Not making drinks for workmen?

[Player456]

We're having our kitchen refitted.

We've been told to clear everything out and will only be allowed to access the kitchen for fresh water before they arrive in the morning and in the evening.

My friend said that I will need to get biscuits in and make tea for them.
I'm not considering this at all.

When we had the bathroom refitted, and any other works, I've always made drinks/given biscuits, but as I can only fill the kettle once from 8am-5pm, I don't really want to do this. Sure, we could store water, but we are going to have everything in the living room (washing machine, cooker, fridge, microwave, kettle, toaster, plus all the food and tins from the cupboards), so there really isn't anywhere to store water. We also have only kept out three mugs (one for each of us), as space is so limited, and I've not figured out where we are going to wash up, so don't want lots of mugs hanging around.

We're already going to be in trouble as DH (who does have an electric qualification), has disconnected the cooker, and we were told to leave it, as they would do it, but then I would have to move it straight after (DH will be at work, I am officially classified as disabled now, and cannot walk properly, let alone move a cooker).

Another asbestos man came. Apparently the cupboards are supposed to be down before the ceiling is removed anyway, and as no one is coming to do that, I'm not sure exactly if/when they plan to start.

Apparently they were also told the house was empty, so I guess there is no reason for anyone to hurry, if they think no one is living here!

OP it sounds a bit of a nightmare. I really hope you get some clarity soon on what’s happening, and that it moves quickly.

FWIW we have a water softener and a combi boiler, and the kitchen has the only tap with unsoftened water. But with our system, it’s fine to drink any of the water from any taps. The softened water is fine to drink - doesn’t taste quite the same, as it has a v small amount of salt added for the softening. But apart from small babies or people on v v low sodium diets, it is ok for drinking. So don’t worry about using the bathroom taps.

Offer to buy some drinks for them instead.

DH fits kitchens as part of his job. He doesn't expect to be made drinks and tbh I think he and his colleagues prefer it when they are left alone! DH takes a packed lunch but his colleagues usually go to a takeaway or bakery and get drinks out. DH doesn't drink tea or coffee anyway but tales a 1l bottle of squash with him each day and drinks that. I honestly wouldn't worry about it. They know you don't have a kitchen so where are you supposed to make them drinks? I'd just be friendly and nice when they arrive then leave them to it and stay out of the way!

Workmen around here all bring their own food and either a flask or kettle. They might use the kettle where they are working if it’s convenient but none expect drinks or food to be made for them.

[quote Player456]@SoupDragon They only place available is the living room. The hallway is walking room only, nowhere to put a table or kettle. Will have to let them into the living room (which is crowded with appliances, clothes airer and food [/quote]
Borrow a gazebo for that fresh air feeling 😂

They aren't going to expect drinks if you have no access to the kitchen or fresh water. They aren't going to expect snacks either. Please don't stress yourself about this, and definitely don't buy another kettle!

Please don't use the bathroom to fill your kettle, the water in there comes from the header tank. Use the kitchen tap to fill a couple of empty bottles every morning, the builders are doing a hot and dusty job so would be thankful for a cuppa.

I think it’s really odd and patronising that there are some people on this thread that believe workmen will only do a good job, or may even add money to your bill if you don’t buy them donuts and treats.

They are professionals and they work for the money you give them to do the job, not cups of tea.

I always offer tea but I only ever have in soya milk, they have always been fine with it.

Please don’t put yourself out and seriously don’t buy a new kettle.

This is nuts. You're having a kitchen refitted, you –the householders – are without water all day, and people on here are shaking their heads and disapproving because you're proposing not to make other people hot drinks?

They do this for a living and I assume they're all competent adults. They can figure out a) that it's not convenient for the householder to come up with hot drinks and b) how to get their own tea and coffee (cafe, flasks...)

Honestly, I don't think anyone on Dadsnet stresses about this kind of thing. Or gets judged about it.

Completely not the point of the thread but have you not asked the hospital why you have a pre-surgery assessment booked this week if you're not having surgery??

You have more problems with this kitchen/cupboard/ceiling issue than a kettle.

You need to contact your HA this morning, find out what is going on and what their plans actually are, and why the contractors think the house is empty.

Please don't use the bathroom to fill your kettle, the water in there comes from the header tank

This is not necessarily true any more. Mine doesn't. I have no tank.

My entire kitchen was moved into my living rooM whilst the old one was ripped out back to an empty bare brick room. I managed to make tea for the builders. It can be done if you want it to be done.

@ETgo I did phone, they said it was down as a request from my consultant, but couldn't say anymore.

I had leg broken (he stood on my foot and pushed me round violently, causing a spiral fracture from ankle to knee - 30 years ago).

I got arthritis in my ankle, but it suddenly got worse. The X-ray showed the bone had never healed properly and he wanted to re-break it and straighten it with rods.

However, an MRI and hip & leg x-rays, showed that the whole leg and hip is out of alignment, and the bone is too crooked to be fixed.

The MRI also showed that I have 'aggressive' arthritis in the talonavicular joint, which is almost completely destroyed.

As the only surgery for the ankle will lead me to be permanently disabled and lead to hip replacements soon, he wants to do a steroid injection into the talonavicular joint, in the theatre, under x-ray, if this takes away the pain, then he will fuse the talonavicular joint only for now, if not, I'm going to have to have both done.

So I guess the assessment is for the injection in theatre. Seems bizarre to have an assessment for that, considering I won't be anaesthetised.

I had my bathroom done last year, made plenty of tea, coffee, bacon butties etc. They were so considerate and did a fantastic job. They've come back to sort out an glitch, same day I phoned they came when they finished on their current job. Have come when I had a leak and panic called them and didn't charge me.

I think if you treat people well they will generally treat you well so although I didn't do it in the hope of payback I think I got it anyway.

@ancientgran

Do you think if you hadn’t made teas, biscuits and bacon sarnies that the people who did your bathroom would have ripped you off or done a worse job?

Sounds like you've got a lot going on OP!

Having workmen in your house can feel invasive and stressful, and I think that creating a friendly atmosphere helps with that. Otherwise, I tend to feel awkward in my own home.

The last time we had major work done was the replacement of the only bathroom and repair of a bay window, just before scheduled ankle replacement surgery as it happens - bad timing!

The workmen were great, and even made me cups of coffee when I came home from hospital as I couldn't get about. Goodwill goes both ways - tea and biscuits seems a small price to pay for a good working relationship!

Good luck with the building work - it'll be great once it's finished - and good luck with your ankle surgery

I’d just advise them where the kettle is and leave some coffee, teabags, milk and sugar for them to help themselves too.

Never felt the need to provide biscuits, cakes three course meals etc like some people. I assume the builders are grown adults and fully capable of bringing their own snacks and food with them easily enough if they want them. In terms of whether that means they do a worse job, why on earth would they when they’re being paid for it like any other professional service.

But then I’ve never subscribed to the teacher presents etc either

I always make tea / cold drink for anyone doing work on my house. When I had my kitchen refitted I bought a cheap kettle and put out instant coffee/teabags etc for them to make their own. In my experience most always bring their own drinks and food and sit in their van or go out. I sometimes make the plumber I have known and used for years a bacon roll. 😁

@GeneLovesJezebel

Where are they going to make drinks if you don’t make them ? And presumably you can fill the kettle in the bathroom ?

The same way they get drinks when working on an empty house or building site. They either bring their own or drive to the nearest pie/butty shop/garage to buy something 2 or 3 times a day.

Neither you nor they can make something if the power/water is turned off (or hasn't yet been connected). If workmen are working outside (i.e. exterior painting, re-roofing, gardening etc) and there's no one in, there'd be no one to make brews for them and no way of making their own, so they'd make alternative arrangements.

They'll be used to being self-sufficient and will consider someone making them a brew etc to be a luxury rather than the norm.

I work within sight of a village cake/pie/butty shop and there's a steady stream of workmen's vans buying drinks, sandwiches, pies, etc virtually all day. Presumably they're not being "catered for" wherever they are working.

@burnthur5t

Until I joined mn I never knew that if you had builders in you had to keep them fed and watered throughout the day

Gone are the days of adults being able to bring a flask and some lunch to work with them

It's now you're responsibility

Many years ago, I used to go out to do audits at various companies/charities etc., often for a week or two at a time. We never "assumed" I'd be fed and watered and always took our own drinks, snacks and packed lunch (or would plan to go out at lunch to buy something if in a town centre or shops nearby etc). These were places where the other staff had facilities ranging from a kettle/microwave through to full kitchens, but it was never a certainty that we'd be offered anything. We didn't take offence, didn't do a crap job, didn't charge more, if nothing was forthcoming. That's because we were professional adults. We'd know after the first day on each job what was likely to be on offer so on longer jobs we could reduce the amount we took with us if the client was particularly generous etc. I.e. on a few jobs, we'd actually get a full 3 course meal at lunchtime in the management restaurant, in another, we were always given a bacon/sausage bun on the morning bun round! However in others, we were literally stuffed in a store room, or basement or even portacabin in the car park and completely ignored. It really is up to people themselves, whatever their trade/profession to make their own provisions and regard anything provided as a bonus.

Where are they going to make drinks if you don’t make them ?

This is why we invented flasks. Honestly, they'll just do what everyone else does if they're working somewhere without continual access to kitchen facilities. Unless the OP lives somewhere very isolated they can also go to a cafe. It's not on her to provide for them.,

It really pisses me off when people on MN say it's only £7 or it's only £13 or whatever. For some people that's a huge amount of money. I mean I know we do get threads where people think £1.2 million isn't that much really and I know people on MN earn £200k per annum for part-time work because they're just so god-damn talented. But for others, £7 is a lot of money, so stop blithely suggesting people buy more shit they don't need.

My DH is a a tradesperson and it really varies which clients make him drinks etc - some seem to have homemade cakes and biscuits and posh coffee on the go every day and some don’t provide anything at all - he really doesn’t mind either way - no judgement whatsoever. And it most certainly doesn’t affect the quality of work he does!!! I can’t believe people think it would!!!

I get it though OP - I have severe social anxiety too and this is exactly the kind of thing I get really stressed about.

I’m a bit sceptical about the poster saying that their husbands or boyfriends or partners have never needed or never wanted hot water on a building site.

Because the construction industry has campaigned for years to make this legal minimum and it is the legal minimum for construction sites.

www.hse.gov.uk/construction/healthrisks/welfare/changing-rooms-and-lockers.htm

It is legally required on a construction site to provide access to running water and a way of boiling water. It is also legally required to provide access to drinking water.

The OP is too small an employer to be subject to these rules but it is what most builders actually expect on the worksite. Currently there is a massive shortage of builders in this country and most of them prefer professional large jobs. I think it is incredibly naive to think that if somebody has the choice between a job that has running water and a kettle and a job that requires them to fill a flask somehow several times a day, that they won’t take the job that is more comfortable. I have definitely seen a difference in how builders treat sites that don’t make the effort to make them comfortable and when it comes to snagging, you won’t be able to get them back to do anything.