Trades"men"

[TheSmallClanger]

Not sure if this is really a feminist issue, but I think it might be, so here goes.

Tomorrow, I have a full day off work. Someone is coming out to perform some maintenance on the roof slates.
Last time this happened, the workman appeared first thing in the morning, without ringing beforehand, while I was trying to supervise DD's getting ready for school, and taking her to the bus stop. I wanted them to come later, but they "couldn't promise that". They basically showed up when it was convenient for them, not me.

I was then expected to stay in and supervise them, when I know nothing about slates, and would rather have been out somewhere, or in bed. Then there's the expectation that you provide tea etc. Now, we have the "outside kettle" that gets left for their use.

Now, I would not put up with this sort of demandingness from a cleaner, or a mobile hairdresser. I would agree with them a time to arrive, they would not monopolise my time, and they would not expect help, supervision or bloody well tea and coffee. Is it really because they are so much more skilled and valuable than hairdressers/cleaners/health visitors/district nurses, or is it because they are so much more likely to be male?

I'm thinking out loud here. When I've expressed annoyance at the slate man's behaviour before IRL, I've received a lot of clucking about honest men trying to make a living blah blah blah. Am I onto something here?

That's just because they are crap at customer relationships and are used to people putting up with poor service, rather like deliveries from Argos being 'sometime'
I have a fantastic builder, good electrician, great plumber and a lovely gardening service in my book. All give times, advance warnings, tidy up after themselves and can make their own drinks.
Demand better.

I've never had anyone out to look at slates or my roof, but if this was an electrician or something where there are quite a lot of companies offering it, then I would shop around a bit. They're not providing a very good service if they can't give you an estimated time of arrival or phone you when they're on their way. What do you mean by "you were expected to stay in"? Did they need access to electrical sockets or something? What would have happened if you had just locked up the house and gone out? Do you have an extension lead which is long enough to pass through the window to give them electricity?

I think you might be right about the mindset though. The sound quite entitled which is crazy when you're hiring a service and so many small businesses are going out of business atm.

We live in a leasehold property - the slate man is the preferred one of the LL, so we can't shop around. LL is mostly very amenable, but lives abroad and isn't here to sort things out.

We do pass cables through the window. Slate man likes someone to be there "just in case", and we have to sign a bit of paper when he's done.

www.wamt.org/
Tradeswomen are much more considerate IME, and don't treat you like a fool

wamt.org.uk

Tradesmen (and I have never had one who wan't a man) can be awfully sexist and horrible. IME most are fine and nice but the odd one has been just awful. All the stuff of automatically replying to DH when I have asked a question, being dismissive of things that I ask/say and sometimes being unfriendly or even downright aggressive.

I guess see also some mechanics, tyre fitters etc etc

Presumably the point is that quite a lot of men are sexist and so in occupations which are predominantly men there will be a good smattering of them, and as there are no women working with them to moderate what they think/say they are pretty unreconstructed?

Ooooh great link Julia!

Have bookmarked.

I do think it is because tradies were traditionally men and it was the little wifey home in the day to meet him so obviously she made tea and generally made sure he was comfortable because real men don't know their way around a kitchen. I think it will generally die off as standards are raised by immigration of tradies from Eastern Europe etc.

I have never heard such homophobic, sexist, racist filth as from the last lot of English tradesmen my mum had in. It started with how women shouldn't be in parliament and ended with jews being responsible for the holocaust - which was a figment of the jewish peoples' imagination

I really, really regret not saying anything to him or kicking him out of the house but they were just aggressive enough for me to feel uncomfortable arguing with them.

Our gardener and window cleaner fit in with us, and usually speak to me before DH because it's usually me that takes the call/answers the door.

Our plumber is on the whole very good, but one time he needed us to ok him cutting through something. I went to go check and speak to him, gave the ok, and he said he'd just go call my husband to make sure. I laughed and said fine, for all the good it will do him. Plumber went to ask DH, who then came to ask me, in front of the plumber. When I told him I think the plumber wanted him t have a look and give his opinion, he was completely baffled as to why we both needed to look. Since that, our plumber will just ask whoever is closest. I love my DH.

Erm. Dh is a tradesman, not sexist and far from demanding supervision would prefer just to get on with his work without it.

Though a cup of tea every now and then, or a kettle to use, would be appreciated as it would save both time and money having to keep going off site to buy drinks.

There are good and bad tradesmen and women. Sounds like you got some bad ones.

Slate man is here now. He turned up at half 8 and I made him wait outside while I wrangled DD to the school bus stop.
Hopefully he will be done soon.

What winds me up the most is how many will just leave your room filthy and make no attempt to clean up after themselves bloody infruriates me.