Colleague stole my mug

[NewtMumLife]

Would you take someone else’s mug in the office?!! I had to rescue my mug from someone’s desk which was half filled with cold coffee yesterday and I think it’s really rude to just take someone’s mug without even asking, especially as there are plenty of other mugs they could use. The colleague didn’t even wash it up and didn’t apologise. The mug was a present from my husband. AIBU?

I’m totally with you OP. A former colleague, not based in my office and of whom my opinion wasn’t great, was invited to help himself to a cup of coffee from the machine in my office. He opened the cupboard door and asked “which mug can I use?” Totally switched on to the importance of following any office mug etiquette and totally went up in my estimation. I even said I’d wash his mug when he finished.

You don't always know though. Every work mug cupboard is full of random mugs from people who have left.

There's four categories - employer supplied; personal in use; personal abandoned; supplier provided/sent free with the stationery order.

If "yours" is in the second category, just keep it on your desk.

Everything in the cupboard is fair game.

A former colleague very much made a point of taking my glass (which had a distinctive football club crest on it) and had it placed on a prominent position on her desk. 100% power play. Her contempt for me was quite open, it was not a mistake.

Once it was finished just made a point of quite cheerfully saying, 'Ah, you found my glass. Thanks!!!' And taking it back. She had nowhere to go from it.

I keep my mug on my desk unwashed, no one in their right mind would want to use it. I give a wash (quick rinse) before each use.

She has done it again today!

And where did you leave it this time? In the communal dishwasher again? Unless she is breaking into your locker to remove it or taking off your own desk then it remains fair game.

Well in that case it’s your own fault. I have mug, knife fork spoon and glass for water all in my locker. I wouldn’t put them in the dishwasher, wash them up by hand, a 30 second job.

so YABU

Mo respect the situation. Use the company branded communal mugs or bring your own in. Keep you mitts off other people's personal belongings.

Why can't you simply tell her to not do that?

A dishwasher! You don’t know yer born! 😂 Wash it up and keep on your desk, that’s what I do.

FUCKING BITCH!!!

It's either assault or HR. Both are a fair and n assured response. You do NOT swipe someone's mug under any circumstances. Especially bad is if you don't wash and dry it and leave where found. I NEVER use someone else's mug. Ever.

Even in my house you don't use MY mug.

But then...if you left dirty or half filled mugs in the office when I took over for the night shift, first time I would wash them. Second time they were dumped in the resident's sink (homeless hostel) for use by them. If you still didn't learn (people would get angry seeing their mugs go past the office) then they went in the bin. Had your chances.

I superglued a stolen mug that was left half empty from Thursday to Tuesday onto a desk one time. Wet mould and tea went all over the wanker.

Plot your revenge.

Or the colleague could respect the private property of others & use the provided company logo'd communal mugs. Like a decent human being.

Mugs at work tend to be communal mugs unless washed and locked in a drawer. I’d assume it was a free for all as it has been at every workplace ever worked at.

If you want her to stop you’ll have to use your words and go and ask her to stop.

Everyone knows at our workplace to only use your own mug

So clearly not everyone knows this.

Did you speak to her after the first time, or just seethe quietly?

We don't have them in the patch offices
So when non regulars turn up as they need a meeting room mugs get used that are not theirs, most dont know to bring a mug with them!
This is why I have donated mugs, as there was never enough, funnily the ones never used are the ones with names on.
@NewtMumLife you need to say something, and remove the mug, take it home and bring it back, its the only way forward.

So she stole it, you found it & she's stolen it again 😂

I trust you've had the backbone to say something to her?

This is what I personally hate about office work. The terrritorial nature of some people. I prefer a cupboard of standard mugs and a hot desk policy, but each to their own!

And what have you said to her?

She did it yesterday - did you say anything to her then?

Haha wonder if are seen this thread

She hasn’t stolen it - she used it. There is a HUGE difference!

I've never worked anywhere mugs weren't communal

When I was on mat leave someone else not doing my job was going to be using my desk. So I put all my personal stuff in the bottom drawer for when I came back including a mug. When I came back it had gone! I was so pissed off. My colleague did eventually find it in for me in the communal kitchen.

This happened to me, my boss admired my mug and then I see him using it a couple of weeks later.