Hygiene, tea etiquette, and noise among tradespeople’s top pet peeves

​​​​​​​Plumbers rank as the most hygienic trade with a 40% rating, based on daily showers, washing up, and uniform cleanliness

UK tradespeople have made it clear that workplace etiquette and professionalism matter just as much as skills on-site.

A new survey of 2,000 UK workers, conducted by workwear specialists Essential Workwear, reveals which trades lead the way in hygiene, courtesy, and proper workplace behaviour, and which colleagues are most likely to irritate their teams.

When it comes to hygiene, plumbers lead the pack. With a combined 40% rating for taking daily showers, washing up cups and plates after themselves, and regularly cleaning their uniforms, plumbers set the standard for cleanliness on the job.

Gardeners and landscapers (38%) and engineers (36%) also scored highly, proving that hygiene is taken seriously even in physically demanding trades.

Top 10 most hygienic trades:

Presentation is equally important. Environment & Agriculture workers (33%), engineers (20%), and builders (20%) all reported frustration when colleagues arrived in scruffy or dirty clothing.

Personal hygiene was also flagged as a key concern, with 50% of plumbers, 33% of engineers, and 33% of gardeners noting they are irritated by colleagues who neglect it.

Small gestures like offering a hot drink can go a long way. Joiners lead in workplace courtesy, with 60% saying they offer a brew to colleagues and the same proportion finding it frustrating when the gesture isn’t reciprocated. 

Workplace etiquette traditions are still alive and well on-site, particularly when it comes to tea. Joiners are the most likely to offer colleagues a hot drink, while many workers say failing to offer a brew remains a surprisingly irritating breach of etiquette.

Trades who find it the most annoying when not offered a hot drink:

1. Joiner: 60%
2. Environment and Agriculture: 53%
3. Plumber: 50%
4. Tiler: 44% 
5. Builder: 40%

Tradespeople are equally vocal about poor work habits. Plumbers (40%) and bricklayers (33%) are most frustrated by poor-quality work, while locksmiths (33%) and engineers (32%) report the highest irritation with laziness.

Joking with colleagues (43%) and discussing personal health (40%) are widely considered acceptable, but taking unplanned breaks, internet shopping, and scrolling social media are consistently viewed as inappropriate.