Breakroom refrigerator theft

AceOfHearts<3 · Aug 28, 2016

I've had labeled food stolen before, made me so hopping mad. I ended up spending 3x as much buying a substandard meal from one of the cafes. Now if I don't eat my frozen meal that day I take it home and bring it back in.

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Aug 28, 2016

I was hoping the thefts were limited to sauces and salad dressings. But I saw first-hand where a nurse went down to the cafeteria and purchased some chocolate chip cookies and placed them in the fridge. Another staff member came in shortly after she left, went to the fridge just to look around (as you would at home), found the cookies and made the statement, "oh well, this has no name on it and I don't have time to go downstairs". The problem is, or one of them, is that staff often have shift 'dinners' or parties and stash the food in the fridge for whoever wants to partake in it after the party is over. So, some of them become accustomed to it being ok to take whatever they want because of the frequency of these random dinners.

I, on the other hand, don't trust anything that anybody brings in unless I see them open the original package. I never participate in cover-dish events unless I bring in something from the grocer with original packaging like a pound cake or plastic ware, etc., and I never return to my meal if, for whatever reason, I couldn't finish it in one sitting. People are definitely different today..

Fiona59 · Aug 28, 2016

Thought somebody had stolen the fridge!

Yup, usually it's the Residents who are the thieves.

DoGoodThenGo · Aug 28, 2016

I was hoping the thefts were limited to sauces and salad dressings. But I saw first-hand where a nurse went down to the cafeteria and purchased some chocolate chip cookies and placed them in the fridge. Another staff member came in shortly after she left, went to the fridge just to look around (as you would at home), found the cookies and made the statement, "oh well, this has no name on it and I don't have time to go downstairs". The problem is, or one of them, is that staff often have shift 'dinners' or parties and stash the food in the fridge for whoever wants to partake in it after the party is over. So, some of them become accustomed to it being ok to take whatever they want because of the frequency of these random dinners.
I, on the other hand, don't trust anything that anybody brings in unless I see them open the original package. I never participate in cover-dish events unless I bring in something from the grocer with original packaging like a pound cake or plastic ware, etc., and I never return to my meal if, for whatever reason, I couldn't finish it in one sitting. People are definitely different today..

Don't know about how "different" people are today, since clearly remember fridge/food theft going on back in the 1980's and 1990's. Everything from cans of soda to full blown meals.

Imagine, here's you having worked hard and was so ready for your meal break, you head to the fridge and it's *GONE*. After nearly emptying out the thing that sinking feeling starts setting in..... It hit nurses on evenings and nights hard because cafeterias were often closing or already closed. There might be something from a machine but that isn't what you had your mouth set on..*LOL*. It was also too late to order something because your break would likely be over before it arrived.

Recall one place things got so bad the nurses break-break room was declared out of bounds for anyone not just that. Nursing assistants had to go to the cafeteria or some other accommodation was made. Post graduates who shouldn't have been in the place to begin with were warned off and sat down if that didn't work.

Tired of theft many nurses started bringing meals that didn't require refrigeration, and keeping their soda or whatever drinks elsewhere. Those insulated lunch boxes became *very* popular once they hit the shelves.

Editorial Team / Admin · Aug 28, 2016

Well, somebody invented the refrigerator locker, so it must be pretty common unfortunately. Had this issue in our break room once- we all knew who the culprit was, but had no proof. Oddly enough, once said suspect did something stupid enough to get himself fired, no more break room lunch theft.

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Sour Lemon · Aug 28, 2016

Trying to solve the mystery can be fun and really bring people together ...although I can't think of a time when we've ever actually solved it.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Aug 28, 2016

A friend of mine used to put her flavored creamer in a Tupperware bottle with the label "breast milk" on it to keep people from using up all of her creamer.

ItsThatJenGirl, CNA · Aug 28, 2016

This reminds me of that Friends episode with Ross and the sandwich.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Aug 28, 2016

Maybe this would help?

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That's my lunch bag. Lol

Editorial Team / Admin · Aug 28, 2016

Pixie- not in my OR. We know organs for transplant go in cardboard boxes packed in ice, not coolers.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Aug 29, 2016

Pixie- not in my OR. We know organs for transplant go in cardboard boxes packed in ice, not coolers.

I was driving onto an Army post on my way to work in the ED, and the military police at the gate decided I looked like a good candidate to have pull over for a vehicle search. I looked panicked and held up my lunch bag and said, "But I'm on the way to the hospital, it's an emergency!" They fell over themselves ushering me through the gate. But because I'm me, I had to tell them I was kidding. They thought it was hilarious, and so did I.