Anonymous wrote:Small cooler of Gatorade and cookies.

We put out a cooler of cold drinks as well (it was summer) and acouetimes gave them food (donuts, pizza).

OP here. Thanks for the responses. I went out and got them some coffee and donuts this morning and they were very appreciative. To the PPs who said it's worth the small investment, you are absolutely right. It's a one month project so I'll probably try to do something couple of times a week.

Anonymous wrote:What's the point of giving them food? Why not just give them all $10? I'm sure they'd rather have the money.

If you're not providing them food and or water on a daily basis, they can't depend on it and probably will bring their own food/water for the day.

LOL what's the point? Have you ever heard of something called "being nice"?

No, unless you want to flirt with them.

I offer sex to them.

I offer beverages. I tell them to help themselves to a cooler of water and soda that is in the shed. On a really cold day I bring them hot chocolate. They tend to take drinks from the cooler on really hot days, when they need more than what they brought. Most days they don't take any. I find they usually accept the hot chocolate on cold days. I had one contractor who wouldn't accept anything and he didn't bring his own. It was kind of uncomfortable eating / drinking with him in the house. He must have been starving and dehydrated!

Anonymous wrote:I made them a pot of coffee to share every morning and bought them cases of water and Gatorade that I put in their work area. On the last day we ordered sheet pizzas and beer!

What is a "sheet pizza" ?

I always offer water and soda to people working outside in warm weather. For the guys building our pool, I kept them well stocked with water & Gatorade. Ordered pizza a few times.

We offer beer to anyone who works a full day and is here past 5. Now, on occasion, our lawn guys will ask for a beer when their supervisor isn't there. Not sure how I feel about it but I give it to them anyway.

We are going to be doing our kitchen in a few months. Will keep the keurig well stocked.

Just water and Diet Coke/Reg Coke.

I told my contractors there was lemonade and iced tea in the fridge, cookies and fruit if they wanted them. They were shy about helping themselves but warmed up to it.

No. Not unless it's VERY hot and they're moving heavy stuff, then I'll offer them water.

Anonymous wrote:What's the point of giving them food? Why not just give them all $10? I'm sure they'd rather have the money.

If you're not providing them food and or water on a daily basis, they can't depend on it and probably will bring their own food/water for the day.

Because it's not just about money. It's about access. In an office, most people have a water cooler, a kitchen, a coffee machine, a Starbucks up the block, a cafeteria, etc. At someone's private residence where you are working 8+ hour days, it's not the same. On a cold day, a hot cup of fresh coffee would be nice. Likewise, a Gatorade on a scorching afternoon. Sure, they can bring a thermos or a cooler, but it's not ideal. A hot or cold beverage can go a long way.

I always offer when people do random work at our house. People working for 6 months strait is another story (I haven't had that) but I like the idea of the pp that put out cases if water.

To the pp that said they don't get fed at their job: that sucks, but lots of people do. Many offices offer free coffee, water, even snacks. And there is always the random donuts or catered lunch.

Yes, coffee, water, gatorade, cookies if I'm baking. And not just my own contractors. I'll go out and offer something to the pepco or WASA guys who are doing workon my block too.

I like to bake so when I bake I offer them some - put a plate out or catch them when they come in.

If I had them at my house I'd like to think I would be like the PP who said she puts out coffee each day for them to help themselves.

I am on residential construction sites a lot because of my job, and it's absolutely true in my experience that the most pleasant people I work with are the same people who occasionally order a few pizzas for the crew or put out a bunch of sodas or include them in their holiday baking. Even if you're a very busy person, even if you're not wealthy, a few cookies aren't gonna kill you if you happen to have them laying around.

What's the point of giving them food? Why not just give them all $10? I'm sure they'd rather have the money.

If you're not providing them food and or water on a daily basis, they can't depend on it and probably will bring their own food/water for the day.