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AIBU?

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Original poster

Council worker smoking

170 replies

Jasmineflair · 05/12/2019 13:18

Just witnessed a council maintenance worker smoking whilst doing something for my neighbour. He walked up to the door with a fag on and continued to smoke whilst completing the errand on their front garden! Really doesn’t give off a good look. Should they be smoking on the job?

OP posts:
Streamside · 05/12/2019 13:32

You and your neighbour are full of Christmas cheer, what a nasty thing to do.He'll be hauled through a lengthy disciplinary hearing for this.If you objected so much could you or the neighbour not have mentioned it to him without reporting it. These workers are lucky if they get the living wage, why spread misery.

TheStaleBiscuitofDoom · 05/12/2019 13:33

Doctors, surgeons and maintenance workers are completely different. I think that's obvious to anyone with half a brain cell regardless of the rules.

patchworkpatty · 05/12/2019 13:33

Yes it would be unreasonable of you to spark up while you helped an elderly neighbour with their shopping or took them to the doctors because you would be in a house with the shopping or in a car going to the doctors..

THIS MAN WAS OUTSIDE!! Fgs get a life. You ARE a hypocrite because you've 'caught your neighbour and 'told on him' for something your neighbour didn't even know about. Truly pathetic . No one was hurt whilst he smoked outside whilst doing a job .

MrsFoxPlus4Again · 05/12/2019 13:33

How catastrophic. What age are you to be telling tales to your neighbour? What’s she going to say? Someone told me they seem him smoking?

Original poster
Jasmineflair · 05/12/2019 13:34

If I remember correctly there was once a thread a fair while back about a woman smoking in her garden where there was a public path running behind it. She was absolutely slated and dragged down for even daring to smoke in her own garden if it was next to a public path! But by MN standards it’s okay if it’s someone else’s garden? So strangeConfused

OP posts:
Otterseatpuffinsdontthey · 05/12/2019 13:34

This was on your neighbour's property? May I suggest, if you have too much time on your hands, why don't you take your net curtains down and give them a wash Xmas Biscuit

nokidshere · 05/12/2019 13:34

Pettiness at its best.

MrsFoxPlus4Again · 05/12/2019 13:35

Highly doubt you and your neighbour both saw him and then had a discussion about who should complain. You saw him & mentioned it to the neighbour so she’d complain Grin

ReanimatedSGB · 05/12/2019 13:37

So you stuck your beak in and encouraged your neighbour to try to get a low-paid worker sacked, just before Christmas? What an absolute charmer you must be.

Bourbonbiccy · 05/12/2019 13:39

Am I missing your point OP, are you saying they were just smoking in the garden or smoking whilst at the front door talking to the old lady ?

messolini9 · 05/12/2019 13:41

I am a smoker and I think it’s disgusting to be smoking whilst working.

Keep twitching those net curtains, Hyacinth.
After all, who else is going to reprimand these "council workers", huh? Grubby little oafs that they are. It is ABSOLUTELY your business, & if you can cost him his job, maybe he won't be able to afford any more fags. The whole street will rise to applaud you as he is frogmarched off to the poorhouse where he belongs, the buttons of his overalls ripped off & presented to you at a glittering awards ceremony.

TLDR: - fuck off out of it. You are not the Behaviour Police.

Original poster
Jasmineflair · 05/12/2019 13:42

Garden is split with a shared path down the middle so I can easily see what’s going on from my office window. I actually got up and looked out because I’m waiting for a parcel but was just the council workers. If it was just regular contractors or gardeners then I would really not give a damn. It’s the fact that they work for the local council and are in council uniform so it really doesn’t look good. The council is rubbish enough as it is. Does council tax contribute to their wages? If so then neighbour and I are paying for him to smoke on the job

OP posts:
Ijustwanttoretire · 05/12/2019 13:43

Jeez I am one of the most pernickety people I know about rules but this is taking it to another level - I really hope you never do the SLIGHTEST thing wrong in your job Jasmineflair - and if you do I hope someone is watching and reports you. It must be amazing to be THE perfect human being...

SmoothOrange · 05/12/2019 13:44

I love how the story changes when people disagree with your post.

Council worker smokes outside neighbours house, surely you shouldn't smoke on the job?

yeah so what ?

well the neighbour was really upset and didn't want to say anything because she was frightened of the burly council workers

What will it be next? She asked you to make a complaint on her behalf?

It isn't ideal but I couldn't bring myself to get worked up about it and certainly don't have the time to telephone the council and make a complaint. Not to mention I would be embarassed

WinterIsHere1990 · 05/12/2019 13:45
  1. Was the worker doing work for you? NO
  1. Was the worker smoking on your property? NO
  1. Does it involve you at all? HELL NO
  1. Did you 'catch' your neighbours to sway her into complaining? ABSOLUTELY YES.

Get a grip you saddo.

He might have been on a break himself, but went out of his way to help an old lady!

SmoothOrange · 05/12/2019 13:46

Also OP, how do you know he wasn't on a break?

recklessruby · 05/12/2019 13:47

I wouldn't have cared less about this let alone noticed it. If the job was done and he didn't trample the butt on her lawn who cares?

Original poster
Jasmineflair · 05/12/2019 13:48

😂😂😂 well at least I’ve got some laughs on this gloomy day! My OP was very short and blunt, clearly focused on the fact this man was smoking on the job making the council look bad. But because I don’t agree with that I must think he’s the lowest dreg of society and nothing more than dirt on my shoe! Poor man will lose his job and have nothing but his cigs for Christmas. I’m 24, never made a formal complaint in my life and don’t own net curtains so very far away from being Mrs Bucket

OP posts:
dontalltalkatonce · 05/12/2019 13:48

FFS! Get a life!

Original poster
Jasmineflair · 05/12/2019 13:48

How could he be on a break if he was actively taking garden rubbish away?

OP posts:
WhentheRabbitsWentWild · 05/12/2019 13:48

FFS

SquareAsABlock · 05/12/2019 13:49

If you're precious about this, OP, you would be positively aghast at some of the places I've seen workers smoke. Including in a working kitchen with no ventilation. This wouldn't even register with me to be honest.

MrsSiriusBlack1 · 05/12/2019 13:51

I would love to have nothing else to worry about/obsess over at this time of year than someone having a fag outside!
Get yourself a hobby that doesn’t involve curtain twitching

SmoothOrange · 05/12/2019 13:51

How could he be on a break if he was actively taking garden rubbish away

You tell me? because your previous post indicated that your council tax is paying for him to smoke on the job. Indicating he was just smoking and not doing any work?

Does council tax contribute to their wages? If so then neighbour and I are paying for him to smoke on the job

bogginmacaroni · 05/12/2019 13:52

You sound like a happy sort. Enjoy your Christmas

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