23/03/2013 10:44

According the the QI book I was browsing through last night, a million lives a year can be saved by people washing their hands properly.

And apparently 2500 lives are saved each year by having staff in hospitals wash their hands properly.

And according to random website I just found on google, these are all the times you should wash your hands to prevent the spread of germs.

When should you wash your hands?

Before, during, and after preparing food
Before eating food
Before and after caring for someone who is sick
Before and after treating a cut or wound
After using the toilet
After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
After touching an animal or animal waste
After handling pet food or pet treats
After touching garbage

And I suppose if we all did this, there wouldn't be as many germs on money and such.

Original poster
careergirl · 23/03/2013 10:44

do not want anyone wiping their nose on their hands in front of me thank you.

OP posts:
fluckered · 23/03/2013 10:44

perhaps she should have served you first with both barrels of snail tracks down her nose before finding a tissue... but you probably would have complained about being made wait.

Original poster
careergirl · 23/03/2013 10:45

for heavens sake its a dirty dirty habit

OP posts:
ajandjjmum · 23/03/2013 10:45

I've seen this before and never had the guts to say anything. Gross behaviour from assistant - I think you were absolutely within your rights to flag it up.

ImTooHecsyForYourParty · 23/03/2013 10:46

x post with you, careergirl. Making my above post meaningless, since it's not germs you're bothered about. Grin

Original poster
careergirl · 23/03/2013 10:46

shocked at all sales assitants who do feel this is acceptable some refresher training in hygiene maybe

OP posts:
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