Tradesman asking for a sandwich

[AtleastitsnotMonday]

I’ve had a tradesman working on the outside of my property today. Got here about 11.30, job was about a couple of hours worth of work. About 1200 I went out and asked if I could get him a tea or coffee. He answered “Tea, white with two please, would you be able to knock me up a cheese sandwich while your there?”
Now, admittedly I’m rubbish at saying no at the best of times and I wasn’t expecting this so obliged, even returning to check if he would like pickle/tomato etc with it.”
Dp thinks I’ve lost the plot and he was being grabby and to be honest I’ve only ever made drinks with the odd biscuit before, the only exception being when we had an extension built which was a much longer project and I outdone make them bacon sandwiches on a Friday morning if I wasn’t working.
Would you have made a sandwich?

@MeridianB

It’s cheeky because it’s a short job and he would not have asked your DH, I suspect.

I always offer tons of tea, coffee and biscuits. But when I first read your post I certainly wondered about modern slavery.

Modern Slavery?!

Where the heck have you got that from? Do you mean that you are concerned that this tradesperson is part of a wider Modern Slavery ring that the OP has unwittingly employed?

I’m more than happy to provide tea and biscuits.

I once had a tradesman sing a song about how I was going to make him an omelette! I was in another room working and the singing got louder and louder until he shouted “I know you can hear me”. I put my work down and went into the room and just stood there looking at him. He said “so, could you make me an omelette...”

Funnily enough I did not make him an omelette.

It definitely seems to be a thing that male tradesmen asksfemale customers to make food and drink for them. I've only ever been asked for drinks and food by males working in our house. Female hairdressers, beauticians and nail technicians have never asked for anything.

@LadyCatStark of course it's not to actuall get a slice of cake, more for him to experience the 'why the fuck woukd I do that?' moment that the OP had

I would offer if they were doing a whole days work. Maybe not if they just were doing an hour or 2. If he said it the way you said with no please either - that would piss me off though - CF!

@cittabassa

I agree with all WombatChocolate's posts.

Me too!

I actually have a degree in a male dominated trade profession but I'm not British and did my schooling in Scandinavian country. I don't work in this field anymore but when I did, there really wasn't any culture of feeding us trade people. It went without saying you took your flask and own supplies with you, no matter if you worked in a building site or in someone's home. We were tought that you take pride in your work and finish to the standard that you are proud of for years to come. It had nothing to do with how many bacon sarnies the customer may feed you. I am embarrassed for those tradespeople who whinge about lack of hospitality, never mind subsequently doing a poor job. The customer pays for your time and expertise, she's not there to fuss over you like your mum.

Many customers feel vulnerable having to let total strangers in their home and may feel anxious or shy for having the pressure to cater them too. If a disabled person needs some building work done and the builder lets them down because they didn't make sandwiches and coffees, don't you think that's exploitative?

Like so many it's the asking I'd object to. If they're good workers and especially if it's a long job I've been known to rustle up something nice but I certainly wouldn't expect to be asked

@ElizaLaLa

I wonder how many people on this thread posted that SM blurb that went something like 'To anyone struggling at the moment, please know that my door is always open

But the OP is paying for their services already

Yes I would have and wouldn't have thought anything of it

We’ve had builders in for almost 4 months.
They’ve been really hard working, polite and easy to deal with. Lovely guys, all of them.
They have their own microwave out back, to heat up stuff they bring from home, plus a kettle etc.
We’re both key workers and do shifts, so no way I could be around to make endless rounds of hot drinks for them, but whenever I go to the bakers up the road, I’ll pick up a few sausage rolls, or a bag of doughnuts for them, just to keep’em, going.
They have worked from 8-5, Monday to Friday, all day, with short breaks, in lashing rain and freezing conditions, so I guess I felt they deserved a little treat.
Not at all on a parr with a very transient tradesman asking me to make him a sandwich though 🤔

I’d have made it too! I’d have probably been a little taken aback, but I wouldn’t begrudge him a cheese sandwich. He’s clearly not shy at asking, maybe he’s saving himself a fortune getting a free lunch every day!

Tea/coffee & biscuits yes,

Sandwiches, no.

To be honest I always put on lunch if tradespeople are over during that period. It's rude imo not to so I would have (although they would have never had to ask as they would have been offered a sarnie by then)

Modern Slavery?! Where the heck have you got that from?

I'd assume from The Archers. its a currently running story line.

Wrt the point above about whether mobile hairdressers or nurses or whatever would be offered lunch, anyone in my house around lunchtime would be offered something. Its rude not to

RedHotChiliChips
My boundaries are perfectly ok thank you
If someone is spending 10 days at my house in boiling hot weather then I want them to be comfortable and do a good job .
They didn’t ask - I offered
I was happy to give them some food, let them make a cup of tea and to use my bathroom
They weren’t walking naked through the house or asking for a shag they weren’t swearing or shouting
Tradesmen are 10 a penny
But good reliable tradesmen are worth their weight in gold. And cheese sandwiches 😂

[quote trulydelicious]@ElizaLaLa

I wonder how many people on this thread posted that SM blurb that went something like 'To anyone struggling at the moment, please know that my door is always open

But the OP is paying for their services already[/quote]
Not the point really.

@C8H10N4O2

Modern Slavery?! Where the heck have you got that from?

I'd assume from The Archers. its a currently running story line.

Charities and many other organisations have been trying raise awareness of this for many years. It’s tragic. www.unseenuk.org/

Pour souls are often forced into unpaid building work or car washes, nail bars etc.

I wouldn't like someone to ask, although if I'm making something for us I will normally offer.

A bit cheeky I think and I probably would have said that I didn't have any bread.

It's a bit cheeky but maybe they were really hungry and got caught out with no food. Perhaps you live rurally. I wouldn't mind making a tradesman a sandwich at all!

@Notimeforaname

My dh is a landscaper and was cutting hedges in someones garden last week in freezing weather...it was lashing down with rain etc....the householders were at home and didnt offer him a hot drink the whole day...i just cant understand some people

Yep. There truly are some miserable bastards out there.
I will always offer food if tradespeople are in the house at lunchtime.

And will always offer a cuppa even if it's just a 20 minute repair/job.

Thank goodness for decency!

Those saying he's cheeky for "asking their customer to make them lunch" and wingeing about the expense, we're talking 2 slices of bread, a bit of butter or spread and some grated cheese, about 40p worth. How stingy can you get.

If someone’s hungry feed them.

It’s been really cold out recently, I’d have offered something warm as would appreciate the effort made to do the work. In summer I’d ask if they wanted cold drinks and a sandwich.

He was only there for two hours!! He was BU.

Maybe he was just very very hungry.