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?

Go for a walk outside. Immediately by my front path is bird poo, twigs, leaves and stones!

Who are all these mad folk who constantly tread in dog shit ? I can't remember the last time I did - probably when I was about 5 and I'm now 65

You probably live somewhere lovely. It's dogshit alley where I live. The city centre is covered in spit, litter, fag ends, pigeon shit and used needles.
The thought of that contaminating my lovely home makes my skin crawl.

If you make people take off their shoes in your house you should offer them slippers to wear. IMO

Exactly. You can’t cuddle up on the couch with a toddler, sit on the floor playing games etc with shoes on.
I can’t believe someone said being bare foot isn’t good for your foot health. It’s quite the opposite! Nannys aren’t on a building site.

If I was interviewing for a job working in someone’s home, I would mirror what the family did. If they removed their shoes at the door, of course I would too. It’s common courtesy in someone else’s house.

That said, I’ve always lived in a no shoes house - when I lived in a city (no one wants piss from where drunk people wee on the street in their house, and I have stepped on an actual used condom and used needles more than once) and now. We live on a farm. It’s mud and animal poo out there. I don’t want it in my house. No one around here wears shoes indoors. I’d keep mine on if someone insisted (even though it’s weird), but just as a courtesy I always offer to take them off.

@LordPercyPercy don't you look at where you're stepping?

@cointos the whole pavement is dirty and sadly I can't levitate.

Assume she thinks you're going to be very fussy to work for .

I'd not have asked someone I was interviewing to take their shoes off .

Hopefully. Children are a big responsibility.

It’s odd for a nanny not to offer to take her shoes off. Does she have experience working in someone’s home or is it just drop offs / pick ups?

you don’t need to step in dog shit directly for it to be on your shoes. Other people will step on it and tread it all over the pavements. 💯 same with stuff like spit, piss etc. people who spit like that should be put in prison

also those who say “don’t you look where you’re going” yes most of us do, but you’d literally be having your eyes glued to the floor and head down to avoid stepping in stuff in some areas!

Completely agree! I said roughly the same thing in my previous comment but it got deleted.

It's not only dirt,leaves,dog poo

SLUGS!

DH deposited a deceased and mangled one on the doormat yesterday.
If we weren't a SO household it would have been walked onto my rugs

Please don't. I am very respectful of other people's homes and rules, and will always remove my shoes if I see they do, without having to be asked. But please don't offer me manky slippers that some other guest with (for all I know) all manner of foot rot, verrucas, warts or Athlete's foot has alreay worn in their bare feet - I will have to refuse, and that conversation may cause offence, which I have tried very hard to avoid by following the shoes off rule in the first place!

Perfectly acceptable to ask politely to remove shoes inside, especially if areas are carpeted. It’s unhygienic to wear outdoor shoes inside, all sorts of dirt and bacteria will be in them- especially if people have used public toilets etc.
I want to feel comfortable and relaxed at home, not worrying about sitting in traces of someone else urine, faeces or god knows what else.

No shoes on in the house and that’s always been the case for us and literally everyone I know. If she’s put off by that then she’s not the right nanny for you.

You definitely did nothing wrong. I cringe if anyone comes in my house with shoes on. It’s disrespectful of her not to offer.

Drama much!
Most people offer washable hotel / spa slippers not Granny's old worn ones 😂

In my culture its considered normal and polite to offer guests clean slippers and a little basket of them is kept by the door.
My DC have their own proper ones for when they visit

The salient point is "clean slippers". Great that you do it, but not everyone that offers slippers bothers to wash them between guests.

Take your own or go barefoot ?

As stated in my initial post, I'm always willing to respect houseold rules, and more than happy to be barefoot. I much prefer that to wearing manky, filthy slippers that other people have sweated into.

😂

The nanny can always bring inside shoes but its ridiculous to think that being barefoot inside a house is a health and safety thing - wearing shoes inside is more likely to affect health and safety, of the babies and children they're looking after (bringing in dirt, accidentally standing on a child's fingers when they're playing on the floor, that kind of thing)

Can’t understand this removing shoes malarkey. Two kids in wheelchairs certainly didn’t take the wheels off when they came indoors.

I think it is a health and safety issue.

Presumably the nanny will be, amongst other things, cooking for your children. Maybe a bit of ironing.

It's one thing cooking in bare feet in your own home, it is another thing at your place of employment.

Drop a knife or a hot iron on your foot and you will know about it.

OP you can't really expect an employee to not wear shoes for work. Having indoor shoes would work, something like the non slip clogs worn in health care and kitchens.