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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I think I am probably BU. Staff smoking outside Tesco's

146 replies

quornqueen · 12/04/2013 23:53

I'm hormonal this week so the littlest thing has set me off. DP says Im being a teeny bit unreasonable but he may be saying that to save his face! This post has smoking and parent and baby spaces in it so I am prepared for you all to sigh deeply and eye roll at me!

Our tescos has a little smoking hut with chairs and a light, its right by the back entrance a little further down from the parent and baby spaces. I cant see whats wrong with it tbh, but the staff prefer to smoke right by the trolleys next to the parent and baby spaces. I don't always use these spaces because I just park where ever BUT I do always have to get a trolley so I have to walk through this impromptu and non authenticated smoking area. The floor is mangy with hundreds of old fag butts, it smells as we walk through because there are a regular group of about 8 of them and my toddler often wants to walk but I don't really want him getting near it all. They are all having a laugh and that's all nice etc but they swear sometimes too. Also, its hard to get trolleys past them.

I asked nicely at Customer Services if perhaps they could move down to the real Tesco staff smoking area... its only 25ft from the area they are in now (but its covered and has a fag butt bin) and the lady looked annoyed (she is one of them!!!) but said yes she would remind staff.

A week later and they remain. AIBU to write?

OP posts:
CwtchesAndCuddles · 14/04/2013 10:45

I have complained about this in the past. Staff in uniform leaning on the trollies, smoking, swearing and fag ends thrown on the path. To get a trolly you had to push through them. This was also by the parent and child parking.

I spoke to the duty manager about it - never saw it happen again at that store.

YANBU

specialsubject · 14/04/2013 12:13

unfortunately many smokers are too lazy to walk a few yards, and drop their rubbish everywhere without a thought. That's life and you and your toddler will have to get used to it. I console myself that smokers pay extra taxes and often die earlier. It's their choice.

your verbal complaint isn't going anywhere. If it bothers you enough, write to head office with the details.

AmberLeaf · 14/04/2013 12:33

How petty.

Just get on with your life.

Lucyellensmum95 · 14/04/2013 12:45

I totally agree with the OP, at our Tescos the staff sit and smoke on a chair next to the ride on toys. Thankfully my DD is too old for these now but i would not want her to go on them with their bloody smoke wafting over. Its foul and unprofessional, i'm not sure i can be arsed to complain about it but it does show a very shabby front for the company with people stood there like old hags with cigarettes hanging from their mouths. Its just ewww and not what i want to walk through when im on the way to the shops. Yes disgusting people smoke outside but this in generally unnoticable unless its a group, which is what you get outside our tesco - it isn't even their designated area. Its shabby.

McNewPants2013 · 14/04/2013 13:05

Yanbu, I am not allowed to go out smoking in my uniform or on hospital grounds.

A few of the women I work with have been given £75 fines for dropping cigarette ends on the floor.

Every supermarket have bins out side, how hard is it to put the butt on the bin.

I am a smoker myself and don't litter as I have a portable ashtray

nellyjelly · 14/04/2013 13:12

I would find it annoying too OP. i am sure the store manager would not want his staff doing this either. Unprofessional.

Pickles101 · 14/04/2013 13:12

I don't think you are being U at all! Surprised so many think you are.

RhondaJean · 14/04/2013 13:18

Thr staff at Thr tesco my mother in law works at would be sacked for doing this. Tescos have very corporate policies and I refuse to believe any store would allow this.

Op are they workfare staff?

Either way, I'm a bit stunned someone wouldn't be able to keep enough of an eye on their child that they would risk them eating a fag end from the ground.

MissAnnersley · 14/04/2013 13:21

Rhonda I've seen it with my own eyes. No way would I make it up. It doesn't actually bother me TBH but it is definitely happening at the side door of the big Tesco I go to.

Am in Scotland.

Wallison · 14/04/2013 16:44

I love all of these people complaining about people smoking outside. You've already stopped them from doing it indoors and now you get offended by it out in the open air as well. Proof if proof were needed (and there is plenty on this thread anyway with its huffing about smoking being 'unprofessional' etc) that the anti-smoking crowd aren't concerned about health at all - it's all about controlling what other people do. Nasty.

Floweryhat · 14/04/2013 16:48

Yanbu. Something similar happens at my local tesco. They have even put up new laminated signs reminding staff not to smok, they just crouch behind the pillars, presumably where the CCTV can't see them, yet all the customers can. Smoking is vile. I am amazed they are allowed to smoke in uniform. Yuck.

lottie63 · 14/04/2013 17:11

YANBU. Head office should be alerted. It's bad PR for the company, if nothing else. It's unprofessional and looks rubbish. Complain. There's a hut. Tesco have provided that. If they want to smoke on their break, then let them use it. They may be on a break but their behaviour still is judged - and so it should be.

TigerSwallowtail · 14/04/2013 17:38

Yanbu, if there's a group of them going out every fag break to smoke there then there's not just going to be a few cigarette ends lying on the ground. If they were going out for their lunch break next to the trolleys and dropping crisp and sweet wrappers on the ground every day 25ft from allocated bins then everyone would be objecting. I don't see why it's different because it's cigarette butts.

RhondaJean · 14/04/2013 17:45

Am in Scotland too missa - I believe people have seen it then but I still think tesco plc would be appalled(and I'd be surprised if their Internet trawlers haven't found this thread yet.)

Tbf they don't get many breaks, but that's not the point.

Btw I do think it's fair to say tescos is a crappy job - and not because it's service industry or even a supermarket, but because of it being for tesco. They are a god awful employer, I know people who have jumped ship to other supermarkets and are much happier.

I still can't believe people can't stop their children eating things from the ground though - the op while having a fair point is also being unbearably precious about the way she's putting it across.

Lucyellensmum95 · 14/04/2013 18:01

WTAF has them being workfare got to do with it?? What a ridiculous thing to say! Hmm

I too have seen it with my own eyes, else why would i comment. I am under the impression that they may be doing this at the end of shifts. As you say Rhonda, Tesco have a policy about this, your post has inspired me to send an email to head office the next time i see someone doing this.

Flojobunny · 14/04/2013 18:06

Also think the workfare comment was out of order.

OP Yanbu.

RhondaJean · 14/04/2013 18:16

I'm wondering if it's workfare staff (loathe using that word for them but can't think of another) who are being forced into effectively slave labour to boost tescos profits, and actually really don't care about policies etc.

My mil is a smoker and wouldn't do that, she would panic about losing her job.

So actually yes there was a point to it, but carry on with the outrage... Personally I'd prefer to see it directed against the company but hey ho.

Lucyellensmum95 · 14/04/2013 18:57

Oh i agree that Tesco are a shower of shite - but it is wrong to assume that just because someone is "slave labour" that they wouldnt respect company policies. I KNOW that the staff members i have seen out front of the store smoking are definately not workfare and have worked there for many years.

I actually don't think members of the public should be allowed to smoke outside the entrace to the shop either. Its not me being precious about health, but there is nothing more sick making than the smell when someone first lights up a cigarrette, it makes me positively nauseous, outside or in. Its anti-social and rude.

RhondaJean · 14/04/2013 19:00

Our local authority has a rule that you cannot smoke on their property at all.

(utterly irrelevant but just saying)

RhondaJean · 14/04/2013 19:02

(I was kinda assuming the opposite btw to what you thought, based on my mil and her colleagues, who would be too worried about losing their jobs that the only people in our local store anyway who wouldn't be so worried would be those with less to lose)

montage · 14/04/2013 19:07

I think you should bring your own trolley.

Lucyellensmum95 · 14/04/2013 19:12

I would montage but i fell off it! (my trolley)

ivykaty44 · 14/04/2013 19:13

They're on minimum wage, doing a crappy job and have to put up with moany customers like you all day. Let them enjoy their fags

this comment is right - shop else where until tesco pay a living wage Smile then go back and shop at tesco store and complain about the smoking - but until then let it drop it isn't worth the agro.

I hate the fact that the staff are smoking in the clothes they are then serving food in behind the deli counter - but they would still be doing the same out of sight any way, I buy food that is wrapped and don't venture to the deli counter unless I really really had to.

HazardLamps · 14/04/2013 19:19

"... swearing too. I just thought it was all a bit shit."

Do you want to re-read what you posted there, quornqueen? :D

You are being unreasonable though I think you know that now. :) The world won't go to hell in a handbasket just because you have to walk past people who are smoking or swearing or because it's hard to get trolleys past them occasionally.
Chill out and start practising those three little words,
"Excuse me please!".

montage · 14/04/2013 19:23

GrinI think you can still find the odd trolley floating in secluded canals around the UK Lucyellen.

There is a definite gap in the market though and personal trolley provision could be a blackmarket perfect business opportunity for some entrepeneur.