Builders requesting drinks

[crazydiamond222]

We are having an extension built whilst I am on maternity leave. I have a 3 month old. We have 2 builders on site laying foundations who started on monday. I have been making them a drink first thing and on one occasion made them a bacon sandwich. I don't offer drinks all day because my son keeps me very busy and only naps on me and it is a 4 month job so I don't want to have to do drinks all day for this period.

This afternoon whilst I was playing with my son in the living room one of the builders walked past the window and requested a coffee and tea. I thought the request to be a bit cheeky as a) he shouldn't have been looking in the living room and b) he shouldn't been requesting. I made him the drinks anyway leaving my son on the playmat getting upset. I rushed outside as my son was upset and I wanted to get back to him. When I took the drinks outside I tripped over rubble breaking a cup and scratching my arm. The builders reply was you should have passed it through the window. I remade the drinks but suggested in future setting up a kettle in the garage for them but they said they can just bring their own drinks. I am now feeling pretty upset with them.

Just needed to vent really but what do people feel is reasonable regarding builders and drinks.

If you’ve offered a tea station and they’ve refused what do they expect. I’d be a little at the expectation to be their tea skivvy all day for 4 long months. To be honest I’d set one up anyway and get out and about as much as possible.

I’d still make a couple each day but definitely not all day long!

Set them up with a kettle and some old mugs in the garage, and leave them to it. Doesn't matter if they refused, that's what you are comfortable with and it's your house.

And my build was 4 months too and my baby was 3 months when they started.

I think your being a bit precious. It’s a cup of coffee ffs. You should be offering occasionally if you had any manners

I'll always offer drinks if I'm around. I wouldn't appreciate being asked if I was busy though and would let them know I wasn't happy too!

I suspect a lot of people replying are not having builders for long term projects, is this the case?

Yes, of course lots of us have. Months on end for an extension here too, plus other projects.

Always make them drinks and leave out biscuits, or leave them access if I'm not going to be here and tell them to help themselves.

Set out a table or tray with the basics and tell them to help themselves. Maybe a pack of biscuits.

I had this and it really pissed me off tbh.
I had a 4 month old and a 2 year old at the time and couldn’t be making 3 rounds of 5 drinks

I’m literally gobsmacked at the people who are acting like making five cups of tea is some arduous task. It takes literally less than five minutes. Even if you do this four times a day...20 mine tops? I’m truly astonished

You haven't taken mat leave to be a waitress

What? clearly you've never worked as a waitress. It doesn't involve making a couple of hot drinks and handing out some Bourbons.

At my workplace we have a kettle and fridge in the staffroom, and a supply of tea and coffee. We have access to water to drink, and toilets. An awful fuss would soon be kicked up if those facilities were withdrawn, and I’m certain there are laws in place somewhere that state we must have them.

Unless builders are bringing a flask of tea and empty coke bottles to pee in, they will at least need access to your loo and kitchen if you’re not going to offer to keep them hydrated yourself.

Blackandgreenteas
But who would see a mother playing with a toddler and ask her to stop and make him a drink??? Surely that’s the definition of “doing something more important”.

Utterly ridiculous - the baby can survive without being amused for 5 minutes. I don't understand why you think it's ok to expect them to have nothing to drink all day. It's not exactly backbreaking work making a few cups of tea is it. As others have said, give them the kettle, tea coffee etc and they can make for themselves/

My cleaner is only here for an hour, she still gets a drink offered, ditto the gardeners - I buy lager for them.

I'm a (female) gardener and I love it when customers make me a hot drink. It's bloody cold out there at the moment, despite wearing layers of warm clothes and keeping busy and active.

It doesn't bother me in the slightest if customers holler to say the cup is on the windowsill, or on the floor outside the door or whatever - I'm just relieved to get one!

Thank you to everyone on this thread on behalf of all tradespeople for the hot drinks you're making (and letting us use your loo!) - it really is appreciated!!

Definitely keep them full of tea, coffees, water etc.

If you're not happy to keep making it you show them where everything is and theyll soon get used to making it for themselves. You have 4months with them.

Most people who work in a set place, office /shop/building etc have access to running water and kettles.
It's common sense and good manners to keep tradespeople hydrated. Stop being precious and tight

Oh and don't forget the packet of biscuits!

@Straycatblue have you ever done a manual job?
It's nothing to do with sexism, my dh would also provide drinks to workmen. Also tea out of a flask is gross. And they don't necessarily expect biscuits but anyway a bulk pkt from Tesco savers is less than a £1. And would easily last 2 weeks.

Most people I know we be offering builders tea and coffee.

Could you tell them to help themselves?

How busy does a 3 month old keep you?

It all sounds a bit 'Lady of the manor', with with all the 'requesting'.

Just set up a kettle and a few tea bags/coffee in the garage.

They probably refused it because they can sense you're massively put out about it.

I'd have set up a kettle.

I wouldn't expect someone to build my extension in the winter months to work without hot drinks- but like you say you don't want to hang around all day like a waitress.

I always make the first tea/coffee and then say 'heres where it all is' and leave them to it for the rest of the project.

^^This with biscuits thrown in the mix too.

I don't understand why they have refused a tea station. You could give them a choice - tea station or go without maybe.

Yabvvvu. My DH is a builder, joiner by trade. They aren't a sub species you know. I'm sure you wouldn't mind if a health professional visited or an accountant etc and they asked for a drink. I hate this attitude towards manual workers, how dare they come up to the big house and ask her ladyship for a drink, get over yourself.

I buy my own refreshments when I work I can’t see why they can’t do the same. After all they are getting paid.

I usually make them drinks if I'm in. If i know I'll be out for a long period of time then I leave everything out on the worktop and tell them to help themselves. They always seem to bring drinks with them but still like a fresh brew made for them. I only ever give biscuits ( although a good selection) except when it was very hot one summer when I gave them ice creams - which were much appreciated. I have had builders in a number of times ranging from 2 week projects to a 4mth project. I even made coffee for the guy who was fixing our fence but working in 3 different neighbours gardens. I used a lidded cup to pass over or under the fence for some of that as he was in the street behind us which was a 5 minute walk away.

Yabu. Making tea or coffee is standard for workman. If you dont want to be bothered leave a kettle, water, tea bags etc out for them or allow access to the kitchen.

We had a decorator in doing loads of painting when I was heavily pregnant. I had gone off tea and coffee when pregnant so I left coffee, tea bags and a mug out (he didn’t take sugar), told him milk was in the fridge and to help himself whenever he wanted.

I don’t think you should have to make them drinks. They can bring there own. They do the job and know it’s a manual job so should be able to bring adequate food and drinks with them to last a day.

But I don’t think it’s wrong to make them a drink now and again. When Iv had work done outside I shut all my blinds downstairs so they can’t see me walking around.