Do you feed traders working in your home

As a partner in a small to medium building business for over 40 years may I offer another point of view? My husband and I are past retirement age now so have reduced the business to just the two of us. My husband does the physical work and the estimating, and I do the book-keeping. When we had a much bigger firm, we contacted our clients before the work started and made it clear that our men had specific break times at 9.30, 12.30 and 3pm. The men would never ask for drinks or food. They would never play loud music, smoke or use bad language. Mobile phones were not the issue then that they are now.
They would need access to a w.c. and hand-washing facilities and drinking water. This would have been agreed with the client with the option of portaloos handwashing and drinking water or else the use of the client's own facilities if it was a small job. The portaloos etc. are factored in on larger jobs and are a health and safety requirement. They have to be paid for.
We have had brilliant client loyalty throughout our trading years.
What clients may not have anticipated is the fact that having people working in your home can feel very intrusive, even though we have always asked our people to be as invisible as possible. There might be a certain novelty for the first couple of days in creating extra tea breaks and providing food for the workers. Having people to chat to can also be a pleasant change to one's daily routine. After that, I promise you, it will become a pain. Please don't do it. The job will have been priced to allow the three regulation breaks. Every time the men stop for a nice chat and refreshments, outside of those set times, the business loses money. Building work is very expensive for the contractor and the client. You will get the same standard of work regardless of 'bribes'. If the work is not up to scratch or if the worker is not earning his keep then he will face some very difficult conversations with his employer, the work will have to be made good at the employer's expense. More money lost. So please be polite and friendly but remember the workers are there to do a job, let them get on with it without distraction.

Okdokey08

I feed them all the time, hot breakfast, proper lunch and have been known to do dinner… everyday plus tea, biscuits in between

Every day for weeks or months?

Really?

Allira

Okdokey08

I feed them all the time, hot breakfast, proper lunch and have been known to do dinner… everyday plus tea, biscuits in between

Every day for weeks or months?

Really?

I do easy meals, they're here daily - far from food.

Who else could provide?

We believe happy content people work well.

Who else could provide?

I don't understand.
Do they live with you?
We employ local tradespeople, they have eaten before they come, have a lunch break, bring sandwiches or nip off to Gregg's, then go home.

I provide tea, coffee, biscuits, sometimes toast or cake.

And, as I mentioned earlier, an occasional child-mindng service!

And, without a kitchen, it was difficult.