If you’ve ever had a plumber, sparkie, or chippie over to fix something at your place, you might have wondered—should you offer them a drink? A friendly cuppa, maybe even a cheeky bikkie?
Well, one UK expat in Brisbane was left scratching their head after their generosity was met with blank stares and polite refusals.
Taking to Reddit, they asked if it was common practice in Australia to offer tradies a drink while they’re on the job.
Back in the UK, apparently it’s standard to chuck the kettle on for anyone working in your house, but in Australia? Not so much.
“Now, whilst living here, I’ve only had five, maybe six tradespeople come to do work on the house, and every time I’ve asked, they’ve said ‘no, we’re working?’ or just looked at me like I’m crazy,” the user wrote.
That got Aussies talking, and the responses were a mix of “yeah, always offer” and “nah, mate, they don’t have time for that.”
Most Aussies say it’s not weird, but don’t expect a yes
Plenty of locals assured the poster that they weren’t out of line. Offering a drink is a nice gesture, even if most tradies will turn it down.
“I always ask if they want a tea, coffee, water, or anything. Only one in about ten ever accept. But I’ll always offer,” one commenter shared.
“Look, it’ll always be appreciated if you offer. You might have to ask twice, though—in case they feel like they’re obliged to say no,” another added.
A few reckoned the refusal might come down to the way it was worded.
“Just be careful, I offered one some coke once and he took two beats to decide if it was Coca Cola or a bag. Dunno how much I wanted him working on my hot water system after that hesitation at 10am on a Tuesday,” said one commenter.
Why tradies aren’t keen on a cuppa
Some Aussies reckon the reason most tradies say no is pretty simple—they’re flat out and don’t have time to stop for a cuppa.
“They’re at yours to do a job, get in, fix it, get out. Having a tea or coffee takes time, and they just want to get on with it and move on to their next job or finish up for the day,” said one commenter.
Others pointed out that most tradies bring their own drinks and snacks these days.
“I suppose that these days, most tradies have an esky, thermos, cold water esky in the ute, packed with whatever they need for the day. Gone are the days of heading to the servo in between jobs for a pie and Coke,” another person shared.
Some even suggested that certain companies might have rules about accepting food and drink from clients, though that’s not confirmed.
The safe bet? Cold water and a bathroom break
While a cup of tea might not be a hit, there’s one thing tradies will almost always appreciate—cold water, especially on a stinking hot day.
“Always cold water, it’s so hot often here. Coffee and tea, and toilet! A few use the bathroom, one or two have said yes to coffee when we are making it from the machine anyway. Lots of yeses to water,” one person commented.
“I always appreciate it when people offer me a drink. I don’t drink tea or coffee, but knowing I can get a water or use the dunny makes my day a bit nicer. It feels like they see me as a person, not a service,” another tradie added.
So, if you’re unsure whether to offer your tradie a drink, a cold bottle of water and directions to the nearest toilet is your safest bet. And if they accept a bikkie? Well, you’ve probably just made their day.
