AIBU to feel uncomfortable after builder helped himself to fridge drinks?

[Furrypaws18]

So we have builders in, everyday I give them pop, biscuits- on hot days lollies and a bacon butty on a Friday. They have toilet access/tea/coffee facilities readily available . I have purposely avoided access to my fridge so everything is out separately.
After thinking we were going through lots of drinks/snacks etc my husband decided to install a camera, to find the assistant looking through fridge and taking 2 cans for the journey home, so we think it’s been a habit. It felt like a violation. Problem is the job is otherwise going quite well, the gaffer is very respectful of the house and toilet etc but feel a bit like a soft touch now.
Boss 99% has no idea because it’s always been after he’s left. Don’t want to sour the job/their relationship etc but want him to know it wasn’t acceptable without a big showdown. Would also like to use them again, but the trust is tarnished. It’s only been drinks/food I think but still feels like a liberty. Am I being dramatic, have I given the impression it was ok? 🤔

They probably assumed it was okay if you’ve been bringing them out to them.

I’d let it go and in future set up a cooler outside for them so there’s no confusion

It is a violation. It’s theft. And I’d stop with offering anything now.
and id let them know I have cameras installed

I’d put a note in the fridge saying something like “hey we have seen you taking extra cans, the ones in the side are for you but please not these ones. We wont tell your boss thanks.”

Put a very clear sign on the fridge saying the contents of this fridge are not for the builders and there is a camera watching you. The boss won't see it as he's not stealing but those who are Will be mortified.

YANBU, you’ve already been generous with what you’ve been offering. Going through your fridge is just taking the piss.

You are right to feel annoyed, but it’s so so hard (near impossible) to get good builders that turn up and do a good job, I honestly wouldn’t jeopardise it because the assistant has helped himself to a can of pop. Stop leaving extra in the fridge and hopefully the build is finished quickly

I do understand annoyance of it.

Just put a sign of the fridge saying not for their use. If they carry on after tell their boss.

Very irritating.

But if they are otherwise doing a grand job, I would be grateful for that and leave it. Either stop leaving cans in the fridge or just let it go. It's just pop.

I wouldn't be making them sandwiches though. I think that's a bit ridiculous tbh.

I think I'd let it go.

Could it be crossed wires, if you leave out tea and coffee and tell them to help themselves and also bring them cold drinks it’s maybe not a massive stretch for them to think you meant they could take cold drinks out the fridge? Maybe. Depends what you’ve said. It’s a bit cheeky otherwise tho. Or possibly could one have said to the other that you said drinks are inside and to help themselves and it’s been lost in translation? However good builders are hard to find so I think I’d probably do as pp said and put a cooler out and then a post it note on the drinks in the fridge ‘ oi no!!’ Type thing. The next set of builders might not go in your fridge but do shit work and bugger off for days at a time. 🤷‍♀️

Put a note on the fridge but don't mention the camera, tell the boss if it happens again.

We had that - but ours was more the boss himself and he used to help himself to the food that the kids were eating etc. Opened the fridge WHILE we were there, sometimes just to 'look' - as apparently you could tell what sort of people we were from the things in our fridge. We wont use him again.His colleague was alot better and way more respectful - i wish i could hire him separately.

As a pp said it may be a miscommunication but if he’s also taking food at the end of the day he may be having financial issues, just because he is working doesn’t necessarily mean he has money. I would probably put a note in the fridge and if continues have a word with his boss.

Come on, its been heatwave after heatwave, they probably just think 'what's the harm having some from the fridge if you are giving them food anyway'?

if you have builders in, rejoice and buy some extra cold drinks. Life is too short.

Just let it go. It’s been so hot and they would have been gasping a lot of the time. I would not make a big deal about that.

I think you should tell the guy in charge. He will put a stop to it. They actually won’t take offence, they will like the boundary it sets for them.

My husband is a builder and can be a bit thick and I remember when he was a much young man telling me a similar story. I was shocked at him for taking something out of someone’s fridge, but he thought it was okay, because she had been like you. It was not okay. She told him. He never did it again. The shocking thing to me is he didn’t come to the conclusion himself. But that is where the being a bit thick comes in. Some people don’t realise normal social rules.

If he doesn't know it's wrong why does he always wait until after his boss has left?

YANBU, very rude especially as you have been leaving things out for them/making bacon butties etc. I would definitely say something to the person in charge, how do you know the person taking the food wouldn’t steal something from yours or the next house? Tell the manager you’re really pleased with the work but felt like you had to say something.

There are ways of resetting the expectations without causing a stink.

I’d either put a note inside the fridge, so only the person doing it sees, or mention it in the abstract to the boss that you’re happy providing stuff but the fridge contents are often for planned stuff, if anyone needs extra please let me know rather than helping selves. I don’t think I’d point out I’d set a camera up.

I’ll hazard a guess that the young lad sees it as an unspoken perk and no one has quite pointed out he’s actually taking the piss.

I'd assume he went in for cooler drinks rather than the ones left out to get warm. Perhaps thinking you were generous with supplies (which you are) so wouldn't mind he went for a cold one rather than a warm one.
Its presumptuous certainly, and you can have a word with his gaffer to tell him not to do it again.
But I think violated is a bit hyperbolic tbh. Its a fridge not your underwear drawer. He'll have seen your chilled stuff in there, not your soul.

I would be surprised but grateful that was the worst problem with them. Would probably just get an extra case in and consider it money well spent. If it’s works that will be on for months I’d probably set out a cooler and be more explicit but if it’s just another couple weeks I’d let it go.

I'd take everything out of the fridge apart from salad and veg (maybe ask a mischievous neighbour/friend/family member for fridge space) then enjoy the look on their faces when they go to raid your fridge for elicit goodies.

Your husband installed a camera to catch the builders stealing cans of pop?! That sounds pretty outlandish.

Just tell them to stop. I'm sure they'll be pretty embarrassed to find out they've been caught out and it won't happen again.

Where do you get the pop biscuits? Silky must have opened an online shop….

I’m sorry but wtf - bacon sandwiches and ice lollies?! Madness. They are earning a crust like everyone else and although the odd cuppa and biscuit is polite, serving them up snacks and drinks constantly makes you seem like a mug. Most tradies will rip you off and let you down and you’ve served them like guests!