Should i feed contractors

It is very kind of you to ask and to think about it. If you're hiring a Home Depot day laborer, it's the unwritten law that you have to buy them lunch!

First off, I definitely agree about no alcohol. Especially since Friday festivities could continue through Monday for some I usually keep to go cups for coffee too.

I have purchased lunch before and actually found Lol : But regardless, that's just me I feed everyone, so maybe I'm not the best giver of advice in this situation I feed the nice cashiers at the grocery store around the holidays and really anyone that has helped me at stores like Lowe's, Best Buy. I do it because I feel grateful, not because I expect anything. But I do find I'm treated quite well afterwards.

I'm sure it will be appreciated. Good luck! Our employees bring their own food and coffee. Occasionally a client will give them coffee and donuts Good luck:. Irene Morresey 6 years ago. Now who in their right mind would offer workers alcohol, they wouldn't expect it. The Ferraro Group 6 years ago. Our crews do not expect it, but when it happens, they are very grateful.

Human nature As much as we do not expect it, it always helps to strengthen the relationship and commitment. It does provide a nice compliment to the crew and recognizes their fine workmanship. I'm not suggesting a regular, recurring event, but for example, when the carpenters are half way thru framing and then again at conclusion of framing, providing them a token of appreciation goes a long way.

Having said all this, I think what gives people more motivation is treating them with respect, showing kindness, remembering their names, and just having good old fashion conversations with them. You'd be surprised how far 5 minutes of conversation will help. Emkaybee Original Author. Thank you all for your input. It has helped a lot.

Regarding the six-pack, I didn't intend it for drinking on the job during the day, but as a parting Friday gift. A boss of mine used to bring in a six pack once in a while and it was a fun way to end the week. But I will definitely nix the alcohol.

I think I will get water bottles and chill them for them, and offer a goodie once in a while. The work will be in two phases, so perhaps I will also hold a small-ish party to celebrate completion of each phase. Assuming they do a good job, of course! Which so far they have been. Johanne Blansche Designs 6 years ago.

I usually give them homemade cookies and then have them over for a celebratory party when the project is done. I'm also from Europe but having built my own home here with tons of crews here's what I've done. First, always water and Gatorade bottles, especially on ice in the summer. I don't offer lunch unless I know the crew chief and am willing to do it daily for the whole job.

Usually boxes of fried chicken, baguettes and bag of oranges or small apples. No alcohol!! McDonald's Whoppers and fries are always a hit also. Get to know the crew chief.

He decides when they eat and sometimes they want to work through and leave early. I've done hot cornbread on a cold morning when we were pouring concrete as well. When I had a large construction project the guys arrived at 7 am and took a coffee break around Every few mornings I served coffee and sausage biscuits, which they thought was a real treat.

I felt it was a way to express my appreciation for having them on the job and on time every morning, which they always were. My son is a contractor and has occasionally commented that the home owner has baked cookies for the crew. A cooler with Gatorade, water, and some soft drinks is appreciated.

I'd not suggest any alcohol it's a fallacy that they all drink beer. Not to mention the legal implications. When the job is totally finished a gift card to a coffee shop, etc is very well received.

Like Save. The 3-man crew who came to do a one day total tear out and install of new flooring in my home made a special effort to get the job done in 12 hours because they had to accommodate MY schedule! Plus, they were very entertaining! But it never hurts to extend a kindness to others, within reasonable limits!

Liz H 4 years ago. In my family, as in the families of countless others, alcoholism is a serious problem. If you offered heroin to some of my relatives, it really wouldn't be any worse than offering them a six pack. Whether or not you know the personal histories of your workers, it's best to let them buy their own intoxicants. Marigold 4 years ago. P Banos 4 years ago. Milly Rey 4 years ago. If you happen to bake, share. Otherwise, ice water.

Coffee pot. You're great. Lots to think about. So, next time - I will be cordial but won't offer anything and won't let my husband have any chit chats. We'll see what happens If we have them available, yes.

The Gardener just arrived.. When my wife fixes our Breakfasts, I'm sure she will fix Breakfast for him too. If he is still here when we eat Lunch, he will get Lunch. Three months ago today, a bunch of men approximately 6 or 8 came to our house to install our FTTH Fiber to the House Internet and the Satellite TV installation, We bought a bunch of Lunches that were delivered to our house, for them and for us that day.

And, I probably went to the bakery and bought snacks and Coke or something that day too. Not a requirement, but probably much appreciated. Sometimes, when we ask, they've brought their Lunch, but we try to keep them content and we want them to do a great job for us. That is nice. Im sure they will have lunch and snacks with them though.

I offered the guy that installed our hughes net internet a water bottle once and he wasnt allowed to accept it. Never a meal, ever. But yes I have made banana bread or brownies.

It's works good to just leave a plate where they are working. My husband bought the roofers beer. Not for while they were on the roof The contractor we just had do a bathroom told his that they had a policy of not accepting anything other than a cooler of water because it distracted his workers from doing a good job. I usually offer coffee if they are here early in the morning.

I always have a supply of disposable cups on hand for this. That way they can have their coffee and start on their work at the same time. After that I usually eave out a bowl of fruit with some packages of peanut butter crackers and water bottles. Today it is just head guy and one worker.

They have enjoyed fresh zucchini muffins and cookies. The water cooler is open for them to use as well. There will likely only be guys here at a time as it is just bulkheads and then drywall so not a huge project as far as projects go. I always feed those who subject themselves to my home. Since I do not cook, I normally take orders about 11 and then run off and grab some to go boxes.

I do not. I can barely afford groceries for my own family, and if we have to spend money for something beyond DIY work, it gets scraped out of the food budget. Water bottles, definitely. But nobody buys DH or DDs lunches, and they get paid far less per hour than the trades workers. If I am underestimating their work ethic, making the workday pleasant is still a nice thing to do. We used to have a guy that was sort of a jack-of-all-trades do work for us.

He could do a lot of different things and at a fraction of the cost of his competitors. Joined May 4, Joined Dec 15, Things like water are common courtesy. Cookies okay, but a full lunch would seem a little over the top. No offense, but with what contractors charge around here, maybe they should buy ME lunch. Joined Sep 20, No you don't need to provide lunch. I do offer people who come in for certain things, I will offer them water or soda.

We have a business and people give my DH stuff to drink and he appreciates it. Joined Jul 18, I think, where you are not actually home, I would say no.

Snacks and water are good. Twice recently I've made different contractors lunch and they really appreciated it. Last week it was so hot, they loved coming in in the AC. They ate everything, too, and put all their dirty dishes in the sink.

Joined Apr 4, The other day, some friends and I. He didn't call, so we didn't know he would be there. They always finished the chocolates every day they were here. No one ever said thanks, though. The best crews bring their own food. Some even bring a hibatchi and heat their food up outside with that. One crew helped themselves to my husband's propane powered outside grill. That wasn't a hit with my husband. The worst crews help themselves to the appliances in the home and don't ask.

We have a little second-hand toaster oven that we use to bake Sculpey clay in. I once found a worker at lunchtime in our back bedroom what's he doing in here?? As far as bathrooms, we have a bathroom outside for the workers. We ask them to use it. We provide paper towels, trash can, toilet, sink, running water, toilet paper, weekly cleaning, a plunger, and hand soap. That doesn't stop some of them from exploring the house and using the bathrooms of their choice.

Not surprisingly, the same workers who lack good project skills, ASK for food and beverage, argue, and are otherwise punks have also been the ones who stop up the toilet, steal and make messes. I was thinking about getting some cookies or salted snack stuff as well.

Since I do shift work I do feel a little awkward when i am in the house while they are working so try to stay out of their way. Big jug of ice water always available in hot weather.

With our kitchen project we provide a snack about once a week We also address workers by name and compliment them on their fabulous work, as well as let the GC know they have done good work.

We are happy and satisfied with with our guys so we want them to be happy. I saw this post a few weeks ago, and it reminded me that I should try and provide a few nice things periodically during our new home construction.

On the day of foundation pour, I bought 30 pig-in-a-blankets, and this week during framing, I baked a box of brownies and brought. I think the guys appreciated it. None thanked me directly or acknowledged though He says they are not use to those things, and he fears they will not want to leave the job!

When, in fact we want them working as quickly as possible. Now, I'm considering if I take things in the future to try and avoid when the job superintendent is there.

Not because I'm hiding it, but because he was the one providing my goodies to the workers. It may be crossing some sort of professional line that he is trying to maintain. I made coffee every morning, had muffins, cream cheese, bagles, cookies crackers. Made sandwiches for them at lunch. One crew did take advantage and was billing by the hour. For the most part, I was happy to feed one person who was on the job every day and one who stayed late, because it expedited the job.

Would I do it again? Hope it's okay to revive this old thread. I understand the impulse to feed contractors, especially if you are eating a meal in front of them. But feeding a crew for 6 weeks? This sounds like a nightmare! I think when it comes down to it they're responsible for their meals. In fact it's common courtesy for them to eat lunch off-premises. If you're like me and you tend to feel bad for people working hard right in front of you it could help to read some industry standards for contractor and homeowner etiquette.

Here is a link that might be useful: Contractor Etiquette Standards. I think they're old enough to feed themselves, lol. You're not their mother although we are often babysitters it seems. With all the paid breaks, paid travel, padding, etc. I agree they can get spoiled and it kind of crosses the professional "business" line which can make things more complicated should problems arise.

I feed my workers when they took two months to build an addition. I would have coffee and treats for breakfast and fresh fruit salad for snacks. They brought their lunches, but about once a week I would barbecue or order pizza.

I think because they felt so well appreciated, they went above and beyond to do quality work and did little "extras" for me as well. Oh I've always wondered if this issue had been addressed here. I have never offered meals or snacks to workers, just coffee which usually they decline. When my friend recently had work done on her kitchen she went to Subway every day for her guys!

She told me this after I had used on of her handymen to do my bathroom remodel and I never offered him lunch one time. I never saw him leave for lunch either. I did ask once if he did lunch on his own and his just said he "brought a candy bar". Maybe he thought my friend told me about the Subway thing. Just fed him DH. Chicken salad sandwich with melted colby cheese on a kaiser roll.

Cheese melted on top in a little, circa 80's GE toast-r-oven from his folks attic. I mention this because since the kitchen is torn out, that toaster oven and an electric skillet is all I have for inside cooking. What a handy little unit this toast-r-oven is turning out to be! I may make room for it on my counter in the new kitchen.

So as to keep feeding the contractor so he'll keep doing things for me, hee hee DH is a contractor and he does not like his customers to feel obligated to provide lunch for him and his crew. If they provide a lunch unexpectedly, he will graciously accept it. If they do it a second time, he will again graciously accept what is provided, but explain to the customer that lunches are neither expected or necessary and that he and his crew bring their own lunches every day.

If a client provides a surprise lunch, that means that everyone has to throw away the lunch they brought with them that day. Also, eating the lunch that is provided by the client often takes more time than the crew normally spends eating lunch. Doing that every day can really throw your schedule off.

It is better to do as one poster said and tell your contractor, "I'd like to buy you all lunch tomorrow. DH does not appreciate so much when clients want to provide beer to the crew.

They are there to work, not drink. If they want to drink, they can do so on their own time after hours. I would not want to encourage additional use of the powder room by serving coffee. I don't think the hand towel was ever used. Wow, beschenbach , our crew would LOVE to have you as a customer!!

We certainly don't expect our customers to provide us with coffee, food, etc. We've also had many customers offer us water on hot days, especially when landscaping or roofing - that is VERY much appreciated!! I'm Italian If you stay more then 5 minutes in my house expect to be fed. I feed my painter everyday. Either breakfast or lunch and I feel bad if they refuse. Also, I'm a cook so I need to be in the kitchen.

When I had my renovations the crew always took a break to go out for lunch. I always had lots of drinks for them and healthy snacks: nuts, pretzels, crackers with cheese. I loved getting tipped when I was an employee. It wasn't the money as much as it was saying to my boss "Your customers love me. Indem Sie weiterhin auf der Website surfen bzw.

Mehr erfahren. Ultimate Lighting Sale. Bathroom Vanity Sale. Bestselling Chandeliers and Pendants. Sign In. Join as a Pro. Houzz TV. Houzz Research. Shop Featured Holiday Categories.

Home Decor. Holiday Decor. Christmas Trees. Holiday Lighting. Gift Cards. How often do you feed your contractors.