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? 🤔

Speak to them. have it out. I wouldn't talk about the camera personally. Just " my fridge is for my family. I've been giving you drinks. if you need more then you will need to get them yourself..". You don't need to mention it to the boss. he will change his ways. Nothing sneaky just talk to the guy who you know was doing it.

😂😂
I wonder if it was acorn ade too?

If he’s stealing drinks and other things what else is he helping himself to?!!!

Ffs . What a miserable response .

I remember inheriting a jewellery box from my grandma. Inside the lid was written in her best writing "The lord helps those who help themselves. But Lord help those found helping themselves here". I often wondered if someone had. Not relevant to your issue exactly. It is such a nightmare to find a reliable builder.

In the midst of a heatwave, I’d be stocking the fridge with cold drinks and letting them help themselves.

Installing a camera to police your fridge? Beyond petty.

When we were having building works done, we put the fridge that was going to be disposed of in the extension and filled it with cans and bottles of water and milk for hot drinks.

I think I'd have a word with the boss. This worker might be helping himself to other things too. It needs nipping in the bud.

I would do an Elsa and let it go tbh

I’ve worked with a lot of builders and I say: here’s the kettle, coffee/tea/sugar milk. Help yourselves. No biscuits no bacon butties nada. If I did happen to pass a Krispie Kreme I might buy some donuts maybe once a month. I’ve learned if you give too much they expect more and more.
Taking stuff without asking after you’ve already provided food is very cheeky. Taking stuff out of your fridge to take home is stealing.

Honestly, what is with traders - you would never experience an office worker rifling around

It is very hot conditions. I would offer people working cold drinks all day and offer them drinks for on the way home.

They should NOT have been helping themselves from the fridge.

I suspect it will sour relationship with your builder if they are made aware you are filming them.

It's very hot at the moment! They're working outside all day - surely it's fine for them to take drinks from the fridge.

If you have a nanny in your house it's standard to provide all meals and drinks. Surely the builder is working in your home, it's the right thing to do to provide food and drinks

Honestly I wouldn't be arsed. Its so hard finding trades that do a good job, are reliable etc that I'd be alright with a few cans of coke and snacks being lifted from my fridge.

I tend to just tell them to help themselves though anyway.

Yep. I'd explain to boss why as well.

Haha. Office workers can be the worst, I have worked in several places where things weren’t safe if you forgot them/didn’t label your lunch in the fridge.

some people just have no idea that their behaviour is not appropriate, I went to a class at the gym, we had to go thru the room with all the excerise equipment in it, the class was taught by someone who rented the room and the gym was really flexible with times, eg we could warm up 10 mins before, they didn’t rush us out, two people decided to start having a quick work out when we finished, they weren’t gym members I think only a couple of people were. The gym then made us wait, only let us through at the exact time and basically marshalled us out at the end of the class, when the instructor asked if we had done something wrong she was told yes that two of the group were staying and using the equipment, totally soured the relationship and it’s not the same over a year later, basically we have been labellled as the cheeky fucker group. The two people didn’t think they had done anything wrong when we talked about it.

I 'm in the 'speak to the boss' camp. If he's sensible, he'll want to know. You don't need to make a big deal out of it, just catch him alone and say 'I'm really happy to provide drinks and bacon sandwiches for you all but I'm not happy for you - not you personally - to be helping yourselves from the fridge at the end of the day.' He should say 'That's not right at all. I'll have a word.'

When they drank that fridge dry were they welcome to move onto your proper fridge? I’m afraid I only have ours. I have provided plenty, obviously nothing is ever enough. We noticed prolonged stealing not one occasion. Hence wanting to know what was going on

Ok you’re getting a bit dramatic now. It’s some cola. Look if it’s that important to you kick off, say something and don’t have them back , as they won’t come back.

That’s entirely understandable. Someone who is taking drinks from your fridge rather than filling up a water bottle from your kitchen tap is going to make me wonder where rose he has been in the house.

I’m so sorry FurryPaws. I’m astounded at some of the comments here. You’re right to be really annoyed. Having everything laid out separately sends a clear message what is theirs. Who works on someone’s house and helps themselves to things in the fridge???? That’s stealing. And a violation. Not to mention dirty hands in your fridge. I appreciate good builders are hard to get but this is a piss take. I’d be fuming.

I’d speak to them and say it’s not acceptable and then once they finish and ask for feedback, then tell their boss that you wouldn’t hire them again and say why.
If they feel comfortable going into your fridge where else have they been?
Urgh. I’m fuming on your behalf.

Thank you for your input, I am genuinely appreciating and really enjoying the different perspectives. I'm glad you agree that they were 'lifted' 😂I guess 6 weeks in I'm feeling all the extras I'm buying in and sort of regretting the generosity by now - so when even more is disappearing it's like really??😅

I am surprised you are giving grown adults ice lollies.
cold drinks tea and coffee yes, bacon sandwich on Fridays is excessive but ice lollies ?

I think taking them for the trip home is CF.

Tbh id just stop putting stuff in the fridge you dont want taken. Put in 2lt pop bottle instead or cans. Or x amount and when theyre gone theyre gone?

Doesnt matter how old you are, ice lollies are awesome and really good at cooling you down.
We have a freezer at work that we use just for ice lollies.
Its a kind thing to do.

Don't you think the cold drinks etc were ' kind ' generous enough