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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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

896 replies

openitsoicanseeyousmile · 12/10/2019 15:34

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 Sad

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.

OP posts:
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6
AlanThePig · 15/10/2019 12:45

@Lunafortheloveogod there are bottles on Ocado. Already added one to try. If anyone spots the still strawberry juice though that would also be AMAZING.

Hederex · 15/10/2019 12:50

She has set you up on purpose.
What a spiteful person she is. And gob-smackingly self centered.
I'd fill your boss in informally if you get on, and be breezily civil to her from now on but not friendly.

DarlingNikita · 15/10/2019 13:14

I agree she has set you up on purpose.
I'd go to HR, be open with them about how you see what she's done and how you've fallen for it and that you're now keen for it not to get into 'she said/she said' stuff. Tell them everything, including the verbal comments (someone who was there might well back you up if asked by management).
Don't engage with her any more.

TheMonkeyWhale · 15/10/2019 13:46

OP “we don’t have a HR Team”

Posters on this thread “Go to HR”.

ThanksForAllTheFish · 15/10/2019 13:46

Ok I think I have a solution to stop her stealing your can. Buy a small stainless steel water bottle/ flask and decant your can into it. It can still fit in the fridge, it will keep cold and fizzy because it’s steel and not plastic. So long as you don’t over shake it then it should be ok (a bit like a can really). They are pretty cheap in places like Asda and B&M. I’m sure I even seen some in Poundland a while back.

Yerroblemom1923 · 15/10/2019 13:55

Put an empty can in the fridge so when she goes to help herself to YOUR drink she feels YOUR disappointment! And keep your drink in your bag/car etc. Or being in a can of something she can't drink e.g. mini bottle of Stella etc

MumW · 15/10/2019 13:59

Get yourself a cheap lunchbox, small enough to fit in your space but large enough to fit your can and sandwiches. Surely she wouldn't dare to open amd remove it from a box.

DisneyMadeMeDoIt · 15/10/2019 14:07

Swap to bottles of drink, next time she takes yours politely head to her desk and with ‘genuine’ concern ask ‘Oh gosh X you didn’t drink my X did you? I’ve been suffering with constipation so I’d put my lactulose in there’

  • don’t actually put it in - obviously but I bet she’ll give her anti natal a miss (and probably your drinks for a while) 😬
DisneyMadeMeDoIt · 15/10/2019 14:07

*aqua natal

DarlingNikita · 15/10/2019 14:17

My mistake, I know there isn't an HR. I meant 'Go to your boss'.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 15/10/2019 15:21

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

In that case - DENY, DENY, DENY!

You never drank it - you only moved it off your tray. You wouldn't drink pineapple if it was the last flavour on earth. She's paranoid. She needs to go home and have a lie down.

theemmadilemma · 15/10/2019 15:29

MN thread about drink thief turns into a Nurse Troll and KA recommendation thread.

I hope you've told your boss and he's sorting it out.

ItsWitchingTime · 15/10/2019 15:31

Wish I'd of known I could of helped myself to anything whilst I was pregnant because of hormones. Sat here imagining all the money I'd of saved on food and baby things.

Hope your days been drama free op

RockinHippy · 15/10/2019 16:20

If it were me, ext time I would take 2 cans into work. Give her 1, whilst telling her in no uncertain terms that she had to replace that can, so that she has one tomorrow & from them on she brings a can everyday so that she has her own. End with a smile & "because if you touch my can again, I might just cut your fingers off, look her straight in the eyes, smile & walk off.

marmitedreams · 15/10/2019 19:10

What happened OP?

MyNewBearTotoro · 15/10/2019 19:19

Wow, what a CF! I think you need one of these! Grin

MadeForThis · 15/10/2019 19:36

If the pineapple one was in your tray and she still owes you from the last can she stole then it's reasonable to assume that she had returned your can.

openitsoicanseeyousmile · 15/10/2019 19:53

I feel sick to my stomach Sad

She left promptly before lunchtime and said she was absolutely sick to her stomach and said had cramping and a headache. Someone sat her down as she was getting tearful and said can I get you anything? She said something sweet and cold would be really helpful, so said colleague went to have a look in the staff room. Colleague came out with my can of KA and said would this help? She beamed and said that'd help so much!

I quickly walked over and said that's mine for my lunch. Colleague said couldnshe just have it since she's not very well and there's a baby involved?

I stupidly said YES. Then afterwards I hear she went off to the EPU to get checked out. I don't know exactly what happened as I went away from that part of the office. I honestly couldn't stand to look at her. The colleague who offered up my drink has been off on holiday so didn't know about any of her previous stealings etc.

Boss was not in after 10 this morning so couldn't say anything. I will tomorrow. I'm so worried now that something will happen and it'll come up that I'm a horrible cow.

OP posts:
openitsoicanseeyousmile · 15/10/2019 19:54

If the pineapple one was in your tray and she still owes you from the last can she stole then it's reasonable to assume that she had returned your can.

So where was the drink I brought in that day for myself?

OP posts:
snowball28 · 15/10/2019 20:03

Bollocks to her cramping and headache.

Bollocks to her in general, she’s a sly manipulative cow and playing a very clever game.

How would a can of fizzy help her even if she was cramping anyway for goodness sake? And if she’s got a headache she needs to be drinking water not liquid sugar.

Also FYI it’s not your obligation or responsibility to provide her with her much needed ‘medicinal’ fizzy drink, it’s not on you to produce drinks to make her feel better. She’s pregnant not dying.

NoSquirrels · 15/10/2019 20:03

Oh OP. Honestly, my first instinct is there’s nothing wrong with her, she didn’t go to the EPU, and is gaming you.

FizzyIce · 15/10/2019 20:04

Cool bag , on your desk.
Pregnant or not she’s a massive cheeky fuck .

Ginger1982 · 15/10/2019 20:05

She is totally at it.
You should have said no to the colleague, baby or no baby!!
I'm so angry on your behalf right now!!
Please speak to your boss tomorrow!

Bouffalant · 15/10/2019 20:05

Don't believe her for a second.

Spanglyprincess1 · 15/10/2019 20:05

I'd have said loudly no as she's be stealing them for the last 4 days and I've already reported it, so it wouldn't be appropriate.
Also who takes someone else's stuff form a communal fridge without asking... The colelgue who handed her the drink was mental as well

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