Feeding builders

[CourseTheyWere]

We are getting some work done to our bathroom this week. The builders turned up today and seem very pleasant. They arrived at 10 and left at 2.

I have made them three cups of coffee each, they have been provided with bottled soft drinks to help themselves. I bought them a packet of biscuits and I bought them a pasty from the local shop each.

When they left one of them was complaining that he was starving. He then told me he didn’t like the biscuits I’d bought so hadn’t been able to eat any of them. He informed me that he only liked hobnobs.

Have I committed some awful faux pas and not fed them enough? I didn’t realise that you were meant to provide all meals to people doing work in your house, as this is the first major work I’ve had done on my own.

AIBU and should I get more food for tomorrow?

You should be maintaining strict social distancing, and they shouldn’t be accepting ANY food or drink from you! This is the gov.uk page telling people who work in other people’s homes how they should be doing it.

Even in non-Covid times, the most I’ve done is make a round of drinks in the morning, and one in the afternoon, and left a pack of (cheap) biscuits out. Ridiculous. When are they doing any work at all?

Lol, they love people like you. You’re paying them to work, no? Not sit there having endless breaks. The odd cup of tea/coffee/soft drink and the odd biscuit, fine. But if they are rude then nothing but a swift kick up the backside frankly.

haha this is crazy!
We recently had our roof redone, which took about 3 months. I made them tea/coffee in the morning when I had breakfast, and left out a big jug of water and bottle of ribena (it was really hot). But no food! And they were very grateful for the tea/coffee.

When we've had a builder for a smallish project (2-5 weeks) I've made him tea whenever I make myself one, but there's only one of him and I like him better!

I always make my workmen hot drinks and offer water etc, and often leave some biscuits crisps out, but if they complain then they'd be told to go to the shop and get their own food, i'm not there mum!

I would happily make a cuppa, but that’s where I draw the line.

Are you sure that he wasn’t joking? If you genuinely think that you might have to feed builders then I suspect your judgement isn’t very good.😅

Did you employ the builders? If so I hope you did your research.

Bloody he'll they are cheeky fuckers ! Although I'm a feeder 😂 we had our roof done and I made an afternoon tea everyday with cakes and sandwiches and the odd vegan sausage & mushroom baggettes on 2 very cold early mornings(I was making them for my children and husband anyway) however the 2 guys and their young apprentice that did it were the nicest kindest lovely blokes they never expected it ,on the first day they had flaskes and were so grateful for the homemade brownies and filter coffees I told them not to bring flashes as I was happy to make drinks ... however they fixed our guttering for the cost of materials and they had to comeback and do it so I think kindness brings kindness .. And I felt so guilty as the weather was crap but I'm known for baking for everyone and for being very hospitable I really enjoy making things for people but it certainly shouldn't be expected! X

I'll add we had a fixed price and they were in no way say around they were here for 12 hours the one day!x

We are maintaining social distancing. Also, everything apart from the tea/coffee is sealed. The biscuits were from a new packet, the soft drinks were sealed and the pasties were in the bag from the shop.

I’m not young (mid thirties) but my dad has always sorted this kind of thing for me in the past. He’s no longer with us I’m afraid so I’m dealing with this on my own.

I’m going to try to be more busy with work tomorrow and less available. Thanks for the advice!

I'm sorry about your dad op 😓x

I did do my research. They were recommended to me by a friend. I have no problems with what they’ve done so far - it’s just the food situation. I do have autism so I do struggle to work out what is appropriate and what is CFery.

I drink loads of tea and coffee during the day and tend to ask builders/workman whenever I put the kettle on for myself. I also offer bacon sandwiches and biscuits etc. My dm always did this and I suppose I’ve picked it up from her. We always pay by the job though, not by the day!!

I must say though op, if anyone had ever been as rude as your chap I certainly wouldn’t offer again!!!

I have a packet of biscuits to the wickas delivery man for.helping me carry in plastered when my DH wasn't home I offered to make him tea too ... I think I have a problem 😂😂😂😂😂

@Fromthebirdsnest

I have a packet of biscuits to the wickas delivery man for.helping me carry in plastered when my DH wasn't home I offered to make him tea too ... I think I have a problem 😂😂😂😂😂

Plasterboard!

Cross post, I’m sorry about your dad op. I don’t think that anything you did was particularly inappropriate, as long as you were happy to do so. The builders were rude.

😂😂 no feeding the builders OP. If they sense a soft touch they will be demanding lunch.

OP that builder was a cheeky fucker, I can't believe how rude people can be we had decorators in recently for a long-term job; I made sure tea and coffee was readily available and got them biscuits. That's it. They are full grown men and more than capable of bringing a packed lunch for the day!

I've made hot drinks and filled up flasks for roofers in the winter, probably offered the odd biscuit or baked goods.
Generally though I provide/show where the kettle is and let them get on with it.

Give them a biscuit for every unbroken 15 minutes they are not on their mobile phones. Guarantee you will not need to buy any biscuits.

The more you feed and water them, the more they’ll need to use your loo.
Think about it.

Oh my god they are taking the piss. We have done two extensions and are having garden remodelled which will take about 8 weeks. I offer a coffee in morning then as it’s been warm cans of coke etc. They bring their own lunch!! Also 10-2 is a joke. Most builders like to start early 8ish then leave 3/4. When we did second extension it was a 6 month job and they brought a kettle etc so they could sort themselves out for drinks x

They're ripping the piss out of you! 3 hot drinks in 4 hours? C'mon. Prolly sat on their phones the whole time, too.

Table with kettle and stuff set out, maybe a tin of biscuits, told where it is, where the tap is, where the loo is, and they crack on.

Any smart arse who comes in and first thing comes out with something like, 'Do I hear a kettle boiling?' or 'Is your kettle broken?' Or what letter comes after 'S'? is a really bad sign. Unprofessional AF to show up to bloody work, which you are being paid the going rate to do, and the first thing you do is demand your client wait on you like you're in a cafe.

Just ignore in such cases and show them where it's all laid out with, 'It's help yourself here as I need to work/have to see to X, so on you go!'

Ah, you’ve said you are autistic, and in the NE. I suspect that the guy was making a joke. The NE sense of humour is a bit similar to the Scottish one- kind of sarcastic. I could easily hear a Scottish builder saying at the end of the day something like “See you later hen, shame about the biscuits though, can ye no get HobNobs tomorrow?” It’s a complicated way of saying thanks for the delicious biscuits, I reckon.

I’ve always been told that if you feed them they go all out, possibly do a couple of extra things if you ask nicely & clean up better etc.*

No!! Every builder/labourer I know or hire takes immense pride in the quality of work, including proper clean up. These people are professional (or should be), and any “extras” I ask for, I pay.

Of course it’s nice to lay on hot and cold drinks, biscuits, etc., but they are craftspeople/professionals, and rightly proud of the work they do.

I wouldn’t bring my accountant or solicitor a sarnie to keep them sweet, that’s for sure.