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?

I’ve never been asked for sandwiches! That’s quite rude.
I always make tea and coffee and I usually offer a twix or kitkat.
Once it was about -6 at midday and I asked the workmen in at lunchtime. They wouldn’t come into the dining room but ate their packed lunch sitting on the stairs!

Any tradesmen who come to do a job in my daughters house are practically force fed Bacon Lettuce and Tomato sandwiches .

I would have made him the sandwich but I would have only offered a hot drink and biscuits. DH works in the building trade and when we have tradesmen in he offers them rolls or sandwiches, so thinking it's something some might expect.

"To anyone struggling at the moment, please know that my door is always open. All you need to do is ask, in confidence. I will feed you or drop shopping to your door, whatever you need' when it was going around?"

I haven't posted this on my door, but when I do take food to the foodbank or help a neighbour out, I do it in my own time, not my employer's time. In the daytime, I am working, whether I have workmen round or not. I tend to compromise by making them the first coffee or tea of the day and then showing them where the kettle is. Otherwise they might have to wait a long time because I often work long hours at a stretch.

There is an assumption here than any woman who is at home has time at her disposal. I΄d be very surprised if people had the same expectations of a bloke.

Workers are welcome to any food or drink they like in my house, I wouldn't have minded

I would have been quite surprised to be asked for a sandwich, but still would have made him one because I hate the thought of someone being hungry. I would have sent DH out with it though!

We've had a fair bit of work done in our garden in the past, and I always leave a kettle in the garage, which has got its own sink etc so they can easily get more water. I leave loads of those multipacks of instant white coffee, instant hot chocolate etc (the ones with the drink already in the individual plastic cups, they're only about £1 in Home Bargains), packs of Twix, Mars, Double Deckers etc and tons of crisps.

I would have been a bit taken aback. But this is only because almost workmen that I have had in my house over recent years refuse anything I offer them.

I had an electrician/plumber in doing a lot of jobs (renovation) for months and I swear, not once did he even take a cup of tea or coffee or even use my bathroom! I would offer and he would always say, 'no thanks'. So eventually I just would say okay my kettles there, tea, coffee, sugar, milk biscuits etc help yourself but he never ever did. He used to disappear in his van a couple times a day so I guess he was eating then.

Then I had a gardener doing a bit of work over a few days at my house, he took a few coffees and biscuits but never asked for them. He did ask me for a glass of water on a particularly warm day as he'd ran out so gave him a bottle of water and a can of cold juice.

Anyways enough rambling, I would be taken aback given what I am used to above but I would have said, 'yeah of course' and made him it and threw in a packet of crisps with it. It's really not a big deal (to me) and as others have said, who knows what others are going through. If we can be kind and non judgemental then why not.

Even if he arrived at 11.30 it wouldn't bother me. It's a couple of slices of bread and cheese. So many tradespeople are struggling right now, I wouldn't see it as breaking the bank. My parents have used our electrician a number of times over the years and every time he stops at theirs for dinner (not the norm I know).

We had a new patio laid a couple of years ago - I was on holiday and offered hot drinks/biscuits mid morning and mid afternoon. The guys brought lunch and either sat in the garden if it was sunny, or ate in their van. On the final day DP was off too and offered bacon sandwiches because he was making for us - they were absolutely delighted!

Not sure I would have liked them putting in an order though.

This----> Maybe he was just very very hungry. :(

I always bake when we have workmen in. ...fresh cakes, biscuits, sausage rolls, bacon/egg/sausage sarnies on a Friday or weekend day.

They also get unlimited biscuits and tea, coffee, squash, etc, too. Didn't realise this wasn't normal until I came in here as its what my mum always did. I even sometimes make them stuff to take home, eg, apple pie.

I also offer a takeaway coffee/tea to take with them when we've had people bring us a big delivery, eg, kitchen cupboards, firewood, etc.

@Hurtandupset2

I always bake when we have workmen in. ...fresh cakes, biscuits, sausage rolls, bacon/egg/sausage sarnies on a Friday or weekend day.

They also get unlimited biscuits and tea, coffee, squash, etc, too. Didn't realise this wasn't normal until I came in here as its what my mum always did. I even sometimes make them stuff to take home, eg, apple pie.

I also offer a takeaway coffee/tea to take with them when we've had people bring us a big delivery, eg, kitchen cupboards, firewood, etc.

@corythatwas

"To anyone struggling at the moment, please know that my door is always open. All you need to do is ask, in confidence. I will feed you or drop shopping to your door, whatever you need' when it was going around?"

I haven't posted this on my door, but when I do take food to the foodbank or help a neighbour out, I do it in my own time, not my employer's time. In the daytime, I am working, whether I have workmen round or not. I tend to compromise by making them the first coffee or tea of the day and then showing them where the kettle is. Otherwise they might have to wait a long time because I often work long hours at a stretch.

There is an assumption here than any woman who is at home has time at her disposal. I΄d be very surprised if people had the same expectations of a bloke.

I'm glad someone else has pointed this out. I've had engineers round recently. I let them in, offer a tea or coffee then get back to work. I can just see me telling a meeting I'm chairing to carry on without me while I make food for someone working that so happens to be in my house

Has anyone suggested this may have been slghtly flirtatious - the way it was expressed. Either way he was definately testing your boundaries.Seeing what he could get away with. It seems surprising to me that home-owners are being so compliant with people they are paying to do a job. My attitude would be you are here to do a job not socialise and most adults expect to make their own eating and drinking arrangements in working hours. You are not running a canteen. But then I am anti-social and poor , certainly poorer than most trades people. Or it seems anyone here - all my cheese or bacon sandwiches are nubered and accounted for.

Several years ago my HA landlords arranged to have double glazing fitted in my flat. It was a very hot September day so the fitters could get on without interruption. It is a converted Victorian property so adjustments had to be made to the window frames and I could see it was hard work. I did offer drinks when I made some for myself, maybe biscuits too. But my main concern was not to be in the same room they were working on and to keep my relatively new kitten safe and reassured in his basket. I did take advantage of the weather to wash all my curtains and get them on the line so I was not just sitting there. At lunch time the head man of about 4 or 5 did ask if there were any shops close by. This is in a city suburb there are shops, cafes pubs, takeaways of all descriptions 2 minutes drive away . They had vehicles I do not. They probably passed them as they drove in. I ignored the hint. Even if they did not want to stop work they could have sent their lad apprentice for supplies. I was not leaving my flat that day for any reason until it was secure, it is ground floor and in a dodgy area. /Also not my business to feed strange men.

On the 'my door is always open to hungry business'. Seriously? Herabouts at any time of day or night I could go 2 minutes into the street and meet hungry desperate drug or alcohol addicts who will happily take anything I offer and move into my flat to at the first sign of sympathy or weakness.

And on the modern slavery thing, you do know they are forced to work in many places and types of job. But I doubt anyone in that situation would either be working alone or have the confidence or English to ask directly for food in that way. Again I am sure I see them every day here, like wise forced prostitutes actually used this house controlled by druggie gangs and they would test boundaries by asking for innocuous items to see if they can get in somehow. So I am astonished at the trusting nature of so many replies. And yes, I did phone the police repeatedly.

nubered = numbered

I enjoy baking and as long as they're doing a good job I have no problems with offering a drink every time I'm making one for myself. If they're here longer than a day or 2 I set up a kettle, selection of hot and cold drinks, mugs, milk, sugar, etc, and tub of biscuits in another room/garage for them to use.

Don't see what's about doing that.

It could have been banter...I've had loads of tradesmen working in my house over the years and none of them have ever asked for food. I usually only ever make them tea/coffee/cold drinks, if I am making rolls I sometimes ask them. I really doesn't bother me, I like to treat them well I usually get a better job because of it.

@Hurtandupset2

I enjoy baking and as long as they're doing a good job I have no problems with offering a drink every time I'm making one for myself. If they're here longer than a day or 2 I set up a kettle, selection of hot and cold drinks, mugs, milk, sugar, etc, and tub of biscuits in another room/garage for them to use.

Don't see what's about doing that.

Need any work doing?

At least he didn't dare take a shit in your toilet, eh

It starts off with coffee and a sandwich, the next thing you've had your house renovated for nothing and you end up marrying him.

I would have made him one for his cheekiness
But brews I offer to anyone. Working in the road outside my house? Brew
Car broken down? Brew
If someone doesn't drink hot drinks I'm er. Help!?
I've even made toast for the police before she came to my house and said how nice it smelt and she was looking forward to finally eating. Offered her a cup of tea and toast and she said yes after sticking her head in the kitchen to check it wasn't a pit

No, I wouldn't. He was very cheeky. I would bring a hot drink and some biscuits and say "sorry no bread left".

I honestly don't see the difference between a few biscuits and a sandwich.

I would make him the sandwich and then when he hands over the bill, look him straight in the eye and say ‘minus the fiver for the sandwich’. Then have the argument if need be but hopefully it will get it through to him that it’s inappropriate.