What’s a suitable gift for Ukrainian contractors?
August 1, 2023 10:58 PM Subscribe
A house I’m about to start renting is being prepared by a contractor who I really like and appreciate. I’m renting the house, so he and his team are employed by the property management company, not by me. He’s gone out of his way to help me out and I’d like to bring him and his workers something. Probably food? I was thinking maybe an assortment of organic fruits. What would be enjoyed and culturally appropriate for a bunch of very nice Ukrainians?
And a bottle of good liquor they can share to celebrate the end of the job. Not vodka, they will have Opinions about vodka.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 1:48 AM on August 2, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by I claim sanctuary at 1:48 AM on August 2, 2023 [2 favorites]
Seconding cash. It may not seem like the most sentimental of gifts, but chances are they'll either need it themselves or would welcome the chance to send some money home to help family members in Ukraine's bombed cities or as a contribution to the funds its defence forces need.
posted by Paul Slade at 3:29 AM on August 2, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by Paul Slade at 3:29 AM on August 2, 2023 [7 favorites]
Definitely money. In general anything that can help immigrant families with remittances will be the most welcome choice, and that is always money.
posted by mhoye at 5:31 AM on August 2, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by mhoye at 5:31 AM on August 2, 2023 [2 favorites]
Cash.
Even for non-immigrant working people.
This is a nice gesture on your part. And there is nothing wrong with organic fruit! But spending money on fancy/overpriced items would be a waste. Just give the head guy a hundred or whatever you were thinking of spending.
Enjoy your new place!
posted by rhonzo at 6:04 AM on August 2, 2023 [2 favorites]
Even for non-immigrant working people.
This is a nice gesture on your part. And there is nothing wrong with organic fruit! But spending money on fancy/overpriced items would be a waste. Just give the head guy a hundred or whatever you were thinking of spending.
Enjoy your new place!
posted by rhonzo at 6:04 AM on August 2, 2023 [2 favorites]
Just to add a Central European perspective, here in Austria the typical gift for builders or other handymen is cash (not a check but banknotes).
Regardless of their country of origin:-)
Leave them bottled water to help themselves to while at your site.
Often they are also provided with free lunch such as sandwiches or other food that can be eaten without implements by the person whose house they work on (as often here the hourly wage is miserly and getting sandwiches expensive).
Sometimes also, in addition, they are given a case of beer on the final day.
posted by 15L06 at 6:07 AM on August 2, 2023 [7 favorites]
Regardless of their country of origin:-)
Leave them bottled water to help themselves to while at your site.
Often they are also provided with free lunch such as sandwiches or other food that can be eaten without implements by the person whose house they work on (as often here the hourly wage is miserly and getting sandwiches expensive).
Sometimes also, in addition, they are given a case of beer on the final day.
posted by 15L06 at 6:07 AM on August 2, 2023 [7 favorites]
But spending money on fancy/overpriced items would be a waste.
To expand on this: There is a small chance that that's exactly what they would enjoy more than anything else in the world, in which case it wouldn't be a waste. But that's pretty unlikely, and if it happens to be exactly what they want, they can buy it themselves with the money you give them. This is the argument made in a famous 1993 economics article, The Deadweight Loss of Christmas; for a nontechnical overview, see this interview with the author, Joel Waldfogel. But, as he acknowledges, "The reasons why we give gifts have very little to do with economics."
Gift-giving often is not just a way of transferring resources but of strengthening social bonds. It "may signal that the donor cares enough to devote time and thought to what the recipient desires or needs." People rarely give cash to their romantic partner. (There are also theories of gift-giving that it's a way of giving people permission to consume what they really want but would feel guilty buying, or to provide new information, like if you give someone a book you think she'd like.)
I assume you tip servers at restaurants with money, not gifts. But you mention that this is a "a contractor who I really like and appreciate," suggesting that you've gotten to know him and his staff and that you see the relationship as something more than a standard business transaction. Thus, it's natural for you to want to signal that by giving him something personal. That's good, and they might appreciate that in the same way (but to a much lesser degree) that a romantic partner would appreciate a gift.
I totally agree that cash would be best; spending $109.99 on a Harry and David fruit basket would likely be a waste. But you can supplement with something small to emphasize the relationship you've developed, like a bottle of liquor. But I'd go go a handwritten thank you note, perhaps with a photo of the completed job. And definitely offer to serve as a reference, and recommend them to all your friends.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 7:04 AM on August 2, 2023 [9 favorites]
To expand on this: There is a small chance that that's exactly what they would enjoy more than anything else in the world, in which case it wouldn't be a waste. But that's pretty unlikely, and if it happens to be exactly what they want, they can buy it themselves with the money you give them. This is the argument made in a famous 1993 economics article, The Deadweight Loss of Christmas; for a nontechnical overview, see this interview with the author, Joel Waldfogel. But, as he acknowledges, "The reasons why we give gifts have very little to do with economics."
Gift-giving often is not just a way of transferring resources but of strengthening social bonds. It "may signal that the donor cares enough to devote time and thought to what the recipient desires or needs." People rarely give cash to their romantic partner. (There are also theories of gift-giving that it's a way of giving people permission to consume what they really want but would feel guilty buying, or to provide new information, like if you give someone a book you think she'd like.)
I assume you tip servers at restaurants with money, not gifts. But you mention that this is a "a contractor who I really like and appreciate," suggesting that you've gotten to know him and his staff and that you see the relationship as something more than a standard business transaction. Thus, it's natural for you to want to signal that by giving him something personal. That's good, and they might appreciate that in the same way (but to a much lesser degree) that a romantic partner would appreciate a gift.
I totally agree that cash would be best; spending $109.99 on a Harry and David fruit basket would likely be a waste. But you can supplement with something small to emphasize the relationship you've developed, like a bottle of liquor. But I'd go go a handwritten thank you note, perhaps with a photo of the completed job. And definitely offer to serve as a reference, and recommend them to all your friends.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 7:04 AM on August 2, 2023 [9 favorites]
Agree with cash and strongly discourage giving liquor to people you do not know.
posted by fies at 7:45 AM on August 2, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by fies at 7:45 AM on August 2, 2023 [5 favorites]
Eastern European perspective, good liquor is almost as good as money. If they don't drink, they'll give it as a culturally appropriate gift to someone who does. It's the social way to say thank you.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 8:10 AM on August 2, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by I claim sanctuary at 8:10 AM on August 2, 2023 [6 favorites]
Money.
posted by heathrowga at 10:22 AM on August 2, 2023
posted by heathrowga at 10:22 AM on August 2, 2023
The property management company hired the contractor and his team, and is footing the bill. You truly appreciate the work they're doing, so in a way you're *tipping* the crew on this job. Tips are in cash for the reasons listed above, and I agree, give the cash in a thank-you note. I wanted to add that while the management company would hire them for future work at your rental home, I think you could ask for business cards or direct contact information and specify it's to make recommendations to friends.
posted by Iris Gambol at 11:32 AM on August 2, 2023
posted by Iris Gambol at 11:32 AM on August 2, 2023
Money is always the best gift unless you know someone very well and are very good at finding things people didn't even know they wanted. You don't know these guys so just give money.
If you're deadset against giving money then yeah go with food. Maybe ask what they like to eat and have it delivered for lunch.
posted by Jacqueline at 4:33 PM on August 2, 2023
If you're deadset against giving money then yeah go with food. Maybe ask what they like to eat and have it delivered for lunch.
posted by Jacqueline at 4:33 PM on August 2, 2023
They want money, not booze or presents.
posted by Geckwoistmeinauto at 3:40 AM on August 3, 2023
posted by Geckwoistmeinauto at 3:40 AM on August 3, 2023
Another Eastern European perspective: Fruit? For manual laborers? Not the best choice. Something meaty would be better. Even better - buying them lunch (of their choice). Alcohol would be culturally appropriate and IMHO the best choice (as someone mentioned, it's frequently re-gifted), especially if accompanied by money, but then you run into the question of how much of a tip is enough.
posted by gakiko at 5:22 AM on August 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by gakiko at 5:22 AM on August 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I report back unsuccessfully - I tried to give him cash, he refused, I tried insisting a few times, he still refused. And then he gave me a tomato and a peach he grew, which was very sweet of him. Not sure what to learn from this whole experience 🤷♀️
posted by nevernines at 3:27 PM on August 6, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by nevernines at 3:27 PM on August 6, 2023 [3 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by StrikeTheViol at 12:34 AM on August 2, 2023 [23 favorites]