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One of the first rules we learn as children is to not take what doesnt belong to you.
But not everyone adheres to that rule, especially when its aboutfood.
When one netizen was confronted with one such lunch thief, theydecidedto spice things up.
To out the officeglutton, they added some extra spice to their lunch and even labeled it very spicy.
When the thief got an upset stomach, colleagues reprimanded the netizen.
So, they asked the Internet: whose fault was it really?
She kindly agreed to tell us how people can deal with lunch thieves in the office more effectively.
General messages are rarely effective especially if you know exactly who needs to receive the message, Carnachan observes.
Instead, talking to the person directly would be a better way to handle the situation.
Unlike some commenters, Carnachan doesnt think the OP crossed a line.
Natural consequences workyou ate something that wasnt yours and it didnt agree with you.
Make a note for the future, and dont take others food.
And the fact that the author was castigated by her colleagues doesnt make sense either.
If the miscreanthas an allergy, youd think hed pay closer attention, Carnachan notes.
Did you see who took it?
The chances of getting a confession are slim, but at least theyd know someone was onto them.
Bringing a cold pack, keeping herlunchat her desk, and complaining to HR are all good solutions.
But Carnachan wonders where the boss or the manager is in all of this.
Id start there, she says.
She also suggests considering the dynamic between the author and thelunch thief.
The OP is a young woman and the lunch thief is a male, although of unknown age.
If the two have a contentious relationship, something else might be at play.
Frankly, its still stealing money, time, and sustenance from someone.
The bigger issue here might be that the OPs coworkers dont think food theft is a big deal.
Is it okay in that team to claim credit for other peoples ideas?
Do they take supplies that belong to other people or the company?
are hazy on this issue, Carnachan observes.
High-functioning teams dont take from each other.
They add to each others talents.
Instead, a good manager would look to enhance workers reliance on each others talents and showcase their strengths.
A goodworkplace culture, according to Carnachan, is one where management recognizes their workers for their combined efforts.
Thats the workplace culture Id want, she says.
People didnt think the author was at fault here: He literally stole your food.
Hes sick…
Thanks!
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