Nursery worker smoking

[Russell19]

My DS will soon be going to a very local nursery (think small village) AIBU to be put off by what I saw today?

Right next to the nursery was a worker wearing nursery branded clothes, polo and fleece smoking a cigarette. I get that people smoke, nothing against that but I naively thought they would change clothes or something to smoke. Never really thought about it before so fully prepared to be told IABU or facts about passive smoking or smoke on clothes.

(Husband, I and all family are non smokers so may impact my judgement)

Is it an issue or not? Just wondered what others' thoughts were.

As long as he isn’t handling babies regularly it wouldn’t be too much of an issue - you might want to raise this the next time you pick up your DC and remind them of the SIDs risk associated with babies being exposed to smoke and see what they say.

YANBU - Smoke smell is very strong and pervasive for most non smokers (and children!) and if she hasn’t changed her clothes then the smell will be in the nursery and potentially even on the children. Yuck.

I don't think you ABU to be put off by that, it's not nice.

That said, there is nothing that I know of that any nursery can do to police this, they can stop people from smoking on premises and I guess there may be some way that they could try to stop uniform being worn outside of the workplace but that is going to cost money in extra wages (changing time), if it's possible at all.

I don't think it's a health risk though, if that's your concern.

If it was me I'd mention to the owners that Children seeing their carers in uniform smoking doesn't set a great example and see how they respond. That should tell you a lot about them.

I wouldn’t be impressed but if your child is a baby or an older toddler.
My youngest has narrow airways as a young baby and toddler and this would have impacted her greatly.

I’d raise it when you visit.

Nothing you can do about it realistically, if your child is in nursery the likelihood is at least one of the employees will be a smoker IME/imo.
I would ask about the procedure and suggest smoking jackets though and strict hand washing regimes if not already in place but I don’t think you can force it. Yanbu but I dunno how you’d change it

While it’s gross, as far as I aware no one has ever come to any harm as a result of the remnants of cigarette smoke on someone else’s clothes.

Any kind of nursery worker should be having positive physical contact with children. The old ideas about not cuddling children are well and truly debunked. So I don’t think this would only impact babies.

Smoking isn’t a protected characteristic so nurseries can say staff must be non smokers or not smoke at all during the working day or immediately before work.

All really interesting replies.

I thought I was being an overprotective first time mum. Just thought it was a bit off.

I know really there's nothing the nursery can do officially but I didn't expect to see someone in uniform so blatantly smoking.

other than the smell I can't see the issue here. Expecting them to change clothes so your child can't smell it is a bit much. I suspect the nursery will tell you to find other childcare if you can't accept it.

The nursery my DD goes to there is no smoking allowed in the vicinity of the nursery and workers have to cover up or change out of their uniform if they are going out on their break.
I know that some of the workers smoke but as long as it’s not around DD and they change their uniform to do so then it’s non of my business really

I think you are being U. Ok so smokey clothes don’t smell nice, but they’re hardly going to harm your child unless there is a very serious underlying medical condition that would be affected by smokey clothes.

It isn't great but you cant police people.
Lots of professionals smoke Doctors Nurses HV Solicitors.
My DD attends therapies beside the 999 call and dispatch centre, the amount of fag butts in their outdoor lunch area.
The tobacco industry is worth billions for a reason, the people using them are not all stupid they're addicted.
They should ban them altogether.
Shut down the tobacco companies.
See teen's are using flavoured stunff nicotine to rub into your gums, produced by the tobacco company, make the next generation addicted to the new product.
My niece had some at a festival as it was legal.
It is the big sharks people need to fight against to protect the DC from smoking and addiction.

I'd be surprised if her contract allowed her to smoke whilst in uniform. Apart from being unprofessional, it's not good for the children in her care.

Btw, I didn't think most nurses were allowed to smoke whilst in uniform.

@TheTrollFairy I agree with you completely. If they had changed/washed hands I 100% agree it would be none of my business.

I work in complex care- mainly community based and we have several packages where we only place none smokers due to the vulnerability of the clients health conditions. I wouldn't want someone fresh from a fag picking up my child

We run a childcare business and have strict rules about not smelling of smoke or smoking in your uniform. If you're doing your job right you will be in close proximity to children, they shouldn't have to smell smoke.

I saw one of the nursery workers where DD goes smoking en route to work. Not my preference but nothing I can do to stop people who come into contact with my child smoking legally.

I work in a school and even though there is no policy stating we have to change clothes as we don't have a uniform to wear, we are not allowed to smoke on school grounds or near the school gates this includes parents even though they don't abide by this rule 🙄
I personally smoke but I wear a coat, it's my choice to smoke so I don't see why the children should be smelling it on my clothes. I also carry a spare bottle of perfume and hand sanitizer that I use after every smoke.

I wouldn’t want my child coming home stinking of perfume either and it certainly doesn’t mask the smell of smoke @hopski

"I wouldn't want someone fresh from a fag picking up my child"

They might wait the recommended 20 minutes. On a half an hour break, that's easily doable.

My DDs smoke, I've never and they don't smell of smoke. They only smoke outside and brush their teeth, was their hands when they come in.

I wouldn't like it either.

I think smoking should be a hangable offence (not really but I hate it). It’s utterly disgusting and trashy! Nobody who smokes should be allowed to be around children let alone employed to keep them safe!

Mildly amused that any smokers think that it doesn't smell on them or their clothes. Of course I suppose that you aren't allowed to ask at interviews, but if someone smokes, you can instantly smell it!

I went to see a nursery once for DC2, one if the workers was smoking outside when we arrived and came in with us then proceeded to touch DC's face (they were only 6 mo at this point) without washing their hands first. Aside from the fact that it was a bit gross, it made me wonder what other rules were not being properly followed. We turned down the place. I would have a discussion with the nursery staff and see what their policy is.