Etiquette re landscapers taking their lunch break on my front lawn

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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?

It's presumptuous and rude. But also not something I would do anything about. They're just eating and not hurting anyone.

[Anonymous]

wow OP wow. I think you need to get a hobby since you have nothing better to do than complain about nothing.

[Anonymous]

Are they asking to use your bathroom all the time? Are they relieving themselves on your lawn? Are they blocking in your vehicle? Basically are they requiring anything of you other than minding your own business while they recover from working? They’re humans, not machines. You don’t shut them down and load them on the truck. You asked them to be there. Let them do what they need to do as part of being a healthy worker.

[Anonymous]

If they aren’t leaving a mess, I’d be totally fine with it. And I’d leave out a cooler full of cold drinks for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ll bet OP is an immigrant from one of those countries where they treat hired help like an inferior species.

I think it's clear she's actually from a part of the U.S. where people cut their own lawns and she's white thereby not really understanding that yes people who are immigrants are actually humans too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll bet OP is an immigrant from one of those countries where they treat hired help like an inferior species.

I think it's clear she's actually from a part of the U.S. where people cut their own lawns and she's white thereby not really understanding that yes people who are immigrants are actually humans too.

OP upthread: “ Why does it matter? I volunteered for Habitat for Humanity. Pretty sure you guys think I am some pearl-clutching Nazi. I am a young immigrant who came from no money and just recently bought my first home, and happened to feel uncomfortable that the people who mow my (small!) lawn sleep out front for an hour a week without first asking.”

OP never says she is white.

Nice try though.

[Anonymous]

My landscapers work their tails off and if they want to sit and have lunch at my place they are more than welcome. If it’s a really hot day and I’m home I often bring them soda or water and they really appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

I worked for a couple landscaping companies while I was trying to figure out my life in my early 20's during the early 2000's. We always appreciated the people who let us eat on their properties. Some people would open their garages or back porches. It was greatly appreciated. When it is hot and humid, the last thing we wanted to do was get into our trucks to eat and sweat even more. Have a heart for those workers if they are just trying find some shade to eat and catch a quick nap.

[Anonymous]

I usually give our landscape crew iced drinks, fruit and snacks and welcome them to eat outside in yard. It is hard work and my crew are excellent.

If you want them to take pride in caring for your yard, show them you value their work and also recognize that it is hard physical labor.

The only thing I would have issue with is them leaving a mess/ trash but mine never do.

[Anonymous]

This bothered me when it was my neighbor’s landscapers who camped out in my side yard with all their equipment. This meant my own kids couldn’t go outside one day a week. We solved it by putting up a fence.

I can’t imagine getting mad that YOUR own employees are taking a break on your property—that you hired them to maintain. That’s insane.

[Anonymous]

Just ask yourself, what would Clint Eastwood do if it was his lawn?

[Anonymous]

I hope this is a troll.

[Anonymous]

No way am I reading ten pages of this! Did OP ever say where she'd prefer her employees eat lunch?

[Anonymous]

Just let this thread die

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd love to see a quick poll of the room as to how many people here serve contractors lemonade. As to being a monster, geez... I called it a minor irritation. Considering all the things that people are capable of, and have done in recent news, perhaps your perspective needs adjustment. It's not like I don't think they deserve a break. I just never volunteered my front lawn as their personal breakroom.

My mother raised me to offer cold refreshment when someone is working on the lawn or around the house and its hot out. I don't always adhere to it but your post reminds me to put more effort next time. Its called having manners. They are fellow humans, not just your laborers to work for you and never be seen....