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Colleagues keep using my milk!

438 replies

Immo8 · 16/01/2025 11:34

I don't want to sound petty as in the grand scheme of things, milk isn't an expensive item and maybe I should leave this be, but it's really starting to grate on me...

Work in an office with around 30-ish staff, the majority are on shift work including weekends so people are in & out a lot. I work standard hours 4 days a week. The company provides tea & coffee but staff bring in their own milk etc. I buy a large filtered milk every month as it lasts and I only have a few cups of tea a day so makes sense.

However, over the last 6 months or so, people will ask me if they can 'borrow' some milk. I would never say no to someone asking but they NEVER bring in their own milk or buy one to replace mine that they've used over the weeks...

Today, I brought in a brand new milk, name on it, placed it at the back of the fridge so hard to find, and I've just gone to make a cuppa and it's been opened without asking, and a 1/4 of it has gone!

How do I word an email to my colleagues (if people think I should) that is polite and doesn't sound too petty?

OP posts:
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VexedofVirginiaWater · 16/01/2025 16:06

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Yes several people have suggested one from Amazon and the OP has already said she is going to get one. It's called an Udder Lock.

AnotherThingToThinkAbout · 16/01/2025 16:06

tothelefttotheleft · 16/01/2025 16:05

@AnotherThingToThinkAbout

They stole a pregnant women's food?!

Several times before I gave up. Yep. Granola and yoghurt aren't cheap either.

tothelefttotheleft · 16/01/2025 16:05

@AnotherThingToThinkAbout

They stole a pregnant women's food?!

stevialiquid · 16/01/2025 16:03

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Createausername1970 · 16/01/2025 16:02

I havent read the entire thread, it's got quite long, so apologies if I am repeating.

We had similar issues. I just started drinking lemon tea and fruit tea, so no milk needed.

My colleague would bring milk in a small flask and leave it in her bag. She used to keep it extra cold in the summer by freezing milk in an ice cube tray at home and dropping a few milk ice cubes into the flask as well.

Immo8 · 16/01/2025 16:01

WhereYouLeftIt · 16/01/2025 15:54

So you just help yourself to milk you haven't bought, do you? If not, why not? Because after all - it's just milk. <shrugs>

Well I won't be making a fuss...I'll be putting a lock on it so entitled people like yourself can't use it 🙂

OP posts:
Idontjetwashthefucker · 16/01/2025 15:56

Why are people suggesting to put a laxative in it, OP wants to be able to use her own bloody milk!

I just decant mine into a tupperware mug, nobody touches it then

AnotherThingToThinkAbout · 16/01/2025 15:55

HomeTheatreSystem · 16/01/2025 15:32

The problem is the CFs who do this think it doesn't matter because it's a tiny amount and you won't notice. They don't realise that there are multiple CFs thinking the exact same thing so ofc it goes quickly. I would not bother with notes or labels, just keep some in a flask by your desk. If someone asks to borrow it just say no as you've literally brought in just enough to see you through the day.

Agree with this. When I was pregnant, I craved granola and yoghurt. Got stolen all the time even when it had a "This belongs to hungry, pregnant me, please leave!" message on it. I literally bought it in the morning and it was gone by the next day. I just had to change to different snacks or buying daily. Sad, but there it goes.

JudyP · 16/01/2025 15:55

DisforDarkChocolate · 16/01/2025 11:37

Nothing you can stop this unless you bring in a small flask of cold milk each day and keep it with you. It's bloody annoying though.

I started to bring in a thermos of milk every few days and no one steals from that - completely fixed the milk snatchers

ERthree · 16/01/2025 15:54

Buy a small 150ml flask and bring milk from home everyday. Keep it on your desk.

WhereYouLeftIt · 16/01/2025 15:54

Lalalol · 16/01/2025 15:52

It’s milk. Do you really want to be known as the person who made a fuss about milk? Just let it go. Literally.

or ask the company to provide it

So you just help yourself to milk you haven't bought, do you? If not, why not? Because after all - it's just milk. <shrugs>

MyDeftDuck · 16/01/2025 15:54

I used to have just this same problem where I worked.......no one was capable of remembering to buy or bring milk but they all knew that I took it in.
Eventually, I got fed up of it and bought a small vacuum flask - held about 500ml - and filled that at home before each shift. Kept it at my desk and it stayed cold for one 12 hours...........sorted! And no more milk theft!

KimberleyClark · 16/01/2025 15:54

We had a rule at my last place that any milk remaining in the fridge on Fridays was fair game for anyone, for the avoidance of wastage as so many people had Fridays off or worked from home etc.

stevialiquid · 16/01/2025 15:53

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HoolieJem · 16/01/2025 15:53

Lalalol · 16/01/2025 15:52

It’s milk. Do you really want to be known as the person who made a fuss about milk? Just let it go. Literally.

or ask the company to provide it

I think that's terrible. Why should she have to keep forking out when they don't?

chattyness · 16/01/2025 15:52

I use coffee mate for my tea, you could keep it in a small jar so it could be kept in your desk and nobody would nick it, you only need a very tiny bit in your drink, too much is yucky, just a wee sprinkle is enough so it lasts for ages.

Lalalol · 16/01/2025 15:52

It’s milk. Do you really want to be known as the person who made a fuss about milk? Just let it go. Literally.

or ask the company to provide it

Janella · 16/01/2025 15:50

A colleague brings her milk in to work in a baby bottle. Nobody steals it!

TunipTheVegimal24 · 16/01/2025 15:50

Odd that your employer doesn't provide milk - a lot do, probably to avoid bad feelings and drama such as this!

JustWalkingTheDogs · 16/01/2025 15:49

Put it in a none see through flask or bottle. No one will open this if they don't know what's in there, or can see it's someone's property (some people might think yours is communal as it's in a milk bottle and a large amount)

stevialiquid · 16/01/2025 15:49

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Bagpuss1200 · 16/01/2025 15:45

Had the same problem in my work place, i bought an 'udder lock' from amazon it cost £10 but I've probably saved that in the amount of milk I've stopped from being stolen!

bumblingbovine49 · 16/01/2025 15:44

InkHeart2024 · 16/01/2025 11:48

If you work for a local authority you won't get milk or tea and coffee provided. It's public funds and not considered value for money.

Exactly nothing at all is provided where I work. At my place I am the head of a team and to stop all the milk issues I buy some every Monday and label it with the team name. All the other teams in our shared office do the same so it seems to work out. It means all the team heads are buying milk out of their own pocket but it is worth it to all of us, to avoid all the complaints we get otherwise about milk stealing etc. People still use milk from the other teams if there is none left for their team but somehow that seems ok to me as it has not been bought for personal useand there is generally enough for eahc team anyway

I don't buy specialist milk though, just standard semi skimmed. It is interesting how few cartons of non cows milk there are in the fridge. There are a few but really not many and very few people seem to steal that!

Sugar, tea and coffee are not provided though. But people keep those in lockers -all staff have them. Anything left in kitchem cupboards gets 'shared' otherwise

ot had any complaints about lunch stealing - yet anyway!

tothelefttotheleft · 16/01/2025 15:43

Immo8 · 16/01/2025 13:08

Thanks everyone!

I can confirm I've just bought an udder lock which I will bring in proudly to work with me come Monday lol.

Just found out someone used my milk for cereal this morning, and it's now only a 1/3 full after being full this morning so enough is enough...

People are so different.

I can't imagine using someones milk for tea let alone cereal. How entitled is that?!

Toolardy · 16/01/2025 15:36

Immo8 · 16/01/2025 13:08

Thanks everyone!

I can confirm I've just bought an udder lock which I will bring in proudly to work with me come Monday lol.

Just found out someone used my milk for cereal this morning, and it's now only a 1/3 full after being full this morning so enough is enough...

What a cheek! Do keep us updated.