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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is a shitty way to treat creche staff

62 replies

Clothrabbit · 17/12/2018 14:28

A colleague was talking about going for a nice lunch with friends and some early sales shopping after work on Christmas Eve (we finish up at 12). Someone said "Oh, does the crèche open for the full day? Ours is closed from lunch time" and she just replied that they close at 2 but she'll just pay the late fee because 'they can't throw the kids out on the street, can they"?

AIBU to think this is a really mean way to treat staff who will want to get home on Christmas Eve as soon as possible and not hanging around waiting for someone who is off work from 12 but just wants to enjoy herself? Apparently she's planning to get to the crèche 'by about 3.30."?

OP posts:
Spaghettijumper · 17/12/2018 14:30

So she's planning on being an hour and a half late? I've not worked in a creche but when I was a teacher if a parent was late and we couldn't get hold of them we called the police, so she might get a rude shock.

Bugsymalonemumof2 · 17/12/2018 14:31

After a period of time they will call the police/social services so she is an idiot

Sparklesocks · 17/12/2018 14:34

That’s terrible! I would also think if staff hadn’t heard from a parent for x hours after close they would probably end up calling the police and assume something had happened..so she’s being very risky!

My brother used to work for a popular toy shop chain and his main store was in a busy shopping centre. Parents would dump their kids in the shop and go shopping in the centre, using it as a makeshift crèche! So my brother and his colleagues would end up calling security as kids had been unattended, then the parents would return and go mental at him..

Doobydoobeedoo · 17/12/2018 14:35

Most (if not all) of these places will have a policy for dealing with children who haven't been collected on time. They will usually include a clause where the police or social services will be contacted.

It could be an interesting Christmas Eve for your friend if she goes ahead with her plan.

LuvSmallDogs · 17/12/2018 14:36

That’s awful, unless they’ve already realised what a bitch she is they could be worried something awful has happened. They’ll surely work their way down the list of emergency contacts who won’t be amused when they realise what she’s done?

LupinsNotBluebells · 17/12/2018 14:36

My DC's nursery would have phoned social services long before 3.30. She's also lining up a charge per 5 or 10 minute block.

MrsCar · 17/12/2018 14:39

The staff probably have family/children at home waiting for them Sad
Or just want to finish early for Christmas anyway

So unbelievably selfish Angry

sharpstick · 17/12/2018 14:39

Personally I think this is disgraceful! The staff will have homes and families to get back to and this will cause unnecessary stress at the end of their busy day.

But her poor children!! They will see the other children being collected and will likely become upset that they aren’t going home too. How can any mother knowingly let her children think they have been forgotten or that something has happened to their mum?

I really hope she was joking when she put this proposal forward!

MessyBun247 · 17/12/2018 14:40

Does she not think about the fact that crèche staff have things to do on Xmas Eve and children of their own to pick up?

She’s a dick. I hope the crèche call the police.

PinkHeart5914 · 17/12/2018 14:43

So she gets to enjoy her lunch but the member of crèche staff with a partner/dc/family to get home too will have to wait becuase somehow her Christmas Eve is more important?

So they’ve taken care of her child and that’s how they get repaid. Childcare workers are really treated badly by some it’s not a job I’d want!

icannotremember · 17/12/2018 14:46

They can't throw the kids out on the street, no, but they can call social services and inform them that children have been abandoned in their care, which I fucking well hope they do if your colleague sticks to her horrible plan.

Pinotwoman82 · 17/12/2018 14:47

Oh that’s awful, poor child, I do believe they ring police / social services if they are really late?

minisoksmakehardwork · 17/12/2018 14:49

Your colleague is a dick.

She could find herself slapped with a huge bill at the end of the month and potentially lose her nursery. Most nurseries charge per 5-10 minutes late.

It's likely the nursery will call down everyone on her emergency contacts list and if they can't collect, then it will end up being put in the hands of social care. Most places I know do this if no one can collect within about half an hour of being called. Or at least on paper that's their policy.

I hope for the nursery staff's sake her emergency contacts are a lot more reasonable than she is.

Santababyclaus · 17/12/2018 14:54

Very selfish and hopefully the creche will call ss/police.

On a side note there's a bit of a drama on my local mums fb group. A local softplay has decided to close for Xmas eve, Xmas day and boxing day. The owner has had to put a message up explaining that nearly all her staff have dcs and she thought it might be nice for them to spend those days with their families. Apparently that isn't satisfactory to many as parents wanted to take dcs there on Xmas eve 🙄

Kintan · 17/12/2018 14:55

If she does this, and then the nursery realise that there was no good reason for her to be late, I wouldn’t be surprised if she loses the nursery place.

Jackshouse · 17/12/2018 14:57

I would imagine they would ring here then the emergency contact and then if no answer then the police.

WilburforceRaven · 17/12/2018 14:59

I'd tell her that every contract you've had states it's police or SS after an hour and that she must be pretty sick and cruel to do that to her kids so maybe it's for the best the creche will call the authorities.

ItIsChristmasTime · 17/12/2018 15:02

I agree she will turn up to find nursery closed and her children with SS, and the police aware. She will also probably lose her nursery place as a result.

NotAnotherUserName5 · 17/12/2018 15:04

Yanbu. And an awful way to treat her cold. Poor thing waiting for mummy, and she’s deliberately late Shock

NotAnotherUserName5 · 17/12/2018 15:04

Child, not cold!

cuppycakey · 17/12/2018 15:04

Aside from valid points already made, what a horrible thing to do to your own DC? They will be worried and anxious because mummy hasn't turned up and everyone is concerned/angry about where she is (unless we are talking about a baby)

I would be tempted to warn the nursery but I am a total bitch

DontCallMeCharlotte · 17/12/2018 15:05

Is it a creche at your work OP?

If so, could you tip them off (anonymously if necessary) so they can be ready to tell her it's closing at 2pm. End of.

Kemer2018 · 17/12/2018 15:05

That's disgusting.
Both for the workers and the kids.
The care facility I used before had it written in the contract that they'd charge per 10 mins late then call social services. I was never late, it's cruel to your kids.
Your mate sounds like a right gem. 🙄

ladydickisathingapparently · 17/12/2018 15:12

Surely that’s neglect?! Poor kids. Poor staff. And all for what - a bit of shopping?

ladydickisathingapparently · 17/12/2018 15:12

And I totally agree - tip them off.

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