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.

@Span1elsRock I'd worry that by not speaking to the boss to let them know what's going on she may be beaten to it by the clearly manipulative and childish CFer and the OP will be made to look like a bully.

Just" use a cool box? You mean go out and spend money on a cool box to leave at work and then remember to take an ice pack in with her every day (making everything else in her bag cold) when there's a perfectly good fridge that's supposed to be available for use?

I think she might reasonably see that as more of a faff than she wants to take on.

How dramatic. She can make an ice pack out of an empty drinks bottle, a ziplock bag or Tupperware. She can wrap any container in newspaper or a scarf to keep the cold in if she doesn't have a cool bag and she's already remembering to bring a can and packed lunch in daily.

If she wants a cool bag I have spares and will gladly post one and an ice pack you can wrap around a can for free.

Having seen your update I agree with the others that's she's playing a very manipulative game, so as tough as it is to bite your lip, unfortunately I think you are going to need to for this one, this is not a battle you can win & it's not worth trying when she will be off on maternity leave soon. That's presuming she's visibly pregnant & that's genuinely real.

I'd suggest investing in a Chilli Bottle, we have one & they keep a drink ice cold for up to 12 hours. Decant your can into it the night before & leave it in the fridge until you need it in the morning. No need fir a fridge or confrontation & you quietly win, without feeding her dram

I wonder if OP put this on her desk would the thieving cow help herself?

@32BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo That cute USB cooler would attract competition from other colleagues as well to steal her drink. Love it!

This woman is a bully & I think totally barking mad, put a can in the fridge, wait while she takes it & has a sip, then tell her you hope it is clean, your dog (or cat) licked the top just after licking it's bum, you did your best to rinse it but can't be sure.

Think it needs a padlock Earphones!

Looking forward to the next instalment!

Oh my god this thread is making me so angry! Why are so many posters just saying 'oh she'll be on mat leave soon, just keep buying her a cold can of drink every single day she's in work' she's pregnant not sick. She's a manipulative cow and op should not be rewarding her behaviour with buying her a drink. It's not her fault she's pregnant.

Tell your colleagues now that you’re concerned that pulling her up for her taking your drinks has made her poorly. Ask them if you should have done that

Absolutely do NOT do this.

Don't plant any ideas of 'blame' into anyone's head - it will backfire massively. If drink-thief gets wind of you taking any sort of blame whatsoever she will use it to nail you to the wall.

You are totally 100% in the right here, but this manipulative thief is a class A bitch who is going to try and screw you over for her own nutty agenda. Don't give her any more ammunition.

Assuming her pregnancy is even real, I feel very sorry for her child at having a mother like her.

OP - much as there are 800+ posts eagerly following for the next instalment, I would urge you to get this thread taken down as it will be very identifying to pregnant and other colleagues. And of course pregnant colleague may start to use mumsnet if she doesn’t already do so

Just popped into say that KA Grape is one of the best fizzy drinks ever. Your colleague it’s nuts though.

I love KA grape (not keen on the the other flavours) but it’s changed recipe now and I can taste the sweetener in it . Sad times

Not sure I would get the thread taken down. It would be good for her to read what a cf she has been.

Don't plant any ideas of 'blame' into anyone's head - it will backfire massively. If drink-thief gets wind of you taking any sort of blame whatsoever she will use it to nail you to the wall.

fargo is right.

Others have said the same (including me), but it can't be repeated often enough!

Smile - I know it's infuriating, but just let this one go.

Don't buy her a drink - but don't give her a chance to take yours either. If she (or one of her acolytes) asks why your "cold, sweet" drink isn't in the fridge, just say you've stopped using it.

Let somebody else fund her drama.

I wouldn't get the thread taken down either.

It's only identifying to anyone in your office (and even then only if they know Pregzilla is stealing your pop). And you haven't done or said anything that is unkind or untrue - ok - you've seethed with resentment, but who wouldn't?

You cam on in good faith asking for suggestions on how to deal with this situation.

You haven't taken any notice of the batshit ones (rub chilli on the can, pee in it, add laxatives) because you have more sense; you are not taking notice of the ones who suggest that you keep your buy her a drink every day for the rest of her life and quite right - why should you?, nor have you agreed to suggestions to keep your drink in your desk until this blows over - that's your choice, but it does mean that you are setting yourself up for continual confrontation in a battle that you are not going to win because "there's a baby involved".

Well, IF there's a baby, I pity the poor little bugger!

Why buy just one can, or a multipack? I think a delivery is in order, to show how much you care.

Summer

Any news on your colleague today OP? Has she returned to work? Despite her being a blatant CF, I hope all is ok with her baby.

She is beyond manipulative. What a bully. As PP have said, stop putting your drink in for a bit and keep it in a cool bag.

I wonder if the hospital visit is all part of an elaborate game to make the OP feel guilty?!

I'd take away the opportunity from her too. Decant the drink into a Swell bottle which will stay cold all day and keep it at my desk.

Is it sad that I am desperate for an update?

Leave your empty can in the fridge for her!

If it's not already been said, farm foods (if you have one near you) have 3 trays of grape ka for £18. And this is my sum contribution to this thread. @openitsoicanseeyousmile - you could buy enough for the whole office 😆

OP come back. The nosiness is killing me!