I put a jokey 'biohazard' sticker on my lunch and now I have a meeting with HR.
By @umatbh · Work
There's a serial lunch thief in our office, and they always go for the good stuff. I was sick of my expensive salads disappearing, so I thought a little humor would solve the problem without a big confrontation.
The full story
Someone in my office has been systematically working their way through the communal fridge, and they have expensive taste. Last week it was my coworker's slice of pricey birthday cake, and this week it was my beautiful, overpriced grain bowl that I was looking forward to all morning. I didn't want to send out a mass email or escalate things, because that never works and just makes things awkward. So I had an idea I thought was clever. I found some of those bright orange 'BIOHAZARD' stickers online and slapped one on my lunch container this morning. I thought it was a funny, passive-aggressive way to make a point. Apparently, someone did not find it funny. Instead of the thief getting the hint, someone else reported my lunch to HR for 'creating a hostile and unsafe work environment.' Now I have a calendar invite from HR for this afternoon to 'discuss appropriate workplace communication.' I wasn't trying to cause a panic, just trying to eat the lunch I actually paid for.
How people voted
- Totally Cooked — 30% (10 votes)
- It’s Complicated — 27% (9 votes)
- You’re Fine — 42% (14 votes)
Readers say “You’re Fine” (42%) — 33 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@reeseyk — Why hasn't management just installed a camera pointed at the fridge?
@huhokay — You're cooked. Next time just put a bunch of glitter in it so you can at least see who the thief is.
@reesey — Oh that's awful! You were just trying to save your lunch, I don't see what the big deal is.
@brynnforsure — People need to learn to take a joke instead of running to HR for every little thing.
@maybeitsme — Something tells me this 'jokey' sticker looked a little more official than you're letting on.
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