Etiquette re landscapers taking their lunch break on my front lawn

[Anonymous]

I have landscapers come once a week to mow our lawn. They are very reasonably priced and I have no complaints with the quality of their work. However, oftentimes the crew take their lunch break immediately before or after their service. I have a large cherry blossom tree in my front yard and they lay/lounge beneath its shade and eat/nap/watch videos on their phone. This is generally for 30 mins to an hour.

They have never asked our permission to do this. We continued their contract from the previous homeowners so I don't know if the previous owners gave their blessing to do this. They don't leave trash or do anything destructive. If I leave the house while they are there, they keep to themselves and aren't a nuisance or anything. However, I can't help but feel a little annoyed by this practice. I appreciate their work but it doesn't entitle them to have free use of my property. There is a significant language barrier, so it is not easy to talk to them. I am torn between complaining about this to their company, which makes me fear that they will retaliate somehow (or just do a poorer job), vs. just dealing with the minor irritation. What do you guys think?

[Anonymous]

I think you need to lighten the hell up. That’s what I think.

[Anonymous]

Holy crap, OP.

Have you ever done manual labor outside, in the summer? Try it for a a week, then re-think your question.

[Anonymous]

"Get off my lawn!!" is never a good look. It's hot, it's August, fall is right around the corner, they're not being destructive, they clean up after themselves. They do a hard job, have some appreciation for that. Just close your blinds.

I sure hope you never lecture other people about letting immigrants into the country and supporting the dignity of work but then you turn around and treat the ones who work for you like they are to work but never be seen. Some people might call that hypocritical behavior.

[Anonymous]

If they aren't leaving any kind of trash, are there less than an hour, and aren't actually inconveniencing you (your kid is not trying to climb that tree or whatever), then I say leave them to it. Just wave to them or make polite conversation if you're able.
It's been so freakin hot out and they're taking good care of your landscaping...they deserve the break!

[Anonymous]

Turns out I have done hard labor outside in the summer, and turns out I am also an immigrant. I have nothing against immigrants. I just happen to believe that perhaps people shouldn't sleep in lawns that aren't theirs? But I also have enough introspection to ask about other peoples' opinions. Seems like everyone here thinks they would be thrilled to have people sleeping on their front lawns.

[Anonymous]

are you joking?

[Anonymous]

Random people? No. But somebody I hire to do work that I am satisfied with, where I know they don’t have an accessible break room, at a time of day that makes sense when they are obviously careful to clean up after themselves?

Yeah, be okay with that.

[Anonymous]

OP I hope you are troll, because if not you are a monster. Grow a soul.

[Anonymous]

OP you should be serving them lemonade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Turns out I have done hard labor outside in the summer, and turns out I am also an immigrant. I have nothing against immigrants. I just happen to believe that perhaps people shouldn't sleep in lawns that aren't theirs? But I also have enough introspection to ask about other peoples' opinions. Seems like everyone here thinks they would be thrilled to have people sleeping on their front lawns.

Maybe you’re thinking the way you do because you ARE an immigrant. Understand that we have no caste system here. We treat our manual laborers with the dignity and respect that they deserve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Turns out I have done hard labor outside in the summer, and turns out I am also an immigrant. I have nothing against immigrants. I just happen to believe that perhaps people shouldn't sleep in lawns that aren't theirs? But I also have enough introspection to ask about other peoples' opinions. Seems like everyone here thinks they would be thrilled to have people sleeping on their front lawns.

If I were hiring them and they had no place to take a needed break, and they rested/ate without leaving a trace, no, I wouldn't care. Not even a little bit. I'm sincerely confused why this bothers you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I hope you are troll, because if not you are a monster. Grow a soul.

+1

[Anonymous]

You're wrong to be annoyed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Turns out I have done hard labor outside in the summer, and turns out I am also an immigrant. I have nothing against immigrants. I just happen to believe that perhaps people shouldn't sleep in lawns that aren't theirs? But I also have enough introspection to ask about other peoples' opinions. Seems like everyone here thinks they would be thrilled to have people sleeping on their front lawns.

These are people YOU hired to work on YOUR lawn. Yet when they take their lunch break, quietly eating or resting while they are on break, you have a problem with them being in your yard? Unbelievable.