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!

Renovate me please

The only drinks workmen get offered are tea, coffee or water.

@LowlandLucky

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.

Ffs I hope you are joking! Just about every guy in my family is a tradesman, so I definitely don't look down on them, but making fry ups everyday, a roast on the last day? Come on, thats just cringey. They do actually have their own money you know, they can buy their own food, or make it at home! Do you do that to make yourself feel better?

I'm still shaking my head about the roast dinner. Saw my postman yesterday and wondered if that poster would invite him in for tea and cake every day!

Any tradesmen worth their salt brings their own refreshments 🙄

Tradesmen is a very old fashioned word, no? With classist connotations. ("tradesmen's entrance")

Don't think workmen is much better. Why not call people by the name of their trade?

The plumber, joiner, decorator, builder, landscaper, etc...

Have you ever had flask tea at 3 in the afternoon

No, I'm not joking.
I'd offer tea/coffee/biscuits to anyone I've invited into my home.
If I have workmen in the house at lunchtime it's only normal (to me) to give them their lunch. I'm not going to make my own and not offer them any. That's the way I was brought up.
I'm getting my car valeted just now on my driveway I've took out 2 teas and Jaffa cakes and chocolate mini rolls.😜

Blimey, I'm going to be watching Homes under the Hammer with a LOT more interest now...

@ParkheadParadise would you expect lunch to be provided at your work place? What about the postman and the binmen?
I am going to start asking the schools I visit to give me lunch!

We always offer cold drinks as well as hot as some work can make people thirsty, but at the moment during Covid we don't like sharing glasses any more than others would want to, so we normally have a few cans in when people are here. The gardener likes a beer at lunchtime too 😃 (we started it by offering him one years ago).

@MyOtherProfile
I don't work 😃 I would provide my own lunch.
If any workmen/friend/ a total stranger😂 is in my HOME I would definitely ask them if they wanted food/drink.
If the binmen/postman asked for a drink it wouldn't be a problem.

It's still their workplace though.

I feel sorry for your postie not getting a roast dinner now.

@MyOtherProfile

It's still their workplace though. I feel sorry for your postie not getting a roast dinner now.

Don't feel sorry for my postie or the binmen They get money in their Christmas cards and chocolates.😜😜

[quote MyOtherProfile]@ParkheadParadise would you expect lunch to be provided at your work place? What about the postman and the binmen?
I am going to start asking the schools I visit to give me lunch![/quote]
Yes, tell them the second you walk through the door how you like your tea or coffee, interrupt them whilst they are trying to work (you know, to pay you) to request a hot drink (because you're client/cafe staff), tell them to go the shops to pick up your favourites . Mind blowing that any one who works freelance/contract would ever expect their client to provide them with food, requested specific drink or food, their client to wait on them.

Fry up and roast dinner. Ffs

Actual hair THAT sort approach makes me think of the master/servant approach much more than not feeding the plumber, joiner or whatever

I'd be embarrassed at someone fussing around and feeding me as if I couldn't afford it

@diwrnachoflleyn I am going to have to make a list for myself

I think some of this is definitely bordering on lady of the manor type of stuff as previously mentioned. It comes over more as patronising than generous.

US here. I'm quite agog at some of this constant feeding and watering of work people while they are WORKING and being paid. Certainly would never occur to me to be constantly interrupting them (making them down tools to accept my generosity) - my house is not GOOGLE.

We have always provided a cooler especially in hot weather, of bottled water, some bottled juices if we have it, and check each day if it needs replenished. My DH will always offer a beer at the end of workday to movers. He also tips quite generously. He's much nicer than I am.

We had an Italian craftsman working on our house for many months. It took him about 4 weeks before he accepted an espresso or latte - could not resist that. After a month or so more, he started brining us figs from his tree, or treats his wife made. From then on, we'd offer treats if making them, and DH would offer him a sandwich if he was making one (rare treat) - he would accept every so often. Certainly did not expect it, and brought his own supplies. Gardeners we've always left loads of drinks, nothing else.

In Covid times, there is just no way I'd be letting them in my fridge or making use of my kitchen. If necessary, I'd put a kettle and supplies in the garage, but that's as far as it goes.

Of course, if they were here for a SexJoyRenovation, all bets are off. They can have whatever the hell they want :)

US here, too.
My mum always runs out when she hears the binmen coming up the street to offer them 4 mini Snickers bars each and a can of Coke. If they refuse she tells them to take it anyway as they might need a snack later or they can give it to a friend...she's quite insistent, my mum.🤪😜

Great. It seems that there are more Mumsnetters who offer hospitality to trades. We find that generally people are nice to us at work. The occasional one who makes themselves a cup of tea or other drink then comes out to talk about some aspect of the work without offering are in the minority but they do exist. We were working next to a Russian guy last week who popped his head over the hedge. Drink anyone? Beer/cider? Vodka? We initially declined as the work was hard and didn't want to be blurred. Eventually agreed. Out came Pint glasses of beer and some to go. Say what you like about foreigners but it was so thoughtful.

I think that l must come across as a bit of a Mother Hen who enjoys feeding her brood including any visiting Workmen, Starving or Thirsty Teenagers mates, and even the odd neighbour along the way after they suffered a kitchen fire at home!

We normally set up a Drinks and Snacks feeding station in our Utility room when we are having major work on the house done, plug in a spare kettle and a cheap toaster, leave out the drinks stuff with a supply of builders mugs, and if they work for us regularly and I know them, I will also offer Bacon Baps or Hot Sausage rolls straight from the oven at Lunchtime, or Cheese and Oinion for any Veggies amongst them!

I would have given the cold water to drink. CF’ers