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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

Hulababy · 26/06/2007 16:57

I do feel as though I can smell on myself though, after being with smokers. I find it just lingers. May well be in my head, but I still wouldn't be happy with my childcarer being a smoker. But I would definitely have checked that in such an interview.

mosschops30 · 26/06/2007 17:00

Yeah me too, it was on my questions for CM's. However i'm not sure in the end if I really liked one i would have not chosen her because she was a smoker, there would just have to be rules IYKWIM

krabbiepatty · 26/06/2007 17:00

JV is right - anyone could fail to pay attention to your children and the nanny relationship is about trust HOWEVER I wouldn't want the person I was when I smoked as a nanny because FOR SOME PEOPLE a nicotine addiction is a very great incentive to find opportunities to be away from the children for short periods / alternatively to be distracted and short-tempered...

islandofsodor · 26/06/2007 22:16

NannyL, under the new laws the NHS are sending letters to anyone due a home visit stating that if they smoke 20 mins before or during the visit the nurse/midwife/chiropdist will refuse to work there.

However apparently care homes are exempt so not sure how the law totally works.

My company's new smoking policy (whihc I have had to circulate this week) states no smoking on company premises including the yard and no smoking on any sites. Cigarette breaks are prohibited, the only time a worker may smoke is on his/her unpaid lunch break and they have to leave site completely, something a nanny can not do.

Hulababy · 26/06/2007 22:18

New law does have some exemptions. The offenders are allowed to smoke in their cells, despite officers needing to access them as part of their work.

margoandjerry · 26/06/2007 22:23

OK, not read the thread but....

I am a massive non-smoker. Have never smoked, ever. Not even one puff. Hate it, hate it, hate it.

However, I don't think I would let the nanny being a smoker outside of my home bother me if she is great on every other level. The smell is not great but then I have a friend who wears Calvin Klein Obsession and it drives me to distraction

Sorry if I am missing the point.

minorityrules · 26/06/2007 22:38

I am a heavy smoker and have been since I was a teen. I have held 3 nannying positions (pre kids) I smoked at 1 (parents both smoked and was allowed) The other 2 I didn't as I was asked not to. I would go all day quite happily if the children were around. If the children were at nursery/school I could smoke in the garden and it was agreed I could if they were in bed sleeping. Both sets of parents were very accommodating

Yes a smoker smells but it doesn't transfer just by being with someone. As for reeking of it, if she had smoked in the car, she would smell worse than if she had smoked outside as it is a small confined space. So she could smell just as bad by having 1 fag in her car all day as she could by being a 20 a day person

Would you not hire someone that lived with a smoker either? They would smell too

Tortington · 27/06/2007 22:35

40plus, if the car is her car - not te employers - she can still smoke in it.

islandofsodor · 27/06/2007 23:39

Custardo, not if she is going to be transporting colleagues or clients in it.

SOme of my colleagues use their own car for work but are going to have to display no smoking stickers if they transport colleagues.

Tortington · 27/06/2007 23:52

i can't believe thats actually the law.

its your OWN car, surely if youe employer wants you to use your vehicle in a certain wa it would require a change of contract>?

our HR department are pretty - no excellent on this stff and we have had nothing about this is will ask.

i am a non smoker by the way - 4 days

charliecat · 27/06/2007 23:59

Califrau · 28/06/2007 00:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BumblBeee · 28/06/2007 00:20

In Ziopin's defence here, it wouldn't occur to me that someone who aspired to being a professional Nanny would smoke or bring children somewhere smoky. Nor hit them or use bad language for that matter! Are these normal interview questions also?!

Surely part of being a Nanny is keeping children away from harm?

I am very naive here.... yikes..

mindermummy · 28/06/2007 09:30

I was a Nanny for 15 years and a smoker. I NEVER EVER smoked whilst at work and never even thought about it either. It was a routine i gt myself into right from the start and my brain just commuted that i didnt want one in that time(it was strange, but i seriously never thought of them then).Mrs fish; it is possible i promise.

I think smokers can control themselves if they have too, but you need to talk this through with her and make it clera your not happy with her smoking in your time.

The car thing is more tricky. If she is smoking in her time then that should be ok, but yes the car will then smell of cigs when your kids get in. Having your car for her to use would be good??

sarz · 28/06/2007 11:04

I have never smoked, but some of my nanny friends do, and they can control it all day. what would bother me more is the car thing, i HATE getting into smokers cars, and thats with my lungs that are used to being in smokey clubs/bars (roll on july 1st!!) I could imagine how a child would feel!

sarz · 28/06/2007 11:04

oops, could NOT imagine!

pucca · 28/06/2007 11:07

FGS!!!

It is not like she is a heroin addict! just ask her not to smoke in work time - quite simple.

You would think she was injecting herself the way some of you go on, are you saying you would turn down a nanny who was absolutely perfect just because she liked the odd cigarette?

As long as you are upfront and make it clear from the beginning then whats the prob?

eleusis · 28/06/2007 11:42

I think as an employer you have a right to not hire a smaoker if you don't want to. It is a helth risk, and something I prefer not to have around my children. 'tis my right as an employer to not hire someone I don't like (within the law of course, it is not legal to discriminat on the basis of race, sex, etc.) But, as far as a I know it is legal to discriminate on basis of being a smoker.

Hower, I do think this was a conversation that should have been had at the interview or even before.

fortyplus · 28/06/2007 21:58

custy - of course she can smoke in her own car - what I said was that if she is contracted to transport the children during working hours then the car is part of her workplace and she can't smoke in it during working hours ie when she has someone else in the car with her.

southeastastra · 28/06/2007 21:59

when i smoke i have two puffs then i'm ok. i don't sit in my car languising for hours over a fag. it's an awful addiction

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