Nursery staffs vaping in their uniform

[Ayakamika]

I’m a first time mum who doesn’t vape or smoke, so I am unsure if I am just overreacting or what….

On multiple occasions, I saw some members of staff at my 1.5 yo’s nursery sitting on the pavement on their street while vaping, and doing so in full uniform without any outerwear. I raised this issue to the nursery manager earlier this year, who replied “staffs are entitled to use their break time as they wish” and “there’s a difference between vaping and smoking”? She promised that all staffs are required to change their uniform if they have to vape, that didn’t happen from what I saw… not to mention the dirts that sticks to their trousers while sitting on pavement, which contradicts their no shoes policy?

AIBU to complain about this again?
what should I do next? Any advice appreciated

Vape disapates it's condensation really,I mean vaping is horrible but they are not vaping in your kids face are they?

Why should they have to change to vape?

You're being overly demanding.

You cannot dictate to the staff in this way.

If you don't like other people looking after your child because they're not doing it exactly the way you want it, then you may have to consider whether nursery is right for you.

I think you probably need to move your child, but as this seems to be anti nursery month on mumsnet you would probably want to argue the odds than finding an alternative childcare arrangement for you child.

Do you not like the look of it? Do you think they should cover their badge (or whichever part of their t-shirt shows their work location)? I’m not sure you can complain because you don’t like the look of something. What if they were sitting outside eating a McDonalds, would you complain about that too?

Vape doesn't stick to clothes like smoking a cigarette does. And yes. They're entitled to use their break however they like.

Sitting on thr floor and walking on it are two different things. You usually look for a clean looking spot to DIY in, although yes I know you can't see all dirt. But they're not going to be sitting in a puddle of animal urine or dog poo or someone's spit

And no shoes isn't just about dirt...it stops hands being stood on wirh hard shoes on and better for children's feet.

You're being ridiculous on both counts.

You are being ridiculous regarding both issues.

I would be unhappy about vaping, tbh. I would want my children to get dirty! I chose a childminder until my children were three. Then onto a fully outdoor nursery for maximum muddiness. There were days in January they needed to be hosed off before removing their wee suits!

thanks for the replies, I just want to add that both my baby and I are really happy about the nursery, the staffs were very kind and supportive, I appreciated their manager’s explanation and wasn’t planning to move him before.

there’s also concern of third-hand vaping, which you can easily find on Google. I am not trying to judge or control their staffs but surely there are policies in place to protect the health and safety of young babies? Or should we just accept that this is the norm of this world now?

yes of course I can stop sending baby to nursery, this is the most obvious answer, thank you very much

I wouldn’t be concerned about the vaping as much as i would about them sitting outside on the pavement. To me there’s people who sit outside on pavements and there are people who don’t and, snobbishly I would be more concerned about their personal hygiene. It also looks really horrible outside a nursery. Seen the exact thing a few months ago right outside the nursery doors and it really didn’t show them in a good light.

This. Mind your own business and find a better hill to die on.

I also find it fascinating that on other posts here about “vaping/ smoking around babies”, most people seems to be against smokers/vapers handling their babies without at least changing their clothes to avoid harmful chemicals. What makes it different if they are nursery staff?

You cannot police what people do on their breaks the nursery staff no matter how unpleasant you find it are entitled to vape. I don't think 3rd hand vape damage is an actual thing.

Ah dude. You need to unclench a bit before your kid tries to eat mud.

Why are you adding an S onto the end of Staff?

‘Staffs’

Thanks for noticing I have corrected it. English is my second language, I hope this doesn’t bother you

I was just wondering, the rest of your posts is fine,

Vaping is not the same as smoking, but I’ve read that chemicals and particles from vapes do linger on clothing. So you may have a point.

True, he loves putting everything into his mouth, as a first time mum I just can’t stop worrying about that still. But thanks for the reminder anyways, perhaps I am really over worrying

Good insight! Thanks

I work on construction sites and some have a PPE board by the gatehouse so that if subcontractors wish to visit local shops they are expected to take their hi viz off and place it on the hooks until they are back on site again.

This is especially true if they work near a town centre or the site is affiliated to the Considerate Constructors Scheme as we have a moral responsibilty to promote our site to local residents and businesses and it really doesn't give a good impression if a big gang of men are walking up the town centre shouting/messing around/spiiting (as some young lads do) and smoking with our name or their companies name emblazoned on their PPE.

It's the same with the nursery, it paints a poor picture. It's why the staff smoking shelters at hospitals practically obscure staff from view of passing patients and relatives because smoking costs the NHS billions.

They sit on the pavement in their uniforms because it’s a novelty.
They wouldn’t dream of doing it in clothes that they had paid for themselves.
😉😁😁.