Budget Buster - Inconsiderate Coworkers

[angierae]

We have a full-size fridge at our office with the two doors up top and the freezer on the bottom. last night, one of my coworkers left the fridge open somewhat when they left for the night.

When I got in this morning the inside of the fridge was HOT because the lightbulb was putting out so much heat and the fridge couldn't keep up. The plastic containers in the fridge were hot to the touch. We had to throw out EVERYTHING in there.

I lost:

Two containers of Laughing Cow Cheese
Three yogurts
A half gallon of milk I use with my breakfast that was brand new on Friday
Some leftover Easter ham I brought in yesterday and ended up not eating, so I was counting on it being today's lunch


It was maybe $12 worth of food, but I was counting on the stuff in the fridge to be what I ate today - so now I have to get lunch out, which is probably going to cost me another $8-10.

I guess I'll be buying an insulated lunch bag and some ice packs, and bringing everything on a daily basis. We specifically just bought this new, big fridge so that people could bring food in and leave it because it helped with food costs to be able to have things here instead of needing to remember everything every day.

 

[GinnyEmma]

Eat out somewhere less expensive.

 

[Katy Belle]

It sounds like an accident Perhaps a sign needs to be put on the n refrigerator door telling people to make sure it is closed.

Sorry you lost your food.

 

[seashoreCM]

Continue to bring only what you need for the day, and put that in the refrigerator.

OT: In the interest of preventing waste IMHO everything put into a shared refrigerator should be marked with a date after which it becomes free to anyone for the taking. Items with no date are free for the taking immediately.

 

[angierae]

Eat out somewhere less expensive.

In the area of town I work, there ISNT anywhere less expensive to eat, and leaving to drive somewhere else is risky because the parking garage we have to park in often fills up, and if you leave, you risk not being able to repark to get back to work.

It sounds like an accident Perhaps a sign needs to be put on the n refrigerator door telling people to make sure it is closed.

Sorry you lost your food.

There IS a sign on the door, and several emails have been sent out telling people to be careful about the doors.

Bring only what you need for the day, and put that in the refrigerator.

OT: In the interest of preventing waste IMHO everything put into a shared refrigerator should be marked with a date after which it becomes free to anyone for the taking. Items with no date are free for the taking immediately.

This fridge was bought specifically so that people could leave food in it. That was the whole point of my boss buying a full-sized refridgerator. We were encouraged to leave food in it.

 

[MissUndastood]

POOH happens. It was an accident, get over it and move on. Certainly nothing to dwell on.

 

[GinnyEmma]

POOH happens. It was an accident, get over it and move on. Certainly nothing to dwell on.

No kidding. Heck I'd skip lunch if it were such a financial stretch.

 

[tlbwriter]

How frustrating! If this is happening on a regular basis, I wonder if it could be the job of the last person leaving the building to check and make sure the fridge is closed.

 

[JENOS]

Maybe the magnet strips need to be replaced, I doubt this was done intentional or out of spite.

You are out $20 dollars; you should file a claim with your company's insurance or seek counsel .

 

[tlbwriter]

You are out $20 dollars; you should file a claim with your company's insurance or seek counsel .

I don't see any reason to mock the OP. I'd be pretty annoyed if a coworker's carelessness had cost me $20.

 

[JENOS]

I don't see any reason to mock the OP. I'd be pretty annoyed if a coworker's carelessness had cost me $20.

People make you lose money every day. Insurance claims, high taxes, higher food prices…ECT
Maybe OP shouldn’t be so uptight and be grateful that she has a job and can recuperate those $20.

 

[ccgirl]

We have a full-size fridge at our office with the two doors up top and the freezer on the bottom. last night, one of my coworkers left the fridge open somewhat when they left for the night.

When I got in this morning the inside of the fridge was HOT because the lightbulb was putting out so much heat and the fridge couldn't keep up. The plastic containers in the fridge were hot to the touch. We had to throw out EVERYTHING in there.

I lost:

Two containers of Laughing Cow Cheese
Three yogurts
A half gallon of milk I use with my breakfast that was brand new on Friday
Some leftover Easter ham I brought in yesterday and ended up not eating, so I was counting on it being today's lunch


It was maybe $12 worth of food, but I was counting on the stuff in the fridge to be what I ate today - so now I have to get lunch out, which is probably going to cost me another $8-10.

I guess I'll be buying an insulated lunch bag and some ice packs, and bringing everything on a daily basis. We specifically just bought this new, big fridge so that people could bring food in and leave it because it helped with food costs to be able to have things here instead of needing to remember everything every day.

Definitely sounds like an accident. Instead of eating out, I would go to the grocery store and get lunch meat or things for the rest of the week.

 

[GinnyEmma]

It does show that keeping a couple of days worth rather than a weeks worth is only smart. Especially if it keeps happening. That is common sense. I'd check the magnet is clean and make sure it isn't on a tilt.

 

[SaraJayne]

OP, I'd probably be initially annoyed, but then say "oh well, accidents happen". At least you have the means to replace what you had to throw out.

Can you order in lunch today from somewhere that delivers?

 

[bellarella]

First, it sounds like either the fridge isn't level, or your company got a bad one. Second, it sounds like an accident.

It's lousy, but I wouldn't be upset enough about it to post about it. If I were that worried about the money, I'd either skip lunch, get something less than $8-10 at the place close by (just enough to take the edge off), or risk losing the parking space and go out somewhere else (and if you don't have a hard and fast lunch hour, go a bit early, get your stuff quickly and hopefully get back as other people are leaving/haven't returned).

 

[angierae]

I don't see any reason to mock the OP. I'd be pretty annoyed if a coworker's carelessness had cost me $20.

Thank you. I am flabbergasted at the response here. People post stuff like this ALL THE TIME, and I was annoyed and thought I'd post. $20 is $20 and I thought of all places, people on the BUDGET BOARD would be understanding.

Guess not.

 

[ilovepete]

My husband had something similar happen where they cleaned out the fridge, apparently there was a notice up, but he didn't see it. Anything in the fridge got thrown away. They threw away his lunchbox ($20) and 2 reusable water bottles ($40, huge ones) and their insulators ($20) plus the food he had in there, ($10). I was NOT happy.

 

[luvmy3]

Thank you. I am flabbergasted at the response here. People post stuff like this ALL THE TIME, and I was annoyed and thought I'd post. $20 is $20 and I thought of all places, people on the BUDGET BOARD would be understanding.

Guess not.

Clearly the fridge door is an issue if notes and emails have been posted to remind workers to make sure its closed. That being the case, you took a risk by stocking it up with all that food. Sure, it stinks that you are out $20, but things happen, and I wouldn't blame an "inconsiderate" co-worker for what sounds like an accident.

 

[MissUndastood]

Maybe you can get an "upgrade" at your job Or at the very least, late checkout
















































































j/k

 

[crisi]

It wasn't inconsiderate, it was an accident. That's why the OP is getting a hard time.

Someone she works with didn't close the fridge tightly. Its a shame she lost her stuff, but as was posted upthread "stuff happens." We've had cases where the fridge has gotten unpluged by the cleaning staff over a long weekend.

People don't deserve to be labeled inconsiderate when they make an honest mistake. And, indeed, if the fridge door is a problem and doesn't shut tightly, the OP has to take some responsibility for knowing its a flakey fridge. Although if I were management and got a brand new large fridge that didn't close tightly, I'd be returning the fridge. I've had half a dozen fridges in my life, and I've never had one that it takes an extra effort to close (even with little kids, notorious non-fridge closers).