please tell me what you think:

[npincus]

Ok, I'll try to make it brief:

i hired a contractor (carpenter) to do some work in my house; earlier this week, he sent over (2) workmen to do the work. Nice guys, fairly young, hard workers. On the first day, I went downstairs for lunch (work was on the first floor- I work from home upstairs)- it was kind of late, and I hadn't heard them stop for lunch. So I asked if they'd eaten. They hadn't. I asked if they'd like me to make them a sandwich... they hesitated, then said OK. I made them each ham & cheese on a bagel- heated it up, served them with bottles of water. They didn't thank me.

OK, next day, the same thing happened. I went downstairs for lunch, asked if they had eaten. (they said no)I offered them sandwiches again-- one guy asked "what kind?" "I have chicken", I said. They guys asked for what they'd eaten yesterday. OK so, served them the same thing again. This time one of the guys thanked me.

OK...now, yesterday (Saturday) they came back for a third time. They were working in the kitchen this time, so the kitchen space was unusable. At around noon, one of the guys (the foreman) approaches me and says "Can you order a pizza for us? With soda". OK... I have to admit, I was taken aback. He didn't even ask for a couple of slices, he wanted a whole pie! I said "Yes". I went up and told my husband 'these guys asked me to order a pizza!" Well, I went back to tell them we were going to the pizza parlor to pick it up ourselves, and the guy said "with pepperoni, please".

OK, now. Listen. I do not live in the forest, I live in an urban area. There is a large supermarket across the street from my house, within 20 yards from my front door, that has a deli, a bakery, you name it. I didn't begrudge making the guys some lunch if they hadn't eaten, but now they are asking me to ORDER them lunch, when I'm already paying a large amount of money for the job they're doing? Is something odd there? DUers, do you order lunch for your plumbers, electricians, contractors, painters, etc., when they do a job for you?

i have to admit, I was amused at the chutzpah, but annoyed. Now I believe they had some expectation that I was supposed to feed them, so that's why they didn't bring any lunch on the other days. They must have been waiting for me to make them lunch. It's weird, no? I don't want to sound petty; I'd rather feed them than let them go hungry. But I've never encountered this situation before (One time, my husband remembered, a painting contractor asked us to buy lunch for his work crew and that he would deduct the cost from our bill).

But really, if you hire someone to do work for you, are you obligated to feed them? What happened to "brown-bagging" it? I'm a freelancer-- the people I work for don't buy my lunch.

Your thoughts?

[rug]

1. They asked you to order, not pay for it.

Maybe they didn't want to use your phone.

Or maybe they were just sick of ham and cheese.

I'd have called it in but made them pay.

[npincus]

2. NO- they have cell phones. They asked us, means they wanted

it gratis.

I didn't ask them for $, and they didn't offer it.

[rug]

3. OK then.

But I wouldn't have gotten it with pepperoni.

[npincus]

4. tee hee

yeah- I don't mean to sound like a petty, mean shithead... but I think it's kind of nervy.

[jukes]

13. anchovies!

that'd show them who's boss!

[Generic Brad]

5. They sound just like wild animals en route to domestication

Perhaps you should stop feeding them.

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. I offer them something to drink...that's it.

I bring my lunch to my jobs...so should they. :hi:

[Bunny]

7. That's pretty outrageous.

I cannot imagine workers expecting you to feed them at all, much less start to get picky about it. All the tradesmen I know pack their lunch bucket in the morning, and eat their lunch during the break. Never in a million years would they even think of having the homeowner feed them. Unbelievable.

[npincus]

11. so I'm not crazy!

thanks.

[auntAgonist]

8. We're in the middle of renovations here too..

workers coming and going all the time. For they most part they are here over meal times. I've never offered to feed them. They bring lunches with them and take breaks. I made muffins one day and set out a pot of coffee. It was very much appreciated and they thanked me.

I don't know what to think about the guys at your house :shrug: ill mannered to say the least (?)


You're not obligated to buy anyone lunch. bottome line.

:hi:

aA

[npincus]

12. thanks... they'll be back again-- one more day's work left.

What are they going to ask me for this time? Foie gras and watercress sandwiches?

I've been offering them bottled water in the morning (I just keep water and seltzer in my house-- no soda).

I have to say these guys work hard... they don't take breaks (or bring lunch).

Good luck with your renovations! Are you dong something major? We just put up crown mouldings, got new doors and new mouldings, and are putting a tin ceiling (w/moulding) in my kitchen. Not a huge job.

:hi:

[auntAgonist]

18. re-doing an old house

major renovations. The house is built on a slab. The main floor used to be the garage for the carriages. The upstairs is the main living quarters, kitchen and bathroome etc ...
We're building a kitchen downstairs, main living room/great room, a den, spare bedroom and utility area. We've pulled out the stairs, they ran straight up 13 steps and now we have a landing with a double back. New furnace, water heater, water softener, new wiring going in this week, new plumbing ..

what a job!

aA

[LaurenG]

9. We always get lunch for workers if we're at home

I do it because it seems like the right thing to do. I can't imagine what I would say if they asked me to order a pizza for them. :shrug:

[oregonjen]

10. Order the pizza, tell them when it should arrive and the amount expected

You shouldn't have to foot the bill for their lunches. Drinks, maybe, but not a meal. I'm nice, but not rich.

[riona]

14. I've never experienced such behavior

Someone occasionally says 'yes' if I offer a soda and that's even rare.

[bridgit]

15. no you're not obligated to feed them, what, they're mommies, or...

women couldn't pack them a lunch :shrug: no money in their pockets :shrug: the scene you describe reminds me of 'the money pit'...funny maybe till it happens to you x(

[dpbrown]

16. Never ever feed contractors

Not only do they come to expect it like feral cats, if something happens to them because of your food, you're liable.

[npincus]

21. LOL- who knew?

You're right... what if one of them choked on a peppercorn in the pepperoni?

[mdmc]

17. just get them crappy dominos

or ask them "do you want me to finish that job for you?"

Usually I bet they just go hungry...

[skygazer]

19. My SO is a carpenter who does home renovations

He would never in a million years ask the homeowner to provide him with anything in the way of food or drink. People do offer sometimes and he is always gracious and appreciative but he would never expect it and as for making requests, his boss would fire his ass if he ever heard of such a thing.

Quite frankly, I'd complain to the boss. That's unprofessional and reflects on him and his company. He would probably like to know what his employees are pulling.

[Monk06]

20. Paying for lunch......................

Engineers designing the tunnel under the English
Channel are going over contractors bids for the
project.

One bid strikes them as very low, 50 pounds 6 shillings.

Curious they invite the contractors in for an interview.

They sit down with the two contractors and the chief engineer
says.

Engineer: "We are wondering how you managed such a low bid. Could
explain how you arrived at your figures?"

Foreman: "It's quite simple guv. 30 pound 6 shillings for expenses
and 20 pound profit."

Engineer: "20 pound 6 shillings for expenses, for a tunnel?
Could you break that down for us."

Foreman: "Yes guv. 10 pound each for two wheel barrows; 5 pound
each for two shovels and 6 shillings for two watercress
sandwiches."

Engineer: "What's your development plan?"

Foreman: "Well Cyrill here starts diggin at Ashford. At the same time
I start diggin at Calais. At midday we stop for lunch and eat
our watercress sandwiches. After lunch we break through, join
up and there's your tunnel."

Engineer: "But what if you miss each other and don't join up?"

Foreman: "In that case guv, we continue diggin til four o'clock and
and you get two tunnels for the price of one."