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....?

You come to my house, at my invitation (and sometimes not even that is required) - I offer you a hot drink, at the very least.

This is not British. These are the rules of human civilisation since the dawn of time...

I curious for those who have cleaners, do you make them tea?
I don’t have a cleaner at home but I without a shadow of a doubt offer a them a brew , especially if I was brewing up for myself.

We have a cleaner at work and she is always asked if she wants a cup of tea and is included when someone is making the tea and coffee for the team. Everyone from the manager down makes and offers a drink for visitors in the building. Visitors are usually at our place for a meeting or particular activity so it’s not like a large city office or anything.
We are also Northerners so there’s always plenty of tea in!

Of course you offer. You will find they will also go the extra mile for you in return. Tell your DH that and he might take a different view. I work for a plumbing and heating company and I know that to be true.

@RantyAunty

I curious for those who have cleaners, do you make them tea?

When I did, it was for times I was out of the house at work. But they were always welcome to make themselves a cup of tea (and always invited to).

I lived in Australia for a time, and any time we had a tradie in the house I would offer them a cup of tea (or coffee) - they invariably looked at me like I had grown a second head and said no.

Don't think it's a thing there, but surely your husband has been living in the UK long enough to know tea is essentially a second currency here?

Absolutely agree that it's about showing kindness and generosity to visitors, regardless of the purpose of their visit. We offer something to drink, have tea/coffee / water to hand.

We also point out that they are welcome to use the loo (off the hall, close to front door, nowhere near where we will be). Anyone staying longer than a few hours is down the kettle and where to find things. If the are outside or whatever, own kettle and supplies.

Even at work, the people who claim to be 'too good/busy to make tea' have been replaced (at every level, even in the upper echelons) by those with the 'show by your actions that you treat people decently' approach

@JumperJump

YABU, if they want tea why don’t they bring a thermos? Your husband is correct.

No he isn't correct. He is rude and mean spirited.

[quote SoItWas]This just popped into my head, even Boris knows you bring tea to people working outdoors on a cold day

[/quote] Haha! They used the mini eggs builder's mug.

On which point people have mugs just for workmen which is proof that you absolutely 100% offer drinks to them

I think it’s actually against the law not to offer.

your husband is wrong I'm Australian and I've always offered drinks to workman its the right thing to do

I curious for those who have cleaners, do you make them tea?

My cleaner doesn't drink tea or coffee, but it took me months to be able to stop myself offering her one, if I was in the house when she came.

I think it's probably written in the magna carta somewhere.
Tea or other suitable hot beverage must be offered to workman.

Very mean spirited DH!

I don’t drink tea, it’s revolting.

You must feel great for having added that bit extra to your comment.

I like "revolting" tea.

[quote SoItWas]This just popped into my head, even Boris knows you bring tea to people working outdoors on a cold day

[/quote] I loved this clip when it was on the news. His random assortment of mugs is funny. However he’s left the tea bags in and not given teaspoons.

Open door, two mins of hello, offer tea and biscuits, discuss job in hand.

If they're working all day and I'm upstairs WFH or going out to work I'll show them where stuff is and tell them to help themselves for further drinks. If only a couple of hours I'll make more cups as required.

Your DH sees tea making as beneath him and sees those workers as beneath him.

If he went to an office for an interview etc, would he not expect to be offered a drink?

I'm Australian, and I always offer. I know that my mum does too, as did both my grandmothers, though tradies do tend to bring their own stuff with them. I find the main thing they appreciate is the offer of chilled water in our blast-furnace summer months.

He's a lazy dickhead. I'm Australian - always offer a drink if a tradesman is here for more than a couple of hours.
When I was pregnant and at home one cold and wet Melbourne winter and we were extending the house, I'd heat up the builder's lunches in the microwave or oven and they'd sit at the kitchen table and eat.