My coworker keeps 'borrowing' my high-end coffee creamer and replacing it with cheap stuff.
By @xenahm · Work
He thinks as long as he replaces it with *something*, it's a fair trade. I'm now hiding my creamer in a different department's fridge.
The full story
This is likely the most first-world problem in history, but it's driving me insane. I have a specific brand of oat milk creamer I like. It's not cheap, maybe $7 a bottle, but it's a small luxury that makes my workday better. I keep it in the office fridge with my name clearly written on it. A coworker on my team has taken a liking to it. The first time, it was nearly empty and he just finished it. Annoying, but fine. Then, a new bottle I'd just opened was half-gone in two days. The next Monday, I came in to find my expensive creamer gone, and in its place was a bottle of the generic, oily, store-brand stuff that costs a dollar. I confronted him, and he was completely baffled that I was annoyed. His logic is that he 'replaced what he used' and that 'creamer is creamer.' He genuinely doesn't see the difference between a premium product and a cheap substitute. they said I was being 'fussy' and that we should all just share. It's not about the money, it's the principle. I've now started stashing my creamer in the marketing department's fridge on another floor, and I feel ridiculous.
How people voted
- Side A — 48% (12 votes)
- Both — 28% (7 votes)
- Side B — 24% (6 votes)
Readers say “Side A” (48%) — 25 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@june — It's the principle of the thing! Good for you for standing your ground, even if it feels silly.
@maddy — I feel like we're not getting the full story here; are you sure you're not leaving something out?
@brynnkay — That's not 'sharing,' it's just weaponized incompetence and he knows exactly what he's doing.
@sam — lmao keep hiding it i support this level of petty
@theo — Have you considered just talking to HR about it?
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