Employee calls his 45-year-old homeless coworker uncivilized for bringing spoiled food into the store: 'Bathroom sink is full of food debris, and it smells.'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Jun 19, 2026 7:45 AM EDT

Was he out of line for saying that? 

The majority of businesses don't hire homeless people. They don't trust that they can show up to work on time and maintain good hygiene, especially in customer-facing roles. While many businesses think they don't hire homeless people, they actually do. Their homeless employees are just incredibly skilled at hiding the fact that they are homeless. They shower at the gym every day, couch surf between friends, sleep in their cars, and do whatever they have to do to survive day-to-day. A homeless person who has a network of people who can help them go through life without being identified as homeless at first glance is going to do a lot better in the workforce than someone who hasn't been able to shower for two months and only has shoes that are falling off their feet. 

The man in this story likely falls more into the second camp. His bosses knew he was homeless before he was hired, and his food insecurity is becoming a problem in the office. He brings in food from food banks, throws away half of it, and doesn't properly dispose of the half he doesn't eat. That leaves the break room and bathroom disgusting, and one of his coworkers was fed up with having to clean up after his mess. 

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  • อ NA SEDZENIE LEKI UBRANIA SARDZ DUDE!!!
    via Anna Krylova

    A model representing a homeless man who recently got a new job at a store he hopes will turn his life around. 

  • Am I the bad guy for telling my homeless coworker he's uncivilized?

    I (29m) work at a retail phone store, we recently hired one of our friendly regulars (45m) who happens to be homeless.
    via u/Legitimate_Bank_6573
  • He's a nice guy and a friend of the store so we were happy to help. Problem is, every morning he goes and gets food donations from local
    via u/Legitimate_Bank_6573
  • churches/shelters, he then brings several boxes of this food to the store, decides what he wants to keep and dumps the rest in the store trash.
    via u/Legitimate_Bank_6573
  • Cadbury AIRY MILK Leg H "шен бат FRUIT Fruit DEA Fruit από 2 Gravox Traditional Gravy 700g e ERVES Christina ДЭН БО 00 Mince Pies en BIG CRU TE EVE FARTIFICIAL COL Cera
    via Nico Smit

    Bags of food donations from a local food bank, which gives food to homeless and food-insecure people who don't know where their next meal will come from.

  • So now our trash can is full of food debris, and we already had a roach problem which has become much worse. As well he treats our back room like a kitchen,
    via u/Legitimate_Bank_6573
  • cooking full meals in there, storing food and washing dishes in the bathroom. Bathroom sink is full of food debris and clogged,
    via u/Legitimate_Bank_6573
  • store trash is completely full of spoiled food and it smells. I asked him today if he could please clean up before he left (as if he doesn't it's technically my problem since as the
    via u/Legitimate_Bank_6573
  • Cheezburger Image 10640429568
    via Eric Prouzet

    Rotted food that stinks up any room it's in, especially if it doesn't get cleaned up for a long time.

  • closer it's my job to clean the store before EOD). He cleaned.. somewhat, I went to look things over and there's still food debris everywhere,
    via u/Legitimate_Bank_6573
  • spoiled food in bags and our employee fridge is full of random groceries he was donated. I got upset and asked if he usually cleans up after himself. He said he usually doesn't
    via u/Legitimate_Bank_6573
  • have to. At which point, frustrated, I said "I understand you're homeless but that's no excuse to be so uncivilized".
    via u/Legitimate_Bank_6573
  • He didn't say anything after that on his way but I could tell I wounded him more than I intended. AITA?
    via u/Legitimate_Bank_6573
  • NO_N4M3_FOUND Throwing away the food left for others is uncivilized in its own right. He needed to hear it, and you need to tell your bosses about his behavior. NTA but you will be if you don't bring this to management's attention. Maybe don't mention that he's homeless next time, but you really didn't say anything wrong if everything you say about him is true.
    via u/NO_N4M3_FOUND
  • Quiet_Classroom_2948 NTA. He's taken over the place and is a firm believer in gender roles - you, as a young woman, get the honour of cleaning up after him. But you were harsh in your words, though. He probably has to be eased into being considerate and civil. But I dont get why he takes more food than he needs and trashes it. That's really awful, he's depriving other people of food they may need.
    via u/Quiet_Classroom_2948
  • affectionateanarchy8 Technically YTA however he is not caring for a common space and is in fact making it a lot worse so something needed to be said
    via u/affectionateanarchy8
  • mdglytt Nta, but to summarize his entire person with one word is unnecessary and potentially hurtful. He needs more guidance, patience, and advice. Help him become civilized. Be the change by helping him change.
    via u/mdglytt
  • aeslehcxo ESH. You made ar de comment. He's not cleaning up after himself. I would apologize for the comment but stand on business.
    via u/aeslehcxo

  • Who is in the right here? Would you talk to management about a coworker who's leaving a mess in the break room for the rest of the employees to clean up, or would you let it go because he's homeless and you don't want to jeopardize the chance he might turn his life around? 

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