I think my nanny smokes

[Gangle]

Just employed a new nanny. She has worked about 2 weeks and seems great. Only thing is that I got a definite waft of smoke when she turned up this morning. Not sure if she herself smokes or if she'd just been out somewhere smoky. She's via an agency and trying to recall if it said she's a non smoker but it's a given that she cannot smoke during the day (it also says so in her contract). My only concerns are her handling the baby after having smoked but she always washes her hands when she comes in so this probably isn't an issue and also whether she would try to sneak in fag breaks during the day. I don't really think she would do the latter but not sure how addicted she is. She would probably find it very insulting if I said, just checking but you know you can't smoke around near the children and are not entitled to cigarette breaks?? I suspect my 2 year old may tell me anyway. What should I do, if anything?

I would just mention that she smells smokey when you next smell it on her arrival.

She may have a smoking DP or housemate. Check with the agency if you can't remember whether she's a smoker herself or not - they shouldn't mind.

I'd also mention that she seems to smell of smoke and if your 2yo rats on her then do what's in your contract. Might be worth occasionally leaving the opportunity for your DC to say whether she does or not.

I think that as long as you trust her not to smoke around the children then this is a non-issue.

Mmm, thanks all. It's only been this once, not smelt it before - maybe she walked downwind of someone smoking. I know I've done that and was convinced I smelt of smoke! Think I may leave it this time and see if it happens again.

Unless you actually see her smoking in your house or around children, it is offensive to mention it. You have no proof she smokes. I would find this quite offensive if an employer mentioned it to me without proof.

Will check with the agency too though I am pretty sure it would have said non smoker or not stated as I would have thought twice about interviewing a smoker.

Yes, I agree it is offensive so will give her the benefit of the doubt. She has previously been live-in so can't see how she is an addicted smoker unless she's in the habit of hanging out windows for fag breaks!

wouldnt offend me if i got asked if i smoke

i would simply say no

ring the agency and ask them to check what her cv says

saying that i know several nannies who say on their cv they dont smoke yet they do

Her CV doesn't mention it. Can see why they might lie about it as it would definitely make you think twice about interviewing them!

but then if you employ a nanny on the basis they dont smoke and then they do,surely you can sack them for lieing to you

If the cv does not say either way, then I would assume they do smoke, as if they didn't smoke, wouldn't the cv say non-smoker on it?

It is hard to dictate what an employee does during their own time. So if it isn't already clear in the contract, at the next review meeting do try to add something to make it clear that there is no smoking on the premises (including grounds) or whilst out with your children.

goingforit, why on earth is it offensive to ask an employee whether they smoke?? Why should you need "proof" before you can ask a question? I would have this conversation now with the nanny.

Fwiw dh smokes but not in the morning or during working day. Has first fag at 6pm after getting home.

See if it happens again. If it does I would just ask her outright. You're entitled, it's your children's health. Our first nanny smoked and I trusted her when she said she wouldn't do it in front of my DD but a neighbour saw her pushing her in the pushchair and smoking. I personally woulnd't have minded if she smoked outside the house when DD wasn't there (she went to preschool for part of the day) or was having a nap but some people do have different ideas, I guess, about second hand smoke risk (clearly she thought just being outside was meant it was okay for her to smoke in front of my DD) and you should clarify what her views are on this if she does smoke.

Agree with Dansmommy.

Goforit - she's hardly likely to light up in front of her employer! Persistently smelling of snoke is as much proof as she's likely to get - unless she's like my nanny and gets 'caught' doing it by someone else. But I wouldn't leave it that long.

When we had an au pair we asked specifically for a non-smoker. The girl that turned up did smoke, in spite of telling us that she didn't, but she smoked in the garden in the evenings and when she was on her days off. I turned a blind eye as I didn't want to make a fuss, and my kids were a bit older so it wasn't as if she was handling a baby, but I was disappointed that she'd lied. I think plenty of people who are light/social smokers think they can get away with saying they are non-smokers just because they don't have to light up every 45 minutes!

The thing is, if she thinks she has pulled the wool over your eyes (with all best intentions on her part to actually BE a non-smoker whilst at work) it will only take a bad day, row with boyfriend, whatever, for for her to be nipping outside for a quick one. And if she gets away with it then she'll carry on.

If you asked for a non-smoker then that's what you should be entitled to expect.

For Ofsted registration a nanny must declare that they will not smoke whilst caring for children. See CR1.9 - page 25 of Application Form CR1

Not sure you can do much if they smoke at their home. However turning up to work smelling of smoke is unprofessional.

Do they come to work by car and is it being used to transport your children?

I've always been interested in the actual definition of 'whilst caring for'. What about if they're at preschool but you're on duty? In the garden while they sleep upstairs?

Whilst caring for implies something beyond being in the presence of the children at the time.

Actual wording is "while providing childcare". Hmm, does that mean child is present or not.

Getting some interesting responses on twitter such as this from a live in nanny whose boss does not know that their nanny smokes. They don't smoke in the car or around the children but do if the children are not present.

Mmmm providing childcare implies being on duty even more strongly than caring for. Many people use caring for in contracts, a few have the more explicit 'on duty'.

Am at that nanny though. It's not something I'd post on twitter/similar if my boss didn't know!

never been on twitter,but didnt reliese it was like fb and name and pic come up - the nanny btw i know and is lovely :)

fgs surely they can smoke if children aren't present, bet tons of teachers still smoke on their break times.

we are becoming a very controlling nation

i have seen teachers smoke during lunch hour,tho technically was outside school property as not allowed to smoke in school grounds

Gangle is she ofsted registered? If you were planning to do this on her behalf it would be a good excuse to bring up the smoking issue too.