To report my colleague?

[HeyNannyNanny]

I work in a private household as a Nanny.
There are several chauffeurs but during the week my charge and I typically have the same one. He's lovely though he could potentially be awful and I wouldn't know as we don't share a common language.

I dread having to get into the car as it absolutely reeks of smoke. I'm not sure if he's smoking a particular kind of tobacco but the smell is very heavy and genuinely makes me feel nauseas every time we travel (spend about an hour or so in the car each day).
He never smokes in the car, but smokes outside of it and comes straight into the car after.

The smell is so bad it has made me sick several times (and I'm rarely sick, and not usually a princess about such things I swear) and I'm getting quite concerned about the air quality and the secondhand smoke risks for my charge.

The car never smells when my boss is being driven.

WIBU to have a word with the Mum/Dad (bosses) about this?

I hate the idea of snitching and he's obviously within his rights to smoke, and doesn't actually do it in the car or on the property but it truly is foul in that car.

Im worried he'll get in trouble and I'm selfishly worried about my relationship with him, as it'll be obvious who has said something and I have to see him every day.

I think its perfectly reasonable to raise with your manager that you are finding the smell difficult and have worries about the impact of passive smoking on the child.

They will then do something about it or not.

Yes have a friendly word with your manager. Problem will be solved.

We're in Russia and its absolutely me that has the language barrier. We live in a city where I am the only person who speaks English fluently. My boss speaks English to a medium level. Everyone else I've met (and I've been here about 6 months) speaks either none or just a few words.

I don't know anyone here that I could have a full conversation with, the closest I get to that is with the 8 year old I look after. I wouldn't trust her to translate though as she has zero tact.

I think anyone that goes to another country should absolutely learn the native language, obviously that doesn’t help right now but don’t you think you should do so for the future?

Is smoking accepted as the norm in your country? hugely. Everyone and their dog smokes. And I'm sure it's different tabacco as I've never smelt anything quite like it

Also, how is it that the car doesn't smell when he is driving your boss? well exactly, which is why I bring it up as a potential "thing" because he clearly changes the smoking habit when it's my boss in the car.

Boss is away Mon through Fri though and this particular driver only takes boss when we travel to the airport, so not a dya to day trip

How lonely not knowing the native language of the country you work in x

@Missmother I've been here six months. There are no Russian teachers here. I'm learning what I can from listening but it's hard. I don't learn from online courses which makes it harder.
It was somewhat tongue in cheek when I said I only know 5 words, but I don't know a lot. I'd love to speak more.

No Russian teachers in Russia? that’s weird.

Don’t you have any Russian friends that could write down what to say for you?

How lonely not knowing the native language of the country you work in I think I went mad about 2 months in. They don't even have proper bacon or cheese which makes it worse... 😬

I love cheese too, I just couldn’t do it for that reason alone!

If you don’t mind me saying, then aren’t the wages in Russia really poor and this is why they all come to the UK to work?

@Missmother we live in a very isolated city, it's barely part of Russia. There's no international influence at all really. I get some very strange looks for being English. I don't have any friends in this country and wouldn't know where to find any! There are a lot of stray dogs so I go out at weekends to feed and play with them which gets me out and about a bit.

So really you wish to complain he stinks of smoke, and you just don't like it. Wonder what he thinks of what you smell like, and what you will do if he retaliates?

And does rhe child dislike it, have they said anything? Or are you trying to manipulate them so it doesn't look like it's jist you?

Personally if you can't get along with the staff, can't sta d the smell of smoke, used my kid to support you. I'd see you on your way.

@Missmother average salary here is roughly £250 a month, so probably? The working conditions aren't great either, there's no real employment law

missed the bit where I said we don't speak the same language?
Use Google Translate and show him.
Simple.

You'd rather get him in trouble with his employer than potentially upset him by asking him not to smoke?
Really?

The thing is - if smoking is more acceptable where you - i don’t think you are going to get very far even if you are understood.

£250 a month? Can I ask why you went there if your from UK, or are you from UK? Surely if they can afford nannies and chauffeurs then they must have a bob or 2, and yet they pay you slave labour wages, well compared to the UK, this is a weekly wage in the UK

He’s not actually within his rights to smoke. It’s now illegal to smoke in a workplace vehicle.

In Russia though?

It's going to be really tough addressing this in Russia. I've had friends work out there and yes, smoking is very much the norm. As much as I can understand your discomfort, I'd caution against making an issue of it, I doubt it will go down well.

In Russia? bluejeans

Pah, get the child to tell him, and roll your eyes sympathicly at him as she does
He can't complain then can he 😀