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Do you feed traders working in your home

(105 Posts)
ClicketyClick Wed 19-Nov-25 19:06:06

I have a plumber and his mates in today and for next few days putting in a new boiler and other bits. As it was so very cold today I also gave them bacon cobs to help warm them up. They had brought their own sandwiches but I would have felt guilty doing hot food for just me today. Now I don't know if I should provide something hot tomorrow other than the usual drinks & biscuits. What would you do?

GrannyGravy13 Wed 19-Nov-25 19:11:18

Provide never ending tea, coffee, biscuits.

Always offer lunch, but they usually have their own.

Overthemoongran Wed 19-Nov-25 19:12:20

I willingly ply tradespeople with hot drinks and maybe a biscuit but I don’t provide lunch or other food. It’s up to them to either bring their own lunch or usually, I find that they like to pop into the local bakers for their lunch.

CariadAgain Wed 19-Nov-25 19:20:02

They'd probably eat very different food to me anyway....given my diet is wholefood/no meat/and I do my best to find new foods I've not tried yet (as far as I can in a small town).

I offer drinks at regular intervals and leave it at that.

J52 Wed 19-Nov-25 19:51:03

I give them Coffee/ tea etc and the best chocolate biscuits ( as an unashamed bribe!)
Once I’d just baked scones, not for the workmen and one said how kind of me to do that for them! They enjoyed them 😂

Sago Wed 19-Nov-25 19:57:55

If I feel comfortable with someone then yes I will always make a bacon butty, there are often homemade cakes too.

Our old roofer once came with an apprentice we hadn’t met, when I offered them a bacon butty the apprentice said “ these must be the nice people you were telling me about”.

Apart from a misogynistic decorator and a very dodgy roofer we have always been really lucky with everyone that has come into our various homes to work.

JamesandJon33 Wed 19-Nov-25 19:59:30

Just a tea or coffe and a Kit Kat or similar. Slice of homemade cake goes down a treat also

BlueBelle Wed 19-Nov-25 20:00:41

No food …coffee tea and biscuits
No one has ever fed me at work nor would I expect them to 🤣

Georgesgran Wed 19-Nov-25 20:40:50

Hot/cold drinks - whatever they want, always Kit-Kats.
I’ve done bacon or sausage sandwiches too.

M0nica Wed 19-Nov-25 20:50:56

Just tea and coffee. Although DD reports that a box of chocolate biscuits goes down a treat and keeps the tradesmen sweet (sorry - sort of)

Doodledog Wed 19-Nov-25 20:57:15

I leave out a tray with biscuits, cups, kettle, coffee, sugar and cafetière, point at the fridge for the milk and leave them to it.

lixy Wed 19-Nov-25 20:57:16

I always offer tea or coffee when they arrive and then when I’m making one for me. Biscuits alongside of course!

We don’t use sugar so I have found the sachets collected from coffees out very useful for visitors.

I haven’t offered a snack/meal ever, though ice creams were appreciates by the bricklayers when it was very hot. I set up a gazebo with table and chairs so they could have a break in the shade too.

ClicketyClick Wed 19-Nov-25 21:10:41

Thanks everyone. Normally I don't do hot food but I felt so sorry for them. Two were working on the roof for a while putting venting in. It was down to 3 degrees temp and we'd had snow so they were very grateful for the hot food. They will be back another time to do other work so I just don't want them to think it's a given that I will provide food. As suggested, I'll get some nice chocolate biscuits / cake tomorrow. I'll be glad to get some warmth again as the electric heater I was falling back on decided to die just when needed. Typical lol

paddyann54 Wed 19-Nov-25 21:37:11

I always have home made soup available and make sandwiches to go with it.A happy/fed worker will work better

Harris27 Wed 19-Nov-25 21:42:24

I offer tea coffee biscuits on tap.

Mel1967 Wed 19-Nov-25 21:44:11

No.
No tea, coffee or food.
I’m paying them to do a job, not eat & drink

HeavenLeigh Wed 19-Nov-25 21:48:17

I always offer tea or coffee and biscuits

TerriBull Wed 19-Nov-25 21:50:57

Coffee, tea, biscuits. There have been occasions when I've done some toast/toasted cheese sandwich. Cold drinks if it's very hot. If they're on there own, we're both out I show them where it all is and tell them to help themselves.

TerriBull Wed 19-Nov-25 21:51:59

their own not there

crazyH Wed 19-Nov-25 21:55:02

I always do sandwiches for them, lunchtime and tea and biscuits, on tap ….

Jaxjacky Wed 19-Nov-25 21:59:37

We know most of the tradesmen used, so yes, bacon butty is the only cooked food, wrapped chocolate biscuits, provide tea, coffee etc and let them help themselves.

nanna8 Wed 19-Nov-25 22:09:02

Just a cup of tea or coffee but most refuse. They usually bring their own.

Allira Wed 19-Nov-25 22:14:34

Tea, coffee and lots of biscuits.

I did make toast when one mentioned the toast I'd made for myself looked good and he'd missed breakfast.
They sat in their van for their lunch.

NotSpaghetti Thu 20-Nov-25 01:39:49

I do hot drinks in the cold but don't normally offer food other than biscuits.

BUT if a loaf or some bread rolls come out of the oven you can guarantee the smell will be commented on and they will enjoy a "trial" slice or two with butter and jam/honey/marmite!

windmill1 Thu 20-Nov-25 03:50:30

Just the usual tea and biccies. They can go out at lunchtime and buy a pie. They should NOT expect a client to run a free canteen.