To not give builders food

I think it's a nice thing to do and it means they don't have to down tools to go and get drinks or food.

When I recently had work done I made tea/coffee and bacon sandwiches for the builders. They knocked £200 off the bill because it didn't take them as long as expected to finish the job but I'd like to think it was my amazing tea and sandwiches 😄

Wife of a tradesman here. They will always appreciate a brew and a biscuit is a nice extra. Loo is important. My H has one customer who baked them something every day and even gave him a cake to bring home with him.

Same here. Brews no biscuits. I also find they don't want to use your loo for a shit anymore than you may to want them to use it!

I've found recently though that I've had very health conscious tradespeople - one was doing intermittent fasting, one didn't drink tea or coffee and the fence chaps had their own kedgeree which they asked me to ping and ate in the van.

Makings for hot drinks is fine, I'd usually get biscuits too. In a similar situation to yours I showed then where everything was and said just to help themselves if I wasn't around. They used to send the apprentice in to make it - he always took his boots off at the back door and was also known to make me a drink too!!

We had builders on site for the best part of 18 months. It would have cost a fortune and taken a ridiculous amount of time if i was preparing bacon rolls and lunches for them constantly.

I'm Eastern European.

They look bemused, because it's not a done thing 'back home'. Tradesmen are employees, you're - their employer. They came to do the job, you're paying them for it. It's not expected and absolutely not necessary to feed them. They bring their own, always. Flasks with tea, sandwiches, hot food flasks, whatever. If you'd set them a table with biscuits, various drinks, etc, you'd invariably get a wtf..? reaction. They would be grateful, though. But because we're not smiley/chatty/small talk-y people, bit stony faced as a rule, they might seem rude with their reaction. They don't mean to be.

However, if you'd tell them to go to a supermarket loos to do their business, you'd get more than a bit bemused reaction. Because that's unheard of 'back home'. I've never encountered such preciousness about loos before I visited the UK. Workmen always use inside loo, they do ask for the first time, but that's more of a theoretical question, out of politeness, no one would even dream of hearing 'no' in reply.

They’ll probably have set break times for morning and afternoon. Ask whoever’s in charge for their times. The guys I work with all take enough supplies to last the day but always appreciate it if someone makes the effort. TBH 2 days is nothing but I’d have a big jug of tap water in the fridge if it’s hot and maybe some cheap ice lollies in the freezer. If our guys are doing outdoor work in the blistering heat I often do an ice lolly run as it’s good for morale.

I'm honestly shocked and appalled at this statement! They're humans who are working on your home, of course they should be able to access your toilet!

I always offer coffee (we have a proper cappuccino machine and they love it).

If they are here for a long time (2-3m doing renovations/landscaping or extensions) I will buy pastries or make bacon butties on a Friday, but this is a goodwill gesture to encourage the best work, not out of a sense of politeness or obligation.

You're overthinking this, OP, and seem overly anxious about doing the right thing. It's just a few blokes in your garden for a couple of days - just offer them a brew as they arrive and again after lunch if you're around and have the time. Add a packet of biscuits to the tea tray and then go about your day. No need to wrap yourself in knots deliberating about branded or supermarket brand biscuits etc, just buy what you would normally buy.

In my opinion you always end up with a better and quicker job with “well fed” workmen

When we have any workmen coming, I always ask what their favourite biscuits are. We don’t tend to have biscuits due to dietary requirements so acknowledge that workmen may have similar dietary needs - wouldn’t want to offer them something they can’t eat. Currently have a landscaper, who will be here about 3 weeks. I know his routine, when he takes his lunch/snack breaks and make him a cuppa at those times and when he arrives each day. Biscuits are left in the biscuit barrel on his workbench for him to help himself throughout the day. Told him he can come in to use the toilet. Wouldn’t dream of treating workmen any differently than this.

Can’t believe people don’t allow workmen to use the toilet.

That is very true I live in a town not far from a city centre so lots of shops, cafes and places to get take outs etc about but suppose it does depend on where the op lives as it is the norm for all builders who come to me

What a strange thread

dh is a tradesman and what customers do varies enormously, so just do whatever ever you feel comfortable with.

Food wise he sometimes gets offered nothing (which is fine as he has his own large travel mug of coffee, and he never expects anything), sometimes tea/coffee and/or biscuits, and sometimes offers of food that can range from rolls in bacon to full meals. His favourites are customers who offer authentic India curries and he regularly comes home gushing about how brilliant they were and bags of mixed spices the customer has shared with him, but he never manages to replicate the curry at home!

Let them know where the loo is so they know they are welcome to use it, if we have tradesmen in I make sure they know where the loo is and tell them ok to come in in their boots as I've put floor covering down and/or its a hard floor and easily cleaned. You would be surprised how many customers make tradesmen who are there all day for days feel awkward about using their facilities.

Why does your H have this attitude, OP? It's a pretty miserable one. Is he like this with everyone? I had also assumed the 'food' in your title was something far more substantial than biscuits!

I had landscapers recently, I probably didn't give them biscuits as I tend not to have them (I eat them all if I do), but I did make careful note of how they like their drinks, made proper coffee for the coffee drinkers and tea with leaf tea, not bags. Much nicer. It's important to keep workers happy.

If they often work in unoccupied properties they might bring their own, as my daughter's builders did. We got in lots of snacks for them but they didn't eat them. So we did.

Come on, it costs less than £20 to buy a kettle. They can bring their own.

I've learned over the years that if I start off offering then they will expect me to continue. I then spend my time being asked for a cuppa instead of working. I haven't got time and to be honest I don't think about it since I don't have hot drinks.

I think it’s really dependant on where you live. Im rural. There isn’t anywhere for them to go at lunch. They always bring sandwiches etc the first day, but when the realise I’m cooking lunch everyday, they stop bringing stuff. But if I didn’t cook, they’d have their own food.

my friend is a builder owns a firm. He said the lads especially the labours etc always put the extra in for the ones who offer a cuppa! They do a great job normally, and exceptional job if the host is a nice to them

My friend did bacon butties for the workmen every morning they loved it but I certainly didn’t

from experience any workmen I’ve had in like to go out at lunch and breakfast, they sit in their vans or drive to a local shop (and don’t even ask to use the toilet they must go when they go out ) think this is standard and the way I look at it’s the same as if I am in the office I don’t want to eat lunch at my desk

My dad was a builder, the amount of times he had no access to kettles or toilets was outrageous. Not to mention the hot days when he wasn't offered water (people didn't carry water bottles then).

My husband is a builder, he and others bring all their own food and coffee in flasks etc, or go to the shop at lunch, offering tea/biscuits is never expected so I don't think they would think twice about not having it offered, but it is appreciated. I personally would always offer beverages a few times throughout the day and would probably get a pack of biscuits or some sort of cake for them, it's just a nice gesture