Employee spills water on coworker’s laptop during lunch, refuses to pay them back after discovering it is ruined, coworker considers reporting it to boss: ‘I can’t afford a new laptop’

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Jun 9, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

If we were the judges, it would be one of those cases that keep us up at night. The type of dilemma that makes you sigh and mutter, "I need a jury for this one." We all know the location of a crime is not only a strong defining factor - "don't walk here at night", or "you should avoid those areas during lunch break."  But when you mix location with timing? That's when things get murky. Unpredictable. Almost criminal. Heightened emotions begin to enter the frame and the real courtroom-clenching question is no longer avoidable: who is responsible? 

Was this a tragedy that was solely based on where the electronic baptism took place? or was it timing that sealed its soggy fate?

Let us paint the picture - An Emergency Medical Service worker (EMS)—yes, a job revolving around the heroic act of saving lives—was called to action. In a high-pressure moment, the worker placed their laptop in a communal dining area (cue ominous music). When they returned, the case had been planted: the laptop, a victim of water damage. No witnesses. No confessions. Just silence and spilled mystery.

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  • 01
    "Choking back my tears and said it was fine and that it was old anyway"
    via prostock-studio

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

  • Now who is responsible for the unfortunate spillage?
    The EMS worker, caught in a high-paced emergency with limited time to critically consider their laptop placement or their co-workers, innocently enjoying their lunch while accidentally knocking over a glass of water that could alter the course of the office tension forever…

  • 02

    AITAH if I ask my supervisor to talk to a coworker about compensating me for breaking my laptop?

    Context, I 22F work in EMS. Today I had left my laptop on the table in our main office room to go on a 4 hour transport. This table is in
    via SkyC00kiez
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    the kitchen area so it's common people eat and drink there, though I did have my laptop tucked away towards the back
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    with my binder on top of it. When I came back to quarters to pack up my stuff and leave for the day, one of the medics said "hey OP
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    we had a little accident and some water got spilt on your computer, they (the coworkers who spilt the water) said only a few drops got
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    on it and that they wiped it up" this medic wasn't even present when it happened so I can't fault him, but I'm actually grateful he
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    spoke up. The two women who did it were sitting at the table not speaking. I was stunned and just said "uhm okay I hope it's alright"
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    and joked that the laptop is more than my mortgage is, given it's a gaming laptop with upgrades- on my way to the bathroom. When I
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    came back I plugged it in and saw that the entire fan area was wet, the charger and charging port
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    was soaked, and underneath my binder still had water on it. At first the keyboard lit up and then everything d d. No lights, no
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    noise, not even the light showing it was charging. I sat there for a while hoping maybe it was just
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    de d, but nothing. One of the girls during this said "next time just don't leave your stuff out cus people eat and drink here you
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    Cheezburger Image 10514809088
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    know" and yes, it is completely on me for leaving it out especially for how expensive it is, even if not for getting spilled on, for theft too. A
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    few minutes later she asked if it worked and I said no, it was shot and not turning on at all. She seemed stunned and I tossed
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    everything in my backpack, threw it on choking back my tears and said it was fine and that it was old anyway; then turned my
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    equipment in and left. I've been balling my eyes out the whole way home and torn on what to do or say. All of my stuff is on there
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    and it was my main source of getting my college work done and charting. It was also a gift that I've tried my best to take care of. As
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    much as yes, I do mutually own a house with a friend, I can't afford a new laptop or to fix this. Especially not in time for the fall
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    semester coming up, and I'm not sure how to get all my documents and even memories back from this laptop. I'm not upset at the
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    accident so much as I am utterly devastated by the lack of honesty. When they got questioned by the other coworker they said only a
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    "few drops" got on it. But this is not a few drops. A full cup had to have spilt on it. If I had come in and they said "hey OP, we fixed
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    up" I wouldn't be as upset. Devastated and unsure of what to do, yes. But I'm livid. I've been very generous in helping, paying
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    for things for these people, etc. and I couldn't even get an honest explanation. My friend says I should tell my supervisor but I
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    don't think that would do much, nor do I want to cause an issue. And again, it is on me for leaving
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    it out even if I had to leave urgently. So would I be the AH if I said something to a sup?
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  • 27
    Mountain-Customer-21 NTAH. You should say something. Their response was passive aggressive not to mention immature. Staying silent empowers the disrespect. You might want to start by asking if there's a way to recover via tech support or if your job has repair/restoration coverage.
    via Mountain-Customer-21
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    SkyC00kiez OP Thank you for this, i definitely am not distraught at the reaction than anything. I get accidents happen but to talk down to me about it sours any acceptance I could've had
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    Rawrohsaur You would be TA. This was an accident and it's completely on you for leaving your laptop on a tabletop that serves as the communal eating area.
    via Rawrohsaur

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terrible coworkers hero feud workplace-stories toxic-workplace drama medic work coworkers co-workers Office computer Case Of The Mondays in the workplace
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