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Original poster

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:
Thread gallery
6
newnameagainagain · 15/10/2019 21:19

It yourself a multipack- scratch you name in the outside of everyone.
Keep them in a cool bag by you desk.
Put one in about the time she normal steals your but shake it up so it goes everywhere.

bottlenose301 · 15/10/2019 21:19

I'm another one that would suggest getting some kind of cheap coolbox or cooling item so you can keep it by your desk.

Inwardly she will seethe inside at this and be able to say anything and you get your drink. I know you shouldn't have to but who wants the drama at work.

frazzledasarock · 15/10/2019 21:20

How are people so entitled and rude?

OP check again tomorrow to see if you can find the drink you drank that she left in your tray and replace it.

Tell the colleague who offered your drink to CF what’s been going on.

For now I really would keep my drink in a cool bag in my desk drawer.

Definitely speak to your boss about it.

Why are so many on this thread telling OP to reward a thief with giving her free drinks that she has been stealing from OP?

This is ridiculous. Im sure lots of us have been pregnant and suffered mild nausea without turning into thieving cowbags.

BananasAreTheSourceOfEvil · 15/10/2019 21:22

Maybe have two cans in your hand as you stroll past her desk to the fridge, pause briefly in front of her, lick the top of one can all over, then carry on to the fridge and put them both in without her seeing which one is which.

(dont, obviously as you have to complain to management, but its a satisfying thought.)

category12 · 15/10/2019 21:24

I reckon if OP does start using a coolbag or keeps it in her desk, this woman will figure it out and involve colleagues again to beg it off her in no time. It'd be an interesting experiment, care to try for science, Op?

Whoops75 · 15/10/2019 21:24

She sounds dangerous OP

I think you should drink from the can/bottle before you put it in the fridge or keep it in your bag this week.

It’s not worth the hassle, by the sounds of it she’ll be out on sick certs soon

CoraPirbright · 15/10/2019 21:30

Ohhhh she needed something sweet and cold did she? How fucking convenient! Did she bollocks. She’s a manipulative witch. Cool bag from now on OP.

scoobyd2 · 15/10/2019 21:31

OP, given your latest update it sounds like you have a culture in your office unlike any I've known. I've worked in big offices for over 35 years - while it is common for stuff to go missing from fridges, I've never been somewhere that gives you a personal slot in the fridge - and can't imagine blatant stealing from such a slot. The fact someone else took YOUR drink from your slot, without first speaking to you, suggests there's no respect for each others belongings. I've worked alongside pregnant colleagues, and colleagues with varying medical conditions that sometimes need emergency food/drink (including myself) but we have always gone for buying supplies or taking what was offered. Not helping ourselves. I think its time to stop using the fridge, and making other arrangements, like the cool bags/boxes suggested by other PP. Otherwise nothing will change.

Elodie2019 · 15/10/2019 21:39

She's awful. If you want to take the same drink in again, put it in the fridge at night & then a cool bag with an ice pack in the morning.
Keep it all in your bag. She's nuts.

FlossieTeacakesFurCoat18 · 15/10/2019 21:44

I think it's time to stop engaging with her. Keep your drinks out of the fridge - then there's nothing she can do. Maybe buy an opaque water bottle to decant your drink into - that way if she recruits colleagues to go on the scrounge for her though can tell them you're just drinking water.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 15/10/2019 21:46

play her at her own game and tell people 'in confidence' that you aren't feeling great and your sugar levels keep dropping, so if you start coming across woozy can they get your drink for you. Tell a few of them the story, then if she steals your drink again you can tell them how worried you are that you may need your own drink and she will have stolen it. It is starting to make you anxious.....

You could try this.

I think if she susses you have a cool bag, then she'll have another "turn" and say "I need something cool and sweet - I think smile has something in her cool bag that will help." and whatever colleague she is using as her personal bodyservant that day will ask you, and once again whether you say yes or no, you lose.

Just as a matter of interest - does no-one else keep cold, sweet stuff in the fridge? Just wondering why her servant didn't pick up someone else' can of coke or whatever? I think there is a conspiracy here.

Does she leave anything that you could devour and deny? I would be tempted. (Oh I felt faint so I took CheekyFucker's whole roast swan and all the trimmings. I'll bring one in for her tomorrow.)

Grambler · 15/10/2019 21:50

Ooh she's playing with you. I'd have to play back. Buy her that 6 pack, flash a massive grin as you put in onto her desk in front of her and say you are so hoping she feels better.

Then keep your drink in your desk but also put a stunt can in the fridge. Empty or rubbed all over with a raw chilli - it's up to you Grin but she couldn't possibly complain about you, could she?

category12 · 15/10/2019 21:55

Make it a 6 pack of pineapple Wink.

Justkeepleft · 15/10/2019 21:56

She did shift the goal posts today. Which means you have to shift yours.
"Winning" now is about taking away her power over you more than the drinks.
Being able to shut her down if she manoeuvres for a drink.

She will look the nutter demanding that you hand over a drink. I would bring the cold pack but with a bottle of water, just to bait her in to demanding it.

If she wants to rub it in that you don't have your drink. " oh you will be on maternitybkeave in no time " ok last bit is my fantasy. But the cool bag with water I would do to get ok be up.
I am Sorry you have this stress.

OhBigHairyBollocks · 15/10/2019 21:59

Blimey. She's gone well overboard for a can of pop😲

Another vote here for shaking it up as much as possible!

honeylulu · 15/10/2019 22:03

Words fail me ... she's really out to punish you for calling her out isn't she???

AutumnRose1 · 15/10/2019 22:04

OP
Sorry to say it, but it seems she's targeted you to get you in trouble.

Don't play her game any more. Don't keep a drink in your desk. I know it's really Ann but don't give her any ammunition at all.

Is she likely to try and start on your food?

CokeAndCrispsAndDip · 15/10/2019 22:04

Yeah stay away from her, she is wily and manipulative. Small cool bag with your drink and a ice pack tucked under your desk each day. I'd not even mention it to anyone, don't even bring it up. She cant get fired up with no fuel. If you let this have more brain space you'll get obsessed and it sounds like she gets great pleasure from your drama.

AutumnRose1 · 15/10/2019 22:05

Ann! Annoying!

Mephisto · 15/10/2019 22:06

@category12

Because if the woman is prepared to go to the lengths of feigning sickness to get hold of OP's drink today to make a point, she's perfectly capable of saying she needs to go to the hospital if she drank OP's "medicated" drink. You're not suggesting OP should let her waste NHS time, I hope?

Well no i'm not suggesting that, because my mind hadn't even gone there obviously 🙄.

Her going to the hospital is not OP's problem, neither is the NHS's lack of resources.

frazzledasarock · 15/10/2019 22:06

Apart from the obvious fact she’s a thief.

In her shoes id be cutting sugar right back.

I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and had a really crap pregnancy. Can’t imagine a can of super sweet (stolen) soft drink daily is good for her.

Justbaking · 15/10/2019 22:07

She's winding me up on your behalf. What if it wasn't a can of pop, what if it was your lunch she'd asked for? Were you meant to give her that. CF. I don't put up with those anymore.

Chillyourbeans · 15/10/2019 22:08

Entitled cow. Am I the only one feeling sorry for the poor kid she's about to pop out? 20 years from now they'll be posting here and asking for advice on their narc DM.

magicstar1 · 15/10/2019 22:09

I’d get her on her own and threaten to break her fingers if she touched any drink of mine...then deny it to everyone else. But I wouldn’t have let it get this far already.

Drabarni · 15/10/2019 22:11

Still think my idea of a bottle of piss was the best.

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