Tea for workmen

[Givemecoffeeplease]

We've had a team of workmen round to trim hedges in our garden. It's a cold, grey day. I'm on work calls so I ask my husband to make them a cup of tea (this is Britain.. tea flows in our veins.). When I go downstairs, he hasn't made them tea saying 'I'm not a maid to make tea for every Tom, Dick and Harry who comes to our house.'

Husband is Australian, so perhaps doesn't understand the culture of making tea, at any time, for any reason, but ALWAYS for guests and workmen/women especially on a cold January day. I make them tea, take it outside, start inevitable small talk about the weather. They drink the tea, do an awesome job, and leave.

Is he BU for not making tea? Or am I a British cliché....?

I don’t drink tea, it’s revolting. But I always offer a hot drink including tea, and water. It’s only right to ask.

I always offer.

You don't have to be British to be hospitable. Your dh is a prick.

I think it’s pretty common to offer a drink to workmen.

Depends how long they're there for. I wouldn't offer if it was a quick job but would offer drinks if it was builders and they were there hours.

YANBU. I think it’s part-payment for them doing a good job. Especially on a cold day.

I always offer a drink to someone coming to the house to do a job.

I’m Australian. I would do it. It’s not a culture
Thing. It’s him just not being a very nice person.

After a few hours of work it is nice to offer a brew and a biscuit.

I'm Irish and always offer tea/coffee to work men. Gave two workmen last summer a few cans of coke/ orange as it was really hot. I don't think it is an Aussie thing, we lived there for a few years and from what I remember most people were pretty generous

My Australian friends would always offer.

Always offer a brew

We keep a case of 500ml bottled waters in the garage and offer these to workmen, especially in hot weather. I think making tea or coffee opens the door to endless faffing with milk, sugar, snacks, etc. If they want those they can run to the local deli.

Thanks. It's official. He is being unreasonable (aka a rude asshole)

Yeah, we don’t drink tea or coffee with sugar but always keep it in the house for guests, workmen etc. I get through about 4 teas a day at work and I’d hate to work in someone else’s house and not have a tea break every now and then. Not offering is rude, and it’s cold, it’s the least you can do. And I’m not a MN etiquette type, I don’t tip the non men at Christmas or anything. But tea for workmen is a basic.

This is just basic courtesy surely? Plus they are doing a task that presumably is improving your home environment in some way. Your DH is being an arse.

He was being pretty tight really wasn't he. They are doing a job for you on a cold day, yes they are paid for it but it's just a cup of tea 🤷‍♀️
His reaction makes me think he felt that his male pride would be a bit dented by being the one that made the workmen their cup of tea.

Not sure which way to vote.

Your dh IBU
YANBU

Obviously you make tea for people working in your home garden for a few hours.
If it is a longer building job and they are going to be there over many days or weeks or months then set them up with their own kettle and let them get on with it, but anyone visiting my house gets offered tea or coffee.
None of my dc drink tea or coffee, but they still know it is the right thing to do, to offer it to visiting guests or people working in our house.

I've made tea for blokes who weren't even working on my property. What a tight arse to begrudge some one a 2p teabag and a splash of milk.

Always tea, plenty of it and I give biscuits, workmen are like hens teeth around here so I'd like to keep on their good side, plus it's just nice to be nice

I always offer. I would feel it incredibly rude not to. I do find people working in the garden tend to bring flasks these days. But I'd still offer.

Its an ingrained part of being British to offer coffee or tea IMO.

I think making tea or coffee opens the door to endless faffing with milk, sugar, snacks, etc
This post really made giggle.
Endless faffing?🤣🤣
Normally in our house it goes ' "fancy a brew?" Wotkman will say " oh, nice one, coffee two, white please ( or whatever) and that is literally it!

Dh always offers brews for virtually everyone who comes in the house, guests, financial advisor, decorator, any tradie.
In turn my lads copied his ( our ) example and they have offered everyone a brew since their teen years.
Perfectly normal.

I always offer a hot beverage (see me being posh 😬) and a biccy

Wow! He’s BU, and mean, and clearly thinks he’s superior to the workmen. Not attractive qualities IMO.