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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[–] 200ok@lemmy.world 14 points 4 hours ago

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

[–] Sc00ter@lemm.ee 19 points 6 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

[–] lukecooperatus@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 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.

[–] The_Che_Banana@beehaw.org 1 points 46 minutes 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).

[–] scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech 42 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 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.

[–] Azal@pawb.social 9 points 7 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.

[–] protist@mander.xyz 14 points 6 hours ago

That sounds awful all around

[–] Vanth@reddthat.com 6 points 6 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.

[–] davel@lemmy.ml 30 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 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.

[–] RoquetteQueen@sh.itjust.works 14 points 8 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.

[–] beliquititious@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 30 minutes ago

This is the least surprising thing I have learned today.

[–] xmunk@sh.itjust.works 15 points 8 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.

[–] IDKWhatUsernametoPutHereLolol@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 8 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.

[–] Longmactoppedup@aussie.zone 4 points 4 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.

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

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

[–] Qkall@lemmy.ml 5 points 7 hours ago

gain a tolerance to very hot food. problem solved.

[–] Powerbomb@lemmy.ml 5 points 8 hours ago (2 children)

Put in laxatives or something that fucks them up

[–] xmunk@sh.itjust.works 15 points 8 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.

[–] hddsx@lemmy.ca 14 points 8 hours ago

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

[–] TheAlbatross@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 points 8 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

[–] wesker@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago)

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

[–] Anissem@lemmy.ml -3 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago) (1 children)

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

[–] davel@lemmy.ml 6 points 8 hours ago (1 children)
[–] beliquititious@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 26 minutes ago

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