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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not allow the plasterer to play his radio?

417 replies

Shedbuilder · 13/07/2021 10:22

I have a plasterer booked for four days of fiddly work all over the house, repairing the mess left by the so-called specialist fitters we paid a small fortune to install triple glazing —but I'm not going there!

We both work from home and around us we have other households with people working from home and noise-sensitive older people. It's a hot day and our windows are open because it's hot and to keep the air moving just in case of Covid. So when he arrived yesterday with his giant radio we nipped the problem in the bud early on and said sorry, both working from home, both need to be able to think and make calls without background noise — no radio. Which he glumly accepted. Today he's had a brief conversation with us about how tedious his work is without music in the background, so we suggested he use his phone and some earbuds. But no, he doesn't want to run out of data and he doesn't have earbuds.

We've ordered some cheap earbuds and we'll see if we can rig up some kind of free wifi connection for him tomorrow, but he's really huffy and I'm wondering whether we'll see him again tomorrow. He's a good plasterer and we've waited two months to get him. Are we being unreasonable?

Yes = we are unreasonable
No = we're no unreasonable

OP posts:
Leedsfan247 · 14/07/2021 18:27

Why does it have to be ear buds the phone comes with free (wired) headphones

Gwenhwyfar · 14/07/2021 18:40

@Leedsfan247

Why does it have to be ear buds the phone comes with free (wired) headphones
How do you know what his phone came with?
Mindfullness · 14/07/2021 18:52

I think it comes across as mean to be honest. I'm surprised he didn't tell you where to stick your job!

LadyPoison · 14/07/2021 18:56

I don't allow trades to play their music in my home so no I don't think you are being unreasonable.

He's being paid to do a job.

TheSaucepanMan · 14/07/2021 19:02

YANBU I have never understood why some workmen feel it necessary to blast out their radios on a job. We had our fence replaced and I came home to the radio on so loud the neighbour across from us had had to ask to turn it down because her baby was sleeping.

What's wrong with earphones, imagine if I went to work and said sorry I need background noise then whacked up my radio to please myself without any social awareness.

So many of us really enjoy some peace and quiet in a very noisy world but we're deemed very unreasonable for saying so.

onlyhereforthecake · 14/07/2021 19:02

You are not his employer! You are a client!

all the more reasons for the supplier to try to accommodate reasonable requests... That's how it works with paid clients.

AlfonsoTheMango · 14/07/2021 19:07

You are not his employer! You are a client!

If the client is paying him then, yes, she is his employer.

derxa · 14/07/2021 19:14

@ZeroFuchsGiven

People on MN are so weird about having workmen in their house. With strange toilet rules, making drinks rules and now radio rules.
Exactly. If I was that plasterer I would tell you get stuffed. Politely of course.
TiddleTaddleTat · 14/07/2021 19:16

Tbh I wouldn't even make a drama about music. Wearing a mask is a red line for me though. One window fitter kicked up a fuss and I nearly cancelled the job.

bakingdemon · 14/07/2021 19:19

YANBU. I would do the same in my house. DH and I both WFH at the moment and we are on calls constantly. We definitely could not have loud music playing all day.

ohthatbloodycat · 14/07/2021 19:19

YANBU at all! I wonder how my boss would feel if I told her that my work is boring without music Hmm

mummy203 · 14/07/2021 19:23

Lend him Bluetooth headphones

godmum56 · 14/07/2021 19:31

@mummy203

Lend him Bluetooth headphones
yick, let someone else use my headphones?
warmfluffytowels · 14/07/2021 19:46

@AlfonsoTheMango

You are not his employer! You are a client!

If the client is paying him then, yes, she is his employer.

No, she's not. He's self-employed and has chosen to do a job for OP, who is currently his client.

If she was his employer, she'd be responsible for his tax, pension and national insurance, and I presume she's doing none of that Grin

The joy of being self-employed is you can pick and choose who you choose to do work for, and you can also set your own prices, conditions and methods of work. If clients don't like that, they're free to go and find someone else.

mummy203 · 14/07/2021 19:51

Yep good point 😬

MasterBeth · 14/07/2021 19:53

I’m amazed at some people’s attitudes on here. The OP seems to be bending over backwards to accommodate the plasterer’s “need” to listen to the radio in HER HOUSE!

Zlk02 · 14/07/2021 19:54

No, when you enter a client’s house you respect the environment you are working in.

If it’s an empty house, or nobody is working, fine. Play your music. But it’s basic manners to at least ask.

You wouldn’t just presume to play your own music in any other work environment, would you? I don’t know who workmen seem to assume this is their god-given right.

If people are working, then show some respect. The world does not revolve around you and your job. If they can’t grasp that, then bugger off. Similarly if people are ill; or have children who need to sleep - or whatever. Show some basic awareness and respect when you enter someone else’s environment.

MasterBeth · 14/07/2021 19:55

@RampantIvy

I don't understand why radio noise would affect Teams/Zoom calls. We all use headsets with microphones, and outside noise can't be heard. I know because I have tested this Grin

So, why don't you and your DP use headsets with microphones @Shedbuilder?

Because it’s HER HOUSE THAT SHE IS PAYING HER CONTRACTOR TO WORK IN.
onlyhereforthecake · 14/07/2021 19:56

Even my kids know to keep the noise down when I am working. I am sure that's not beyond the reach of a normal adult paid to fix some things in your house.

TatianaBis · 14/07/2021 19:57

Exactly. If I was that plasterer I would tell you get stuffed. Politely of course.

If you were the plasterer I would tell you to get stuffed. Politely of course.

My house, my terms, take them or leave them. Never been turned down, but I have fired people.

Chattercino · 14/07/2021 20:03

Are people really this rude to tradesmen?! Of course he should be allowed his radio on low. If that means carting it around then that's his choice. So embarrassed that you've bought his earbuds Confused

LadyPoison · 14/07/2021 20:11

My house, my terms, take them or leave them. Never been turned down, but I have fired people

Same here - we had a massive extension built with the builders in for 5 months. The only one who disregarded my request for no radios was (ironically) the plasterer. I told him to leave.

The contractor sent a different one the next day.

I can't believe people accept the entitlement! Many on here say they hate it but are too afraid to say anything. It's time the whole culture was changed. It's safe enough to use ear phones when working inside in a private house so no excuse for not doing so and those big outside radios are so anti social.

skodadoda · 14/07/2021 20:14

It's one of those huge construction-worker's radios
Probably playing stuff you hate very loudly. If you’re working then YANBU.

Lovely13 · 14/07/2021 20:36

Yes it’s your house and your rules. But good tradespeople are like gold dust. So I would indulge him and his radio. Esp as your last one didn’t work out. May get him working faster and out of your way sooner. Perhaps you could find a quietish cafe with internet nearby to work from for couple of days?

mathanxiety · 14/07/2021 20:43

Because it’s HER HOUSE THAT SHE IS PAYING HER CONTRACTOR TO WORK IN.

If there is no practical problem then that ^^ is just silliness.