To think staff at playcentres etc should not smoke in front of children?

[levan]

Perhaps I'm being overly sensitive, but I've witnessed this a couple of times recently and it's got me thinking. The first time two members of staff were smoking directly outside the entrance to our local soft play centre, and what made it worse was that the wind was blowing the smoke back into the room. Then today my dd and I visited a children's farm - everything about it was lovely, but once again two staff members were sitting at an outside cafe table and smoking. I don't for a minute begrudge them a smoke break, but I do think they should smoke in an area away from public view. What do you reckon?

Yes. I think they should be locked in a shed if they want to smoke.

Hmm. If they were out of view of the children, then the children would be out of their view.

Yes, but presumably they are on a break, so they shouldn't need to have the children in their view.

OK .... I take it from that you think IABU. I've got nothing against smokers, I just think (to get on my pompous high horse for a minute) that part of the role of staff in attractions like these that are specifically aimed at young children is to model appropriate and healthy behaviour and smoking does not fit with this.

Sorry, cross post, my first sentence was aimed at bubble! Yes, they are on a break - also we're not talking about nursery or playgroup staff so the children are all accompanied by parents/carers.

Well, with the ban on smoking in the workplace, there is presumably nowhere inside/private for staff to smoke.

Agreed that they should not allow smoke to blow back into the building, but you can't insist that they do not smoke in sight of anyone.

Yes, but in each of these places there were outside areas that were private.

In schools, staff are not allowed to smoke in view of the children (I think that's what the law thing says). I wouldnt expect tbh a play centre to follow the same rules though. Nice if they did though.

How do you know there were private outside areas?

I don't think any organisation should let their employees smoke infront of customers during their shifts.

Doesn't mean that they aren't allowed to smoke, just not where it is so obvious. My children have suddenly become very aware of smoking and asking about it. Its not something I want them to think is OK.

Thing is, as an act that is not (yet) illegal, its up to organisations/individuals what (if any) rules they choose to impose or follow beyond what is legally required.

I smoke. I do not do so in front of my dd, and I do not allow smoking in our house. But I can't insist that nobody else smokes in her sight. Its simply unworkable and tbh a little precious.

levan. From my experience of soft play/children 's farms etc these are unskilled probably minimum wage jobs staffed by teenagers. I imagine the proprietors are lucky to get anyone to do the job.

I agree that nursery staff, teachers etc should set a good example as they are specifically trained in the care and education of children.

We have had a complaint about this from a parent at our creche,we have a fire exit door next to the entrance to the sports centre creche and smoke can drift in,but,although we can control what happens inside the building outside is a public open area and people can smoke as much as they like,there is a gathering of smokers outside at lunch times, but we are told to remove or cover our uniform jumpers.

stripey, I don't think I am being precious and I am not insisting that nobody else smokes in her sight. I am just saying that places like these ought perhaps to think about the message they are putting across by allowing staff to smoke in front of children, and as I said at the places I mentioned it would not be difficult for staff to smoke out of view of children. I am talking about a very minor adjustment which would improve the image of the attraction.

You are being precious, expecting them to "think about the message they put across to young children". They just want to do their job, get paid, and go home. They don't want to be role models for the youth of today.

Would you like them to ban smoking on the telly too?

What about all the other things that staff may do that "send a message to children"?

Do you suggest staff should not be allowed to eat junk food in sight of the public?

I (as a smoker myself) think its a revolting habit that I wish I had never taken up, and fully agree that children should not be exposed to tobacco smoke in an enclosed space. But its legal to smoke outdoors, and so the staff should be allowed to.

Ad others have said, the staff are most probably underpaid teenagers, who are not there as role models for anyone. They are there to earn a living.

Here here stripey.

I'm an ex-smoker and absolutely cannot bear it anywhere around me. I do think, though, that smokers have been demonised enough. As long as their smoke doesn't physically effect others then I cannot see the problem.

freddy - no, I don't want them to ban smoking on telly too but I would not expect to see smoking on programmes specifically aimed at young children. Stripey - junk food may be a health issue but it is nothing like as big a one as smoking.
I do appreciate what people have said about the staff being underpaid teenagers - but is it not a little patronising to suggest they 'just want to do their job, get paid and go home'? At the places I visited the staff were great - friendly and keen to make sure the children got the most out of their visit. As I said I am just suggesting a minor adjustment that would make the experience an even more positive one for kids

affect

Levan, if they gave a shit about the message they were sending out to young children then they wouldn't be smoking in front of them in the first place, would they?

You are sounding like a major control freak btw.

TBH most kids are not going to notice or care. Mine certainly wouldn't.

How old are these kids you're taking to soft play? I've not known many toddlers to take up smoking.

YABU, the example you set to your children is far more important than whether they glance at a softplay worker taking a puff. Chances are they won't give it a second thought and will forget they saw it 5 minutes later.
It all smacks a bit of an 'I pay your wages therefore I expect this' attitude to me, sorry.

Good point that toddlers wouldn't notice smoking, mine wouldn't. And people smoking in the open air outside cafes are not going to damage anyone's health.