Page 11 | Builder brings 12 year old daughter to work

TinyBuddhettes · 2025-08-02T06:52:24+00:00

Childcare issues, I get it. This contractor/builder guy is doing up our drive. His daughter mostly stays in his van but yesterday I could see that she was operating the mini digger while he was recording her. This wasn't just a couple of minutes for a photo, it went on for maybe an hour. The two of them were frolicking and being quite stupid really. I was in disbelief watching from inside the house. Our drive is now all digged up and I don't want any awkwardness or the potential of him not finishing the job. Anyone know where we stand with the law? Can we say that from a legal point of view we do not consent to an under 16 being withing the bounds of our property at any point?

Zebedee999 · 02/08/2025 17:37

RynNOTerine · 02/08/2025 11:06

Love it! My partner also took our toddler to a job he was doing last week as we had no other option. It was either he loses a days pay and the job is delayed or she happily goes with him! The customer was nothing but joyful to see a 2.5 year old pass her Dad the odd tools. They let her play in their garden, they introduced their dog to her and they also gave her biscuits and a drink! We love nothing but understanding customers when it comes to situations like this! It reminds us why he loves doing the job he does!

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Love it! I'd love that too. As a customer I'd recognise that now and again a parent needs to be given a bit of slack.

Nanny0gg · 02/08/2025 17:37

MumOf4totstoteens · 02/08/2025 17:01

My husband has his own groundwork’s Business and it’s quite common for them to take their kids or friends kids in to labour for extra pocket money for them. Mainly just passing blocks and sweeping up. Usually the customers praise the lads for being hardworking and showing initiative and often give them some cash as a bonus. It’s work experience for them. We all complain about teenagers causing trouble or sat on iPads etc. years ago everyone helped out with family business didn’t they?! This is where we are going wrong IMO.

I wouldn’t like them operating any kind of machinery though because they wouldn’t be insured or trained to do so. So that’s a different story.

I would buy an extra pack of biscuits for the girl and have a quiet word with the dad about your concerns re the operating of heavy machinery. You could say I’m happy for your daughter to be here, but one of the neighbours has raised concerns about her using the digger.

What age kids?

And I'd love to read the insurance policy

BuildbyNumbere · 02/08/2025 17:40

Horserider5678 · 02/08/2025 16:34

Then be prepared for the builder to walk away. I’m not condoning his actions but if it’s a choice between doing OP’s drive and looking after his daughter, we know which he’ll choose particularly if OP gets arsey!

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Assuming he doesn’t need the money then 🙄

LadySuzanne · 02/08/2025 17:41

JRM17 · 02/08/2025 14:47

My DS is 8 and he drives a tractor and dumper truck around my friends farm and uses the digger when they are digging ditches etc. He can also drive a manual car (obvs on private land) I really don't see the problem.

The digger is not being used on the contractor's private land.

Kuretake · 02/08/2025 17:41

I'm sure it's area dependent but round here it's very hard to find a builder for a small job like a drive. Id definitely be ignoring it.

Atina321 · 02/08/2025 17:43

Nanny0gg · 02/08/2025 17:36

Nose out??

It's her bloody land and she's paying for the work!

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The work was getting done - beyond that how the work gets done isn’t really up to her unless she’s specifically stipulated only certain people can complete the work. The contractor is liable for the standard of work and H&S on site.

Just because you are paying someone doesn’t give you complete control of their life.

Spoiltbrathelpplease · 02/08/2025 17:44

It’s a health & safety at work nightmare for him, not you, if something goes wrong. Assuming it’s fixed price and you’re not paying for the hour she’s messing around with the digger i’d just ignore.

LovelyBitOfSquirrrel · 02/08/2025 17:44

pinkyredrose · 02/08/2025 12:40

I seriously doubt that the skills mentioned are 'dying out' 😂

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Most of the stuff she mentions can be easily done by the older generation but the average homeowner would now hire a professional to do so. So yes those are.

Zippedydodah · 02/08/2025 17:55

Timeforaglassofwine · 02/08/2025 12:30

Me neither. You see outdoor tradie and farmer dads taking kids (usually sons) to work for pocket money all the time. My dc could drive a multitude of light farm machinery as soon as their feet could touch the pedals. We were a bit more discreet to only do it on our own property, however.

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DS was bale hauling on the farm( not on public roads) at 12 when he could legally drive a tractor. He could reverse a loaded four wheeler better than DH!

Rosscameasdoody · 02/08/2025 17:58

Ifailed · 02/08/2025 09:37

He's encouraging a 12 YO girl to get interested in construction, good for him.

All very nice, but not on OP’s dime. It’s a job site not a training school. And if something happens to the child on OP’s property what then ?

Rosscameasdoody · 02/08/2025 18:00

Atina321 · 02/08/2025 17:43

The work was getting done - beyond that how the work gets done isn’t really up to her unless she’s specifically stipulated only certain people can complete the work. The contractor is liable for the standard of work and H&S on site.

Just because you are paying someone doesn’t give you complete control of their life.

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But if they’re on your property it does give you the right to ask if he’s insured to cover his daughter if something happens.

Rewis · 02/08/2025 18:02

Not ideal and I wouldn't volunteer to babysit (ridiculous suggestion) or cater to the child. But if he was on schedule, work was good and she wasn't increasing the noise level, I'd leave her be.

Rewis · 02/08/2025 18:05

Hoppinggreen · 02/08/2025 11:56

Come on OP, you (presumably) have a vagina, therefore you should be providing free childcare for your builder.
Invite the child in, make cupcakes with her and maybe some craft activities.
I am sure you have nothing better to do, but do be sure to keep the noise down in case you disturb your husband while he WFH

Maybe the builder deserves some services as well. You know for being such a good dad for stepping up and showing his daughter the trade.

ShallIstart · 02/08/2025 18:06

His insurance would be invalid for this. I would ask that she doesnt come onto a building works site. Her staying in the van is his business though.

RynNOTerine · 02/08/2025 18:13

Emilysmum90 · 02/08/2025 12:34

Did he phone the client first and ask if it was ok to bring your toddler? How much work did he realistically get done whilst also doing childcare?

I would send a tradesperson home again every time before having their child in my house/property for a whole day. (Speaking after a VERY bad experience) Not only is there a risk they'll break something of yours or injure themselves, it's just plain entitled to rock up to work with your kid unannounced, unless it's a case of I'm so sorry, genuine crisis today, grandparent is collecting him in 20 mins.

OP it's not your fault the builder doesn't want to pay for childcare and also doesn't want to take time off work. What a piss taker.

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She was there with him for two whole hours whilst he waited for her Nana to come and get her! ☺️ thankfully - all clients aren't the same as you! Winner!

RynNOTerine · 02/08/2025 18:14

pinkyredrose · 02/08/2025 11:32

You would expect a client to entertain their contractors toddler? Really?

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No not at all - nor did my post say that.

RynNOTerine · 02/08/2025 18:15

BlueRidgeMountain · 02/08/2025 11:34

Ok. Let’s look at this from a different perspective. How would you view me as an HCP taking my child to work? Do you know the difficulties faced by full time employed (in NHS) people? Would you be happy letting him sit in the room while I explain what I’ll be doing during your appointment, performing a complex medical examination? Would you offer drinks and biscuits? Surely you either want the procedure done or not? Maybe that’s how I would expect you to act…

it’s not professional to be taking your children to work, be it as an HCP, builder, decorator whatever. And if you are expecting your clients to entertain them while you get on with the job then maybe you should be paying them for childcare.

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But its not from that perspective. So irrelevant

pinkyredrose · 02/08/2025 18:16

RynNOTerine · 02/08/2025 18:14

No not at all - nor did my post say that.

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Um, you said this My partner had to take our 2.5 year old daughter with him to a job he was doing recently. The customer was nothing but lovely, happy, let her play in the garden, let her sit with their dog, gave her a drink and biscuits! This is exactly how I would expect someone to act.

RynNOTerine · 02/08/2025 18:17

Icecreamandcoffee · 02/08/2025 11:56

@RynNOTerine you cannot be serious. Taking a toddler on a job. I would be knocking £65 off the payment I was making for the job per day as child care fees (£65 per day is the going day nursery rate here). I am not a nursery or child minder. I would be telling everyone that a child accompanied the job and to negotiate a hefty discount.

As someone who is self employed and has a self employed husband, childcare is your problem to sort. Holidays are not sprung on you unexpectedly. Every competent self employed person has a diary and therefore (outside of a terrible family emergency or illness) there should be absolutely no reason for children to be coming to jobs. Even is there is a family emergency or illness, you telephone the client, inform them about the childcare situation and give them the option to reschedule or explain the job will need to be pushed back for x time. You do not just rock up with a toddler/ child and expect clients to be fine about it.

@BlueRidgeMountain is absolutely spot on about other professions.

Can you imagine turning up to your smear and the HCP saying, "oh sorry, I couldn't get childcare for my kid, you don't mind if my kid sits in on this appointment? Oh sorry, Tommy's a bit bored (he's only 12), I'll just let him gawp at your minge and play with the light for a bit of entertainment. Oh and he's played with all the speculums and quite fancies a go with the little cervix brush. It's either let him be in on this appointment or you can reschedule for 3 months time.

Oh shut up. She was with him for two hours whilst he waited for her Nana to come and get her! Thankfully his customers are nothing like you and that's all that matters!

RynNOTerine · 02/08/2025 18:18

TuMadreEsLoca · 02/08/2025 12:28

…what?! What CF entitlement is this?!

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I hope you never ever have to be in a situation where a child has to sit at work with you!

RynNOTerine · 02/08/2025 18:19

SweetnsourNZ · 02/08/2025 12:34

I would be ok with this so long as I am warned first.

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Yeah - he called her on his way and said my daughter will be with me for a few hours whilst I wait for her Nana to come for her - totally fine about it! Some of the comments on here clearly have zero brain cells in understanding that sometimes things happen on a morning whereby a child has to go to work Mum or Dad for a bit!

RynNOTerine · 02/08/2025 18:21

pinkyredrose · 02/08/2025 18:16

Um, you said this My partner had to take our 2.5 year old daughter with him to a job he was doing recently. The customer was nothing but lovely, happy, let her play in the garden, let her sit with their dog, gave her a drink and biscuits! This is exactly how I would expect someone to act.

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So because the customer was NICE and KIND to my daughter- that means we expect them to entertain her? Not at all! They were genuinely being nice about it. Thankfully they understood that she had to be there for a couple of hours whilst he waited her for Nana to come for her!

Nanny0gg · 02/08/2025 18:22

Atina321 · 02/08/2025 17:43

The work was getting done - beyond that how the work gets done isn’t really up to her unless she’s specifically stipulated only certain people can complete the work. The contractor is liable for the standard of work and H&S on site.

Just because you are paying someone doesn’t give you complete control of their life.

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And how fast with them playing around?

I expect professional tradespeople with a professional attitude if I'm paying for the work

Nanny0gg · 02/08/2025 18:23

RynNOTerine · 02/08/2025 18:19

Yeah - he called her on his way and said my daughter will be with me for a few hours whilst I wait for her Nana to come for her - totally fine about it! Some of the comments on here clearly have zero brain cells in understanding that sometimes things happen on a morning whereby a child has to go to work Mum or Dad for a bit!

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Good job they weren't working it Tesco then, or M&S or Barclays - can't imagine you can take your child to work there

RynNOTerine · 02/08/2025 18:25

Nanny0gg · 02/08/2025 18:23

Good job they weren't working it Tesco then, or M&S or Barclays - can't imagine you can take your child to work there

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Well no they dont work there 🤣 perks of being self employed and customers wanting a job finished.... ☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️