GRRR!!!

[saram521]

I hate my job so much, half the people I work with are rude and inconsiderate! I haven't disliked a job this much since I worked in retail! I'm looking for a different job, which is difficult considering the poor state the economy is in with everyone losing jobs and not readily finding new ones, but I'm still looking!
My latest problem is that these people ate food that I put in the breakroom fridge. I don't label anything I put in there, and neither does anyone else. There seems to be an understanding between everyone here that if you don't buy it, you don't eat it. Does anyone here have any recommendations on how I should approach this on my own? It was only 2-3 dollars worth of stuff, but it was mine! I've already told the controller, and he just sent an email out saying (and I paraphrase) "Eating other people's food is wrong, don't do it!" I want to be reimbursed and told him that, and he said he'd see about helping me out.
In case he ends up doing nothing, I wanna know what I can do to help myself. The last job I worked, I really liked all three of my coworkers (boss included), and if they'd eaten my food, I wouldn't have been nearly as upset, because we we all did nice things for each other. I definitely wouldn't have expected them to pay me back.

 

[Hurley]

Our communal fridge at work has a "rules" sheet on it and we have a "fridge police" who goes through and throws out food that's been there for over 2 weeks. Also, the top shelf is designated as the "free game" shelf. If you don't want something or want to share it, it goes on the top shelf. Otherwise, its off limits. I still label everything that is mine. That way there's no excuse.

 

[cassidy111]

Especially if you are in a less than friendly work environment, Sharpie your name on everything that is yours in the fridge. I've been in that office where half the staff is a bag made for vineagar and water solution, and they'll just snipe your food if they find themselves hungry and in the breakroom alone. Branding it with your name probably won't help much, but at least you can identify the evidence after the crime...

 

[noodles62]

We have the same problem in one of our breakrooms; now there is a big flourescent sign on the fridge asking people to not touch what is not theirs. Also, everyone labels their items with name and date; which makes it easier at month end when we have to clean it out......It is very difficult to catch who does it; I have stopped putting my lunch on the communal fridge and just bring a lunch box w/ ice "things" (?)

 

[saram521]

When I first started this job, I was putting my name on all of my things in the fridge, until I noticed no one else was doing it. I saw that someone's yogurt cup and another's whole box of little debbie were still there after several weeks in the fridge, so I figured I could relax a little. I'm thinking of putting a sign on the fridge saying,"Whoever stole Sara's food needs to reimburse her and can come by her desk to find out the exact amount owed!" Not sure I'll do that, though...

 

[Dwarf Puffers]

Simple: Eat 2-3$ worth of random food in the fridge.

 

[6.5x55]

Simple, leave something tempting in the fridge but inject it with really hot sauce (Tobasco 'Habanero' for example). You'll soon find out who it was .

 

[Vicious_Fish]

Slap "Bio-hazard" and "Hazardous Material" stickers on all your containers.

If that doesn't work start spitting on your food.

 

[jackiomy]

Slap "Bio-hazard" and "Hazardous Material" stickers on all your containers.

If that doesn't work start spitting on your food.

:thm: I agree except for the spitting part!

 

[Inka4040]

Slap "Bio-hazard" and "Hazardous Material" stickers on all your containers.

If that doesn't work start spitting on your food.

Or combine the two ideas, and put little disclaimer stickers on your food breaching the possibility that you may have spit/slathered on it earlier...