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?

We had a rule at my last place that any milk remaining in the fridge on Fridays was fair game for anyone, for the avoidance of wastage as so many people had Fridays off or worked from home etc.

I used to have just this same problem where I worked.......no one was capable of remembering to buy or bring milk but they all knew that I took it in.
Eventually, I got fed up of it and bought a small vacuum flask - held about 500ml - and filled that at home before each shift. Kept it at my desk and it stayed cold for one 12 hours...........sorted! And no more milk theft!

Buy a small 150ml flask and bring milk from home everyday. Keep it on your desk.

So you just help yourself to milk you haven't bought, do you? If not, why not? Because after all - it's just milk. <shrugs>

I started to bring in a thermos of milk every few days and no one steals from that - completely fixed the milk snatchers

Agree with this. When I was pregnant, I craved granola and yoghurt. Got stolen all the time even when it had a "This belongs to hungry, pregnant me, please leave!" message on it. I literally bought it in the morning and it was gone by the next day. I just had to change to different snacks or buying daily. Sad, but there it goes.

Why are people suggesting to put a laxative in it, OP wants to be able to use her own bloody milk!

I just decant mine into a tupperware mug, nobody touches it then

Well I won't be making a fuss...I'll be putting a lock on it so entitled people like yourself can't use it 🙂

I havent read the entire thread, it's got quite long, so apologies if I am repeating.

We had similar issues. I just started drinking lemon tea and fruit tea, so no milk needed.

My colleague would bring milk in a small flask and leave it in her bag. She used to keep it extra cold in the summer by freezing milk in an ice cube tray at home and dropping a few milk ice cubes into the flask as well.

@AnotherThingToThinkAbout

They stole a pregnant women's food?!

Several times before I gave up. Yep. Granola and yoghurt aren't cheap either.

Yes several people have suggested one from Amazon and the OP has already said she is going to get one. It's called an Udder Lock.

I was the only pregnant woman. And I wouldn't have minded some urgent snacking on it (we sometimes worked really late hours) if it had ever been replaced.

It's stealing, and yes it might not cost loads but it's also a massive inconvenience.
You expect it to last then have to spend not only money but time replacing it. I order a weekly shop and it would be frustrating to have to do two orders because someone is stealing my food. A milk rota would be fair but the thieves never want to put in their share.

When I worked for a LA we had to provide our own fridge as well as milk, tea, coffee etc etc.

Theoretically, yes! The thief is the arse. But a 'send to all' email will get the backs up of those who are innocent, and won't stop the guilty, because they are unlikely to be caught in the act. So the sender doesn't come out well - it can seem petty!
Trust me, milk politics can be the undoing of a team!!

hi @Immo8 put a laxative or 2 In This bottle and let them use it. You can bring your decanted one.

Someone needs to organise a kitty and everyone chips in a £ or 2 a week. You shouldn't have to bring your own milk in if everyone keeps stealing it.

Definitely arrange a kitty!

So what if it was another pregnant woman?

But it is stealing. What next? Let them eat your lunch too and don't make a fuss?