Work related question
 

Currently I work as a receptionist. This basically means I don't have a desk with four walls: I'm right up front in the mix. Now, I don't mind lending out items (i.e. staplers, etc etc) but I just came back from lunch and found that my boss ate a ton of my sunflower seeds, which I keep for myself as a snack at my desk.

What is the polite way to say "certain things are mine, don't touch?"

Lock them in your desk drawer?

I've found over the years - any food kept on a person's desk ends up being community food... but in the desk is personal property.

I agree. If it's out in the open, it's probably going to get eaten.

The problem is, I don't have a desk. I have a counter bascially. The only things I keep my stuff in are those plastic shelving units you get at Wal-mart. There are no locks

take smaller quantities with you and leave it in your purse...

I'm not sure there's a really good way to tel your boss to keep their grubby paws off your snacks.

At my current office, I've had people eat my lunch out of the fridge... Even if my name is on the bag.. some people have no manners - you really just have to catch them in the act and embarass them - not exactly a career move to embarass your boss :D

Get a lock-box and put it on the plastic Wal-mart shelves.

kaliena,

how often does this happen? if s/he doesn't do it often, i wouldn't worry about it. marginal cost. how many people work in your office? if its often and a lot of people coming through, i'd consider putting out a little tray for snack donations on your desk. s/he knows you munch on the seeds, so if you just stop eating where s/he can see you, but are frequently quaffing large amounts of an unknown material down your gullet while hiding under your desk or in the corner or the restroom, s/he will figure out what's going on. you don't want to be "non-team player" and all that synergistic horseshit.

Our office is a pretty small office, about 30 people. We do have a community tray that everyone can pick from, candy and all that. People usually don't really get into my stuff, but I guess this time I left it out on my desk, which I guess means "go for it."

I went ahead and put it in my little plastic desk cubie thing. I don't know how often people take things from my desk when I'm not there, I only knew this time because it was sitting somewhere different and there was a large amount gone.

I don't mind being a team player, after all, I fill up the jar with candy, out of my own money, since no one else in the office does. That's why I got so offended in the first place, I mean, I already put out candy out of my own pocket, now it's just getting rude.

dont fill up the candy jar for a while... I've worked in office that people thought the candy fairies came in at night and replensished the jars they didnt knwo that it was actual money going to fill it up

That seems wrong.

You don't take another persons food... From an official candy jar is fine - but not their personal food.

It brings to mind images from nature films. You know.. where the wronged animal looses it's temper. Be it a dog, a bear a lion or elephant.

But heck, your boss may be stupid.

Attach a car battery to them.

Other than that, leave a note saying mitts off or something along those lines.

I can certainly think of a cure for that, which involves a trip to your local pharmacy. And the Fleet brand name.

In regard to food on the desk or counter, one of those portable alarms designed for windows and hotel doors might be the answer.

Remember that scene in The Godfather? Just before they garrote poor Luca Brasi, one of the guys runs his knife clear through Luca's hand and into the bar underneath. Next time some bastard reaches for your private stash, grab your letter opener and don't hesitate......:thumbsup:



or like mal said, lock 'em in the drawer.

I would just write your name on the bag- "xxx's sunflower seeds- please don't eat!"

It was rude and something I certainly wouldn't do. I'd stop replenishing the candy jar, and get a lock box for my shelf. Only offer your snacks yourself, when you want to. End of story.

Yeah, I'd say the first thing to do would be stop replenishing the candy drawer yourself and put out a big ole jar with a sign that says "DONATIONS FOR CANDY JAR." Then I'd get a lockable container for my own personal stuff if it seemed like people stealing my food was going to be a problem. However, I wouldn't set it out prominently (because then it might seem belligerient), but find somewhere discreet for it.

Also, you have to realize that if it was a big bag of sunflower seeds left out in the open, it's immediately going to be tagged as public food. This was true on my hall at boarding school, as well as in the break room of the busy hospital lab where I once worked. If I can see it, I can eat it, and if I'm an asshole, I'll eat it even if it's got your name on it. Chaulk it up to expierence and your boss just not thinking about it, and keep stuff hidden from now on :)

I just wanted to say thank you for all the suggestions! :)

No more problems since I originally posted, but I still intend to follow through with the lock box etc.

Or the letter opener...

hmm.

I bet if you just put your food under some other stuff in a drawer no one would touch it. No drama no putting out signs or getting emotional. He probably didn't know it was personal food and would't touch your stuff if you put it in a personal area. My mom worked in a similar office setting for 15 years and would talk about this stuff all the time.