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me too :rofl::
There is a huge difference in not offering something you would not have yourself, such as tea or coffee if you never drink it. I guess I am just shocked that someone would step over my husband who is fitting their flooring, chat to him as the kettle boils, then step back over him with a cup of tea without even offering one. :(
I'm going to back Misty up here as she really does have valid points. Her bottom line sums it up. If someone doesnt offer a coffee or food, it does not make them rude.:
When DF was doing conceierge/security work in a residental building a while ago 5 nights a week (10hour shifts) he would occasionally come home and say such and such bought me a coke or bought down a plate of dessert or something like that. He always thought it was nice, but didnt think the other residents were rude for not doing that.
In my workplace I dont think parents are rude for not packing me some lunch when they pack their kids lunch even though I am working with them all day and I dont think my boss is rude if he doesnt come in and bring me a coffee in the morning even though he has got himself one and even if my boss did offer me lunch or a coffee at work it wouldnt make me work any harder as I already work damm hard and would prefer a pay increase than a coffee anyway ;)
Again the sentiment is really nice and for those who do provide this for tradies it's lovely but for people who think it is rude for others not to offer lunch or a drink other than water well thats a bit mean :(
Also you dont necessarily know what a persons situation is. Someone might only have enough of their loaf of bread for their family and not have $3.00 in the purse to buy another after that goes (and yes this has happened to me).
So yeah as I said earlier a glass of water- not a problem but that is usually it.
i offer everyone and anyone who walks in my house, even the foxtel guy trying to sell a product lol!!
but i can also see why people dont i dont think its rude i just think each to there own...
i dont' think anyone that doesn't offer is rude - i just do it as a matter of course. my guests probably get sick of me offering drinks. i always have water with me, so i guess i make an extra effort to make sure everyone is taken care of
i don't think many tradies (my brother excluded lol) have accepted, but particularly in hot weather, i make sure i offer a drink. i know they often have drinks in the ute/truck, but i take on the thought that, no matter how good a cooler they have, unless they pack everything in ice every day, it's not the same as having an icy one from the fridge
we had the local mechanic come to fix a friends car that broke down on our drive way and we gave him a steak sandwich and a cuppa as that was what we were having and it was his lunch hour. a cuppa or a beer is a usuall offer if we have someone here! i even offer the kid who comes to clean the pool a cuppa but i think he thinks im trying to lure him into the house to have my way with him casue he always runs a mile and DH never seems to be around when he comes! funny!
Misty nobody as implied that it is rude not to offer
but as I stated- by offering it is showing grace and courtsey to fellow man- something that we should be modelling to our children
i look at any tradie that come into my house as my son's job in the future - i treat them how i would like my kids to be treated when they are working!
horses for courses but I firmly believe what you give out, you get in return
[QUOTE=*det*;2645083] Misty nobody as implied that it is rude not to offer
but as I stated- by offering it is showing grace and courtsey to fellow man- something that we should be modelling to our children
i look at any tradie that come into my house as my son's job in the future - i treat them how i would like my kids to be treated when they are working!
horses for courses but I firmly believe what you give out, you get in return [QUOTE]
Sorry, but I took your first post (along with a few others posts) to explicitly imply that me not offering food or drink to display a lack of "Grace and courtesy". In other words: being rude.:
I just do not agree that offering food and drink are the only ways once can show "grace and courtesy". I am generally a very polite and friendly individual and have never had a problem showing grace and courtesy to anyone IRL (even some people people who probably don't deserve it). It is a HUGE part of my personality and my job in customer service (which I am very good at if I do say myself).
I have also never had a problem getting excellent service out of tradies. I beleive if they are genuinely decent people, as most people are, and if you treatly them politely and with respect, as I do, then you will reap what you sow. I don't need to offer food or beverages to do this.
FWIW - the tradies I have used and know, would much rather a good referral or repeat business, then a gesture of food and drink.
Depends on how good looking they are :nahnah:
Actually until recently DH was the one of us who could work from home so he would be the one around to look after tradies. I've no idea what he offers them but I'd say knowing my husband he would offer up pretty much anything we had and then talk their ear off LOL.
FWIW I don't think you need to offer food, but a cold/hot drink if they are around a while would be a basic courtesy.
yes offering a drink is displaying grace and courtsey!
i never said you were rude - that is the conclusion you came too
as i said- you get what you give out-
we are not talking about a 3 course meal- even just a drink of water
i still cant get over the fact that you can have someone come into your home to do something that you cant do yourself and you cant even offer them a drink of water
maybe by reading what other people are doing when tradies come into their houses- it might give you a different perpective to what others do when they have tradies in their houses
When I was little I knew my mum used to offer drinks and small snacks to the tradies who were at our house. I remember one summer she offered them a swim in the pool at the end of a really hot day. The tradies sometimes accepted these things, sometimes not.
We always offer the tradie who is at our house longer than an hour or two a drink, but not really snacks. I guess it just depends on how comfortable you are with strangers, cause at the end of the day, unless they are your family or friend, it is a stranger in your house. I hope this make sense...
I offer too, I do think it's rude not to, especially on a hot day. I don't subscribe to the idea that anyone being paid to do a job doesn't deserve a bit of old fashioned courtesy - like giving the postie a gift at Christmas or the garbo - they are being paid for the service they provide, but I think it's also nice to say thanks.
If they're there for a while, if it's hot, if I'm getting a drink for myself - yes. Don't know if I'd offer food...maybe if they were there all day? Never been in that situation, I dunno.
We are in a townhouse though, in a complex with an onsite manager who does most of the handyman stuff, he lives a few doors away. I don't generally offer him something every time he comes over, but as I said if it's hot or he's there for ages.
We've had a bunch of tradies around lately for small jobs and I haven't offered anyone squat. I guess I figured they would go to work with a packed lunch :dunno: They're only here a few hours though.
My "woe-is-me" cleaner asked if she could have a drink of water in a hard done by way after I got myself one. I dont mind getting her one but when she's here I'm busy with my children and playing hostess to someone who isn't a friend isn't a priority to me. I would have thought she would carry her own water anyway? I work in early childhood and I never went anywhere without a water bottle. I know what it's like to work in an active job, but surely you learn to look out for yourself?
Always do here. DH gets offered lots of food and drink when he is at jobs and sometimes he get offered other things too!!!:rofl: like these:bd:
We have just spent 2 long years building our house LOL
Here, you get morning and afternoon smoko (tea/coffee) and cake if I have baked. Glasses are in the cupboard, water is in the tap.
Beers on a friday arvo (but never before 3 or they all have a couple and bugger off lol)
Having said that, these are tradies that are here for days and sometimes weeks, painters, plasterers etc and as DP is a tradie, many are friends. However, even randoms get this treatment if they happen to be here.
I think it has gained us some loyalty and therefore better service.
But I would do it regardless.
No but you said by offerring you were showing "grace and courtesy", directly implying that by not offering I am not showing these things.:
And now you are being condescending suggesting that I need a change in perspective, simply because I happen to disagree with you.
Having built and maintained two houses, and having a DH who is too busy and not inclined to do any handwork himself, I have dealt with ALOT of tradespeople - many of whom I have an ongoing employment relationship with. Not once has there been any complaints on my (apparent) lack of 'grace or courtesy' and when we meet in passing (say in the shopping centres or such) the majority of them will stop and say hello and we exchange polite chit chat.
I think it is fine that people wish to offer these things, but I do not think it is a nessecity, nor the measurement for 'grace and courtesy'. Just as some landlord choose to gift gifts to their property managers and tenants at christmas (something I don't do either), or to their mailman or delivery person (again something I do not do - although I know my delivery man by name and always spare a moment to chat about his family).
Always offer :)
Obviously, if I need a drink and I'm not even working, stands to reason they would be too.
i did not say that you need to change your perspective- i merely suggested that the fact that people are offering a different perspective- might give you a different insight to what other people are doing
I am not being condescending- just voicing my opinion- just like you are
i dont think you can really say that if someone doesnt offer a tradie a drink its rude and not showing grace etc..
it depends on how the person deals with the worker more then what they have to offer them, itms?
me personally i get very shy and hate it when im alone with a person in my home, they are a stranger to me and it takes me a while to offer them stuff but i more than likely will have DH and then tell him to ask the worker..
I can understand Misty as she is right they are a worker and they are getting paid to do what they do.. its true they chose this line of work, same as a store person, if they give you great service do you go back and give her a reward? or do you let her manager know she is a great asset? same as any other employee in any line of work..
I just think like i said each to there own.. you cant pull someone up cause they dont do what "we" do cause thats her home and her life, also there is plenty of ways to show your kids great courtesy skills and manners, not just by offering beverages.. its not gonna make them anyless of a great adult.. What we do in our home and what others do in there's is there business but we shouldnt pick out those who dont follow...itms?
I hide out in the study & let them get on with whatever they're doing & get very thirsty 'cause I think it'd be rude not to offer a drink if I'm having one, but I'm really shy so don't want to talk to them so just get thirstier & thirstier until they go.
Yep, tea, coffee, water, sandwich for lunch....
Years and years ago, when we were moving house, my Mum made cheese and biscuits for the removalists for morning tea....when she went to unpack a week later she found the plate with leftover biscuits and mouldy cheese...
lol thats funny bo bo!
i feel compelled to offer a drink. Like i would to anyone who enters my home.
the guy who installed insulation for me last week, i was waiting at the bottom of his ladder, waiting for him to climb down, with the largest cup of iced water, poor guy was sweltering up there in the roof cavity (even late at night, on a not very hot day), i felt so sorry for him.
if a tradie was in my home around lunch, i would offer a sandwich. NOrmally i get told "it's ok, i have lunch in my van". Most tradies i have had here are here for a pretty short time, but it's summer, it's very hot, tradies are people too.
my x used to do alot of callouts to the homes of very rich people in the most exxy suburbs. He got the full range of people , from those who offered him a full cooked meal, to people who coudln't spare a lousy glass of water (when he was there for eight hours in their home).
Alibaby, i gave the removalists a drink AFTER they had moved me. (they were happy with a coke). i can understand why you are cautious now, Saturday rates. expensive coffee break.
I always offer a drink of water... If we have other stuff like juice or coke I'll offer that too...
If I've got any biscuits or anything I'll offer those.
I don't think it's rude not to offer a tea or coffee or food, but maybe a "let me know if you need some water" is good? Water is a neccessity, tea n
Coffee aren't.
I've been thinking about this and I can tell you definitely, from my pov...tiling (and most tradie jobs) is really hard and I know that when i'd been grouting or bending over for a couple of hours you start to fade a bit and do get slower. Everytime I was offered coffee and sat for 5 mins to drink it I was always perkier and worked with a bit more determination afterwards.
So no, I don't think it's rude to not offer tea/coffee, but if the tradie is a coffee drinker I can almost guarentee that you will improve his/her day and make them work faster/better/happier if they get a hot cuppa :)
If I'm having a cuppa, I'll offer one. Often they'll say "no, but do you have any water". When I have a cuppa I have a couple of biscuits, so when I open the tin I offer them as well.
I also put a 6-pack on the bin for the garbo, and on a very, very hot day I'll have a zooperdooper waiting for the postie as well.
I love zooperdoopers!! That's lovely of you! Lol... I'd do that for our postie but he is the sh*ttest postie and doesn't deserve it! Hahahaha:
I would offer! We recently had someone in doing our floors.. We weren't here though but told them to put stuff in the fridge if they needed to..
Tea, water, coffee, cordial or beer if we have it. I tend to offer anything, I will offer bikkies or lunch depending on the job, duration and time of day also.
Again, just something I was raised to do, and as far as I always thought, a basic courtesy to someone working for you.
Lol LS I just read your User title PMSL!!!
oh i find those people a bit rude!
We had tradies fixing our roof, and we bought them sausage rolls, muffins and coffee for breakfast!
The really appreciated the food, and we had not yet moved in so I bought some water for them too!
'Would you like a tea, coffee, a cold drink?' Bikkies or a piece of cake if I'm baking... can't expect them to smell it and not taste it!! Don't usually offer a meal but I do tell them to use the fridge in the garage (which is the way tradies usually come in and out with their tools and bits) if they are here for the day.
If the tradies are here for a while my DH usually offers them a cold beer at the end of the day. I don't because, y'know... might give 'em the wrong idea!! We recently had our bathroom and kitchen reno'd, took several months and several of the tradies have become mates of my DH's. Now they come just for the beer!!
I always offer something as I believe they are a guest in my home. After all, I invited them. Doesn't matter that they are getting paid, they are still there at my request.
I'm a military spouse and we move every couple of years. Every move we have done, I have bought lunch for the removalists, snacks and drinks. We are not paying for their time as Dpt of Defence pay them but they are doing a lot of hard work on our behalf. They are always very appreciative and a couple of times we have called the companies involved to compliment them on their workers and the receptionist always seems to know who we are.
When it is a quick job or Defence Housing have told us that whichever trade we need as an emergency (Was the plumber recently) was booked out for a few days I don't offer because I know they have another job to get to. Generally I prefer to leave the tradies to it, but they are most welcome to ask for a drink if they need one. When our removallists were here a couple of weeks ago one asked if I was going to maccas for lunch and when I said yes, asked if I would pick up his luncch while I was there, which wasn't a problem.
However I do like to think of the fact that the tradies are not costing me anything, they are costing the government though, and we all know we would rather tax was going to some other things rather than the tradies at my house having a 15 minute break at the end of an hour and a half job.
i do offer a cuppa and a bikkie when we have tradies at our place. i grew up with my dads friends as tradies and it was just one of those things that i see as a "done" thing. we had PVC blinds put up 12 months ago and all up it took 2 hours after an hour i took out coffee and teddy bikkies to the blokes. it was cold and wet and i felt sorry for the poor fellas!
if they're paid by the hour i still do this. we had an sparky come around and i made him sit down and have lunch, we may be paying them but i guess i feel bad to have some one in my house and not offer them anything. even a cold drink!