nanny recently started smelling like cigarette smoke

[Anonymous]

Nanny has been with us for just under a year and has been great with our daughter. However, twice already this week she has come to work smelling like smoke. I don't think she recently started smoking since I have never smelled smoke on her before, but she has recently started dating someone and I think he's the smoker. On Monday I thought I smelled smoke, but figured I was imagining things. But this morning I saw him drop her off in front of our house and smelled smoke again when she came inside so I think this is where the smell is coming from.

I checked our contract and we do have a line in there about the nanny not smoking. However, like I said I don't think she's actually the smoker - and certainly not on duty. As a MB, I generally try to stay out of our nanny's personal business, but I really just don't like that smell in our house. Is there any way to say something about this? And, if so, how would you do it?

[Anonymous]

Ugh! Talk openly with your nanny about this. No, you can't fire her for having a boyfriend who smokes but you can ask her to be more aware of the odor she is bringing into the house.

Stale cigarette smokes makes me nauseated. I truly cannot abide it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh! Talk openly with your nanny about this. No, you can't fire her for having a boyfriend who smokes but you can ask her to be more aware of the odor she is bringing into the house.

Stale cigarette smokes makes me nauseated. I truly cannot abide it.

+1. You can also talk about second-hand smoke, and maybe offer to let her change clothes when she arrives if she needs to.

[Anonymous]

3rd hand smoke is a health hazard. I would give her one chance to rectify the problem. If she comes into your home smelling of smoke again, I would fire her.

I'm a MB with an asthmatic child. People when smell like smoke or are doused in perfume do not enter our home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh! Talk openly with your nanny about this. No, you can't fire her for having a boyfriend who smokes but you can ask her to be more aware of the odor she is bringing into the house.

Stale cigarette smokes makes me nauseated. I truly cannot abide it.

You CAN fire her for having a boyfriend that smokes. There is no law against that.

But obviously the first step is to talk with your nanny and give her an opportunity to take steps to remedy the situation!

[Anonymous]

Who cares what your contract says; you absolutely address the issue! Not only should she not be handling your children when smelling of cigarettes, but who would want that in their home!?! Additionally, you can fire her for farting if you want. You want a role model for your children, and it is up to you to decide what that means to your family. No laws cover nannies.

[Anonymous]

PP, is the farting comment supposed to be a joke?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, is the farting comment supposed to be a joke?

Kind of. The point is that you can fire for any cause that is important to you, period. And it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, it only matters that you have a nanny that you respect and trust.