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.

I think she’s being really rude. Not to ask first for a start. She could have said “I’m feeling really sick and am massively craving your drink. Can I take it and replace it at lunch?” Taking it, not saying anything then offering to replace for the next day is unacceptable behaviour.
I would say “I hope the drink helped, please bring yourself some next time though as it leaves me short if you take mine”

www.amazon.co.uk/Lockabox-Compact-hygienic-lockable-medicines/dp/B074ZNX9PS/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?psc=1&keywords=fridge%2Block%2Bbox&sprefix=fridge%2Block%2Bb&th=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFCQTg5R0taUDI3VEUmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA2MjExNjA1VldFVFVDM1FSV08mZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDQ5NjgyNDFJTktaQTlZR1E2NFkmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1570892429&sr=8-1-spons

(Not sure if that’ll be clicky) there’s cheaper ones I’m sure but that’s the kind I’ve seen

It's not cheeky, it's theft.

Pregnancy does not excuse theft. I'd be pointing that out to her.

Bring your drink in in a personalised cup (hide the can in the cup).

Or go full eco friendly and get a good reusable which will keep the fizz in till lunchtime.

No way will it be as easy for her to nick a personalised drink as a generic can.

CF can prepare enough to being her own damn drinks. I had severe HG (sick up to 15 times a day) and still managed to organise things which would help it myself - wouldn't have dreamed of repeatedly taking my colleagues drink they've brought for their lunch

Fridge lock box.

She's getting a lot of leeway from pp here because she's pregnant, but she's basically using her pregnancy as an excuse to help herself to your stuff every day. Once, you might understand, but this is regular.

I have one of those lockboxes, they're brilliant. yes get one and lock it up, not that you should have to.

Just say "Hang on a second Mary, if they help you and you know they help then bring them in yourself. I brought it in today because I want it today. You don't even ask, you just take, pregnant or not that is rude so do not take my things again now enjoy your walk to the shop to replace it you rude entitled cow "

I would bring in 2 on Monday, and say
'I have brought an extra one in for you, as I am so fed up with being disappointed after looking forward to my cold drink all morning every day last week only to find you have just helped yourself. Please can you replace it tomorrow and bring an extra one in for you at the same time, and replace on an ongoing basis so YOU have a drink int eh fridge and do not drink mine, then I won't be so crushingly disappointed every day this week. '

Put it in a lunchbag and then in the fridge, if she goes into the zipped bag kill her (if its Diet Coke).
She's a cheeky mare and is stealing it.

Not to sound heartless, but her pregnancy and morning sickness are not your problem. If it had been a one-time "emergency" and she'd asked, I wouldn't mind so much, but now she knows it's a recurring problem, she should keep a drink or two in the fridge for herself. She's being very entitled, expecting others to cover for her own unwillingness to take very simple, cheap precautions.

I'd probably be too cowardly to want to speak to her about it, so I'd just keep my drink at my desk in a cold bag. Of course, with someone so cheeky, she might come and ask for the drink, if she figures out what you're doing, so then you'd have to tell her no, anyway.

Aw it would be so sweet of you to buy the multi pack for you to share! But yeah... coolbag, if you have one.

Maybe buy one multipack and leave half in the fridge for her, then put the rest in a cool bag and never replenish the ones in the fridge?

😒 I’ve just about gotten over HG so I understand how awful it is but this woman is a royal CF!!

I have (on rare occasion) had to steal items of food/drink from friends/family but they are replaced as soon as the wave of nausea/sickness passed! I understand needing something on the spot but then you head to the nearest shop and replace it ASAP!

If I had been her I’d have asked before taking your drink the first day and then brought in a multi pack to stash in the fridge the next day! Making sure to give you yours back! - that’s how normal people behave...pregnant or not

Personalised can cover with your name on it?

www.weddingstar.co.uk/product/custom-neoprene-foam-beer-can-party-koozie-white?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2Pze4YGX5QIVCJ3VCh33UAq2EAQYAiABEgJXHvD_BwE

When questioned, she says something along the lines of "Sorry! Bad sickness. This helps. I'll get a new one for you tomorrow".

To which you need to reply, "oh right, no, that'll not do, thanks. I need a drink with my lunch today. The fresh air going to the shop will do your sickness good. It'll just take a couple of minutes for you to get one, thanks now."

::smile sweetly whilst raising your eyebrows in the direction of the office door::

It is cheeky, yes. And she shouldn't get away with it because she's pregnant. But a lock box? Seriously? How many multi packs could you buy for £30? Probably enough to see her through to the end of her pregnancy! Stick a can in the fridge for her every day. Make it obvious you've noticed, and she might just return the favour one day when you need if the most.

*Do you never buy a packet of biscuits or bring something to share then&

Yes. That doesnt mean everyone can dip into any food I bring.

I cant believe that people are suggesting buying her some. This woman is an adult. Old enough to be a parent so old enough to buy her own drinks on the way into work. Stop at the shop on the way home that night.

OP does not have to provide drinks for her, especially after the cheeky fecker keeps taking hers without asking.

Is there a freezer compartment in the fridge? Get some ice made up in there, keep the can in your bag/drawer and have it over ice come lunch time.

This would drive me mad. It's not even as though she's asking you if she can have it. I'd suggest bringing a multipack but she'll have most of them. I'd lose my temper with her.

I would stick my can in the fridge with a big label on it saying “Keep your paws off my pop!” If she took it again I would go mad at her. She is pregnant not dying!

I'd probably bring in two drinks every day knowing it would stop once she gives birth. It's temporary. It's cheap. You'd be extending grace and you'd know you had a drink there when you wanted it. It's not "fair" but it's a solution to a temporary problem.

Place your can in the fridge right way up and pour a little water onto the top so there's a little puddle on the top of the can. Then tell her you spat on it. Hopefully that'll keep her away.
She's a CF.

What a greedy cow! She has morning sickness, so what? She can buy her own and piss off!

What a CF!

Have you got a cool bag kicking about at home? Or now the weather is colder stick the can in a large Tupperware next to an ice pack and keep in your bag/desk. You shouldn't have to, but CF seems to dictate otherwise!

You could go down the route of multi pack- in which case may I suggest just putting 2 in the fridge and taping a note to one saying "openitsoicanseeyousmile's can!" And in front of it place the other, with a note saying "

CFery of the first order.

1. Not asking
2. Not telling until spotted
3. Doing it again!

PPs are right to say prevent her. Zipped lunchbag with drink at the bottom; tape a note to her on the can, "Get out of my lunchbag, Susie, and leave my drink alone!" And if that fails, the lockable fridge box, while expensive, will convey your feelings and ensure you get your drink yourself.

Why don't you think she's being cheeky? She is. AF.

Lick the ring pull and leave a note on the can to that effect