For better or worse,coworkersoften become a big influence in our lives. Well, how can they not? We spend so much time together; plus, no one knows the struggles and the joys of your job better than they do.

One of the joys forthis redditor’scoworkers was her bringing snacks for everyone. That was until one of the people on the shift decided to help herself to snacks that weren’t for sharing. Little did she know that, unlike herself, the snacks weren’tvegetarian.

Scroll down to find the full story in the OP’s own words below, where you will also findBored Panda’sinterview with a start-up growth coach and an award-winning expert in human resources,Daneal Charney, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions.

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No one, including vegetarians and vegans, is immune to feeling snackish

Woman in pink jacket eating chips, linked to vegetarian food thief narrative.

Image credits:Guillaume Bolduc / unsplash (not the actual photo)

That doesn’t mean it’s okay to help yourself to other people’s snacks without asking, though

Text post about a vegetarian coworker unknowingly eating non-vegetarian snacks intended for sharing.

Text about avoiding confusion by keeping snacks in the staff room instead of the kitchen.

Text from story about a vegetarian food thief blaming coworkers for taking snacks.

Hand holding pink gummy snacks, related to vegetarian food situation.

Image credits:Elsa Olofsson / unsplash (not the actual photo)

Text about a vegetarian blaming coworkers for reactions after taking snacks from another’s bag.

Woman in distress at a desk, possibly feeling unwell, related to vegetarian food theft at workplace.

Image credits:Getty Images / unsplash (not the actual photo)

Text describing a conflict over a vegetarian food thief blamed for taking snacks, causing family disagreement.

The woman clarified certain things in an edit to the post

Image credits:AllPanicNoDisco5431

Having your lunch stolen can be seriously upsetting

You make something delicious and go to sleep feeling happy and proud of yourself. And the feeling lingers all through the night and follows you all the way to work, where you leave your lunch in the kitchen and start counting the minutes until you get to enjoy it.

Now imagine stepping into the kitchen when the time comes only to find your lunch stolen. That is quite a heartbreak even in an imaginary scenario, isn’t it? (Zippia points out thatclose to halfof employed individuals have lived through such an experience in real life.) While the OP wasn’t exactly robbed of lunch, being left with no snacks is not a favorable position to be in, either. Moreover, the problem with food theft at work is bigger than just the loss of a meal.

According tothe Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), stealing—be it food or anything else, for that matter—is not only frustrating but also erodes trust and sows suspicion in the workplace. Needless to say, no one wants to work in a toxic environment, which food theft is a fast way to. To make matters worse, after stealing the snacks, the OP’s coworker blamed her for trying to poison her, which, first and foremost, doesn’t make much sense, and secondly, doesn’t make the climate at work any better, either.

Woman Steals Coworker’s Snack Without Checking The Label, Then Accuses Her Of Making Her Eat Meat

Some workplace disagreements might require a manager’s intervention

Discussing the OP’s situation in a recent interview withBored Panda, human resources expert Daneal Charney noted that workplace disagreements are inevitable, but they are not all black and white. “In this situation, taking something without permission—whether from a co-worker’s lunchbox or desk—is wrong,” she said. “Unlike harassment or bullying, which are clearly outlined in a Respectful Workplace Policy, these smaller conflicts still cross personal boundaries, strain relationships, and can disrupt collaboration.”

According to the expert, that’s why managers must take them seriously, encouraging employees to resolve issues quickly and professionally. “If co-workers can’t work it out themselves, a manager may need to step in,” she pointed out, suggesting that there are four steps to take to resolve workplace issues:

“Ultimately, the manager’s role is to guide respectful conversations or mediate when needed. Conflict will happen, but resolving it effectively ensures a healthier, more collaborative workplace,” Charney said.

Woman Steals Coworker’s Snack Without Checking The Label, Then Accuses Her Of Making Her Eat Meat

Image credits:Evie Fjord / unsplash (not the actual photo)

Used in gummies, gelatin is neither a vegetarian- nor vegan-friendly ingredient

Being a vegetarian herself, the OP’s coworker made a big fuss about the snacks containing gelatin, even though it’s her responsibility to make sure that the food she consumes is vegetarian, and also—she shouldn’t go taking other people’s snacks without asking in the first place.

It’s not easy to determine exactly how many people are vegetarian, but in the UK, for instance, roughly 6% of the population say that they are, according to a YouGovsurvey. For those who are thinking that the vegetarian diet might be expensive (hence the coworker having to rely on someone else’s food), first of all, it’s still no excuse to steal; secondly, it’s not exceptionally expensive to be a vegetarian.Some studiessuggest that plant-based consumers not only don’t spend more but actually spend less than their all-eating counterparts.

Text exchange about a vegetarian food thief blaming coworker for eating snacks containing gelatin.

Reddit comment thread about a vegetarian food thief blaming coworker for snack incident.

Reddit comments discussing a coworker accused of theft and bag security.

Reddit post about a coworker stealing vegetarian food, leading to blame over “poisoning” with snacks.

Reddit comments discussing a vegetarian food thief blaming a coworker for accidentally eating snacks with gelatin.

Discussion on vegetarian food theft and office conflict.

Discussion about vegetarian food thief blaming coworker for allergy issues in a workplace setting.

Reddit conversation about vegetarian food thief blaming coworker, discussing snack sharing and job dissatisfaction.

Reddit comments about coworker taking snacks and setting boundaries to avoid future issues.

Text exchange discussing vegetarian food thief blaming coworker for poisoning after taking snacks.

Online comments about vegetarian food theft and coworker accusation.

Some netizens didn’t think she was the jerk in the situation

Text response about a vegetarian food thief blaming a coworker for food issues.

Reddit comment about vegetarian food thief accused of stealing coworker snacks.

Comment discussing a situation involving vegetarian food theft and snack misunderstanding at the workplace.

Some believed she should have known better

Comment discussing vegetarian food thief upset over non-vegan snacks.

Text advising not to trust coworkers, related to vegetarian food theft and blaming.

The OP shared another edit, updating netizens on how the situation developed

Office employees enjoying vegetarian snacks together, sitting and standing by a window.

Text screenshot about a vegetarian coworker claiming snacks were communal.

Text about a coworker labeling snacks non-vegetarian after a vegetarian food theft incident.

Text expressing concern about a vegetarian accidentally eating non-vegetarian food.

Person unzipping a black lunch bag beside a plate of vegetarian snacks.

Image credits:Kelsey Curtis / unsplash (not the actual photo)

Text discussing a new lockable lunch box and coworker complaints after a vegetarian food thief incident.

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