Breakroom refrigerator theft

Garden,RN, ASN, RN · Aug 30, 2016

I think we have a major issue in that we can't figure out how to feed hospital personnel. Yes I have put things in refrigerators and had it missing, but I also have wandered in the wee hours of the night searching for a bit of cream to put in my coffee or had my stomach be physically hurting because I need a cracker. ( I have IBS) so my relationship to food is already different. it is because of this that if someone takes something I put in the refrigerator I am ok with it. It is just a little food and I really don't mind sharing. I figure is someone takes food it must be a need.

I notice too that prior to working in the hospital, extended care areas, nursing specifically, my coworkers and I rarely worried about things like that. We usually ordered out and shared. Maybe there was an occasional comment or joke about who brings the coffee or a little fund was started for such ,but it never really an issue.

SurgicalTechCST · Aug 30, 2016

My first job out of school, I worked in the ORs of a medium sized county hospital - more than 150 beds, less than 300 - and sometimes if the cafeteria was especially busy and full, we would get our lunch on the tray and take it back to the break room to eat it. It wasn't all that far.

Well, one day I had been the only one to take my lunch break when I did because of the case schedule. I had my lunch in the break room, and was about half way through with it, when someone called me to the sterile/inner core with a question. This was separated from the break room by only one door, with a window in it. I went to find out what was needed, solved the problem/answered the question, and turned around to go back and finish my lunch, which I had thrown a paper napkin on top of just for general principle.

I walked back toward the room, and could suddenly see through the window that one of the SURGEONS was leaning over MY tray, picking at MY FOOD! This was a grown, educated, middle aged man, from whom I had automatically expected better behavior!! I yanked open the door in time to see him cram a handful of my French fries in his big greedy mouth, and turn and run into the doctors' locker room! This was only one door away, and he thought THAT was going to save him?

Not on your tin type! I followed him right through that door, and he turned wide-eyed to see me follow him!! Like I had never seen an undressed man before? Please! I work in surgery every single day, and to me, naked people were par for the course. Unfortunately, there weren't any! (I mean no witnesses, of course!!)

I gave him an enormous piece of my mind, including the fact that he had CONTAMINATED MY FOOD and that it was now going to be thrown in the trash, because I surely wasn't eating after HIM because I KNEW where his hands had been! AND he owed me a lunch, which I planned on buying in the cafeteria the next day - they really did have good food, and some talented cooks - and I would be charging it to HIM, which I fully expected to be arranged by the next morning! Or, I would be going to my supervisor about his heinous behavior, and SHE put up with no guff from the docs - she always had our backs. And, if he ever put his hands in anyone else's food again, no matter how long it set out, we would be going directly to her anyway, avoiding the middle man.

He finally apologized when he caught his breath, and said not to worry, I would have my lunches paid for the rest of the week. I told him that didn't solve my problem then, because my food was hitting the trash can right then, and there wasn't enough time to go back and get more. But, I was surely going to take advantage of the offer of lunches for the test of the week - it certainly WAS the least he could do, and to keep his hands out of other people's food in the future!

I passed the word around to the rest of the group, too, to make sure not to leave their food unguarded if he was around! He was never caught stealing anyone else's food again! It cost him four lunches, and I made sure to really splurge that week! Sheesh!

Dusty Trail · Aug 30, 2016

This thread brings to mind a story that my Mother shared with me. She was having her lunch routinely stolen and found out it was one of her Managers. Rather than confront him, she decided to get even. She sliced her feces and made a sandwich with it. To compliment the lunch she urinated into a tinted soda bottle. She then spied on her thief: He quickly took a BIG bite of the sandwich then a swig from the soda bottle. :eek: :yuck: Needless to say, her lunch was never stolen again and she didn't have to discuss the matter with him either...

AceOfHearts<3 · Aug 30, 2016

I think we have a major issue in that we can't figure out how to feed hospital personnel.

Honestly, it's not my job to feed hospital personnel. It's also not the hospitals job to feed me. I bring in plenty of stuff to share and it is very clear that it is to be shared. Theft of things clearly marked with a name and date is not acceptable. I keep a variety of bars (granola, cereal, etc.), a package of cheese crackers, etc. in my work bag at all times so I have stuff when I need it- that is in addition to whatever fresh fruit I bring in for myself and my frozen lean cuisine or healthy choice meal. I like the frozen meals since they are easy to grab from my freezer on my way out the door to work- I stock up for a week or two so I don't have to worry about what I'm going to eat at work. You can get the frozen meals for $2-4 at the grocery store, so they are cheap and easy to keep at home for those "oh shoot what am I going to eat for lunch?!" moments (even if it's not a habit to eat them- they are good to have for "emergencies"). All it takes is a little advance planning and I find they are cheaper than spending $8-10 on questionable subpar food from the cafeteria (if that's even an option).

Garden,RN, ASN, RN · Aug 30, 2016

I just don't think it is a big deal. Personally, I would just prefer to be able to buy something fresh, or i do without. The only thing I'll is a cup of coffee and just avoid the whole thing.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Aug 30, 2016

"please take your rotting leftovers out of the fridge after a month or two, ok?"
I work from home, so I will check into that.
As far as onsite problems... I see many insulated bags taking up space in the communal refrigerator. An insulated bag will keep your food cold.
Keep your insulated bag on your desk... end of problem.

I don't know of any insulated bags that will keep your food cold from 5;30 when you leave the house until 2 or 3 when you get a chance to eat.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Aug 30, 2016

I think we have a major issue in that we can't figure out how to feed hospital personnel. Yes I have put things in refrigerators and had it missing, but I also have wandered in the wee hours of the night searching for a bit of cream to put in my coffee or had my stomach be physically hurting because I need a cracker. ( I have IBS) so my relationship to food is already different. it is because of this that if someone takes something I put in the refrigerator I am ok with it. It is just a little food and I really don't mind sharing. I figure is someone takes food it must be a need.
I notice too that prior to working in the hospital, extended care areas, nursing specifically, my coworkers and I rarely worried about things like that. We usually ordered out and shared. Maybe there was an occasional comment or joke about who brings the coffee or a little fund was started for such ,but it never really an issue.

So you're OK with sharing -- or you're OK with helping yourself to someone else's food. Just from this thread, I would conclude that the majority of posters are not OK with it. When they put their food in the refrigerator, they expect it to be there when they get back. Maybe out of courtesy to your colleagues, you could keep your hands off their cream and crackers. If your need for crackers is that urgent, bring your own. Don't filch someone else's.

Asystole RN · Aug 30, 2016

I don't know of any insulated bags that will keep your food cold from 5;30 when you leave the house until 2 or 3 when you get a chance to eat.

They are called lunch jars, a kind of bento lunch box popularized in Japan. They are double walled, vacuum sealed, steel lunch containers. Personally I like the offerings from Zojirushi. Amazon.com: Zojirushi Classic Bento Vacuum Lunch Jar: Bento Boxes: Kitchen & Dining

I usually take a soup, a main entree, and then a side.

The lunch is prepared at about 0700 and then I eat usually about 12-1300.

The soup is always way to hot to eat right away, the entree is always hot, and the side is always either warm to cool depending on what I bring. Today I had clam chowder, meatloaf, green beans, and diced strawberries and pears.

If you want a hot lunch you put a really hot dense item at the bottom like a soup, heat your entree and then stack on top of the soup, and then the final side can be either cold or hot. When you eat the side it will be either cool or warm depending on what you started with, due to the stacking the top item loses the most energy but not much, maybe 15 degrees over about 8 hours.

If you want a cold lunch then pack something cold and dense in the bottom like yogurt or something and stack just like before.

Changed the way I eat lunch, seriously.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Aug 30, 2016

They are called lunch jars, a kind of bento lunch box popularized in Japan. They are double walled, vacuum sealed, steel lunch containers. Personally I like the offerings from Zojirushi. Amazon.com: Zojirushi Classic Bento Vacuum Lunch Jar: Bento Boxes: Kitchen & Dining
I usually take a soup, a main entree, and then a side.
The lunch is prepared at about 0700 and then I eat usually about 12-1300.
The soup is always way to hot to eat right away, the entree is always hot, and the side is always either warm to cool depending on what I bring. Today I had clam chowder, meatloaf, green beans, and diced strawberries and pears.
If you want a hot lunch you put a really hot dense item at the bottom like a soup, heat your entree and then stack on top of the soup, and then the final side can be either cold or hot. When you eat the side it will be either cool or warm depending on what you started with, due to the stacking the top item loses the most energy but not much, maybe 15 degrees over about 8 hours.
If you want a cold lunch then pack something cold and dense in the bottom like yogurt or something and stack just like before.
Changed the way I eat lunch, seriously.

It looks like a great product, but says it will keep your food hot or cold for "up to six hours."

If I make my lunch at 5:30, then go to work and don't get a chance to eat until 2 or 3, that's 9 or 10 hours. It's a good solution for some folks, but it won't solve the break room refrigerator problem for those who work 12 hour shifts and have a commute.

Asystole RN · Aug 30, 2016

It looks like a great product, but says it will keep your food hot or cold for "up to six hours."
If I make my lunch at 5:30, then go to work and don't get a chance to eat until 2 or 3, that's 9 or 10 hours. It's a good solution for some folks, but it won't solve the break room refrigerator problem for those who work 12 hour shifts and have a commute.

That is their very conservative statement, as per norm with most food products.

I have tested it up to 18 hours and noted a 20 degree drop. The important thing is not to open the container. Starting with a temp around 200 and ending up with temps around 180 still means it is way too hot to eat. Starting with temps at a lower 180 still means the food is way hot at 160...after 18 hours.

The important thing is to either start with HOT or COLD food and it will maintain that temperature very, very, well undisturbed.

I comment was not to resolve the refrigerator theft problem, I personally do not care because I do not use a work refrigerator, it was to address your statement that you were not aware of a device that could keep something cold for a shift. I am telling you there is.

More to the point I guess is that if you are eating a hot lunch there is no reason to chill it, you can heat it at home and keep it hot until you are ready to eat it.

Extra Pickles · Aug 30, 2016

I just don't think it is a big deal. Personally, I would just prefer to be able to buy something fresh, or i do without. The only thing I'll is a cup of coffee and just avoid the whole thing.

Then you've never had the annoyance of having your nice fresh lunch already eaten by someone else before you had the opportunity to eat I take it? Not everyone has the opportunity to buy another meal after someone's taken theirs, ever work evening or night shift or weekends when there is nothing other than a vending machine? And if you are ok with just doing without that's fine for you. But not for me. When it's time to eat I'm hungry and I'm not going to be ok with my carefully chosen and prepared or paid-for meal snatched by some ethically impaired slob.

RestlessHeart · Aug 30, 2016

aw I hope you didn't tell her that. would have been nicer to wish her a happy retirement or whatever, let her think you're a real gem instead of maybe feeling stupid for having said that.

Nah, I didnt say anything. I actually found if kind of funny and had it been me, Id have been incredibly embarrassed.