providing lunch for builders?

[vguil]

we’ve got builders in for three weeks replacing a kitchen.
We’ve set them up with a kettle and coffee/sugar/tea bags/milk and biscuits. There are three or four of them.
They’ve just asked my husband for lunch/ sandwiches. Is this the done thing; the expected thing?

No! I got the guys who did work at our house sausage rolls and buns on their last day but no way I’d be making them sarnies every day.

No. Absolutely not your responsibility to cater for builders. And would be completely ridiculous for three weeks. Their own kettle and tea making things is pretty generous! Usually it’s the odd cup of tea if you’re feeling nice.

It’s a bit cheeky tbh. I’ve offered plenty of times but 3 weeks is a long time and at your expense.

No it isn’t the done thing. I probably wouldn’t mind providing sandwiches here and there but it’s definitely not the norm to give them lunch daily.
Unless you’re very rural and they have no other options available (packed lunch though?).

Absolutely not, unless you’ve forgotten to mention that they’re doing it for free! They are fully grown adults who can get their own lunch ffs.

no, definitely not sandwiches I would provide a three course fine dining experience, enhanced by paired wines and fine artisan cheeses to finish.

Definitely no.

Our builders didn't even expect a cup of tea! They brought flasks even though we offered.

Definitely not the done thing! I have occasionally offered (particularly when the tradesman is someone I know well) and they've always refused - it's pretty standard for them to bring their own lunch.

Lolz- no! I offer use of kettle, fridge and microwave and set out the stuff for hot drinks. That's it.

Any builders I’ve had have either brought their own lunch or gone to the local shops for lunch, but I have, like you and probably most others, provided drinks and biscuits.

It’s going to be an added expense to provide food every day, unless your DH wants to give them something today if you are off the beaten track, but stress that it will be a one-off.

They asked!!! Wow that's a new one on me. I have always made sure hot and cold drinks along with biscuits are freely available, and it has always been appreciated. Might have offered the odd bag of crisps or a slice of cake if the circumstances arose, but I'm not a cafe!

Any chance they were joking seeing as you don't have a kitchen to prepare it in?

No I definitely wouldn’t provide them lunch! I normally make them a brew everytime I have one, leave cans of pop and a tray of snacks out but tell them I’m working from home so will be upstairs out of the way. It’s cheeky asking for lunch.

Tea, coffee, biscuits and water yes.

Sandwiches no.

No, you shouldn't be providing lunch! It's really quite cheeky of them to even ask. My FIL works in a similar trade and always provides his own lunch.
When we've had labourers, the most I've offered them us a cuppa or two.

It's not normal at all. Isn't there a cheeky fuckers in the wild thread? Off they go to that.

Facilities and supplies for hot drinks, cold drinks in the fridge, a selection of biscuits yes - but asking for lunch is very cheeky.
They should bring their own.

Bloody hell no!

No! They are taking the pis out of your dh!

Fuck that!

They are taking the piss.

Teas/coffees & biscuits or cold drinks in the fridge in the garage for them to help themselves only in this house.

unless it’s the decorator and he gets a bacon sandwich most mornings but that’s because it’s DH’s best mate!

No il offer drinks but they need to bring their own packed lunch or go to the shop. We've had loads of workmen over the years and never once have they expected feeding

Our last round of builders showed up carrying Starbucks and left for lunch. We definitely didn’t need to make sandwiches.

Did you hear them ask? Did they definitely ask him to make them lunch? Because I'm wondering if what they actually said, and he either misheard or understood, was something like 'Is there any way we can get a sandwich?' or 'Can we get sandwiches somewhere?' or something, meaning 'Is there a shop or a cafe near here?' rather than 'Can you make us some lunch?'

I've never had a builder ask me to make them lunch, but I've had plenty ask me if there's somewhere nearby they can get something to eat.

I actually always offer to make them sandwiches, because I'm probably making something for myself anyway and I really don't mind making a few extra, but it's certainly not expected and I've never been asked to!

Years ago we had plasterers in and they asked if there was a cafe or something nearby, and I said there was, but if they liked I could whip up some bacon and egg sandwiches instead, and they actually said that was the first time anyone had ever offered, so it's definitely not the norm!

Our last builder put us massively to shame by declining all offers of sandwiches and snacks on the grounds that he was a vegan who also shunned refined sugar or anything processed, and also did some sort of weird juice fast on alternate days. The only thing we were able to provide for him was oat milk for his one cup of decaf coffee each morning and a selection of herbal teas, which to be fair he was very grateful for. In fact, he gave us two tins of biscuits and a large box of very expensive chocolate truffles that he'd been given by his previous client.

Cheeky buggers, do they want you to fit the kitchen as well? I've never heard of builders, tradesmen etc asking their paying clients to provide them with lunch. They always either bring their own or visit the nearest fast food joint. I have occasionally offered home made cake along with biscuits, but that was my choice. Are you sure you want this bunch of chancers fitting your new kitchen?

lol they’re taking the piss! My DP is a tradesman and only gets offered food if he’s doing work for friends and family. Otherwise he takes a packed lunch. Only thing he’s offered otherwise is tea.