Handling People Who Take Your Stuff at Work

[itsonly4me]

I am going to assume that you dont have an area other than that to keep your stuff? I go though the same issue at work, but fortunately do not work with too many people so I can tell them to quit it. Sometimes I feel the need to share though just because I am the "boss" there. Its a loose-loose situation.

[SPOILEDkiwi]

Keep everything at your desk instead. If you can't, wrap everything in a separate opaque plastic bag and knot it. I think people will get the message that it's not for community use. I used to do that when I shared a fridge with 5 other people in college and my stuff never got stolen. I think because you haven't said anything, it's possible that the majority of your coworkers don't know it's yours or think that it's for everyone to use. If they're knowingly stealing it, I think knotted plastic bags serve as a good deterrent.

[itsonly4me]

^^^Good advice, I do that with my drinks and people seem to leave them alone :)

[luvprada]

Keep them at your desk gets my vote

[jackie100]

If it were me I would just keep my supplies in the trunk of my car and walk out during break to get it. I guess I am petty. I would get super annoyed if someone even took 1 plate or 1 slice of bread without asking. I just think it's rude. I would just keep it all in my car and not share anything.

[ShopGirl647]

I would keep them at my desk instead. Kinda reminds me of lunches in the fridge at work goes missing from time to time...LOL...someone else ate it intentionally!!!

[turboflgrl]

As others have said, keep it at your desk. When I worked at a hospital in registration, I ALWAYS kept my belongings that needed to stay at work at my desk. I eventually started bringing a cooler as sad as it sounds because my food would constantly get eaten before I got to lunch. I even put my name on it so that was no use!

Might I add that just before I resigned my position, they installed security cameras in the break room because it became such an issue. Now THAT is sad.

Ugh. Lazy, cheap people disgust me.

[karmenzsofia]

I hate it when people touch or take my stuff, especially because I'm ridiculously considerate when it comes to other people's stuff. Roommates, co-workers, neighbors, you name it--if it isn't mine, I don't touch it. What's so hard to understand about that? If it's not yours, it's not yours to take. Ugh!

I would keep what I can in my desk, and if I had to store some in a common area (like the fridge), then I would tell everyone to keeps their paws off my stuff.

[twinkle.tink]

Somethings never change. Every job I have ever been at, or heard of has the same problem....as others have said just keep things at your desk.

[Charlie]

Originally Posted by karmenzsofia

I hate it when people touch or take my stuff, especially because I'm ridiculously considerate when it comes to other people's stuff. Roommates, co-workers, neighbors, you name it--if it isn't mine, I don't touch it. What's so hard to understand about that? If it's not yours, it's not yours to take. Ugh! I would keep what I can in my desk, and if I had to store some in a common area (like the fridge), then I would tell everyone to keeps their paws off my stuff.

I know, how hard is it? seriously. When I was working at this office, our boss would take everything home. If someone brought muffins, cupcakes, anything, to the office. He would take them home after work. WTF, they were for us to eat THERE.

Originally Posted by print*model

I think people are just plain rude. Do you have a drawer at your desk that you can keep your things in? That's what I would do.

ITA. I work with mostly men. I left my pink mug in the kitchen for 5 minutes and some guy was drinking out of it. He had it like for two days in his desk. I had the receptionist open his office and grab the mug for me. WTF, my daughter gave it to me!!!!!!!! Ugh, I was so mad.

I keep everything in my office too. We have a little fridge where we keep our lunches. I have a huge deep drawer with pretty much everything in it, including splenda for my tea

[wordbox]

Maybe bring in a real plate and utensils (not disposable ones), and just wash them when you're done using them? Then they'll have to buy their own, or mooch from someone else.

[sweetdreamer16]

keep it on ur desk!!!

[gacats]

I wouldn't bother with the note, just leave crap in your drawer, like little packets of malt vinegar and packets of relish. Keep your plates and things in your desk.
Whoever was taking your stuff will eventually give up on your drawer when they see the icky stuff in there.

[schadenfreude]

I went and spent the $50 on one of those little bitty dorm refrigerators that fits in my office, so I can keep all my crap separate. (All the utensils and non-perishables are in my desk.) This is two uses - one, keeps people's grubby paws off my crap, and two, it keeps me out of the breakroom and away from the vending machines. I stock the little fridge with V8, yogurt, string cheese, and apples. Boring, but healthy!

[Bella]

^ Great idea!

Sorry OP, people will continue to take and use things that don't belong to them. Unfortunately it's just the way some are. I agree with the others, don't bother saying anything, just keep your stuff at your desk and maybe even consider bringing a weekly supply at a time. Not saying anyone would go into your desk, but if they were ballsy enough to do that, it'd be really obvious.