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?

I would think it a weird thing to do tbh.

Guest slippers aren't really a thing in UK are they so not sure why someone would just assume slippers are communal.

I wouldn't be wearing them again!

I think you’re a bit unreasonable.

If you require shoes off in the house, you should have thought to provide her with slippers from the outset. It’s not reasonable to expect her to go around in her socks or bare feet all day, especially if you have hard (ie not carpet) floors.

She shouldn’t have to bring her own slippers to adhere to your house rules.

Wearing your slippers is a bit odd but if there was nothing else it’s not wholly unreasonable of her. Not very nice for her if they weren’t clean!

I think you should buy yourself and her a new pair of slippers each to wear at your house. And let her know which are hers and that they aren’t interchangeable.

Just buy her a pair of slippers and tell her that they are for wearing while she’s in your home. No drama.

Just buy her a pair and ask her politely to use those as you prefer to keep yours for personal use.

I think I would have been taken aback and not especially pleased (not least because I'm a podiatrist daughter and had it drummed into me never to wear other people's shoes).

But I'm also aware it's a cultural thing. Went to my son's GF's family home in Turkey. We were asked to take off our shoes at the door, which we did. Then later went into the garden and were invited to take a pair of flipflops/slippers out of a communal basket to wear outside. We declined, slightly icked out, as they all looked very well worn. But looking back I wonder if this was a faux pas and if they were horrified that our bare feet later walked dirt in from the garden (?) If we get invited again I will take my own flip-flops!

Buy two new pairs, in different colours: one for you and one for her.

It’s not ideal, but thinking of letting her go because of it is a massive over reaction. I’d just buy her a pair to keep at yours.

We are a shoes off house, so we of course have several pairs of slippers for guests. I've also offered people thick socks. Not sure why it's so weird/gross to share slippers?? Unless you wear slippers without socks?

If you fired her because of her wearing your slippers, you would be massively unreasonable.

If they're washable, wash them. If they're not an it's icking you out buy yourself a new pair. But also get her a pair she can use in your house.

Only on mumsnet would there be so much fuss about this.

I think sacking her is a tad overkill. Why not buy her a nice pair of slippers of her own for Christmas? I'm sure she'd be very appreciative.

Why should she provide slippers if her employer expects her to take her shoes off? I expect my employer to provide tools and equipment I need for my job. A nanny is no different.

I'd feel the same way. You could get yourself new slippers and leave the old ones out for her, but if you are wondering what else she is borrowing then you really need to talk to her about it.

I doubt she'd be appreciative. That would be like a manager giving an office worker a new stapler for christmas. If it's a requirement for the job, the employer should provide it.

maybe your floor is cold/dirty and she doesn't want all the grit and dirt on her socks/ feet.

just get her a pair of guest slippers

Yeah I was ok with the post until the Brazil bit. Was not needed.

OP, just buy her a pair of her own slippers to keep there. Looks nice from you and solves a problem. Win win!

So because the OP happened to mention that her nanny is Brazilian, she's a card-carryjng member of the KKK?😂😂😂😂

In some other countries it's normal to provide 'spare' slippers by the front door that anyone can use in the house. In many cultures you take your shoes off when you enter a home, but most people don't carry slippers with them wherever they go. So, I'd guess it's cultural. Perhaps offer to buy her a pair that she can wear in your house and then wash/chuck yours and buy a new pair, as you wish.

The fact she’s from Brazil and wears your slippers makes you feel sick? Mind your own children or make sure your staff doesn’t have to trod around your cold house in socks then. You sound horrid.

Buy her her own slippers, luckily Christmas is nearly here! For those thinking this is Scrooge like, I don’t think so. It doesn’t have to be the only present (unless you go full Uggs), and Nannies often get a Christmas bonus anyway.

That makes me feel a bit queasy, too, if I'm honest, and I'm not the type to think bedding always needs to be washed weekly and you must shower twice a day and after every visit to the loo.

I'd find it an awkward thing to discuss, as well.

Typo- carrying.

I'm thinking she didn't want to wear outside shoes inside. I'd buy a pair of slippers for her and she can use those when she's there.

Buy her a pair of her own for your house. Put yours away when you take them off.

Further to my post above saying YABU for similar reasons to others, just wanted to share the below.

When I was married to exh we used to have au pairs who had their own floor in the house. Pointed out spare bedding for their bed in their cupboards when they arrived, to use on rotation with that which was already on their bed as you’d expect.

One au pair decided to help herself to the bedding for my bed from a cupboard on an entirely different floor, and put it on her bed! It wasn’t better quality than hers, it was just a pattern that I’d chosen etc; and was my bedding for my bed!

She wasn’t the best au pair though.