To have asked nanny to take her shoes off

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My husband and I decided to employ a nanny for our 2 DC ages 1 and 5. This will be the first time we've used a nanny.

We interviewed a lady on Saturday. She arrived just as we’d got home from a walk and as usual we all took our shoes off as we came in. She left hers on though and my husband asked her to take them off when she walked into the living room. I’ll be honest it was a little awkward as I think it took her by surprise. They are newish carpets so I can see where he is coming from but I probably wouldn’t have mentioned it myself. I guess most people don’t expect to take their shoes off in an interview (even though it’s a house and not an office?).

Anyway, the interview went well and she had plenty of experience and qualifications and I’ve tried to contact her (yesterday and today) to arrange a taster session but she hasn’t got back to me. It’s such a minor thing but I’m guessing it put her off. I can’t think of anything else.

Did we do something wrong?

I wouldn't have asked her to do this at the interview stage
Fair enough at the employment stage.

Nope take your shoes off when you come in my house, I can just about cope on the washable hall and dining room floor but I'm not having your shoes on my carpet!

Surely she is not going to get 'offended' and refuse a good job because you asked her to take her shoes off? That would be quite silly. I don't allow anyone to come into my house with shoes either.

I would not visit a house if I had to remove my footwear. As for going for employment in a person’s house, I would not consider it.
People that tend to enforce such rules are people with other very alternative perceptions, obviously not everyone but I’d avoid like the plague….

He shouldn't have asked her to remove her shoes for an interview. I wouldn't take the job if I was her.

Yes, you'd be wondering what else they're going to be odd and precious about.

Really? Everyone I know takes their shoes off when they come in. I think it’s the standard thing to do rather than some weird aberration.

She's not the one for you if something that small put her off. You'll need to discuss far bigger and important things with her if she was looking after your kids. If she can't flex to shoes on day 1 she's an absolutely not.

When I went for interview I was asked to remove my shoes for religious reasons. Never gave it another thought... Yanbu to keep a nice home.

i'd imagine that they had lots of rules regarding their precious carpets etc so it would be a no from me.

I’ve viewed a few properties recently (to purchase) and always removed shoes to go inside. I’d say it’s pretty normal if you have carpets to expect people to take their shoes off.

Exactly, Your choice to ask her. Her choice to think it’s batshit and take a job elsewhere..

I dont know about nannys, but when working in care, we have to wear shoes when working. Maybe same rules.
Maybe she's taken it as a sign that youll be a bit precious.

Honestly think it was weird she didn't offer to take her shoes off at the door.

Some people have shoes on houses, some have shoes off. For bizarre reasons people on each side feel intensely passionately that the other side are wrong.

Agreed and I’m really not a clean freak in the slightest (could really do with being a bit more of a clean freak if I’m honest).

Job that involves being responsible for messy young children + parents who are finicky about their carpets to the point where they are happy to make visitors feel uncomfortable? No thanks.

It's simply not appropriate at a job interview though.

Why? The carpets are the same and the shoes are the same.

Yeah i find it really weird when people wear outdoor shoes on carpet indoors, I'd be put off too. Its grim.

This. We don't take our shoes off at work.

There are shoe covers for workers OP. Or interview in non-carpeted areas.

Everyone i know removes shoes though, excepting v posh Dmil.

As a nanny who interviewed shoeless (I wasn't asked to remove them but noticed the parent who met me on the drive and took their shoes off on entering the house) I don't find this odd at all.. I wear my own slippers in their house.
If she finds it odd then she's not the nanny for you..
Ps.. I remove my shoes in everyone's house!

Seriously?
Workmen, tradesmen!, handymen who visit my home make a big deal of the protective plastic slippers to protect my carpets.
It's not odd.

Like what? What other rules would they have regarding their carpets? Taking shoes off in a home is not universal but pretty common and not a sign of anything strange.

You should tell people before they come that you have a shoes off policy in your house.