AIBU about workmen’s cold drinks

[Ladyofmainlyleisure]

We are having new windows and a front door fitted.
I was out all day with the dog, but when I returned DP said he’d got some cold drinks in for the fitters, as they had been asking for them.
They had been offered and had drunk many cups of tea and coffee, but apparently wanted cold drinks too.
We have lemon squash in the house which they could drink, but they wanted coke and fruit juices.

My DP went to the shop and purchased Coke and Oasis for them.

My thoughts are: they’ve had hot drinks and a suitable cold drink has been offered.
If my DP can go to the shop and purchase drinks, why can’t they?

They worked 9-5 today and will do approx 9-1 tomorrow and we live in a small city, so not long days away from civilisation!

I know it’s not the end of the world, but requesting specific drinks, that we wouldn’t have in the house otherwise, seems a bit much!

Definitely offer tea and coffee and squash, plus a packet of custard creams. Keeps them happy and costs me very little. I wouldn't take separate orders though.

But then I've never had my joysex renovated either.

I never offer anything unless they have been around doing a long job and I've gotten to know them. They are tradesmen, in to do a job, not guests or small children. I do not feel obliged to feed and water them.

But I do pay them, in whatever form they prefer, immediately and with no messing about, which I have been told by several is preferable to cups of tea.

@Localocal

I never offer anything unless they have been around doing a long job and I've gotten to know them. They are tradesmen, in to do a job, not guests or small children. I do not feel obliged to feed and water them.

But I do pay them, in whatever form they prefer, immediately and with no messing about, which I have been told by several is preferable to cups of tea.

Exactly. If I'm not in, they have to look after themselves, bring their own food/drink etc. They should be prepared for that as they won't know whether the householder is in or not.

I used to have a job involving visiting offices/business for a few days at a time. I never "assumed" they'd provide drinks etc. We'd take our own flasks, bottles of water, packed lunch, etc. Pretty sure workmen do the same.

I thought of this thread when I saw my neighbour had supplied tea and biscuits to the men working on a hole in the road yesterday. Admittedly she takes kindness to a new level but I can’t conceive of having someone in my house and not offering them a cup of tea @Localocal. I didn’t realise the lady of the manor looking down on tradesmen attitude still existed.

The endless hatred and snobbery about 'workmen' on here is amazing.

derxa

The endless hatred and snobbery about 'workmen' on here is amazing How so?

@RLABC

derxa

The endless hatred and snobbery about 'workmen' on here is amazing How so?

You need it explained? Read Localocal’s post. MN has a blue fit if a work man asks to use their loo. And the references to “tradesmen” like Poundland ladies of the manor.

Look after your trades and they will look after you. I often have to visit offices in my job and a loo and kettle and biscuits are always offered. Why do some Mumsnetters so often look down on trades. Simple hospitality and civility. The upside being that if they waste less time disappearing for drinks/ the loo, they give you more time.

ParkheadParadise Must be Scottish trait, i would be mortified if on hot day i didn't have cold drinks in the fridge to give to anyone that visited my house. I had workmen in for 3 weeks and they were fed every day and on the last day i cooked them a roast to say thank you for the fantastic job they had done. I did find that when i lived in the south for many decades that many ( not all) treated workmen like dirt, some seemed to become power pissed when they had workmen in, almost like they were Lords and Lady's from bygone days ordering serf's around. Basic hospitality seems to be missing.

I'm having my rear garden renovated at the moment. I must ask if they can do my joysex as well. They hadn't mentioned it but it must be old and in need of a makeover.

I really can't imagine anyone cooking the guys a roast! That's quite OTT I think.

@LowlandLucky
Me too
As soon as any workmen arrive I've got the kettle on.
I wouldn't have workmen in my house all day without giving them lunch. It only takes 15 mins to serve up a fry-up for lunch. (a Scottish fry up) 😂😂😂

@jontyl

Look after your trades and they will look after you. I often have to visit offices in my job and a loo and kettle and biscuits are always offered. Why do some Mumsnetters so often look down on trades. Simple hospitality and civility. The upside being that if they waste less time disappearing for drinks/ the loo, they give you more time.

Money isn't enough? They're not guests. It's not looking down on people you pay to provide a service if you don't also offer restaurant service .

@derxa

The endless hatred and snobbery about 'workmen' on here is amazing.

It's hatred and snobbery to provide tea, coffee and water in a workplace?

@riceuten

Frankly, as long as the workmen are happy, watered and fed, they will do good work.

Mumsnetters has a bizarre attitude towards workmen. They don't want them to use toilets, drink and eat or listen to the radio. Or make noise. They just magically want work to be done noiselessly by silent and compliant workers making zero demands.

I work for money, I don't expect my employer to provide me with food or specific drinks and the fuck I'd get away with blasting music and subjecting my client to my taste in music. What's the difference? How's it a bizarre attitude to expect adults you hire to do a job to do it without offering them restaurant service or being subjected to their music?

Since when has a cup of tea been restaurant service? This is thread that keeps on giving.

No-ones calling 'a cup of tea' restaurant service, but those providing fry ups, roast dinners and a choice of drinks and snacks delivered at will from the shop, rather than normal provision of tea, coffee, water and cordial or biscuits if you have any in.

@Alsohuman

Since when has a cup of tea been restaurant service? This is thread that keeps on giving.

It isn't. The OP offered tea, coffee, water and lemon squash. Apparently, that's not enough according to some posters.

@BarbaraofSeville

No-ones calling 'a cup of tea' restaurant service, but those providing fry ups, roast dinners and a choice of drinks and snacks delivered at will from the shop, rather than normal provision of tea, coffee, water and cordial or biscuits if you have any in.

Yep, and stating that you need to do so or you're a snob, hate tradespeople, need to keep them on side, they won't provide as good a service without such, etc.

I must be one of those snobby MNetters...

Last time we had work done I didn't even realise that offering food was a thing? I offered hot drinks and obviously use of toilet/kitchen sink/kettle etc

@LovePoppy

I do not understand the uk tradition of feeding all the builders. It’s insanity to me to keep them full of tea and food

Agree. I used to work visiting clients' homes and can't imagine expecting them to give me food (or drinks, tbh). Always made sure I brought something to eat and drink, duh. What if they don't have anything in, are veggie, eat stuff I don't like, etc. Common sense.

If we have work done I set out a kettle and provide tea, coffee, milk sugar, water and biscuits on a table, tell them to help themselves and where the loo is.

Blasting music? No, DH works from home.

We have workmen in at the moment. Between 2-4 since Monday. I told them to help themselves to anything they wanted, but let them know I wouldn’t be running around after them.
They have gone through 12 can on 7Up as well as 4 small carton of juice. That would have normally lasted us a month. But I don’t mind. I told them to help themselves and they are doing a hot dusty job for me.
Once it’s gone though, I won’t be replacing it,
COVID 19 means that I just wipe down everything they’ve touched and wash extra cups and glasses. No extra work really as I have to wipe away all the dust every night any way.
Boring radiator being fitted here, no joysex renovations

We had a fence and gate put up recently and when I was around I offered them 'nice' biscuits, crisps and drinks, including juice but I work and have very tight timings I.e get back from work, 10 minutes in the house, set off for school pick up. They were gone by the time I had come back from the school. If you are around all day to cook lunches great but I actually have to earn money to pay for the work!!

I am planning on having a fence and gate replaced this summer. I've been worrying whether the biscuits I offer should be individually wrapped because of Covid, Penguins or Clubs, and not touching things directly or a plate with biscuits arranged in a nice pattern. They'll get offered tea or coffee and shown where the kettle is for future drinks they might want. I like lemon barley water so that'll be offered too.

I've not forgotten the roofing team many years ago who tapped on the window and made tea making signals at me when they wanted drinks.

i’m having my front door and windows replaced as we speak (still negotiating with the landlord re the necessary touch-ups needed for my joysex). they’ve had coffees made for them, which is frankly miraculous as i hate making people hot drinks.

they’re doing a fabulous job tho. maybe i should offer to cater a small drinks reception for them with a string quartet and a finger (fnarr) buffet? anyone providing fry-ups, a selection of cakes and pastries or bespoke drinks packages are out of their minds.