Nursery World - Positive Relationships: Let's talk about ... Bitchy staff

Nurseries have perhaps more than their share of back-biting and petty criticism among the staff. Annette Rawstrone spoke to childcare practitioners about ways of dealing with it.

Q: What experience have you had of bitchiness at work?

'Thankfully my workplace is not too bitchy -we're a very small team with just ten of us and we are like a big family! Obviously there are some disagreements and debates, although we always ensure that it is kept to the staff room and definitely not in front of the children.'

'It seems to be an occupational hazard! Sometimes I feel like I'm back in the playground.'

'Some of the bitchiness is created by staff disagreeing on procedures. If they are asked by managers to do something in a certain way, instead of discussing it they go away and moan to each other, which creates a "them and us" atmosphere.'

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