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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Nursery workers drinking at lunchtime.

534 replies

Brendathedoll · 18/07/2024 13:12

Had a rare day off yesterday so went for a pub lunch with my sister. In there I saw 2 nursery nurses from my child’s daycare having lunch and they each had a glass of wine. There were also 2 empty glasses in the table but possibly from previous customers. I wasn’t happy but my sister says it’s there lunchtime they don’t get paid for and 2 glasses won’t make any difference. They saw me and looked a bit sheepish but it means I can’t report them anon now. I’m scared if I say something they would treat my child differently. Am I being ott thinkinb they shouldn’t drink while caring for kids?

OP posts:
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lemonmeringueno3 · 20/07/2024 09:15

It doesn't matter whether they had a glass of wine or not because by now they'll have their story straight - it was alcohol free wine or a soft drink.

The best you can hope for is that, if they were drinking, they won't do it again after the little scare of seeing you there.

Procrastinates · 20/07/2024 09:21

by now they'll have their story straight - it was alcohol free wine or a soft drink.

See even this sort of wording implies they were doing something wrong.

Maybe just maybe they don't need to get their story straight because there is no story... Hmm

Blondeshavemorefun · 20/07/2024 09:40

Debdelight · 19/07/2024 22:03

Just discussed this thread with my Dd. If who you saw was a red head and mixed race pair and the pub was in the midlands then it could be them

My Dd worked half day yesterday and her colleague was off. They got together after Dd shift as it would be last catch up before breaking up today as they only work term time. My Dd had tonic water in what could have looked like a wine glass and her colleague had wine.

Dd didn't have tabard on as she had finished shift. Even when on shift they take tabard off at their half hour lunch even if just dashing over the road to get lunch from Tesco.

Of the 3 nurseries she has worked in she has always had half hour break. Two colleagues off for same lunch time is unusual as they normally need cover to keep ratios.

If it was her you saw then the sheepish look was a "please God don't come over to discuss your child" look. She has it when she goes supermarket shopping and sees parents who want to talk work. She works damn hard for minimum wage so give her a break.

If it was her then she says she will see you September!

So @Brendathedoll do you live in the midlands

As this sounds very likely to be them

I have friends who work in a nursery and do term time only and finished this week for sept

But I'm in Kent. I'm sure they went out for a drink /meal at lunchtime as well

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 20/07/2024 09:42

Waiting for OP to come back and confirm if it was the PP's daughter she likely saw ...

Expecting OP to never show her face on this thread again, especially after realising she could have literally ruined someone's career on a false assumption

Jack80 · 20/07/2024 09:59

I would think they had finished work and didn't get changed and went for a drink/lunch. Maybe mention it to them in the nursery, how was your lunch or nice to see you at the pub the other day.

RareFatball · 20/07/2024 10:01

I would be very surprised if Nursery staff were on a break over lunch time as that is usually a busy period where the children need supervised and supported. Staff usually have break before or after the lunch time period.

WTAFisthisnonsense · 20/07/2024 10:04

Do you know it was wine or perhaps a soft drink/alcohol free drink, poured into a wine glass.

betterangels · 20/07/2024 10:51

WTAFisthisnonsense · 20/07/2024 10:04

Do you know it was wine or perhaps a soft drink/alcohol free drink, poured into a wine glass.

Of course she doesn't. She doesn't know more than any of us, least of all whether the women had a day off. She admitted as much.

But that story isn't exciting. Just ask the journalist from The Sun.

Debdelight · 20/07/2024 10:56

Just in case is was Dd she saw I will answer some of the points raised by PP

Dd was driving hence no alcohol. Her colleague I believe lives local to nursery so meeting at that pub was convenient. All the talk about drink driving is pure speculation.

In all the nurseries she has worked in, all contracts state no alcohol and instant dismissal if not adhered to. Do PP think they are so stupid to go to pub next door to be possibly be seen by parents if they were going into work.

When working they stagger the breaks to ensure ratios adhered to. It is unusual to have two on break at same time.

DD has no issue if anyone wants to check with nursery that they were off duty. Her manager was fully aware she was going for lunch in pub as it had been mentioned in passing as she was leaving.

The amount of assumptions by some PP is unbelievable. She has no reason to "get her story straight" ffs.

Have PP not thought that the simplest explanation is quite often the truth.

Soberinthecity · 20/07/2024 11:40

do you know for sure they were working? I was a teacher for years. Never once had the time for a full hour to sit down, let alone a pub lunch.

Soberinthecity · 20/07/2024 11:44

Spinet · 18/07/2024 13:48

It is not being a busybody to worry about your kids' nursery staff being drunk at work. Hmm

They weren’t drunk at work though. They were in a pub, enjoying a drink - not even verified alcohol. You’ve added 2+2 and made 5.

Mumofyellows · 20/07/2024 11:50

I'm a teacher and would never consider drinking on my lunch break (although what actually is a lunch break 😂)

Brendathedoll · 20/07/2024 13:07

I can’t believe this thread still going! I have said I’m not reporting them! As for it was their day off I can’t prove it wasn’t however this is my local pub and near the nursery. These girls do not live local I see them at the bus stop after their shift from time to time. This pub is not really somewhere you would go out of the way to visit on a day off it’s very much a no frills establishment, great and handy for a tuna jacket potato pub lunch for me but not somewhere I would travel to if I lived elsewhere. Like many of you have said though I have no proof of anything so that will be the end of the matter.

OP posts:
Brendathedoll · 20/07/2024 13:10

@Debdelight no not your daughter. Wrong area and description.

OP posts:
ButWhatAboutTheBees · 20/07/2024 13:21

If you've just finished work, you may well just go into the pub next door

It's still going on because it made its way to The Sun

Differentstarts · 20/07/2024 13:27

According to the sun op your outraged 🤣🤣🤣. Can you see now why we don't start rumours with no facts.

JudgeJ · 20/07/2024 14:02

MagicFarawayTea · 19/07/2024 20:11

This with bells on

So all the Family pubs should be closed as presumably the parents who may have had a drink have forfeited their right to look after their children, they may even have, horror of horrors, exposed their cherubs to the sight of adults partaking of alcohol and even smoking if sitting outside!
This thread shows MN hypocrisy at its very best.

CheeseandOnionCrispFan · 20/07/2024 14:06

Not really appropriate in their job role & position of caring for young children. However, it does bring back memories of working in the late 80's & my workplace had its own pub - we used to get steaming drunk at lunchtime & even my manager fell off her chair back in the office. However, we weren't responsible for young children. I would probably say something.

MagicFarawayTea · 20/07/2024 15:09

JudgeJ · 20/07/2024 14:02

So all the Family pubs should be closed as presumably the parents who may have had a drink have forfeited their right to look after their children, they may even have, horror of horrors, exposed their cherubs to the sight of adults partaking of alcohol and even smoking if sitting outside!
This thread shows MN hypocrisy at its very best.

I find your response unfair and ignorant. Why are you equating parents having a drink with their kids present to people who are being paid to look after young children drinking alcohol whilst on duty?
Have I drank alcohol in a pub when my kids were young? Yes.
Have I ever drank alcohol at lunchtime during my career in education with kids aged 3-18? No.
Why? Because whilst at work I am a professional with a duty of care to the children I work with. Children who sometimes have complex emotional / educational needs. But according to your judgment, it’s ok if I get half cut at lunchtime before returning to work. Brilliant.

Inyournewdress · 20/07/2024 16:48

I think you are making a potentially very serious mistake by not reporting this. I feel sorry for the other parents and children who have no idea.

JoyousPinkPeer · 20/07/2024 16:58

ihaventfedthecat · 18/07/2024 13:15

I wouldn't be happy and yes I'd report them - 2 large glasses puts them over the drink drive limit

She did not say they were 'large' glasses of wine.

Brendathedoll · 20/07/2024 18:26

This has made The Sun oh no! Sorry but I’m laughing my head off 🤣🤣

OP posts:
ButWhatAboutTheBees · 20/07/2024 19:31

Ye laugh about the fact someone entirely innocent could get in trouble and lose their job because of your assumptions

Brendathedoll · 20/07/2024 19:33

For the millionth time have you read the thread? I am not reporting anyone !!!

OP posts:
Procrastinates · 20/07/2024 19:36

Brendathedoll · 20/07/2024 19:33

For the millionth time have you read the thread? I am not reporting anyone !!!

You don't blooming need to now. The fact you started the thread and it's been picked up by the media means reporting them is pointless. Let's hope people don't decide these two women have done anything wrong because of your baseless allegations and made up tales.