to expect people to pay for the coffee/tea they drink.

[cheshirekitty]

A bit of background. I work in an outpatients department. The nursing staff take it in turns to buy coffee/tea/milk/sugar etc.

All of the doctors expect a drink (or sometimes 5) during clinic. But they never put any money into the piggy bank (rattled in front of their faces).

Am fed up subsidising liquid refreshments for the docs (especially consultants who are on mega bucks compared with nurses).

Tempted to withdraw fluids!!!!What would you do?

[Alambil]

withdraw all fluids other than tap water!

[TheArmadillo]

find some way of stopping them using it.

Cheeky bastards!

[dinkystinky]

definitely withdraw all fluids - or put the coffee/tea in a box with a padlock on it that only the nursing staff who have put cash in have the code to!

[Wigeon]

Stop buying the milk. Doctors will learn quick enough.

or

Mark the milk "Nurses only".

or

Start charging 50p per cuppa if you make a cup for someone who doesn't contribute.

or

Everybody buys their own individual pint and brings in their own stash of teabags / coffee / herbal tea etc. (sadly that's what happens in my office!)

[foxinsocks]

just make sure that the next time they want a coffee, there's none left (hide it) and when they ask why, say 'oh sorry, there was no money left in the tin' and then shove it in front of them

[HumphreyCobbler]

YANBU

I worked in a school where the headteacher would not contribute to the tea fund. I told him I thought it was awful, even TAs on low wages contributed. He then coughed up the cash.

[stonethecrows]

Def withdraw all fluids!! Cheeky buggers!

[pjmama]

Get everyone to pay for their drinks (nurses too). Buy tea, coffee, milk and sugar out of the takings and put any profits behind the bar at the Xmas do. Everybody wins!

[difficultdecision]

do they definately know? (I know you say rattled in front if their faces but has anyone actually explained?)

every hospital and every clinic has a different setup and it can be hard when you are moving around a lot to keep track. In everywhere I have worked the milk is delivered in the morning from catering but tea/coffee and sugar had different arrangements. Perhaps a note near the kettle or a reminder each month when the tea money is due?

[madusa]

when I worked in a school, there was a list with everyones name on and once you put your money in for the term, you crossed off your name.

At least everyone knew who had paid that way and everyone knew it was expected for them to pay

[lovechoc]

shock, that's doctors for you they were the same when I worked in theatres. they would stroll in and just take take take all the coffee and tea. nursing staff will always be paying for it.

[skybright]

Put a sign up "due to the non payment of refreshments by some members of staff,the cofee/tea money jar is penniless,please refill it at your lesiure"

[lisad123]

at our old office we each had to give £3 every 3 months to cover. Someone always went round and asked too.
Cheeky buggers, just say "Im sorry until you pay inot pot, I cant make you one, new rules" smile sweetie

[CMOTdibbler]

It is confusing - I get around a lot of hospitals in my job, and I know that a lot get milk/tea/coffee provided, some do a kitty, some rotate provision etc etc.

So just tell the doctors - 'just to let you know, we pay for the coffee etc ourselves, and so could we ask you for [reasonable sum] to cover your drinks today/this week'. That way they know where they stand, and if they say no, you can justifiably not bring them drinks

[cheshirekitty]

They do know we buy all of our tea/coffee, as we get told "oh, I will give you some money", but we never see it.

Annoys me as we have some single parents who have to look after every penny (well, we all do) on the nursing staff who are on low wages. Consultants on the other hand cannot be called 'low paid'.

[CMOTdibbler]

In that case, decide on a charge (based on number of clinics per week) do a list of them all, and then tell them that you will have to charge x per week/month, and how many weeks would they like to pay for now ? Give them one weeks notice, then get hardcore on no money=no drinks

[cass66]

To be perfectly honest, having been there, doctors often think that the hospital pays for the tea/coffee. Also as I'm sure you're aware, junior doctors rotate frequently, and diff clinics have diff systems, so they probably don't know what to do. I agree they should ask. The consultants prob aren't aware that you pay for it.

Just tell them. Cass.

[MrsBadger]

we saw a marked change of coffee culture about a week after Starbucks opened downstairs

somehow 50p a week for the kitty and a cup of Nescafe looked like good value vs £2.30 a day for a latte

[AngelaCarleen]

We have new dr's at work this week, perfect time to remind everyone that they have to contribute.

YANBU, flippin dr's taking the mick!

xx

[cheshirekitty]

Right, I have put up a polite notice today (on the docs notice board) inviting people to join the coffee club. Have stated we are now charging 20p for a cup of tea/coffee.

Hoping to catch the new docs and 'train' them in coffee etiquette.

[LittleSilver]

YABU.

Why are you making them tea/coffee? You are a professional in your own right, not their handmaiden; don't encourage them.

[cheshirekitty]

LittleSilver, they make their own tea/coffee, but use ours and do not pay for it.

[LittleSilver]

Then YANB at all U!

[cheshirekitty]

Although would it be unreasonable to make them coffee/tea with loads of laxatives in, if they didn't pay their 20p?????

[GentlyDoesIt]

Have some "special" tea/coffee for those who don't contribute. I believe Poundland has some choice offerings. As a student I once bought Kwik Save value range teabags and they tasted like fish.