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? 🤔

Honestly, it's ridiculous fawning over tradies. No wonder they treat people like mugs.
Poor lambs working in the heat. They're people doing a job, which they're getting paid quite well for. OP isn't their mammy, they could bring their own food and drinks, instead of being greedy and raiding her fridge.

Thank you for this - many not reading the whole post, I guess it was long to be fair!! 😂 your shed comment has had us absolutely howling laughing - thank you so much, it definitely wins funniest comment 😂😂😂hope you enjoy the rest of your house sit. You may think of this post every time you open the fridge 😆

Please tell the boss now! He will want to know - if he’s a good boss!! - that he has a thief working for him!! This will affect his reputation and also he won’t want a thief working for him!!

if you find other things missing - jewellery etc - once the job is over and you’ve not reported the bloke to his boss then the insurance company and police may not be very helpful either as they will say you knew you had a thief in your house and did nothing about it

It's very entertaining when people get massively over-involved like this. Jeez Louise, we'll be experiencing an exclamation mark shortage.

Genuinely cannot get my head around installing a camera instead of having a word with the lads/lasses and saying FYI noticed we’re going through loads of pop - happy for you to have tea/coffee/cordial but can you not take stuff out of the fridge please. Job done. That said, we’ve always had an open door policy when we have tradies in & breakfast is a given (butties - bacon, sausage, egg or any combo).

Faraway Tree? I loved that book.

There’s no need for them to be anywhere near your fridge. Definitely get your Dh to have a quiet but firm word re not touching anything in that fridge and that there’s a camera.

I also think you’ve been far too nice. Our last tradie brought his own kettle/tea/coffee. I made him a sandwich once. Stop buying the branded stuff, that’s OTT. Jugs of squash or water. I know it’s hot, but they’re taking the piss, it’s clear what is for them in the fridge in the extension. Piss takers, frankly.

Did you inform them they are being filmed? If not, that’s really creepy.

Going out and buying a camera because of a few cans of missing fizzy drink seems very odd and not really cost effective.

Hi op they are just cheeky fuckers no one should be going into your fridge if I want a cold drink in work I have to buy it they should be bringing their own you do not have to supply coke. Op water or tea and coffee is generally what is offered. Maybe you can make a joke of it to boss do we get discount seeing as our fridge kept getting looted. Assistant taking the piss tbh.

Remove the drinks from the fridge for the remainder of the job so there isn’t anything for them
to help themselves to. After they are all done tell the boss so they can deal with their employee.

Do not cause a scene, it may be an honest mistake and good builders are like gold dust!

Youve been doing too much for the builders, where does this come from? If you make a thing of it your likely to get a bigger bill. Do less for them next time.

Well, if it were me I’d LTB. Installing a fridge camera is an unforgivable ick.

😂

Tell the boss. My boss would have wanted to know, back when I did this work, they want to know if they’re working with people who will damage their reputation

you have been more than generous. It doesn’t matter how hot it is, it’s not on to rummage through someone’s house, be that the fridge or elsewhere.

Why is theft ok, but putting camera in is "outlandish"?
Would you like someone in your house rummaging through your stuff? I have had this happen and,believe me if they go through the fridge they don't stop at that.

I usually leave biscuits for trades and tell them to help themselves from the fridge if they want a cold drink. I show them where tea/coffee/sugar and kettle are so they can make their own when it suits them. Maybe it was just a communication blip.

I would set up their drinks station Elsewhere and make sure soft drinks are available

Bottles of wine, beer, posh cheese, I'd be fumin. Couple of cans of soft drink? Who cares. If you're that bothered, hide them elsewhere.

A good builder is worth more than a few cans.

Think yourself lucky you’ve found decent builders and if you want to use them again I’d say nothing. In fact I’d up the drink in this heatwave.

I can't believe so many people provide builders with soft drinks and food. I would ask them if they want tea or coffee a couple of times a day but would expect them to provide everything else themselves. Totally nuts to be giving them pop and bacon butties in the first place. They aren't doing you a favour doing what you have paid them to do.

So someone stealing from you would not bother you? What if the guy decides to help himself to some of the food in the fridge or a bottle of wine?

My DH is a tradesman and he takes his own food and drink with him. If someone offers him a drink he may sometimes accept it. No way on earth would he help himself from their fridge.

Ok.

As I said, this guy taking a couple of cans of pop wouldn't bother me a jot.

If he took some ham and cheese to make himself a sandwich, also fine.

If he took a joint of beef and a bottle of champagne, I would mind.

But to me those are very different scenarios 🤷‍♀️

I wouldn't dream of feeding builders bacon butties etc! Tea or coffee/water, maybe biscuits but that's all. I'm not their mum and I'm paying them to do a job. Seems like this guy was perhaps taking advantage but I wouldn't say anything at this stage, just don't keep the fridge stocked.

I can see why it bothers you but it’s such a massive overreaction I’d probably let it slide. You offered up so much stuff that I presume they got the wrong impression and thought it was okay to help themselves too. Kinda rude but also not the end of the world.

My partner has worked PT as a builder and he always took his own food and drinks, not sure why people think they need to provide them with anything.