Nursery worker told she HAS to eat with children

lazer

Of course she shouldn't be forced to eat it.

The staff are adults, i she chooses to go on a diet, eat certain foods, not eat certain foods, thats her choice, and as an adult she is entitled to make that choice.

While i can see the logic in the nursery wanting the staff to eat the same, and finish it, as they obviously encourage the children to finish their meals, i do not see how you can force an adult to eat food they don't want.

I suggest that even thought the manager intimadates her, your gf goes and talks to the manager and says she she watches what she eats carefully as she is on a diet/is a fussy eater etc and does not therefore want to eat the food the children are eating but is happy to either eat or packed lunch at the table or pretend to eat the children's foods.

If she is not happy talking to the manager write it down and e-mail it to her or hand her a letter

ILW

From the childrens point of view, would they be right in assuming the food must be bad if the adults refuse to eat it?

patchi

Does she had a choice what to eat? At the nursery where I work (also attached to a primary school), all teaching staff have meals with their classes, so that is the youngest children up to the oldest (11 years old).

A menu is produced every Friday for the following week, so all adults, parents, children etc know what it being prepared. Children with particular conditions, allergies etc can bring their own lunches on the days that the food being served would not suit them. As a staff member, if I don't like the main meal then I opt for a jacket potato and head for the salad bar to fill it up (I often head for the salad bar with the non-jacket potato options) and for pudding, their are choices for everyone. Adults get bigger portions that the children, just have to make sure the servers know it's for you and not the children!

All staff (teachers, support staff etc) are paid during this lunch hour and if a staff member ends up having to take their 30minute break during lunch, then most just get the meal, cover it with clingfilm and have it in the staff room. It's a free meal and saves the staff having to make/buy their own lunch everyday.

Does she get paid for her lunch hour/breaks? It's a tough word out there and if it's a free meal - Take it.

apples1

Blimey I am glad its you not your GF who did this thread. Poor thing. How has it turned into a "what food people should eat" thread?! Your poor GF. I would feel just the same as her. She took a job that had nothing to do with her diet and now it has become an issue. Maybe her diet isn't ideal but it is what it is.

I think in her shoes she should write a really nice letter (you write it and she sign if you both prefer) explaining her commitment to the job, her love of the children and her willingness to spend the lunchtime with them, helping them and if the manager wishes pretending to eat. Then simply say she is really sorry but due to long standing dietry limitations she isn't able to actually eat the food as per the recent request. She will be very happy to support the children and the management in another capacity during this time if preferred. That she has been very worried about this and hope that they will show understanding to her situation etc etc

Do let us know how she gets on. I would really think that with thsi approach they would be off the scale of crazy to push it further.

Anacrusis

It sounds like a great idea for everyone to eat together, but your girlfried shouldn't be made to eat food she doesn't like any more than the kids should!

I'm a picky eater too so this would be horrible for me too!

The manager shouldn't ask your girlfriend to eat things she doesn't like, she should be able to take her own food.

Anacrusis

Oh I didn't realise there were 4 pages of this! So sorry if I'm repeating things!

ILW

I never turn down free food.

ffacoffipawb

Anacrusis wrote: »

Oh I didn't realise there were 4 pages of this! So sorry if I'm repeating things!

Must be the macaroni cheese again!

RoxRoxBling

Hi Azza,
I work at a nursery so I can understand. However, the manager should not 'force' your girlfriend to eat the food nor should she stop your gf from eating her own food. This is against the Human Rights for your gf.

I'd suggest that your gf speaks to management and say that she doesn't want to eat the nursery food but she's willing to eat her own food. If management sack her (worse case) it would be unfair dissmissal.

Last I know, eating the nursery's dinner is not part of the essential job role for a nursery nurse.. It is just a bonus!!

craftysarah

I work in a nursery and this thread really worries me. I understand your GF's concerns and she should definately NOT be made to eat what she doesn't want to. What worries me is what exactly are they trying to teach the children?? Are the children being forced to eat what THEY don't like??!

The big thing in childcare is that every child is unique, therefore every adult is unique. This implies that we all like and dislike different toys, games, environments and FOOD!

We have 2 different menu options each day and we also have the option of a jacket potato for the children who may not be keen on either of the main options.

What about if your GF approached the issue from the angle of more choice on the menu? Could the staff be involved in creating a new trial menu maybe? Get her colleagues on board and approach it positively and enthusiastically and hopefully the suggestion will be listened to in a positive way too.

My big point is that the children should have a choice of what they eat and at 4 years old they are old enough to make that choice themselves just as the adult's would be expected to do, it's all about positive role-models.

Keep us posted.