To think don't keep taking my drink at work?

[openitsoicanseeyousmile]

I'm known to bring a can of drink in everyday for lunch. It's kept in the shared fridge at work - Everyone knowns it's mine as there's a little section box for each person with their name on.

A colleague of mine is pregnant and for the third time has taken my drink and not bothered replacing it. When questioned, she says something along the lines of "Sorry! Bad sickness. This helps. I'll get a new one for you tomorrow".

She always does, it's there the following day. But it means having to go out at lunchtime to get another one. The local shop is only 2 minutes away but it means eating up time I don't have since I have 30 minutes lunch.

I'm really not sure how to go about it. If it was the usual person, I'd tell them to stop the cheek and buy their own to bring in! But she's pregnant and suffering from sickness. I had HG with my son so I feel awful at the thought of telling her she can most certainly never take from me again without asking

I remember the horrendous feeling of needing something sweet and fizzy to curve the sickness and it did often help, so I imagine it's very helpful to her.

Perhaps I should buy a multipack and suggest she goes half's so we can both enjoy them during the week? Or is this too doormat like?

I'm really not sure how to go about it. I don't think she thinks she's being cheeky in the slightest, and is an otherwise lovely colleague.

What would you do? I usually have no issues being assertive but I feel as if the lines have been blurred.

It’s cheeky af but if you want to avoid conflict and looking like a petty nob at work, buy two! If she replaces them then you’ll always have one extra

So her sickness really isn’t that bad...

And she doesn’t even ask you? You have to spot her drinking your drink before she confesses? That’s batshit. And rude. What on earth is stopping her asking you first??

There is nothing petty about expecting people to buy their own drinks at work and keep their thieving mitts of the drink you have purchased for your own consumption.

Did she have her bottle today then??

I think some posters are on glue! Reward the CF by buying her drinks? WTAF!

OP you handled it well.

Take a thermos cup (the ones that keep things got and cold for many hours) and decant your can into it...keep it in your bag/drawer/desk..problem solved ..it's there when you need it, it's ice cold , and no one can take it as you have it with you

Your colleague is taking the piss and using pregnancy as a cover story...if she needs a drink that bad why isn't she bringing her own drinks in with her, and if she can buy you a replacement, why can't she just buy her own and keep it in the work fridge to drink...this is happening because you are letting it happen....

Wow I was so sick in pregnancy everyday all day was awful. If she was truely caught she would have asked you not just taken the drink? 🤔 She's a CF good text OP it's not OK to steal food and drink from anyone.
My lovely work colleague who is now my friend ten years later gave me a chocolate bar as I couldn't feel baby moving. Sounds dramatic I was a mess all was well but I would never have just taken it!

She still seems to be under the impression her pregnancy entitles her to other people's belongings. From her petty response, you'd think she was the first woman in the world to carry a baby. Well done for calling her out.

She's only pregnant not suffering with a terminal illness, some PPs need to get a grip, OP should not be buying this woman's drinks every day, especially not with that text response of hers

I would buy a multipack. I would keep it under my desk or somewhere else she won't see it, so if she nicks your drink again you can put a new one in the fridge to get cold.

If she does it again I would go to HR. It's theft.

It's nice you're nice, and I'm not one for confronation - I'd find it hard to say something too. I'd put mine in a ziplock bag with my name on and even hide it behind other foods . It does seem unbelievable she'd even do that - pregnant or not, it's seriously rude!

Yep I’m still pushing it, just read all the responses over a drink and you think I’m the nut job.....🙄 I guess if that’s the biggest problem you have in your life then fantastic but some people aren’t as petty 😂

Yep, definitely think this is the response of someone who would do this kind of thing! 😂😂 are you the office CF by any chance??

It's not once, it's repeatedly, it leaves OP without a drink on a regular basis and no one is saying it's the biggest problem in anyone's life. I guess on that basis totally fine to just nick a drink from a shop on a regular basis and tell the owner they are petty for having a word?

Some people just aren't honest I guess 🤷🏻‍♀️

So let me get this straight.

She just STEALS your drink? And she thinks that’s ok, just because she’s pregnant?

Tell her to buy her own and bring them in. If she can go and replace yours then she can buy her own can’t she? It’s theft and she’s a CF!!

She's very cheeky. I think if she does it again I would be a bit firmer with her- not arsey, just something like "I'm glad it helped, but I'd rather you didn't take my drink again because I look forward to it myself."

*gill1960 Sun 13-Oct-19 19:24:17
When I was pregnant I really suffered from mental and planning hormones on my brain.

Its also known as baby brain

You have all been too angry with her because she is forgetful due to hormones

The same thing happens when women go through the menopause*

Catching up with thread and admittedly not read all responses but W.T.A.F

Give your head a wobble ffs and don't be so bloody patronising to women and making pathetic excuses for a thief - just when you think you've read it all

The same thing happens when women go through the menopause

Oh yeh, I'm going through the menopause- per-menopausal. My head is f'ked most of the time. My hormones & emotions are all over the place...
Does that mean I can start helping myself to whatever I like? Regardless of who it belongs to?

I don't steal other people's stuff & I don't and guilt trip people in an attempt to excuse crap behaviour.

Why? Because I'm not a rude, entitled CF.

i would seriously take her sandwich then say you will bring her another tomorrow. you cant take without asking! a drink is an integral part of your lunch! shes pregnant not fucking dying, tell her to walk to the shop (same one you go to, to replace it) and get one herself.

As eventually will happen and you're asked to contribute to her going off on maternity collection and card ... Instead of adding at least £5 as expected- gift wrap a multipack of cans, hand that over and sign the card...

As far as the organiser knows you've added a gift to the pile / vouchers...

Passive aggressive maybe, but cheaper and easier than being judged for not giving "enough ". At least you know she likes them... 😁🤷‍♀️😇

Hate it when women use hormones as an excuse for irrationality and other poor behaviour. It cements the view that chauvinists hold, that women can't/ shouldn't be trusted in positions of power and responsibility. It's like saying "we're equal except when I'm hormonal and then I'm a dainty little laydee who needs lots of special treatment".

I'm aghast at the repeated suggestions of buying the lunch thief more cans. What the hell?! She is taking a part of someone's lunch and replacing it a full day later! What the fuck use is a drink the following day?

It's MN so seeing one loony suggestion on a thread is expected but seeing so many people suggesting that crazy shit too? Is the CFery growing?

This person isn't a thief because she always replaces the drink the next day

Hormones rule our behaviour because that is the way that our body and brain work.

I can't believe that women on here don't understand simple biological principles.

Nurse gill

She is a thief. She is depriving the OP of her lunch drink that day. Whether she brings a replacement the day after or not does not make it okay. It is theft.
And did you miss the part where she only makes mention of replacing the drink after the OP catches her drinking it?

Hormones rule our behaviour because that is the way that our body and brain work.

And that is fucking bullshit. Hormones may influence behaviour or thought processes but it does not overrule your sense of right and wrong. You basic human thinking.

I am currently just getting over horrendous morning sickness. Not once have I resorted to stealing because of it. She's a CF.

I can't believe that women on here don't understand simple biological principles.
Maybe I missed the "lady hormones turn you klepto" lesson during GCSE biology