Breakroom refrigerator theft

[Emergent]

Both of my jobs have signs on the fridge from exasperated coworkers telling people to stop stealing the food of others.

Seriously? If it's not yours, don't take it folks. If you forgot your food, do not, I repeat, DO NOT steal the food of others.

And on a related topic, please take your rotting leftovers out of the fridge after a month or two, ok?

[mrphil79]

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.

Garden is the food thief...

The only person who could defend food theft is one who is guilty of it.

Its not ok.

[cricket0414]

Stealing food from the fridge is not nursing specific. I have worked in several industries and trust me - food from the fridge is not safe anywhere, law offices, banks, brokerages firms, etc., I never leave anything in the fridge, bring my own lunch pack with an ice pack and keep it with my purse. Sad but necessary.

[moldyoldyrn]

I used to buy bags of candy or cookies, something to get staff through the day, just something nice. Did it about once a month or for holidays. Everyone loved it. Then we noticed that the bags would be out on the table at report and gone by break time. Turns out there were folks going in and dumping the entire bag in their containers or bags and leaving none for the rest of the staff. It was usually non-nursing staff doing it. So I bought a rolling bag that I carried my gear back and forth in, I had bad shoulder issues, I would put the goodies in my rolling bag(always room in there) and go around and let staff know that there was something "in the bag" for them. They got it. It was amazing who would show up looking at the table for the treats. I will not bad mouth cleaning crews or some other staff because our crews always worked their hearts out for us. They were part of our care staff and were always included. The culprits were mostly from other floors or services.

[wolf9653]

Apparently she was so well liked that her own department didn't get her bagels.

[mrphil79]

No I don't help myself to anything that does not belong to me. I have many dietary limitations. I have had serious stomach issues since childhood. I have found myself because of this wishing there was a cracker or hot soup or coffee at times, just because I feel so horrible. I think that if someone takes food that I bring it's no biggie. Maybe it is someone that is in a pinch. I think if another nurse or CNA takes some food perhaps in the middle of the night, I can live with that. I do see the signs all over the place and am very happy to just avoid the whole refrigerator thing. I have a different relationship with food than most people.

Your view that it is ok is disturbing and wrong.

You Are Wrong.

You are not correct.

Please realize this and adjust your attitude and thinking on the subject.

Taking a few crackers or soup (as you said you do!) is IN FACT taking things that do belong to you despite your contradictory declaration that you do not take things that do not belong to you.

In all seriousness - you are wrong. 99% of people disagree with you.

You are not entitled to eat a few crackers, soup, etc... unless YOU brought it.

Stop doing this.

Immediately.

[wolf9653]

I once got something like this (read the reviews, lol): Amazon.com : Sugar Free Gummy Bears, 5LBS by Albanese Confectionery : Gummy Candy : Grocery & Gourmet Food on account of a candy pilfering supervisor. But it backfired as I heard her on the phone with her husband that it was the first good dump she'd taken in weeks.

[PJClinical]

I tend to put food in the fridge that clearly shows my BIG BITE MARK: like a delicious sandwich. Oh, and half-eaten works well too.

[montyh]

I have seen the Dr.s do it too.

We have had pretty much anything that people bring in stolen including a student nurses laptop.

[beckster]

I used to work with an ED MD who stole food. She had issues stemming from childhood abuse, I think, but still, it was ridiculous. She was also rather squeamish so after having one too many lunches stolen I made the announcement I was henceforth spitting in everything I brought in! Didn't get ripped off again.

[OHNBJL]

This has happened to me several times. The last time I had an emergency run and left my 3 Oreos stacked on the counter. The top one I had taken a bite out of. I returned to find the ED medical director eating my Oreos! I lost it. 'Really' I said. "Are you that hard up?" From then on I put my lunch in an insulated bag and tie wrapped the zipper shut. Sounds drastic but I value my food. Tie wraps are cheap.

[Abibigail]

Wow! I really am fortunate to work where I do. I've never had food stolen at my facility, and I've never known of anyone else losing food via theft, either.

[crazynurselady]

I've had this happen to me a couple of times. At first I was furious mostly because I was HUNGRY. Then, it upset me to think that someone that I was working with was having to steal to eat. I said if someone was that hungry all they had to do was ask and I would have gladly shared with them. Not sure if this was actually the situation or if it was someone who just didn't care if they took someone else's food. It happened to a couple of other people too. I started trying to keep track of when it happened and who was working to try and figure out who it might be. Haha. Eventually it stopped. I never found out who it was.