this post was submitted on 18 Nov 2024
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Seriously I see these posts all the time about people who have a co-worker who steals food so they make gross food to 'get back at them' cause HR doesn't do anything.

Legit question but how do you not just freak out and yell at the person? If a co-worker stole my food the 1st time I'd yell at them and curse them out, the 2nd time I'd threaten to shove the food in their fat face next time I see it happen. If HR didn't do anything I'd threaten to quit and sue if they claimed I don't get EI because it's a toxic work environment.

I just don't get how people are so passive when co-workers literally steal from them? I'd be fucking livid.

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[–] [email protected] 24 points 8 hours ago

I'm guessing that they don't know who stole the food

[–] [email protected] 25 points 9 hours ago

Yall dealing with people stealing food? Ive worked in an office setting for almost 20 years and ive not once ever heard of someone taking someone elses food

[–] [email protected] 44 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago) (1 children)

Because that's not how the corporate world works. You want to freak out and yell at them? Go ahead. Maybe they don't eat someone else's food for a week. Meanwhile you'll be hunting for a new job. You threaten another employee? You'll be lucky to be employed at the end of the day.

Life is a series of tradeoffs. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Tim may steal food, but that doesn't mean it's throwing off the status quo. You yell at Tim, you're upsetting the status quo. So go ahead, and have fun with your pink slip. Hope it was worth it.

Or you can keep your lunch at your desk.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Good lord this makes me happy I've not worked in corporate and stayed in blue collar work.

Someone steals food in a shop, that someone's gonna have a bad day and the boss yells at anyone "whining", including the guy who got his ass kicked.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 10 hours ago

That sounds awful all around

[–] [email protected] 31 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

Maybe because the only co-worker food theft stories that get upvoted and therefore seen are the dramatic ones about passive-aggressively making gross food for the food thief. And who knows how many of them are true stories and how many are creative writing projects for internet points.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 9 hours ago

If they're any good at it, you won't know who stole your food. If I did know who the thief was, yelling/cursing/threatening would get me fired. It's easier to keep my food at my desk in an insulated lunchbox with an ice pack.

And finally, HR doesn't give a flying fuck about your lunch. They would laugh in your face if you threatened to sue them.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

My cop relative said everyone working in police stations keeps their stuff in lockers because cops constantly steal from each other. Not just food.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 hours ago

This is the least surprising thing I have learned today.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 12 hours ago

Stealing food is theft - it may be petty theft but it's still theft. If you report it to HR and nothing is done then you can sue the company for a hostile work environment.

If you use laxatives, excessive spice, whatever and injure a coworker then you can be fired with cause and possibly be civilly or criminally liable if the damages are significant enough.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (1 children)

I think I'd just bring extra food the next day so both I and they can eat. Clearly someone isn't able to bring their own food for whatever reason, and I can't really blame them for choosing to eat when the alternative is starving, even if it is annoying that I missed my lunch that day.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 hours ago

This is the most legitimate answer.

Our children always went to school with extra (our dinner the night before was their lunch for the most part, we always tried to make extra).

[–] [email protected] 11 points 12 hours ago (2 children)

Um yea I think thats just social media attention seeking. I don't think that is any more common than something like shoplifting.

Reddit loves to upvote drama.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 hours ago

Maybe it varies by industry, but I've been a white collar desk jockey for 18 years and I've never once heard of lunch theft in real life, only seen on social media.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 11 hours ago

That doesn’t say much, shoplifting is super common.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 hours ago

Are you really going to yell over someone accidentally taking the wrong ham and cheese sandwich?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 hours ago

gain a tolerance to very hot food. problem solved.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 12 hours ago (2 children)

Put in laxatives or something that fucks them up

[–] [email protected] 17 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

That's poisoning and you absolutely can be held liable for any injury you cause.

Also, it's a completely reasonable reason to fire you.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 11 hours ago

What do you mean? It as a laxative to help me poop. Why are you eating my medicated sandwich?

[–] [email protected] 12 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Careful, people have been terminated and been sued for this kind of behavior.

You can make it very very spicy, however, as long as you're willing to eat it too

[–] [email protected] 6 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago) (1 children)

What if you love shitting and are willing to shit too?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 minute ago

That's technically legal but basically no authority figure will believe you.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago) (1 children)

Y'all need to start rubbing your ass on decoy food. Go ahead, eat my butt croissant.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 hours ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 hours ago

I have wondered since that episode aired how many people were inspired to do it for realsies.