Nanny wearing my slippers when I'm not there

[SilverDoublet]

This is a bit of a weird one - so I popped home today unexpectedly while the nanny was in my house with the kids. Everything seemed fine, but then when she was talking to me I looked down and saw that she was wearing my slippers. It made me feel sick. They're not the cleanest or newest of slippers, but I didn't know what to say. I don't know if she's been doing this the whole time or what but I feel like binning the slippers and hiding my slippers in future. I also feel like letting her go over it. It just makes me wonder what else she might do when I'm not there. She's from Brazil. Is this normal in Brazil to just wear someone else's slippers? Am I being weird to have a total icky feeling about this?

Allergens: Slippers can track in allergens from the outside, and these particles can then become airborne in the home.

@PInkyStarfish You lost me here. Slippers are generally indoorwear for starters. And for the main course, anyone considering this to be an issue probably has a phobia. And for pudding, the OP's issue is that someone else was wearing them - not that the slippers exist in the first place.

Apologies for torturing the dinner metaphor 😀

😂😂

Yup. I am in Asia, and though we all have our own slippers, if someone comes in they often just slip on whatever is at the door. Or the host offers them a pair.

Most houses end up with a pile of slippers at the door that needs a ruthless declutter now and then, but the pile always grows again.

Buy 2 pairs of slippers. One colour for her and a one for you.
I would feel a bit grim about someone, anyone, wearing my slippers.
A simple 'wear these in the house please Carol, thank you.'

I completely understand your feelings and would have the same reaction in that situation, OP. I would start to wonder if there are other things in your home to which she has helped yourself. You didn't say where you keep your slippers. By the front door? In a bedroom closet? How is she as a nanny otherwise? If you and your kids liker her, don't sack her yet. But maybe, be alert to any other signs she's rummaging through your things. And certainly put your slippers in an inaccessible location.

It's blooming freezing today. No wonder she borrowed your slippers. You can afford a nanny but not a pair of slippers for her?

In all likelihood though, she is also wearing your underwear and then putting it back in the drawer without washing it. <sarcastic>

This is such an insane leap merely because she had a pair of slippers on her feet.

Exactly. Very common in Asia. I've worn preworn slippers before in Asian homes.

Just buy her a pair of her own and hide yours.

You might have an argument if the op does not require shoes off in her house. If the op does require shoes off, the nanny is simply improvising in the best was possible to compensate for the unreasonableness of the op in not providing appropriate equipment/gear for the job.

I caught my daughters boyfriend wearing my slippers to take the bin out. I wasn't happy 😂

Get yourself another pair of slippers. Tell her she can wear your old ones, but if you catch her wearing your new slippers shes in trouble.

Sack someone for wearing your slippers if you wish. To be a fly on the wall for that conversation...

Some of my relatives in Egypt and a Portuguese friend have guest slippers that are offered when you arrive.

I think offering to buy the nanny her own pair of slippers to keep at yours would be a polite way to resolve the issue.

I think wearing your slippers is a bit gross, but I think firing her would be an overreaction. Just buy her her own pair, and a new one for yourself..

I would not be able to get over this

Put them away, 😉

That’s enough Mumsnet for me today!

That’s not even a champagne problem, it’s just a stupid one.

I'd get rid of her. She can't be trusted to make sensible decisions. And decide what is acceptable and what isn't.

Don't you bring your own? Slippers or indoor shoes?

I’ve had two different nannies who have bought a pair of their own slippers which they leave at my house to use when they are working. Seems weird to me because we just wear socks and find that warm enough, but totally fine for them to do it. As others say, politely ask her not to wear yours and buy her a pair to wear at your house, or offer to pay for a pair she chooses.

Is he Brazilian @CactusSammy ?

My cleaning lady wore my slippers -barefoot
i assumed she had cold feet or misunderstood they were mine, perhaps coming from a culture where communal slippers were more common?
anyway no big deal, mine were almost worn out and a bit small for her. I bought a new basic pair for both of us and suggested she could wear her new ones and leave at my house

she probably kept her socks on so i wouldn’t assume it’s unhygienic

No because I work in multiple homes and I would have multiple pairs of slippers or have to worry about taking a pair home every day so I could take them to my next work house.

@SilverDoublet he's Romanian

That’s so weird … yanbu at all