Contractor wants donuts? (do you provide refreshments?)

[Anonymous]

We're having the basement of our house worked on. Different subs are in and out, but there are two guys who work for our GC who are at the house 2-3 days per week. On Friday, one of them told my husband that it would be nice to have donuts.

I told my husband that I couldn't handle going to Dunkin or Krispy Kreme and circling back on top of the usual morning routine and maybe he could handle it...but I was a little irritated that the guy said that in the first place. Are people providing refreshments for workers? If I wasn't working an office job (work from home ended last month for us), perhaps I'd feel more inclined because I'd interact with them more, but I was surprised by the comment.

[Anonymous]

We had a multi-day group doing landscaping and my husband gave them money to order lunch delivery one day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're having the basement of our house worked on. Different subs are in and out, but there are two guys who work for our GC who are at the house 2-3 days per week. On Friday, one of them told my husband that it would be nice to have donuts.

I told my husband that I couldn't handle going to Dunkin or Krispy Kreme and circling back on top of the usual morning routine and maybe he could handle it...but I was a little irritated that the guy said that in the first place. Are people providing refreshments for workers? If I wasn't working an office job (work from home ended last month for us), perhaps I'd feel more inclined because I'd interact with them more, but I was surprised by the comment.

DoorDash delivery.

We did Starbucks for the three women who deep cleaned my home the day before I was discharged from the hospital.

[Anonymous]

It's one thing if you decide to give them a treat. It's another for them to ask for it.

Also, they have to see you rushing out the door to work. Why does this guy think you should be going out to get him food? Rude.

[Anonymous]

There was a thread about this a long time ago and people said that if you start providing meals and snacks, the work starts to slow down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're having the basement of our house worked on. Different subs are in and out, but there are two guys who work for our GC who are at the house 2-3 days per week. On Friday, one of them told my husband that it would be nice to have donuts.

I told my husband that I couldn't handle going to Dunkin or Krispy Kreme and circling back on top of the usual morning routine and maybe he could handle it...but I was a little irritated that the guy said that in the first place. Are people providing refreshments for workers? If I wasn't working an office job (work from home ended last month for us), perhaps I'd feel more inclined because I'd interact with them more, but I was surprised by the comment.

Just... just stop. Please. Unless you asked them "is there anything we could get for you?" there's no circumstance where it would be appropriate for a sub or GC crew to proactively say they would like donuts... Again, if YOU asked then you opened yourself up to a response like this... otherwise its unprofessional to ask.

Do whatever you like, if anything. No subs expect such things... but may appreciate some bottled water or drinks if you offered from time to time.

[Anonymous]

I used to treat contractors on a Friday or monday since they were there for multiple weeks. Noone ever asked. Noone has even asked to use the bathroom and either they didn't at my house or were super clean.

[Anonymous]

Um, no.

If your husband wants to get them donuts, that's fine. But it's weird that they asked. (Is it possible they said it as a joke when your husband asked if they needed anything?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're having the basement of our house worked on. Different subs are in and out, but there are two guys who work for our GC who are at the house 2-3 days per week. On Friday, one of them told my husband that it would be nice to have donuts.

I told my husband that I couldn't handle going to Dunkin or Krispy Kreme and circling back on top of the usual morning routine and maybe he could handle it...but I was a little irritated that the guy said that in the first place. Are people providing refreshments for workers? If I wasn't working an office job (work from home ended last month for us), perhaps I'd feel more inclined because I'd interact with them more, but I was surprised by the comment.

We aren’t here just celebrating Friday for three sake of it. Offer them intermittently and thatll motivate Friday attendance. I did one surprise donut buy and a Saturday lunch when they worked. There were appreciative both times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had a multi-day group doing landscaping and my husband gave them money to order lunch delivery one day.

NP. Outdoor work is one of the few times I've felt motivated to do such things, because often times the crew they bring are 80% day laborers or very poorly paid workers, and just a few experienced staff.

[Anonymous]

I bring my own food to my job. I don't expect my boss to feed me. Once in a while, the people who like to bake might bring in cookies or something, but no one demands it!

[Anonymous]

I try to be nice to household employees and have erred on the side of "too nice"/doormat with nannies, etc. But no, I don't feed my contractors or even my babysitters (only exception is when sitter is doing an all-day shift and basically acting as a nanny).

[Anonymous]

We had a lot of work done on our house a few years ago. Every month or so, I'd spring for pizza or tacos for the whole crew. They really appreciated it.

I don't think it's great that they asked, but a couple of donuts isn't a big deal. If you don't have time to get them, give them a gift card so they can pick up on the way to work.

I mean, they are building your house. I would put in the $20 extra dollars to keep them happy and not mess up anything that they are working on because they are mad. Fair? Probably not, but not worth the trouble IMO.

[Anonymous]

Are you sure they weren't joking? I've never had someone working in my house ask for food, and I've been through a couple of large renovation projects.

[Anonymous]

Give donuts once a week and call them “Monday morning donuts” or whatever day. Get them from the supermarket (Entenmanns or Hostess etc.). A special trip to the donut store is ridiculous.