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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU thinking this is theft?

74 replies

bakedbeanz1 · 27/02/2022 14:39

A petty one but settle a debate.

DH worked for a small company that got taken over by a much bigger one last year. The new boss is very generous to staff and has bought them a coffee machine that takes pod refills. He has a subscription service and the refills arrive in bulk. DH doesn't drink coffee but we have the same type of machine at home and he's been slipping pods in his bag every day and bringing them home for me.

I said its theft, as its meant to be for him to drink coffees in the office. DH says he's 'only' taking one a day when his colleagues are drinking up to four coffees during the working day.

YABU- he could easily be using more at work if he drank coffee.
YANBU- they are clearly for the office.

OP posts:

Octomore · 27/02/2022 17:45

You talk about a tea break - I assume his boss also provides tea bags, which he uses? So his argument about it being the coffee he would have drunk if he drank coffee doesn't stack up.

It's blatant theft, and it's a silly risk to take. He would have no defence at all if caught.

Oblomov22 · 27/02/2022 17:46

Is it worth it? Losing his job. I don't think so.

MoFro · 27/02/2022 17:49

Just tell him to make a drink at work and drink it there

Ambushedbycakeinmydreams · 27/02/2022 17:53

Oh dear, that really is pathetic behaviour from your husband. For goodness sake, tell him to nip it in the bud now before someone finds out (which will be very, very, embarrassing).

All for the sake of one measly pod a day. Do get a grip.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 27/02/2022 17:56

Could I suggest that he drinks the coffee at work and then regurgitates it once he gets home for you, rather like a bat or a wolf does for its offspring. I think then, morally, he would-be fine.

honeylulu · 27/02/2022 18:01

Morally it's wrong and he knows it or he wouldn't be "slipping" it away. From an employment point of view it's dodgy as it's a workplace benefit; it is not for taking home and if the employer wanted to get rid of your husband for a less specific reason (didn't like his face for example) it would provide perfect ammunition. Workplace theft has a really unpleasant ring to it.

On a practical level the Nespresso machines are usually leased "free" on condition that the customer purchases a minimum number of coffee pods per annum. If there is already more than enough within the minium order and your hand is just helping run down the surplus then it makes no real difference. However if his actions are tipping the coffee pod orders above the minimum requirement that is a real and quantifiable difference.

Kumbaya12 · 27/02/2022 18:04

The coffee is for staff to enjoy work, not their families!
Logically right, but ethically wrong.
And if everyone followed suit won't be long before it's canned.
I would think badly of someone who did this (it's a coffee pod, not milk for a baby). It would reflect badly on him and creates a bad culture

ENoeuf · 27/02/2022 18:13

I think work is work and home food is paid for at home - reasonable to provide refreshments but this is a bit crappy / petty. I’d be worried it could be used against him if he fell out of favour. Also agree the milk for cereal was right to be stopped. It’s a small perk - hassle free tea / coffee.

mumda · 27/02/2022 18:48

Ask his boss to get a hot chocolate machine (assuming he drinks that)

hellithurt · 27/02/2022 18:51

Honestly if times are so tough you need to steal coffee pods, just have instant?

lljkk · 27/02/2022 19:03

I can't see this as bad thing. Does he partake of any other work benefits to same / greater/ lesser extent than colleagues?

Pedallleur · 27/02/2022 19:10

Nespresso are 30p each approx. Stealing 30p a day seems a bit....meh. Go to Sainsbury or Tesco and buy the Starbucks ones which are made by Nespresso. About 3.50 for 10. Or we could start a crowd funding thing.

Needdoughnuts · 27/02/2022 19:11

How humiliating for him if someone saw him or it fell out of his pocket, it's such a bizarre thing to do! If someone did that at my workplace we would definitely think that the person was a bit odd. Puts me in mind of Alan Partridge and his Big Plate!

SD1978 · 27/02/2022 19:23

I think it's weird, as presumably you have pods at home? It's a perk, not a 'right' that you have to have everyday. Whilst I see the sentiment is to bring you a nice thing, I also don't think he should- as others have sai- would he bring you sanitary items, or a squish of 'nice' soap? It's to be used by those who use them there.

StrawberrySanta · 27/02/2022 19:45

I guess he sees it the same as taking the coffee and biscuit from your hotel room? It's his coffee to have at work, he doesn't want it at work (or at all) so he takes it home to have later. By that logic, it sounds okay, I can't imagine he'd lose his job over it but people would think he was a bit odd if they found out.

Associatepeggy · 27/02/2022 19:47

He isn't taking it home for him though, is he?

He is taking it home for op, I think.

rwalker · 27/02/2022 19:49

It's a complete piss take on the mangers good deed

Pizzadreams · 27/02/2022 19:58

@Associatepeggy

He isn't taking it home for him though, is he?

He is taking it home for op, I think.

Which is just worse. Here dear, here’s a coffee pod I stole from work for you.😳

And saying he would happily tell the boss is totally undermined by the fact he acts like he’s stealing when he does it.

Has there been sone form of issue at home about affording the pods? I can’t see another reason he’d do it.

LubaLuca · 27/02/2022 20:03

I don't put sugar in my coffee, but I don't take home a few teaspoonfuls from work every day because my husband does. It's an optional perk, not an allocation.

Iamthewombat · 27/02/2022 20:35

@MoveOnTheCards

Does he also bring home loo roll if he doesn’t have a poo while at work?

Hahahaha

MarinoRoyale · 27/02/2022 20:38

They’re provided for employees, which you’re not. The risk is probably not that’s the boss will call the police but that he stops providing them if he feels the staff are taking advantage of his kind gesture.

Associatepeggy · 27/02/2022 20:48

Which is just worse. Here dear, here’s a coffee pod I stole from work for you.

It really is. I would be thinking wtf if dp did that.

And saying he would happily tell the boss is totally undermined by the fact he acts like he’s stealing when he does it.

Exactly. As I said earlier it doesn't make sure someone keeps him 25 pods from the delivery when it comes on. He does walk out the door witha few boxes of pods.

He takes one a day and hides that he is doing it. So he knows its weird or that he shouldn't be doing it.

If someone at work did this, honestly, I would think they had some sort of kleptomania problem.

Pizzadreams · 27/02/2022 21:20

Yes if my husband came home with a stolen coffee pod and gave it to me I’d think he was having a laugh the first time and missed rhe mark. If he continued to do it I’d cringe so bad for him. It honestly would give me the ick.

Iamthewombat · 27/02/2022 23:01

I wonder whether it is his way of sticking it to the man or rebelling or something? Anyway, you should put a stop to it!

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