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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

New nanny's a smoker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

70 replies

ziopin · 26/06/2007 09:11

Hi, I've just employed a new nanny to start in September. She is lovely and did very well in her interview.

She has since come to the house to get to know us all a little better. As soon as she walked through the door I could smell smoke on her. I asked her if she smoked and she said she did, but would never smoke in front of my kids! She only smokes in the car (when the children are not with her) and when her little one is having an afternoon nap!

I dont want my kids travelling around in a smoky car and smelling of fags!!

What to do?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

NannyL · 26/06/2007 10:20

forty plus.... are you sure..... cause my workplace is the house where i work and my bosses CAN smoke in it if they want to!

BandofMuggles · 26/06/2007 10:21

Surely you wont have to worry after July 1st. After all it may be your home, but it's her workplace.

fortyplus · 26/06/2007 10:28

NannyL - your bosses can smoke in their home even though you work there, but you as an employee couldn't smoke in their house. Bizarre, isn't it?

NannyL · 26/06/2007 10:33

yes.... luckily neither they are I smoke!

Ok, so they can smoke in their own house and there own car...

I can smoke in my own house (but i dont and nor do i let anyone else) so are you saying i cant smoke in my own car?

I accept i cant smoke in my house where i work or in my bosses cars if i were to drive them!

NannyL · 26/06/2007 10:34

should have said the house where i am working not my house where i am working!

KerryMum · 26/06/2007 10:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Eleusis · 26/06/2007 10:56

Exactly Kerry, which is why she needs a course of action outlined in the contract.

I also think it would be wise to have a two month, not two week, probationary period.

I don't think you can realistically expect to tell her what she can or can't do in her own car on her own time. You can, however, say my kids are not to get in this car. But, then, as you say that whole plan will fall over as she won't be able to ferry kids to/from school. But, are you comfortable with your kids riding in this car? Don't forget to check that she has the right insurance fro driving your kids around (business use or something).

MatNanPlus · 26/06/2007 11:56

Business Class 1 Car insurance.

Is what a nanny needs to have if driving employers children around.

If nanny is on Employers insurance it is best to check as some allow nanny as a named driver others list as employee and the rate goes sky high!!

fifilou · 26/06/2007 12:01

Hi!

could you write it into her contract, something simple like Nanny shounld not drink any alcohol or smoke during nannying duties?

I think this is perfectly reasonable.

Im a non-smoker, and withoiut wanting to offend anyone, I cant stand the smell of cigs, escapcially on clothes.

I think eight might be right about the new smoking law if its your car, but not sure if its her own?

fortyplus · 26/06/2007 16:35

NannyL If your contract includes driving the children around in your car then your car becomes part of your workplace during your working hours. You can smoke in it outside of those hours.

Thelittlesoldiersmummy · 26/06/2007 16:38

even if she doesnt smoke when they are around your not around so you cant be sure also wont them smell get into your little ones clothes etc no sorry I would get someone new tell her sorry you dont think it will work out

Tortington · 26/06/2007 16:40

as long as the car is her car - its hard shit.

JoolsToo · 26/06/2007 16:42

'Do you smoke?' would have been in my first 5 questions.

Hulababy · 26/06/2007 16:42

I wouldn't be happy and wouldn't employ a smoking childcarer or nanny. The smeelll of smoke lingers on clothes and hair. Not pleasant. you can always tell if you've had a smoker in your house or car, even if they aren't smoking whilst with you.

Reallly this should have come up in the interview. You need to build it in to your interviews and put no smokers only on your ads.

NannyL · 26/06/2007 16:42

agh! thanks fortyplus....

as i say dont smoke anyway and would never let any person smoke in my car or house!

Thelittlesoldiersmummy · 26/06/2007 16:42

not really hard shit as she can get rid of her in the two week probation for any good reason such as she feels that the nanny doesnt bond with her kids!

mosschops30 · 26/06/2007 16:45

In her defense, I can manage to get up, go to work, come home and not have a fag until Ive had a cup of tea, so with some willpower she might do it.

I think youre all being a bit harsh, like being a smoker is on a parr with something terrible. Passive smoking is dangerous but getting smoke on your clothes from someone else clothes is not passive smoking. And anyway it doesnt transfer like that unless the clothes are hung up together, or she smokes in the car and your kids sit in there.

I would tell her that she must not smoke in the car she uses to take your children in or at anytime whilst they are in her care (alseep or not), what she does in her own time is up to her.

fortyplus · 26/06/2007 16:45

custardo - not from 1st July - it's the law.

Hulababy · 26/06/2007 16:46

It's not that is is harmful when on clothes. But the fact that is smeels and IME that smell lingers in my house/car and on me too. Hence I would not employ a smoker for this purpose.

I work with a couple of smokers and you can definitely tell.

fortyplus · 26/06/2007 16:48

mosschops30 - I do remember when ds1 was born (1993) reading evidence that a smoker breathing on a new baby is harmful - the levels of toxins in the breath were said to be sufficient to be detrimental to a very young child. Don't know if that's been discredited since, though.

2tiredmum · 26/06/2007 16:53

As far as I am aware, even being near someone who has had a cigarette that day increases the risk of cot death in the very young. Depends how young your youngest is, but I sure wouldn't have a smoker looking after my kids. If you would rather find someone else, you should be able to give her her two weeks notice before she even begins - no risk to you then and no cost I suspect. Just the hassle factor of finding someone else...

krabbiepatty · 26/06/2007 16:54

I think it depends on the person. When I smoked I would have struggled horribly to get through the day without a cigarette and would have been distracted and grumpy by the end of the day. I think a lot of smokers would look for an opportunity to top up their nicotine levels during the day - am not sure a casual smoker (ie someone who could happily get through the day without a cigarette) would be smoking in her car...

JeremyVile · 26/06/2007 16:54

So she smokes.
If its not going to be during her hours or round your kids then whats the problem?
Re the smell issue, what if she wore the shittiest smelling perfume, would that be grounds for firing her?
And if you cant trust that she wont smoke during the time shes with your kids then you're stuffed really, cos you could replace her but how do you know that anyone you leave your kids with will not do anything that you're against while you're not there?
You dont.
When you employ a nanny you are putting your faith in them 100% (or else surely you wouldn't be able to leave that person with your children). You like her, trust your instinct. I'm actually astonished at people encouraging that you bin her because of this, even let her start then get rid at the end of the trial period.
Madness.

mosschops30 · 26/06/2007 16:55

fortyplus yes you are absolutely right, i dont think she should smoke 'on the job' but what she chooses to do outside is her business, for all you know youre nannies could be drug taking whores come the weekend but hey not a smoker - god forbid.

agree hula you can smell it on people who smoke, but i dont smell it on people who have just sat with someone who smells of it, thats would be bizarre

krabbiepatty · 26/06/2007 16:56

Ie from your post she does not sound like a casual smoker so I suspect you are better off letting her go with two weeks' pay now.

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