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?

OP Do not provide anything!!!

Cheeky fuckers.

You are paying them to do a job. You aren’t a catering service. They need to bring their own food and drink to work like most people do.

When we had our kitchen done (pre-Covid)I provided access to tea and coffee all day (I was at work) and a pack of biscuits most days to share amongst the four of them.
When I was around, I would make the tea and coffee when I made mine but that was it. They made it clear they thought I was going above and beyond and it was not expected

Wtaf

No way.

10-2 What kind of day is that.

One cup of tea about mid day and that is it.

No food, no biscuits, nothing else.

The more tea they have the more breaks they have....

What a cheeky, ungrateful fucker! I'm shocked anyone could be so goddamn rude.

This is not usual practice, you're being far too generous and he's trying to take advantage of your obvious kind nature.

Tell him to buy his own Hobnobs! Un-be-fucking-lievable. 🤬

No, no, no! Why on earth are you feeding them? What utter cheeky fuckers!! And they were only there 4hrs??

The odd cuppa & random biscuit if I'm feeling generous is the only thing I've ever given builders. I don't know anyone who's done more.

Tell the Hob Nob twat to buy his own & pull his bloody finger out & do some work!!

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

This.

That's so rude. YANBU.

Serial renovator and house builder here. For smallish inside jobs one tea or coffee per half day, 2 biscuits per head, that’s the lot. Definitely no other food, water from the tap if they want it (squash provided if I’m feeling generous). For bigger/longer jobs their own kettle mugs tea coffee sugar milk station plus a couple of packets of biccies every so often and bacon sarnies on Friday morning for anyone on site.

DH is a builder. He reckons hot drinks are pretty essential, and should be offered at least once every couple of hours. You don't have to make them, however - you can just show the builders where the kettle is and tell them to help themselves.

Biscuits are a bonus. Substantial food such as a pasty or the beloved bacon sandwich would indicate that you are extremely grateful for the excellent work they have already done, and/or you are hoping they will do you some extra favour. They would normally bring their own packed lunch or knock off for half an hour and go to the local shop to buy something for themselves.

Your builders are CFs - even the "grateful" one, who took the rest of the packet of biscuits with him! Who behaves that way??!

you are extremely grateful for the excellent work they have already done, and/or you are hoping they will do you some extra favour.

If your husband thinks that he's an idiot.

My ex husband used to get up early to pre cook a full lunch for the builder . Turns out he had a massive crush on him ...

Seriously your husband thinks it’s essential that someone makes him a coffee every two hours?

@Bluntness100

Seriously your husband thinks it’s essential that someone makes him a coffee every two hours?

Can you imagine how that would go over in most workplaces? Going off for a coffee break 'at least' once every couple of hours, or expecting a 'beloved bacon sandwich' to 'show gratitude'? Is the money not enough?

Hot drinks essential. Right. Silly me, here I was thinking it was potable water. I'm going to tell my clients this. 'Um, I expect to take a hot drink break at least every couple hours as essential, and for you to provide the accoutrements for hot drinks (and make them for me if you can) and also to prepare food for me to show your gratitude for the excellent work you hired me and paid me for, oh, and I'll be on my phone for some of the time you're paying me for as well but not on a break or lunch, just on my phone,' and see how that flies.

This English thing of giving builders drinks etc, does my head in! I never offer this for a long term job, just put a kettle in garage so they make their own drinks.
I will occasionally offer a drink if a plumber, electrician, etc comes in to do a short, one off job, but most of the time they turn it down.
I get excellent quality work.
I pay a fair price & quickly, & they appreciate that the most, I think.
You Brits need to stop this, it’s not a flippin tea party, it’s work!

He was just joking I should think but if you need more biscuits hobnobs are the way to go

They bring their own kettle, their own milk, tea, sugar etc etc and they sort themselves out!

If they need lunch they either make a packed lunch themselves or they bugger off to Tesco or similar

I can’t believe people are THIS much of a mug! You are employing them, they’re taking money to work, they’re not don’t you a favour!

I sometimes offer a cuppa to a plumber or spark or someone like that, but a builder in for a week etc? No. Never.