Colleague stealing my noodles

[doitinadayswork]

And replacing them the following day with a pot noodle

The noodles in question are a Korean brand, very tasty. You can actually get them in B&M

I have a colleague who takes my noodles if I hadn't had time to stop and eat that day

And she replaced them the following morning with a pot noodle (argh).

I told my manager who said we like to 'give and take' in this department and was it really such a huge deal? I said she isn't replacing what I got though

AIBU here? What on earth do I do? She isn't one to cross, the thief. She is quite vocal and a higher band who could make me miserable if she so chose to do so

This is weird.

I could understand leaving food in a communal fridge because it needs to be kept chilled - but noodles? Why would you leave that out where other people could access them?

Was this a once off or is it something she is doing on a regular basis?

Once off I would let it slide.
Regular, keep your food in your bag.

Are they buldak ones? I’d be fuming if someone stole my buldaks 🤣 keep them in your bag under lock and key

Poison them!

you have reminded me that I need a new cookie bag...

Food left communally not labelled and dated will get eaten. If you don’t want people to eat your food then don’t leave it out. If you know who it is that’s eating your food then ask them to stop. Don’t go to your manager. Be an adult. And the Korean noodles are just as crap as pot noodles. Neither are that nice and certainly not expensive.

There speaks someone who hasn't tried really good noodles!!

Ok they might not be any healthier (I haven't checked) but there is a world of difference in flavour!

Does she maybe think you are now stealing her pot noodles so she is taking yours as replacement?

To those asking why she doesn't just keep them in her desk they could be fresh noddles that need to go in the fridge.

I won’t hear Korean Noodle Slander!

The jajangmyeon ones are delicious especially

Food left communally not labelled and dated will get eaten.

'Finders keepers' isn't how things work in an office. If you didn't put it in the fridge it isn't yours.

Absolutely write a note ideally very passive aggressive in tone.
It's not give and take that's just take

Do you know she is eating them? Is this some kind of passive aggressive 'your noodles stink, eat these instead' play?

But i can't imagine a pot noodle is actually better for that anyway.

And im also interested in the noodle brand. My favs are shin cups. I swear they cure covid

Unlikely that someone would give a pot noodle instead.

There are loads of different types of noodles in a pot. It's much more likely to be one of them.

I always found pot noodles are more smelly. Especially the green one! Still love them mind

If it's "give and take" is there anything around the building you fancy for home? I'd like to take the 65 inch Samsung TV out of one of our meeting rooms and replace it with my shitty old 14 inch CRT portable for instance. Seems a similar kind of swap proportionally to what you're experiencing with the shit replacement noodles.

Surely you would just keep the pot on your desk or in a bag. Why are you leaving them out, especially after the first time they were taken.

Attach a passive aggressive post it note to your noodles

Or keep them in your bag....as per everyone else's reply

Stop leaving the noodles in a public place. Keep them in your bag or desk. Solved.

Apologies to all the Korean noodle lovers. I find them a bit shit. But we all have different tastes so I accept that they are the food that gives you joy so apologies for slandering them.

Theft is theft, and also, this type of theft is workplace bullying. Of course she told her manager, this is a management issue. The only people who think stealing in the office (or at school) is ok are the bullies. Glad I never worked with you, ‘Muchof’.

Anyway OP I’d drop an email to your manager saying that further to your conversation you’re disappointed that theft isn’t taken seriously in this office and that it shouldn’t matter what is being stolen, it’s the principle that staff should not be deliberately stealing from each other, and ask if they company can send an email to the whole team stating that thefts are occuring in the shared kitchen and reminding people that the fact this is a shared space does not mean that theft is acceptable and that it is a workplace bullying issue and if further thefts occur disciplinary action may be taken.

If your manager refuses all you can do is hide your lunch or challenge the bully, those are your options.

Dry: keep them in your desk or bag.

Chilled: keep them in a small cool bag with an ice block by your desk.

If she does it again, tell her you are having her handbag and you'll bring in a Sainsbury's bag for life as a replacement tomorrow.

If you must leave your food communally, note saying "Keep your hands off my food, you cheap fucker, and buy your own lunch, Love, Doit".

What's this Korean brand of noodles you speak of?

Just tell her to stop doing it.

Being an adult means that sometimes we have to have uncomfortable conversations with people.

Come on OP, you’re a grown up. Learn to assert yourself. Tell her, please do not to take my noodles again. It’s hardly ‘crossing’ her.

If you really can’t then keep them in your bag.