Older coworker spends 3 months in job, puts name labels on all company property: 'She takes what I'm using while I'm still using it'

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  • Side view of an older woman wearing glasses sitting at a desk and working on a laptop
  • Entitled Older Coworker puts her name on everything...including the water…

    We have a new coworker who just started like 3 months ago and puts her name on everything.
  • We just realized that she put her name on the bottled cases of water that we keep FOR EVERYONE.
  • The kicker is that she can put her name on everything, but, takes what I'm using while I'm still using it and then gets mad when I hide both items from her so I can still use them.
  • Even my boss was like "Well she's the only one here right now so she's probably using both" Mind you it's the company's supplies.
  • Not hers. I'm seriously thinking of putting my name on the most absurd objects just to point out her ridiculous entitlement but I'm also worried that it could be seen as a hostile work environment.
  • And yes we've complained to multiple bosses about it.
  • Marker pens and name stickers sitting on a table
  • 9ScoreAnd 10Panties Stop playing her game. Handle it firmly and professionally. "Deborah, this water/item is for everyone. Kindly stop writing your name on it." "Deborah, I'm using this right now. I'll thank you to leave it till I'm done." "Deborah, you're welcome to label your own items. But you'll have to stop claiming shared items or we will have to escalate this. Do you understand?" Put your foot down.
  • Bikinigirlout Original Poster's Reply That's what I told her yesterday. She asked where the items where and I said "I'm using them both" But because she's very stuck in her ways, i confessed to my boss that i was hiding them in case she made a huge deal about it, but my boss lowkey took my side without me even knowing it. And I'm gonna continue hiding these items when it's just me.
  • weevillurv What kind of objects does she take while you are using them? If it was something quick-use like a stapler then I can understand but if it's anything more needed then maybe you should talk to her about it?
  • Bikinigirlout Original Poster's Reply It's something I need until the end of my shift, I don't care if people use them when I'm done, but to take it while I'm working is a whole other thing. It was a common courtesy to wait until we were done to take these items. And I've never had an issue with letting people use them IF THEY ASKED. I've had other coworkers need them and by the time they asked, I was done so it never bothered me to hand them off to the next person. Until she came along and she
  • Yikesish This sounds like "The Office"! i suppose you could glean tips from Jim. I think once your name is on everything, your name is on nothing. It's so ubiquitous that it is meaningless. So I'd ignore her name altogether and use whatever you want. I'd rip it right off cases of water for the office. Tell her directly, Maxine, it's for everyone. You're not the only one who gets thirsty.
  • Bikinigirlout Original Poster's Reply We're gonna send the picture to our boss as a "What the f" and hopefully this is the final straw between me having to hide stuff and putting names on water
  • defaultwisdom INFO: Is she putting her name on whole cases or individual bottles she put in the fridge?
  • Bikinigirlout Original Poster's Reply Partial whole cases, if that makes sense. Like they start out as whole cases but because everyone uses them, there's not many left. We've had water issues in our city so we've been keeping extra bottles in case we lose water again and that's what it's for. Not for her to hoard.
  • gadget850 Tell the boss he needs to buy stuff for you.
  • Bikinigirlout Original Poster's Reply I buy my own drinks, but, it's not fair for everyone else who possibly can't afford drinks.
  • DateNo3332 Sorry, but what does her being "older" have to do with it? If your agism is showing up in your complaints to management, then they will legally have to shut down the conversation.
  • Bikinigirlout Original Poster's Reply I don't point out that she's old when I complain about her taking items, however I do feel like that's why she sort of gets away with putting labels on everything though........
  • Wakemeup3000 I'm petty so I'd join that game. I'd be crossing out her name on the cases of water and writing EVERYBODY. I'd start labeling everything on my desk right down to the knobs on the drawers. Heck I'd even label every single item in my lunch daily. Those stick on labels are cheap so get a ton and put them to use. If you get called out about this then ask for the specific guideline in the company policies that you are breaking since this rule doesn't seem to apply to your new coworker. Y
  • blueswan6 Ask the managers if the company can start buying more water, etc because she has put her name on everything therefore there is nothing left for anyone else. See how they respond to that. Another option would be to talk to the person who delivers the supplies and ask if you or them can label water, etc as "For All Staff" or "Shared Water" before it's delivered to your office. But it does sound like this could be a sensitive situation, so it's best to tread carefully and stay professiona
  • RumBunBun I guess I'm not one to beat around the bush or play games. I'd confront her, in a matter-of-fact, stern but friendly-ish way, in front of others. "Marge, why are you putting your name on the bottled water? You realize the company bought it for everyone to share, right?" "Marge, I had the paper cutter on my desk for a reason. If you need to use it before I'm finished with the Smith project, just ask, but it's not cool to just swipe stuff off my desk." If you have department meetings, yo
  • AtmospherePrior 752 Just ignore it and if she cops an attitude ask her to show you the receipt that she owns and paid for supplies. If she can't, kindly explain it's company y property and move on. Treating this like an insignificant and silly nonissue may make her feel stupid enough to stop.

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