Hospitality
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Tell construction crews that you notice and care about their work by saying thanks or complimenting their job.
It reminds them that people notice and care what they're doing; crews appreciate positive comments.
- What a person says on the street has little to no bearing on the final product, since it's all in the contract.
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Provide food such as sandwiches, snacks, or pizza to workers during long jobs, ensuring it is from a known source.
It saves them the hassle of finding food and lets them recharge in peace.
- Some workers prefer not to be made lunch so they don't have to sit around for extra hours.
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- Buy lunch for workers on all-day jobs and inform them early so they can get freshly made food.1
If you are a host, make morning coffee for friends even if you do not drink it yourself.
It is a small gesture that can be surprisingly meaningful to guests.
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Present cold drinks to workers directly without asking if they want one.
Workers often refuse offers to avoid inconveniencing the host, but will accept if simply handed a drink.
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- Be prepared for workers to decline offers of food or drink due to company policy, liability concerns, or personal distrust.4
Be polite and respectful to service staff to encourage them to go out of their way for you; avoid being rude or pushy.
Staff will bend over backwards for nice customers but have little time for rude ones.
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If you are curious about the work being done, keep your distance and offer to be nearby if needed.
To allow workers to work without interference.
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Offer drinks or buy lunch to build a relationship with tradespeople.
It helps build a relationship.
- Some workers turn down meals or do not know how to handle unexpected gifts like pizza.
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If you cannot offer a drink, greet service workers with a friendly 'Hello, how are you doing?'
It goes a long way.
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Help garbage collectors pick up refuse when they are working outside.
Helping them may lead to them helping you.
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Invite the family member over for meals or socializing on your terms to satisfy their need for connection and control.
It puts her mind at ease and you take control of her presence in your home by inviting her over.
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Provide water and ice to home contractors, but also offer room-temperature water.
It shows consideration and may help them work more efficiently.
- Some people get bad headaches from cold water.
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Do not crumple or discard advertising flyers in front of the distributor, as it crushes their spirit or makes them feel useless.
It crushes their spirit if it's their business, or makes them feel like they're doing something useless if it's just their job.
- Some people crumple them up hoping the distributor will stop, viewing the protection of feelings as gross.
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Provide guest Wi-Fi for workers if reception is poor in your area.
Reception can be rough in some locations.
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Stay out of workers' way; avoid constant offers of help which can be obnoxious interruptions.
Constant offers of help can be obnoxious.
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Offer food and drinks to workers to improve project speed and quality.
Comfort motivates better performance.
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Offer watermelon to outdoor workers.
It places you at the top of their list.
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- Leave a cooler with water, Gatorade, or coconut water on ice for outdoor workers.1
Avoid offering alcohol to hired workers.
It creates liability risks regarding their ability to drive safely or operate machinery.
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Offer Red Bull or pop to movers.
It definitely perked them up.
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Avoid offering red-colored drinks to contractors installing new carpet to prevent stains.
Red drinks can stain new installations.
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Be nice and pleasant to contractors to encourage extra attention or work outside the scope.
Being unpleasant results in receiving only the bare minimum.
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When hosting guests, offer specific food options instead of asking generally if they want anything.
Guests may feel awkward accepting a general offer even if they are hungry.
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Check workers' dietary restrictions before ordering food for them.
Failing to do so can be offensive if they have restrictions like gluten intolerance or veganism.
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Offer bathroom access to workers, as they often cannot ask due to company policy or embarrassment.
Denying it causes delays.
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Explicitly tell workers which bathrooms they are allowed to use at the start of the job.
Some companies instruct employees not to use a house's bathroom unless explicitly offered.
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Provide sealed bottled or canned drinks instead of pouring beverages into open cups.
Workers may worry about hygiene or safety concerns like tampering.
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Offer refreshments to landscaping and postal workers.
It builds rapport with neighbors you recognize.
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Ask tradespeople for their favorite radio station to keep them happy.
Keeping tradespeople happy leads to mutual satisfaction.
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Do not assume kindness guarantees quality work.
Poor contractors may perform poorly regardless of hospitality.
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One approach that helped: set up shade tents over work areas and provide coolers with drinks and sandwiches for outdoor workers in extreme heat.
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Do not buy large amounts of meat specifically for a vegetarian guest who dislikes it.
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