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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:
FortVictoria · 14/07/2021 23:15

You sound like a really nice employer - ordering him the earbuds, supplying fruit and biscuits, and taking his lunch order. Your request was not unreasonable. I would love to work for you!!

Original poster
Shedbuilder · 14/07/2021 23:24

That's very kind of you.

OP posts:
Localocal · 15/07/2021 02:42

Earbuds and your Wi-Fi. You arew being completely reasonable. He is not a guest in your house or doing you a favour. He is doing paid work for you and his fee is all you owe him. He is being very rude asserting that his right to entertainment trumps your ability to work.

MumsMeaningfulMayhem · 15/07/2021 04:50

Your house, your rules.
Simple.

Tzimi · 15/07/2021 05:32

@ScrollingLeaves

No you are not but the ear-buds and wi fi are a good idea or buy him a good quality mini radio small enough for a pocket as a good will gesture. I can see he uses the radio for his flow.
Those little pocket radios with ear buds are good, although the reception may be a bit patchy as he moves around in the house. I use an MP3 player, which is great, as I can load it with my own favourite music, and it plays for hours. I just clip mine into my shirt neck opening.
Snoringturtle · 15/07/2021 06:34

I think it’s so rude to blast music out all day in to someone else’s home/work space. People are talking to clients all day via Zoom in my house and I need to work to pay the trades people.

There seems to be a different set of rules because they have a waiting list or are in demand? What happened to basic consideration for other people?

Tam20779 · 15/07/2021 07:17

@unsure111

How is he going to do his work and hold a Ipad? Are the earphones connected via bluetooth?
Yes, That is exactly how earbuds work. They connect by Bluetooth.
Mollymoostoo · 15/07/2021 09:27

YANBU. You are working from home and he is being paid to do a job.
The quicker he gets it done the better.
Don't let him use your WiFi, he might download a ton of box sets just to be an arse.

Our next door neighbour had their garden done and it took 3 months, I was working from home teaching online and they were singing, swearing and playing music. When we complained they turned the music up. I told the neighbors and they were mortified, but the workmen behaved as if they had the right to do what they want. Funnily enough, noone else has hired them and we have a neighborhood of families that often hire workers who have done jobs on other houses.

RampantIvy · 15/07/2021 09:30

Whenever we have had workmen in the house they have alwasy asked if they could use a radio, and in some cases I have voluntarily provided my (rarely used) radio for them to use.

We had some fencing done in the garden last month, and they brought a huge radio to play while they worked. Fortunately DH's office is at the front of the house, and I was out all day, so it didn't bother anyone.

ancientgran · 15/07/2021 09:33

@Snoringturtle

I think it’s so rude to blast music out all day in to someone else’s home/work space. People are talking to clients all day via Zoom in my house and I need to work to pay the trades people.

There seems to be a different set of rules because they have a waiting list or are in demand? What happened to basic consideration for other people?

What if they aren't blasting music out? You know just listening at a reasonable level?
Bluebelle100 · 15/07/2021 10:16

He may do a better job if he can have his music on......

Angrywife · 15/07/2021 13:05

Thank heavens for your electrician. At least he's got some sense unlike a lot on here!

jugOFpimms · 15/07/2021 13:34

your paying him to do a job & he's acting like a child over his radio, well crack on with the job mate ! Whats wrong with people being so entitled,hes not doing you a favour .

Thevoiceofreason2021 · 15/07/2021 13:38

He is in someone else’s home and needs to respect that.

Snoringturtle · 15/07/2021 14:01

What if they aren't blasting music out? You know just listening at a reasonable level?

I don’t know what anyone would consider a reasonable level given some people would have an argument in an empty room.

It just shows that there is a huge variation with other people’s opinions about basic manners and consideration, especially since lots of us are working from home in already difficult situations.

ancientgran · 15/07/2021 14:27

@Snoringturtle

What if they aren't blasting music out? You know just listening at a reasonable level?

I don’t know what anyone would consider a reasonable level given some people would have an argument in an empty room.

It just shows that there is a huge variation with other people’s opinions about basic manners and consideration, especially since lots of us are working from home in already difficult situations.

But the automatic assumption seems to be it will be blasting out, OP stopped him before he even put the music on. Maybe give people a chance?
ancientgran · 15/07/2021 14:28

@MumsMeaningfulMayhem

Your house, your rules. Simple.
Except that he is perfectly at liberty to go and work elsewhere. OP might be happy with that or she might not want to spend time finding another good plasterer and waiting until he has time to do the job.

I think some people would be happy to introduce slavery for those they consider beneath them.

IntermittentParps · 15/07/2021 14:49

Well, I'm glad it's resolved, OP, but honestly you've been too nice and generous.

buy him a good quality mini radio small enough for a pocket as a good will gesture. I can see he uses the radio for his flow.
Fuck's sake. No wonder he was stropping and sulking about if he knows there are mugs like this around.

user1478939671 · 16/07/2021 04:35

I thought you were being unreasonable at first until you explained the scenario. Perhaps you could suggest cutting his money to replace the money you will be losing if you can't work then he can listen to his precious radio all day long? Childish nonsense.

user1478939671 · 16/07/2021 04:36

@IntermittentParps

Well, I'm glad it's resolved, OP, but honestly you've been too nice and generous.

buy him a good quality mini radio small enough for a pocket as a good will gesture. I can see he uses the radio for his flow.
Fuck's sake. No wonder he was stropping and sulking about if he knows there are mugs like this around.

I agree. How old is he, four? Are four year olds allowed to plaster?
user1478939671 · 16/07/2021 04:40

@Bluebelle100

He may do a better job if he can have his music on......
Oh bless his soul! And you would say the same if he was working in a funeral parlour?
user1478939671 · 16/07/2021 04:43

@Longtimeagonow46

YANBU OP. And I agree with *@strawberrydonuts*

We had a carpet fitter here once fitting a new stair carpet. Brought his large and loud radio and had it on full blast on our landing. My son has autism and is really sensitive to loud and sudden sounds and was really upset by the noise and the got a bit huffy when I politely explained and asked him to turn it down a bit. I do find it entitled in a way to just show up with loud music and assume it's ok for the homeowner. A quick "do you mind if I play some music?" is all it takes to be considerate, and to keep it to a reasonable volume.

Snap! I can't bear too much secondary noise. I expect the people who think this is fine are the type who have parties during the week at 3am and sod everyone else.
Ddot · 16/07/2021 09:17

Ah bless him I can't do it without his musie woosie

KormasABitch · 16/07/2021 09:35

The vote seems to be split between those who find builder's arse (and everything else that goes with it) attractive and those who don't 🤣

Blossomtoes · 16/07/2021 09:41

I expect the people who think this is fine are the type who have parties during the week at 3am and sod everyone else

I expect people who think this is fine are the type who’ve employed a lot of trades in their time and understand it’s par for the course.

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