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To not give builders food

312 replies

ThiswillDoItsfine · 10/06/2024 13:43

Help me settle this difference of opinion. I have a company coming out in 3 weeks time to install a lot of fencing. I mentioned to dh that I will get them coffee, tea, and biscuits/cookies in to have with drinks. Dh is saying just the drinks is fine, and for me to just offer it as and when. The job is going to take 2 days. I want to give the men something to eat as well, at the very least.
DH is then saying he doesn't want them trailing through the house, which I do understand. However, I was going to set a table outside with a flask, tea bags, coffee, milk & sugar, and bowl of biscuits so that they could help themselves. I thought this would be less restricting and mean that they can get it when they want, without waiting for me to ask. I also think it saves me running around when i have a child to look after. DH is saying that this is well over the top.

Is this okay? Or is it wrong i set this up outside for them? It is an outdoor job, so I thought it would be easier all around, and they'll be working hard.

Thank you.

OP posts:
ThiswillDoItsfine · 10/06/2024 14:20

Gymmum82 · 10/06/2024 14:16

We’ve had a lot of tradesmen in recently from an extension, builders, plasters, painters etc. I have offered them all drinks (no biscuits) and all of them have declined. They bring their own flasks and their own food. By all means set them up with a drink/biscuit station but I wouldn’t even expect it to be used based on our experience

Yes I was worried about this. Last time they accepted every time I asked, so I was running about and needed the station! This time it'll be just my luck to set it up, and it not be used.

OP posts:
bloodyeffinnora · 10/06/2024 14:20

My husband would make them tea and toast or sausage butty first thing then they helped themselves to tea/biscuits throughout the day. I would leave all the stuff out for them, it saved me having to make them.
They were doing the landscaping for about 3 weeks though.

Mrsjayy · 10/06/2024 14:19

WetBandits · 10/06/2024 14:15

I think you can tell a lot about a person by the way they treat people serving them in some way…!

Absolutely!

OMGsamesame · 10/06/2024 14:18

ThiswillDoItsfine · 10/06/2024 13:49

@LlynTegid we thankfully have a downstairs toilet, as long as tjey take boots off they can use this. DH is saying they'll have a bottle in their van if they need a wee, and they will be driving off for breaks and can go in supermarket around corner. 😩

Tell your DH if he wants them to have hot drinks made "as and when" then he can do it himself.
What you're suggesting sounds fine.

Londonrach1 · 10/06/2024 14:17

Biscuits, tea access to your toilet. I've given ice cream when very hot

ThiswillDoItsfine · 10/06/2024 14:16

redalex261 · 10/06/2024 13:57

My brother’s (very small) business with four staff always prices in a portaloo for the staff to save asking for toilet access which some people don’t like (and the workers hate asking) if the job is longer than two days. They appreciate tea and biscuits, occasionally get a bacon roll with the morning tea! Depends on the client, but it’s not expected.

They’ve always observed the posher the house the less hospitable the client!

Oh god do I need to make them breakfast? I figured they would have had it, or bring it. It is a two day outdoor fencing job. Is biscuits and choc bars/crisps not enough? My dm was saying to make them bacon sandwiches, I wasn't going to.

OP posts:
Floranan · 10/06/2024 14:16

My Gardner likes his cup of coffee mid morning with a couple of biscuits is there’s any going, I always make this for him and we normally stand and talk garden for 10 minutes while we have it, but then I do some of the garden he does the heavy work or we work together planting pots etc.

im luckily have a utility room with a door to the garden and a loo off from it so I always tell workmen I’ll set them up in there , there’s just about room for 3 garden chairs so I say to bring them in if they want to sit in the warm/dry.

it wouldn’t dawn on me not to offer bathroom and drinks tbh, biscuits/cake etc is an extra

Gymmum82 · 10/06/2024 14:16

We’ve had a lot of tradesmen in recently from an extension, builders, plasters, painters etc. I have offered them all drinks (no biscuits) and all of them have declined. They bring their own flasks and their own food. By all means set them up with a drink/biscuit station but I wouldn’t even expect it to be used based on our experience

Vancouver2024 · 10/06/2024 14:16

Definitely offer drinks and biscuits. Am sure they will appreciate it.

WetBandits · 10/06/2024 14:15

Mrsjayy · 10/06/2024 14:14

Maybe they just pee in bottles in their own houses 😂

I think you can tell a lot about a person by the way they treat people serving them in some way…!

spriots · 10/06/2024 14:15

Magnificentkitteh · 10/06/2024 14:11

I'd offer hot drinks when I was putting the kettle on and I'm sure biscuits would be appreciated but I'd not overthink it. I always wonder whether cleaners get similar consideration about service of break time snacks or whether it's a male preserve. Making lunch etc seems ott.

If I am in when my cleaner comes, I will make her a coffee at least once, and will offer anytime I am also making one.

If I'm not in, she knows she can help herself to a drink and she does - she sometimes texts me to tell me if she really liked a type of tea 😀

Mrsjayy · 10/06/2024 14:14

WetBandits · 10/06/2024 14:12

Your DH sounds like a dick!

Tray of tea and coffee with biscuits sounds lovely. And being ‘allowed’ to use the toilet is a given! Presumably they all have homes of their own so know how to use a toilet appropriately.

Maybe they just pee in bottles in their own houses 😂

istherehoney · 10/06/2024 14:14

It's just basic good manners for you to offer them tea and biscuits. I usually make it twice a day, but your table idea is even better!

C1N1C · 10/06/2024 14:14

Spare mugs!!! - We gave them some of our nice once and the ended up with chips and scratches...

VickyEadieofThigh · 10/06/2024 14:13

Commonsense22 · 10/06/2024 14:09

As the wife of a tradesman, absolutely shocked at the number of you who thinks expecting them to drive to a supermarket for toilet access is acceptable.

Indeed. We have a downstairs loo so our builders could access it easily - and we provided towels of a specific colour for them to use.

ThiswillDoItsfine · 10/06/2024 14:13

Snappers3 · 10/06/2024 14:11

I have had men in regularly.
I always supply tea, cske, biscuits, water with ice, cold cans. I have made sandwiches and thrown on a few pizzas too.
I have found the men to be profoundly appreciative and have really done an excellent job as a result.
If I was coping with very young children etc, then tea, biscuits and jugs of water would suffice.

That is really lovely of you. I'm not sure I'll be making hot food, but wanted to at least do a nice selection of biscuits/choc bars, cold pop, bottles of water, coffee and tea.

OP posts:
WetBandits · 10/06/2024 14:12

Your DH sounds like a dick!

Tray of tea and coffee with biscuits sounds lovely. And being ‘allowed’ to use the toilet is a given! Presumably they all have homes of their own so know how to use a toilet appropriately.

Mrsjayy · 10/06/2024 14:12

ThiswillDoItsfine · 10/06/2024 13:49

@LlynTegid we thankfully have a downstairs toilet, as long as tjey take boots off they can use this. DH is saying they'll have a bottle in their van if they need a wee, and they will be driving off for breaks and can go in supermarket around corner. 😩

Your husband is just weird why wouldn't you let a workman use your toilet,? Offering a coffee and a biscuit is fine you don't really have to set a table up but tell them where the bathroom Is !

Alicewinn · 10/06/2024 14:11

I think it’s a very kind idea, but not necessary these days unless you live in the middle of nowhere

Magnificentkitteh · 10/06/2024 14:11

I'd offer hot drinks when I was putting the kettle on and I'm sure biscuits would be appreciated but I'd not overthink it. I always wonder whether cleaners get similar consideration about service of break time snacks or whether it's a male preserve. Making lunch etc seems ott.

Snappers3 · 10/06/2024 14:11

I have had men in regularly.
I always supply tea, cske, biscuits, water with ice, cold cans. I have made sandwiches and thrown on a few pizzas too.
I have found the men to be profoundly appreciative and have really done an excellent job as a result.
If I was coping with very young children etc, then tea, biscuits and jugs of water would suffice.

ThiswillDoItsfine · 10/06/2024 14:11

rwalker · 10/06/2024 14:09

Set a tray up a couple of packs of biscuit’s milk tea and coffee
if you haven’t a spare kettle get one from Asda £8

let them help themselves

I have a large flask which I'm going to fill with hot water, which I will change if needed.

OP posts:
ThiswillDoItsfine · 10/06/2024 14:10

Commonsense22 · 10/06/2024 14:07

Your DH is being awful and setting himself up for having a poor job done.
With tradesmen, access to a decent toilet is one of their biggest / fair requests. And what if the team includes a woman? Is she also going to use a bottle?

Exactly, they have said there will be 3 or 4 men. I could understand more if the toilet was upstairs, and deep within our house. We have a downstairs toilet fgs, honestly dh is getting on my nerves.

OP posts:
Commonsense22 · 10/06/2024 14:09

As the wife of a tradesman, absolutely shocked at the number of you who thinks expecting them to drive to a supermarket for toilet access is acceptable.

rwalker · 10/06/2024 14:09

Set a tray up a couple of packs of biscuit’s milk tea and coffee
if you haven’t a spare kettle get one from Asda £8

let them help themselves

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