Colleagues keep using my milk!

[Immo8]

I don't want to sound petty as in the grand scheme of things, milk isn't an expensive item and maybe I should leave this be, but it's really starting to grate on me...

Work in an office with around 30-ish staff, the majority are on shift work including weekends so people are in & out a lot. I work standard hours 4 days a week. The company provides tea & coffee but staff bring in their own milk etc. I buy a large filtered milk every month as it lasts and I only have a few cups of tea a day so makes sense.

However, over the last 6 months or so, people will ask me if they can 'borrow' some milk. I would never say no to someone asking but they NEVER bring in their own milk or buy one to replace mine that they've used over the weeks...

Today, I brought in a brand new milk, name on it, placed it at the back of the fridge so hard to find, and I've just gone to make a cuppa and it's been opened without asking, and a 1/4 of it has gone!

How do I word an email to my colleagues (if people think I should) that is polite and doesn't sound too petty?

I’d decant into a food flask or soup mug , that’s not see through , then they won’t realise it contains milk

I think you do as people say and take a small vacuum flask of milk in every day.
Even if you can lock your milk in the fridge, people might still ask to borrow some of yours. If you only have enough for your day you can tell people this if they ask for some.

Had this so many times. I now take my own food and drinks daily in a lunch bag. I put an ice pack in it so I never have to use the communal fridge. I make my coffee in a flask each morning before leaving the house.

our work refrigerator is rarely cleaned and people protest when someone tries. So, I bring an insulated lunch bag every day with a reusable ice pack, and never need to use the stinky refrigerator.

Thanks everyone!

I can confirm I've just bought an udder lock which I will bring in proudly to work with me come Monday lol.

Just found out someone used my milk for cereal this morning, and it's now only a 1/3 full after being full this morning so enough is enough...

Those are not like having fresh milk.

Is there an outside possibility that people don't know the milk isn't provided by the firm?

If tea and coffee is, it's not illogical that milk would be too.

They may well all be utter bastards though. Equally likely.

Wow, these are genius! Never knew they existed. I’m getting some 🤣 Thanks Foxton!

Either decant, or just give up milk in your tea and coffee.

My name is written about 4 times all over the bottle, it's in a bright colour and glaringly obvious! And say's 'kindly please do not use'

I've only worked in offices where the milk was paid for by the company, same as tea and coffee, but in your situation I'd bring my milk in an insulated flask, then it won't need to go in the fridge.

I did once live in a bedsit in an HMO and the amount of thieving from the communal kitchen was horrendous. Everyone kept their supplies in their rooms in the end, even the baghead on the top floor. Some people are utterly shameless and will take what they want and not give the tiniest of shits that someone else paid for it. I think they must see it as a win for them. (It's rarely the poorest paid people also, more usually people who have decent earnings!)

Well I'm not giving up milk, I don't like black tea

I would fill it with salt....they would be far less inclined to just take it then hopefully... despise ill manners.

Ah. The 'utter bastard' theory it is then!

Take a few sachets of UHT milk in every day.

I’d put “contains medication, please don’t use” 😂

This sort of thing boils my piss alongside using the comunal milk and leaving a thimble of milk in the bottom so they don't have to pop out and get more... URGH! Great suggestions from everyone, I just had to get that off my chest 😬

I use powdered milk for this reason and keep it in my locker

How is the milk situation supposed to work? If 30 people all bring in milk then it won't fit in the fridge. Why not have a rota with everyone who uses milk?

Decant it into a bottle that you can't see through so it just looks like a different drink? Annoying you have to do this but probably the easiest way to deal with it

Pee in it 🤣

Why just stop at salt - try out some laxatives instead? Something like some sorbitol would have quick effects...just see who's not at their desk(s) to see who the guilty person(s) are 🤣

It's easy to get used to, and you get enhanced anti-oxidant activity. Plus it would reduce your stress levels, given no-one will be stealing your milk.

True, but there are smaller 'sub-teams' within that 30 staff and I'm sure each could work it out amongst themselves.
There's 5 in mine (admin staff) and I'm the only one who has milk in their tea/coffee so not an issue for me, hence bringing in the fresh filtered milk as it lasts me a month.
Doesn't mean all the other teams get free reign on it though!

I would stop keeping milk in the fridge, keep it at home and bring in what you need in a flask and keep it in your drawer.