Do you feed workmen in your house?

[Spedk]

Had a lovely man come in to fix the boiler. Made him a cup of coffee and offered him a slice of cake.

Just wondering what others tend to do.

I had painters in one day and I had to go and buy them sandwiches because my cat snuck into their van and robbed their ham sandwiches.

He was a very naughty cat.

Drinks - hot or cold depending on the weather. If they are there for more than a day set up drinks area with tea/coffee and squash etc. Show loo access. Might get some hot sandwiches in winter or ice cream in summer. My trades are reliable and do a great job.

Tea/ coffee biscuits and cake. I’ve given cornettos in the summer.
When I was pregnant in the summer of 2021, it was baking hot. The bottom of our road was being resurfaced and I felt so sorry for the workmen I went to the shop and got them a box of those ice lollies with the ice cream inside.

Tea, coffee, cold drinks, depending on temperature. Usually I offer biscuits but after the wonderful blokes who did the double glazing had finished, I did a proper cream tea.

I offered drinks and biscuits and cake if I have some in.
But on an extra note when I was doing large animal vet work on farms the best thing was to get asked inside on a cold day after a few hours work and be offered a hot cuppa and some cake/biscuits/fresh bread!
Just had to avoid the home made cider! 😁

No, my husband is a builder. He will pack a lunch and eat in the van or go somewhere & buy food. He's had breakfast and coffee before he leaves in the morning.

You honestly expect your work to offer you daily breakfast (bacon or sausage sandwich) and coffee tea and squash rounds all day, packets of biscuits as well as a cooked lunch???

Most of us sadly have to bring our own packed food or pop to the nearest supermarket/cafe.

Tea or coffee, which in reality is what most employers provide for their employees, although not all.

Food, no. Very few jobs come with free food, why is a tradesmen any different.

No.

Our old dog (RIP) used to be infamous for raiding builder's lunches. He always turned his nose up at fruit flavoured yoghurt, though, so would leave that and any citrus fruit behind. I used to warn them he could unzip bags, so not to leave them where he could get to them, but he seemed to have superpowers. I've ordered in a replacement pizza lunch for more than one workman over the years 😂

Tea, coffee, water and biscuits or if we have any homemade baking, always, but not usually food. I feel like we don't generally have builders here at mealtimes. When we did a long build on a house we weren't living in yet I used to send them lunch every Friday.

Who are all you people who are making bacon sandwiches all the time? I might have to come round...

I always offer a drink but usually they decline. I would feel rude not to offer!
However I’ve never had any workmen in for difficult or extensive projects - always just a couple of hours at most.

Absolutely not. No-one feeds me at work. And it comes from women serving men. Nor do I make hot drinks. I show them when the supplies etc are - I don’t drink hot drinks and it’s a massive interruption to my working day to stop and cater for a grown adult. Madness.

Very few jobs come with free food, why is a tradesmen any different.

This.

I assume tradespeople get paid enough to buy their own food ?!

Workmen always get offered a hot drink and biscuits! Apart from when I was pregnant and 'nesting', the builders we had in, ended up with cakes coming out their ears!! I baked, like my life depended on it!! 😂😂

Tea or coffee and very rarely a biscuit.

Yes if I have someone all day then I make sure I can make them a bacon/sausage butty and lots of drinks

We have the most wonderful decorators, electrician and a great roofer/handyman.

They are all people we feel comfortable with in our home.

Whenever we need them they seem to be available!

Our decorator recently told us we are their favourite customers.

A bit of bread and bacon is definitely worth it!

It depends. I offer tea or coffee normally. A couple are practically family friends now and they get a sandwich of their choice, whilst we catch up on gossip or current affairs.

Does anyone not offer a drink?

I completely understand that. Rural/Farming background and it is the norm to feed the workers. My granny always did this as there was little to no shops for 10 miles.
In towns/cities, I would at least offer tea/coffee biscuits etc.

When I had builders for 9 months, they were offered the kettle and wherewithal to make drinks and a biscuit box. Otherwise I might offer a drink if I'm making one but nothing more.

It's very kind but time is money. The quicker they can get your job finished, the quicker they can start the next. Drinking tea and eating biscuits doesn't pay the bills.

Yes. If it's a whole day job I get them sandwiches and sausage rolls or pasties

hot/cold drinks, ice creams in summer.
Also free reign to help themselves as I don’t drink tea or coffee so never think to stick the kettle on when busy working.
Dh runs a building company though and when we have work going on here he will usually come back mid morning with a load of bacon sandwiches for them all.
If I’ve got the time and inclination I will also make them a cake but they’re a good bunch and all lovely, plus I’ve known most of them for 20+ years and some of them are like annoying but lovely brothers to me now!

Yes, bacon butties, cake, biscuits, tea and coffee on tap. You've got to look after them.

I don't.