Arrgh if a co worker did this

[Tiggeroo]

A coworker has a family farm. In the spring he brings in and sells a few containers of the most wonderful organic strawberries. I left him a note asking for two containers and he brought them to my room at the end of the day. They were 4. Each. I had to meet another teacher in a teachers room after this. I took all of my stuff. I set the strawberries my books and a coffee mug on a small table and sat three feet away at another table doing some work while waiting. A part time employee was sitting with me. He got up to leave. Ten minutes later I went to leave and one container of strawberries was gone. I suspected him but couldn't be certain. A co worker tole me that right at that time he passed by eating from a carton of strawberries. Wow I can't imagine just taking something like that. He never aske whose they were. O can't get berries like this anywhere.

 

[dakcp2001]

Sounds like a jerk.

 

[Tiggeroo]

Yes he's a jerk but I have to say something to him. He will reply that he didn't know they belonged to anybody, I'm sure. I just don't want to lose it and call him a jerk. At least he'll need to give me my money back.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Yeah. I'd tell him they were for someone else (you) and tell him they cost $4 each. I'd leave it open ended and see if he pays up. Most people would at that point. The shame and all.

 

[Uncle Remus]

A coworker has a family farm. In the spring he brings in and sells a few containers of the most wonderful organic strawberries. I left him a note asking for two containers and he brought them to my room at the end of the day. They were 4. Each. I had to meet another teacher in a teachers room after this. I took all of my stuff. I set the strawberries my books and a coffee mug on a small table and sat three feet away at another table doing some work while waiting. A part time employee was sitting with me. He got up to leave. Ten minutes later I went to leave and one container of strawberries was gone. I suspected him but couldn't be certain. A co worker tole me that right at that time he passed by eating from a carton of strawberries. Wow I can't imagine just taking something like that. He never aske whose they were. O can't get berries like this anywhere.

I can't believe you sat 3 ft from your strawberries 'n didn't see the jackhole grab 'em, I'd have snatched 'em back coz I'd never take my eyes off those strawberries.

Go tell him he owes ya $4. for the strawberries 'n another $1. for your handlin' charge.

 

[dimimi]

I teach too. I would bet he thought they were sitting there to take. In our teacher's lounge people put out food all of the time.

This reminds me of a story I read once. A woman was at the airport. She bought a bag of cookies and set them on her table while she read a book. Another person sat on the other side of her and began to eat HER cookies. The woman was a bit peeved, but didn't say anything. When there was 1 cookie left, the man broke the last cookie in half, ate the cookie and then left. The woman still was a bit upset. Finally she got up to go to her flight and yes, you guessed it...saw her bag of uneaten cookies! She had been eating his cookies!

I would probably just let the strawberry incident go. Next time, bring a bag to carry them home. (Now if you think he/she intentionally took them, then that's a different story.)

 

[Uncle Remus]

I teach too. I would bet he thought they were sitting there to take. In our teacher's lounge people put out food all of the time.

This reminds me of a story I read once. A woman was at the airport. She bought a bag of cookies and set them on her table while she read a book. Another person sat on the other side of her and began to eat HER cookies. The woman was a bit peeved, but didn't say anything. When there was 1 cookie left, the man broke the last cookie in half, ate the cookie and then left. The woman still was a bit upset. Finally she got up to go to her flight and yes, you guessed it...saw her bag of uneaten cookies! She had been eating his cookies!

I would probably just let the strawberry incident go. Next time, bring a bag to carry them home. (Now if you think he/she intentionally took them, then that's a different story.)

 

[LMC]

My reply would be, "They belonged to the person who ordered and PAID for them"

He will reply that he didn't know they belonged to anybody, I'm sure.

 

[Tiggeroo]

People do leave things to share all of the time but they are sitting on the main table where everybody else sits. And you never take the whole thing. You would help yourself to one or two. He does things like this when we have lunches. He doesn't contribute money and then when people eat for a few minutes he starts asking if the other sandwiches are extra and takes one. Then when people aren't quite finished he starts bagging up some that he thinks are extra to take them home. I figured he didn't have much money and was a bit more understanding but strawberries are a treat and it was a rotten move. And yes he was three feet away so he must have sort of snuck them for me to not to see him take them.
And it's not the money, I can't get strawberries this good anywhere else.

 

[tomthebarncat]

Maybe he is having money problems or is just cheap. I do have a suggestion, maybe there should be sign in the room, clearly designating "help yourself foods" and one that is not a free for all. We had a similiar issue at a company I worked at but we did not know who the person was, that was helping themselves. Two fridges were re-allocated, one to help your self and the other everything had to be clearly identified. I used to write on my brown bag "stolen from and my name". Nothing gotten accidently eaten after that!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, not the same thing but it is a 'coworker/food' incident: I had two bottles of water on my desk. I got to work one day last week and found one had been opened, someone had drunk a good-sized gulp, put the cap back on and left the bottle on my desk! Ugh. Who does that? Just take the bottle.

 

[Cindy B]

I'd talk to that person. Perhaps he thought it was a "free" thing.


We don't really keep food in our building or classrooms. No community tables or "dropping off the extras from my garden" or anything like that.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

Even if they were just sitting out in the teacher's lounge and he thought they were for teachers to snack on, why would he take the whole carton? Pretty rude.

 

[disneyismyname]

A coworker has a family farm. In the spring he brings in and sells a few containers of the most wonderful organic strawberries. I left him a note asking for two containers and he brought them to my room at the end of the day. They were 4. Each. I had to meet another teacher in a teachers room after this. I took all of my stuff. I set the strawberries my books and a coffee mug on a small table and sat three feet away at another table doing some work while waiting. A part time employee was sitting with me. He got up to leave. Ten minutes later I went to leave and one container of strawberries was gone. I suspected him but couldn't be certain. A co worker tole me that right at that time he passed by eating from a carton of strawberries. Wow I can't imagine just taking something like that. He never aske whose they were. O can't get berries like this anywhere.

What a jerk. I would speak up about it. Make him pay up.

 

[Imzadi]

It doesn't matter WHY he did it. Why are people trying to mind read him and figure out a WHY?

He took the strawberries and should definitely pay for them. They weren't his, they weren't free. They belonged to the OP and she needs to be compensated. PERIOD.

 

[VAN]

Normally, I wouldn't say anything; however, since this is his pattern I'd approach him....

Something like " you know the other day I purchased some organic strawberries and then was in the teacher's lounge and one disappeared ... I understand that you took these. Now, maybe you thought they were free to anyone, but they were not. I would appreciate it if you would ask before you help yourself to other's food ... it was extremely upsetting to find that something I was counting on for a recipe was gone. I really hope that something like this does not happen again."

You know, just do a type of dressing down. Everyone needs to challenge him on his behavior as it happens. If he starts "begging" for food, just say "hey, I brought this for myself - get your own!" Or if he starts bagging up extras that are meant to be shared, say "hey, those are for everyone ... you're only suppose to take one!"

He'll eventually get the message if everyone "challenges" him at the time he is acting inappropriate.

 

[sparklynails23]

Men. They think women are supposed to feed them. I'm sure that's why he took your strawberries. If they were another guy's, he would have left them alone. Someone needs to stand up to him.

 

[Swank]

Men. They think women are supposed to feed them. I'm sure that's why he took your strawberries. If they were another guy's, he would have left them alone. Someone needs to stand up to him.

Stupid statement.. Get a clue..

 

[Swank]

I have worked in a lot of office environments and there is always at least one person who believes the rules do not apply to them. Call this jerk out and tell him he owes you $4.

One job a had we had a bagel club where everyone who put it a couple of bucks a week and one person would go and buy a couple of dozen bagels on Friday. There was somebody at the office who refused to pitch in but would take a bagel every week. When you asked her why she just ignored you and continued on her way. We had to hide the bagels in a coworkers office so she would stop.

 

[shortbun]

Tell him they had toxic insecticide on them and 'did you eat them without washing them?"