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.

Just had a thought I’d replace her drink so she can’t say anything, she’s playing a game here and trying to make you look bad don’t give her the opportunity too!

Bring in a can of extra caffeine coke or red bull and leave it in your tray in the fridge that she won't be able to have because it will harm her precious baby. Put your grape can in a cool bag with an ice pack under your desk. I know you shouldn't need to but it will be funny.

She's probably playing these games so she can start maternity leave early from bullying/stress.

I wouldn't fi any of the action suggested on here. I would talk to your manager or HR person and say that you feel bullied as this person deliberately prevents you from having your drink with your lunch every day. That you have spoken to her and she continues to do it. That you need advice. They should tell her to stop it.

I think she's been very cunning. She's realised you are getting annoyed and might take it to HR/management (I presume she's not aware you already have) and she's trying to set you up to look like you deliberately took HER drink yesterday, on a day she says she DIDN'T take yours, and sending a text referring to her "state", feeling "attacked" and that you are not kind.

Tread carefully, probably best not to text again, straight to management. And replace "her" drink, in her tray, without saying anything.

I'm not amazed to hear that she's one of these child-women who talks of nothing but herself, weddings and babies. She probably thinks she's the first woman in the world to be pregnant. Ugh.

I'm off to work now but at a big stumble - The shops (2 I've been to) don't have a Pineapple KA so I can't replace it and look like I never actually touched it

Buy a multipack, leave one on EACH person's tray EXCEPT hers and yours (with their agreement) and see what the CF does!

This woman is infuriating ! Why does she think her behaviour is okay!!!?

For her baby shower gift you should volunteer to organise the gift and just bulk buy loads of KAs and wrap them up

She sounds ridiculous but a text message war isn’t going to help. Could you just say to her face - Sorry there’s been a misunderstanding. Let’s agree never to touch each other’s stuff again. (I think in an earlier text she admitted taking the drinks, so she can’t say this is a false accusation). And distance yourself from her as much as possible.

You should put your can in someone else’s lunch space (with their permission) and see if she nicks that.

Or grape ka in everyone else’s but hers and see whose the little hound goes after.

Don’t engage. Don’t leave the drink in the fridge, just have water for a bit.

Ah, how annoying, OP. Never mind. Just buy any old flavour to replace it.

If she says anything, just say as calmly as possible: I'm sorry, I did drink that can of KA yesterday, as mine was nowhere to be seen. I assumed someone had drunk mine and left that one, and I texted you because we'd already had the confusion over you "borrowing" my lunchtime drink for your sickness. If it wasn't you I apologise, of course. I've replaced the can in the fridge.

If she says it's the wrong flavour, just say it was all that was available this morning.

But wasn't it in your lunch space?

I thought you'd be ok with it since you regularly bring yummy treats for everyone to share!

This reminds me of Softzilla. The OP in that thread paid for soft play and food for everyone for her DC’s birthday (including Softzilla) and the Softzilla seemed to expect OP to pay for her DC soft play and her lunch every time thereafter.

It’s almost like they see an act of kindness / hospitality as a marker that this person owes them something forever. It’s madness.

She’s a CF if the highest order
I think you should let it go now, perusing a grievance will seem petty imo

everytime Yes it was

@openitsoicanseeyousmile

I'm not easily spooked but that's bloody scary! Are you a psychic? Mine was indeed the Grape one and replaced with a Pineapple

Yep. Sounds like the actions of an evil do-er for sure. Pineapple pop is nasty stuff and grape is the flavour of the Gods. I'd be raging at being left with something no better than a can of Lilt.

You are all weird. The inky grape flavoured drink that is acceptable is wine.

Quite fancy the fruit punch one though.

”I actually feel very very attacked by your last message. Please remember the state I'm in at the moment, is it kind?"

Your colleague isn’t Rebekah Vardy is she?!

This isn't theft its bullying by her. Report her firmly. Get a permenant marker and write name on drinks can. I threw up on myself outside work once and I was very very ill 20 times a day sick and I'd never do this.
My work would treat this as theft esp as you asked politely for her to stop. So she needs to stop.
I'd have been firmer than you and said 'your behaviour is inappropriate and has been reported to management accordingly'. End chat.

The problem is that she will probably deny everything and then management will get annoyed at being in the middle of something so petty.

I personally think big sticker with your name on it in huge letters. Then, she won't be able to deny anything or move anything about.

Wow op. What a cf. She's mad she's been caught out. Let us know how todays lunch is going.

Never heard of KA but a quick google says no aspartame in them! Will have to try it. Distinct lack of Grape flavoured stuff in this country.

Being pregnant is no excuse for being a thief! If she knows it helps then why the hell doesn't she bring her own in ffs.
Tell her to stop stealing your stuff! !

@AlanThePig it’s on amazon... unsure where you are but I’m also now on a tiny mission.

The woman’s nuts OP.. you can’t reason with crazy. Nice personalised can cosy? As big n tacky as you possibly can have?