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AIBU?

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Original poster

Or should you offer a workman a drink?

288 replies

Azquilith · 26/08/2014 21:50

DP fixes appliances for a national firm, and visits up to 8 houses a day. In London he not only often gets let in by the housekeeper at the tradesman entrance, but is seldom offered a drink. In the recent hot weather it makes me fume that he's working in hot utility rooms, shunting appliances about for hours and doesn't even get offered a glass of water. Do you offer someone in your home a drink?

OP posts:
KleineDracheKokosnuss · 27/08/2014 18:20

I sometimes offer them a drink - depends how long they are going to be there. If they will only be half an hour - then no.

I'd never offer a meal or biscuits though.

rainbowinmyroom · 27/08/2014 18:23

They are not guests, Evan. My husband works outdoors often, he brings, shocker, more than one bottle of water him on longer or warmer days, not expect an employer to see to it.

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 27/08/2014 18:29

No, they are not guests Rainbow and most take their own drinks and snacks. Sometimes, though, shocker, they might run out. It doesn't hurt to offer. As I said, my DP never expects it!! But I ALWAYS offer anyone who works in my house. Makes me feel better, and it is normally appreciated.

Some people need to get out of their own backsides.

whatever5 · 27/08/2014 18:31

I'm amazed that some people could think it "only polite" to offer food. Anyone would think that workman do the job out of the kindness of their hearts and aren't being paid for it.

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 27/08/2014 18:33

Staff entrance and many places have them ???
Not where we live Grin

Thankfully, my principles override snobbery.

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 27/08/2014 18:41

I'm amazed that some people could think it polite to not offer anything. Anyone would think that workmen are sub-humans, or "staff" (shudder).

Generally speaking, I've found that if you treat anyone right, it'll come back to meet you in some way. Karma

rainbowinmyroom · 27/08/2014 18:45

Ever work at a supermarket or a retail shop? You usually have to use a door separate to the one customers do.

Meh.

I need to eat too much to be precious. I don't go to work to be treated like a guest, I am there to do the job in exchange for money.

But hey, people are free to turn down work if they don't like the conditions. Best of luck to them.

rainbowinmyroom · 27/08/2014 18:48

LOL that people who don't profer sustenance are up their backsides, a lot of people aren't even around when work people come round other than letting them in and out, they have to work, too, to pay for the work that needs done.

It's a business transaction.

horriblehenrietta · 27/08/2014 18:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

whatever5 · 27/08/2014 18:54

I'm amazed that some people could think it polite to not offer anything. Anyone would think that workmen are sub-humans, or "staff" (shudder).

I don't think anyone has said that it is polite to not offer food. Many people don't think it is impolite though. This is perhaps because the rest of us have to take our own food to work and can't see why workman should be treated any differently.

horriblehenrietta · 27/08/2014 18:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MamaPain · 27/08/2014 19:03

I'm not really interested in the trade entrance, I can't get work dup about it. The only people I know who have them are wealthy, foreign and used to having staff so it's the norm for them.

I am Shock at the implication that apparently this is a London thing. I'd say definitely not as a life long Londoner, with a brother who has always been a tradesman in London I can say that is not the case.

We always offer drinks, food and are warm and welcoming. I don't ask people if they want to use the toilet because I thought that stops around age 4, but if they ask they are more than welcome.

rainbowinmyroom · 27/08/2014 19:05

I don't see how it is rude not to offer drinks and/or food. What if you are not even around or, as one poster, working at home? What if you would just rather let them get on with it? What if they are charging by the hour?

Being polite can be speaking to someone nicely and then backing off to let them get in with it, paying promptly, but it has to include drink and food or you are a rude so-and-so who treats people like crap? Really?

So you do this with all you pay for a service?

I get paid for the service I provide at work. I get a secure environment, fair conditions should my boss offer me drinks at regular intervals and or food? Otherwise I will give her less than 100%?

I have a feeling that would get a person the sack in most places. So why are trade professionals different?

LoonvanBoon · 27/08/2014 19:14

Yes to drinks & biscuits, no to full meals! If someone is doing a long job, lasting several days, I will show them where drinks are too so they can help themselves, but I would expect them to bring a packed lunch.

Having said that, it has surprised me a bit when I've had decorators doing the exterior paintwork, in hot weather, who haven't also brought their own bottle of water / drink, so they don't keep needing to come in to the house quite so often.

We had a painter earlier this Summer who seemed to expect to have drinks provided at least hourly! I was busy & had told him repeatedly to help himself (& put out a kind of tea / coffee / biscuit station) but he still kept shouting in through the back door: "I think I'll have a cup of tea now!". If I was around but not making a drink I just repeated: "Yes, fine, help yourself!" & he actually got a bit martyrish - "Oh yes, I suppose I can make it myself - no, no, it's no trouble" etc. ! Grin

PuppyMonkey · 27/08/2014 19:16

I always offer a drink but I do think if your DH knows it's going to be a hot day he should take his own water/drinks too. And if he's visiting 8 houses a day, he must end up needing the loo every 5 mins if he accepts all tea offers.Grin

When we we having our extension done, DP got into the habit of making coffee in his espresso maker ponciful machine. The builders loved it. In the end, he'd have the builders and a few of their mates round all expecting espresso. And then they all often had the cheek to bugger off on other jobs. GrinConfused

Marylou2 · 27/08/2014 19:18

Your poor DP. It's the first question I ask when anyone arrives. Drink, biscuits, let them know which loo to use. It's common courtesy.

Petradreaming · 27/08/2014 19:23

Yes....absolutely. It is simple hospitality. Tea..coffee...squash...biccies... its just the thing to do.

SaucyJack · 27/08/2014 19:29

I don't think it's impolite not to offer evan. I don't treat tradespeople as though they're "subhuman", but I certainly don't treat them like my guests either. They're here to do a job- it's not a social occasion.

I might feel differently

whois · 27/08/2014 19:30

Yes....absolutely. It is simple hospitality

But they aren't a guest! It's a bloody business transaction.

Delphiniumsblue · 27/08/2014 19:31

I think that you can tell a nice person by the way they treat others- regardless of status.

SaucyJack · 27/08/2014 19:34

(Cont.)

I might feel differently if I was in my own home and I'd had the chance to build a professional relationship with any visiting tradespeople, but I'm council so the absolute bare minimum that they are legally forced to do any work is arranged by the council and carried out by their own contractors. I'm just here to open the door.

MrsItsNoworNotatAll · 27/08/2014 19:40

I always feel a drink and tell them to help themselves to biscuits, it's just feels right to do it.

whatever5 · 27/08/2014 19:57

Is it seriously "common courtesy" to offer people biscuits as soon as they walk through the door? I don't know anyone who does that routinely, even for guests. I don't think we even have biscuits in the house usually.

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 27/08/2014 20:04

Is it seriously "common courtesy" to offer people biscuits as soon as they walk through the door? I don't know anyone who does that routinely, even for guests. I don't think we even have biscuits in the house usually.

Now you're being silly. I don't think anyone on the entire thread, either for or against being hospitable, has suggested offering people biscuits as soon as they walk through the door! Confused

The suggestion is to offer a drink to workmen, working in your home. Anything else is extra and unnecessary. Some (including me) think it polite to offer more if people are working in your home for any length of time. It's a matter of manners, how you feel about yourself, and perhaps how you've been brought up. Polite, or impolite. Generous, or stingy. Friendly, or rude. Working to rule, working to be nice. Smile

whatever5 · 27/08/2014 20:09

Now you're being silly. I don't think anyone on the entire thread, either for or against being hospitable, has suggested offering people biscuits as soon as they walk through the door!

Above someone has said "It's the first question I ask when anyone arrives. Drink, biscuits, let them know which loo to use. It's common courtesy."