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.

Well at least she's apologised, even if it was backhandedly.

Seriously, who cannot tell the difference between a plate or box of goodies for sharing left invitingly and generously on the communal table and someone else's lunch in the fridge?! That's disingenuous.

And just how many cans did you nick and neck from other people's lunches when you were pg and sick?

CFer.

I’d bring a cool bag on Monday. Dollars to doughnuts she ‘forgets’ her bottle.

She’s been called out and now she’s trying to save face (by doing the whole “I’m sorry you’re offended” thing). Don’t back down - I’d let her know that any food for sharing is on the table but anything else is off-limits. Just for the avoidance of confusion, doncha know

In what universe is taking someone else’s drink ok because they sometimes bring in other stuff to share?

Classic "I'm sorry you're offended". I once actually had "I'm sorry that you took it the wrong way" as an apology 😂😂😂.

I would just start taking it in a cool bag & keeping it in my desk/car rather than in a fridge where it’s constantly nicked.

If she is openly drinking your can in the office, I would write your name in marker pen all over the can so everyone can see that she has taken it.

Absolutely gobsmacked at some PP suggesting you reward her thieving light fingered ways by bringing in her drinks Get out of here...

To hell with all the cool bag/lockable box suggestions - why on earth shouldn't you use the fridge that is there for staff?? You've done the right thing emailing her to stop stealing your drink - I'd still put a sticker on my can of pop with 'hands off, OP's drink' so she's under no illusion it's not ok to steal people's lunch items

'wanders off muttering to self about CFoolery'

"scavenging cunt" is my favourite phrase of the day.

In entirely unrelated news I think the dog has just gained a new nickname.

“Sorry if I upset you”

Ah the classic faux apology. She’s not sorry at all. I call her complaining about OP to others who then have a go at OP for not sharing her lunch with poor entitled pregnant CF.

I think the nice thing to do would be buy a multipack, I know everyone on here will scream she’s a CF but I think your suggestion of a multi pack is kind and it’s nice to take the high road with such minor issues. You sound very nice Op

'I'm not upset; I'm annoyed'

Sorry just read your update her response was entitled!

I’d either buy the multi pac and go halves or when she says she ll replace it say great thanks and buy two so you don’t keep drinking mine - laugh and walk away.

Yeah that was a crap reply from her. Hopefully resolved though!

eh?? Would people really be such doormats they'd reward her thieving, and not giving a feck about OP needing a drink with her lunch by bringing in a multipack?

Well all I can say is that you get what you deserve - please send me your bank details as I'd quite like a waitrose delivery but don't want to pay for it myself

She's not a CF. She's a thief.

If she does it again, you need to speak to someone higher up. It's dishonesty.

We had this happen at work- people's lunches were being stolen from the fridge for weeks, and no one treated it seriously until he took the food of a colleague who had no money available to buy any food -(it was 2 days before payday) and she had to do a 7 hour shift without eating, because someone thought it was their right to help themselves whenever they fancied. Then it came out it wasn't just the fridge he was stealing from. He was fired instantly.

If this was Nigel from accounts, Mumsnet would be livid.

They wouldn't be desperately trying to come up with long winded ways of placating the thieving little bastard

Oooft that's the last time I'd be nice to her after that passive aggressive email! Comparing a bit of nausea to HG??? If you know you might be surprised by a bit of nausea at work then yes Sharon you should bring in your own bottle, not nick somebody else's!

She sounds like a complete fuck head. I have hg. Even more reason I am prepared, take my own drinks everywhere so I know I have something safe to drink. She's just doing the 'I'm pregnant, I'm special' dance and being a PA knob.

You are far too nice OP! Once she replied I would have responded with "I am glad you are now going to bring your own drinks as my drinks are not communal property just because you are pregnant. From now on, if it is in my named tray in the fridge it is NOT for sharing and I will no longer tolerate my lunch items being taken."

You're very polite and I think you've probably done the correct thing.

I would've shaken the can I'd left in the fridge and then I would wait....

WOW I had HG with my first pregnancy (lost the baby) and regular morning sickness with the pregnancy that just resulted in my DS. I remember not being able to make it around the supermarket to actually buy the Sprite that was the only thing that I could keep down, and I remember having to force myself to work through the morning sickness (no power on earth could get me to go in with the HG, I was doing well to even sit up).

I was totally agreeing with you about taking it in turns to buy a multipack until I read her reply to your text.
She could bring a drink in but thought you'd be okay being taken advantage of because you had HG?? What a bitch she is.

Cheeky F!!!!!!
Entiitled cow in all aspects of I’ll bet!

"Because you are nice and bring in treats, I think it is OK to help myself to the rest of your stuff."
"Because you were sick then, I am going to nick your stuff now even though you didn't nick anything while sick "

She is proper bonkers and definitely thinks you are a doormat.