Entitled coworker keeps taking employee's mug without permission, employee gets even by lining the rim with cat food: 'Smells like victory!'

Author image for Ben Weiss
Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
May 29, 2025 4:00 PM EDT

Let this story serve as a friendly reminder that just because someone placed their mug in the office kitchen does not mean it is up for grabs. This can be a common misconception, so if a coworker makes the mistake of using your personal mug once or twice, you should give that person the benefit of the doubt. They probably just did not know otherwise. That being said, if it happens on more than a couple of occasions after you requested that this person not use your mug without permission, then we've got. problem.

When this kind of repeated scenario occurs, you can assume that it's beyond an accident. It's a sign of disrespect and a refusal to accept your simple wishes. Sure, you may think I'm being overdramatic, but if you let someone disregard your boundaries at work, you could be in for more trouble. Today it may be a coffee mug, but tomorrow it could be more serious. That's why establishing and reinforcing those boundaries are crucial. If your coworker crosses that boundary, then you are well within your right to get even!

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    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • This author recounted the tale of what happened after he brought his favorite mug from a trip to Hawaii to the office kitchen. He made it clear to everyone that this was not for everyone else's usage, but Mark blatantly refused to accept that request. It got to the point where petty revenge was the only option, and let's just say that the consequence stank for Mark…

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    "He Kept Stealing My Hawaii Mug, So I Let Him Ruin His Own Reputation"

    I live in Colorado but had this souvenir mug from a trip to Hawaii. Bright blue, volcano design, and clearly labeled with my name on the bottom. I kept it in the office kitchen.
    via ColoradoGuy303
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    Mark, who apparently thinks. personal property is optional, kept using it. I asked him to stop. He smirked and said, "It's just a mug."
    via ColoradoGuy303
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    So I made it his. Over the weekend, I smeared a thin layer of canned cat food under the rim and let it sit sealed in a bag. On Monday, I left it out clean and dry.
    via ColoradoGuy303
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    He took the bait. By mid-morning, people were asking what the h I that smell was. Mark looked nauseous.
    via ColoradoGuy303
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    Someone said it smelled like a corpse microwaved in fish oil. He dumped the mug in the sink and left early.
    via ColoradoGuy303
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    I didn't say a word. But I did start a quiet conversation later about how gross it is when people use each other's stuff.
    via ColoradoGuy303
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    He's been drinking from paper cups ever since. People still avoid the breakroom when he's in it. The mug's back on my desk now. Still smells like victory
    via ColoradoGuy303
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    Cheezburger Image 10511263488
    via Gelmis Bartulis

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    Teach • 13h ago . So funny. I had a coffee cup from Egypt that someone freaking took off my desk. Saw her in the break room with it. I put out an email that I had a cup in Egypt that
    via ColoradoGuy303
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    "disappeared" from my desk. Back on my desk the next day. Everyone saw her using it. She said I left it in the break room. Um, no, | did not. I rinsed it every day and put it back on my desk.
    via ColoradoGuy303
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    DaveKasz ⚫ 14h ago • Did you ruin the mug for yourself? Can you use it?
    via ColoradoGuy303
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    Aloha-Eh 11h ago . "It's just a mug." It's just MY mug. If it were your mug, it would say "A ole," not have my name on it.
    via ColoradoGuy303
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    Piddy3825 13h ago • Someone said it smelled like a corpse microwaved in fish oil. petty revenge - best served tainted...
    via ColoradoGuy303
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    LadyMayn... 8h ago I once worked in a medical centre which had a cupboard full of identical company mugs. I had my own
    via ColoradoGuy303
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    special mug with my name on it. One of the doctors kept using my mug. So I started hiding it in other cupboards but he would go hunting
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    for it and find it. I asked him to stop and got a new mug which said "Is there life after death? Touch this mug and find out" and hid it in
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    places outside the kitchen. It just spurred him on. Eventually I gave up, took it home and used a company mug. Your solution was diabolical. I bow to the master.
    via ColoradoGuy303
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    • cfgregory 6h ago I worked as a programmer in an office with mostly men (I am a woman).
    via ColoradoGuy303
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    They were horrible about cleaning their own coffee mugs. And I got tired of being the only one to wash them.
    via ColoradoGuy303
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    I brought a bright pink mug. Even if it was the only clean mug, they never used it.
    via ColoradoGuy303

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terrible coworkers workplace-stories toxic-workplace petty-revenge-reddit work coworkers petty revenge entitled people karma workplace funny work stories entitled people toxic-work-environment
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