Is this unprofessional?

StrawberryCherry97 · 2025-06-13T20:51:15+00:00

For nursery staff to go out to the local pub on a Friday after a long 7:30-6pm shift, but be drinking still in their works uniform?

XenoBitch · 13/06/2025 21:53

I used to go out in my NHS uniform.
Just don't act like a dick, basically.

vincettenoir · 13/06/2025 21:53

No.

CuarloDeFonza · 13/06/2025 21:54

No......next

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 13/06/2025 21:54

It’s after work, not sure why it would be a problem. Nothing wrong with a couple of drinks

CaptainFuture · 13/06/2025 21:55

Why?

Original poster

StrawberryCherry97 · 13/06/2025 21:55

Ok, asking as either a parent or someone who knows the uniform saw us and reported it, we have had a telling off from the manager.. we didn't act like dicks or make a fool of ourselves or anything like that. Was just drinking and chatting and having a laugh

OP posts:

blackbirdevensong · 13/06/2025 21:55

Unless they're talking about how much they hate children, then no.

Messycoo · 13/06/2025 21:55

Yes it is and I’m sure most places, like the nhs have a policy in place for this not to happen as you are “still representing “ the company ! If that makes sense ?

Spies · 13/06/2025 21:55

No of course it isn't.

XenoBitch · 13/06/2025 21:57

StrawberryCherry97 · 13/06/2025 21:55

Ok, asking as either a parent or someone who knows the uniform saw us and reported it, we have had a telling off from the manager.. we didn't act like dicks or make a fool of ourselves or anything like that. Was just drinking and chatting and having a laugh

To be fair, they could possibly recognise you as staff without the uniform and it not be an issue.
You are allowed a life outside work.
Unless you have something on your contract about not wearing your uniform outside of work, or in a pub, then have a lovely time with your colleagues 😊

MrBiscuits24 · 13/06/2025 21:57

Ideally you’d change out of uniform as it’s not a great advert. But whoever complained needs to get a life.

vincettenoir · 13/06/2025 22:00

StrawberryCherry97 · 13/06/2025 21:55

Ok, asking as either a parent or someone who knows the uniform saw us and reported it, we have had a telling off from the manager.. we didn't act like dicks or make a fool of ourselves or anything like that. Was just drinking and chatting and having a laugh

I think your boss was unreasonable to tell you guys off.

GeezAJammyPeece · 13/06/2025 22:01

If you are wearing your uniform , you are still 'representing' the company, regardless of being 'off the clock'.
Many employment contracts stipulate what you can and cannot do whilst in uniform, and I would imagine most jobs where you work with children would take a very dim view of you drinking in uniform.

Next Friday, just stick a t-shirt in your bag before you head to work!

XenoBitch · 13/06/2025 22:04

Sorry, just realised that you did get told off.
That is ridiculous... especially if you were just chatting and enjoying a few drinks.
Like I said, a parent could recognise you without uniform anyway. What if you were all drinking the unlimited tea in a Wetherspoons?

There has been threads on here where OP was complaining about seeing their child's teacher in the pub. I recon some people think teaching staff (or even nursery staff) get put into a locker at the end of their shift.

Maverickess · 13/06/2025 22:12

Of course YABU, you literally only exist to look after other people's children and should cease to exist when that task is over, never mind thinking you may actually have a personal life.

I jest obviously. Sort of. Some people cannot cope with the thought that the people who serve them are actual humans with actual lives and they don't get to control and dictate what they do when they're not at work, so they make complaints like this.

But then someone once complained to my manager that we were allowed to use a local shop, and you know being a decent person I said hello as I passed when I encountered her.

Apparently she didn't want to see me doing my weekly shop and didn't want to be acknowledged by me in said shop when I was serving her that morning in the hotel I worked in, and we shouldn't be 'allowed' to use the shops where guests may be staying. That was a particularly bonkers complaint.

Just take a change of top for next time for a quiet life - if I were in that frame of mind I'd be looking to buy one that was as close to my uniform as I could get and wear that. But then I can be an arse like that sometimes.

Solaire18381 · 13/06/2025 22:22

Yes I think it is. At my NHS Trust, we were told coming/going home from work, cover your uniform, i.e wear a coat or get changed.

ShineBrighterxx · 13/06/2025 23:22

No. No one cares. They’re out of work. Life’s too short to care what people think about things like this. It’s a Friday afternoon and they’ve done - so what ?
Maybe it’s not the most professional but seriously surly no one is judging them. Will just think they’ve finished their week and are having a drink.

XenoBitch · 13/06/2025 23:23

ShineBrighterxx · 13/06/2025 23:22

No. No one cares. They’re out of work. Life’s too short to care what people think about things like this. It’s a Friday afternoon and they’ve done - so what ?
Maybe it’s not the most professional but seriously surly no one is judging them. Will just think they’ve finished their week and are having a drink.

OP said someone reported them, and she got a telling off from her manager.

ShineBrighterxx · 13/06/2025 23:23

StrawberryCherry97 · 13/06/2025 21:55

Ok, asking as either a parent or someone who knows the uniform saw us and reported it, we have had a telling off from the manager.. we didn't act like dicks or make a fool of ourselves or anything like that. Was just drinking and chatting and having a laugh

Just read this part. Seriously. Do you even get paid enough to go home get changed and go back out - Hell no I imagine.

rubbish !

XenoBitch · 13/06/2025 23:25

Solaire18381 · 13/06/2025 22:22

Yes I think it is. At my NHS Trust, we were told coming/going home from work, cover your uniform, i.e wear a coat or get changed.

At Xmas, the cleaners and porters at the hospital I worked at used to go to the pub on their lunch break and come back rat assed (I was one of them).

NuffSaidSam · 13/06/2025 23:25

It'd probably be better to get changed, but the person who complained is an idiot.