Workmen drinks and snacks

[Coffedoodah]

We are having 2 workmen come to do about 4 days work at our house. My husband says they don't need anything but I'm thinking about ordering cans of drinks and snacks like biscuits and crisps. Should I be providing these things? Will the do a better job for us if I keep them well fed and watered?

So is it unreasonable to just give basic drinks or should I be getting a few things in for them? And will we get a better job done by going the extra mile for them?

I occasionally do biscuits, always do drinks

I suppose it depends if you just want your job done, or if you are one of those "whilst you're here, would it be possible to get you to just take a quick look at...." customers

That was at @HalzTingz. I did quote, but it's not showing for some reason!

I would usually make banana bread and cappuccinos / tea. I don’t really provide lunch as they tend to go out for that.

I let the last lot of workmen help themselves to tea and coffee.
As it became warmer, I offered them cans of fizzy drinks too, which they loved. Kitkats were occasionally accepted but not always.
They went through a months worth of cans in the week they were here, but they offered to do a couple of extra small jobs which needed doing, and didn’t charge us for them, so we were all happy.

We have them for 4 weeks. Various builders and tradesmen diff days.
I did a box up filled with biscuits, tea coffee sugar. Juice and brought some. Mugs for 50p in asda for them to use (most of ours are packed as it's a kitchen renovation)
I've also brought them cakes when I've gone shopping.
They're loving it haha

I’m 9 months into a renovation. Tbh at this stage, I occasionally, if I remember, ask if anyone would like tea. Almost always the answer has been no. Ice lollies are always accepted.

I don’t offer anything else, as they take everything. Plus, everyone goes off site at 10.30 and 1pm anyway.

(Ps I don’t disagree with the ‘the nicer you are the worse the job’, we have found (and been told by tradesmen) that we are too nice and need to be meaner!!! I think sometimes people can think about we are pushovers, which we absolutely are not, but rather will vote with our feet)

As a tradesperson it's always nice when someone offers us a drink. Access to the kettle is great. Squash or water on a hot day is lovely too.

Some customers offered biscuits or cake and some have got us bacon rolls, nothing is expected though.

One customer didn't offer anything but we still did a good job, its odd if people really do better or worse jobs depending on the drinks or snacks on offer.

So a pack of hobnobs, some cold cans of drink, squash, water and coffee/tea are all pretty normal but more than that isn't expected or needed. I have also ordered some air freshener and strong toilet cleaner for the downstairs loo and some paper hand towel I have fear of what they could do to my toilet seeing as I have seen Mumsnet posts saying they don't allow tradespeople to use their toilet!

We always offer tea/coffee and biscuits to workmen. When we had an extension and a tram of builders in for months I always made sausage/ bacon baps on a Friday which went down really well.

Get plenty of sugar in. All the workmen we have hired have been like wasps drinking tea that's 50% sugar.

DH likes to treat them to bacon sarnies. He's a nicer person than me.

I leave coffee, tea and milk out and a packet of biscuits and let them help themselves. I wouldn't buy cans.

@dannydyerismydad

Get plenty of sugar in. All the workmen we have hired have been like wasps drinking tea that's 50% sugar.

DH likes to treat them to bacon sarnies. He's a nicer person than me.

That's a good point we don't take sugar so have a limit amount apart from caster and soft brown for cake making. It's on the shopping order now thank you

I'm sure cold canned drinks or even ice lollies would be really well received at this time of year :)

YABU. If it's really hot or freezing cold I would offer a cold or hot drink, but I wouldn't be making loads of cups of tea/coffee and providing snacks throughout the day. They are there to do a job and will (or should, at any rate) bring their own lunch with them.

We would usually offer a cup of tea or coffee but that's about it.

Always do drinks, tea/coffee/water/juice per their preference. Usually put out biscuits if I have them. If I make a cake, they get offered a slice.

We've lived in the same place a long time, and have used some of the same workmen repeatedly, and I have been known to offer those ones lunch (never been taken up on it though).

Tea, water, ice cream if hot but nothing else. Most expect tea and water.

It's only relevant if you're getting your joysex renovated

I had workmen, never offered anything as I was out working. They did an amazing job so it’s not dependent I don’t think!

We've had workmen round last week, the odd cup of tea and a big jug of squash have both gone down very well.

We've just had builders in - access to kettle, tea and coffee etc a definite.

We had a few hot days so offered ice creams and cold drinks/cans which were appreciated!

It's not a children's party, cans of pop and crisps, seriously?!

I'd offer them a cup of tea but that would be it. Surely grown adults are capable of taking some sandwiches with them to a job

They'll probably turn up around 10:00/11:00, have a drink, then some lunch and be gone by 2:30 anyway

@violetbunny

It's only relevant if you're getting your joysex renovated

I don't need one renovated I need one building.

@TailFeatherz

It's not a children's party, cans of pop and crisps, seriously?!

I'd offer them a cup of tea but that would be it. Surely grown adults are capable of taking some sandwiches with them to a job

They'll probably turn up around 10:00/11:00, have a drink, then some lunch and be gone by 2:30 anyway

Do I need to take the pink wafers, party rings and chocolate fingers off the order then? I like the idea if the party perhaps we can do lunch time musical chairs