Employee faces a 3-day suspension after eating one blueberry at work: ‘My coworkers do it constantly’

Author image for Cata Holmes
Cata Holmes • Writer
Aug 3, 2026 6:30 PM EDT

One impulsive snack turned an ordinary shift into a meeting with management.

After a long day of fasting, one employee ate a single blueberry while closing the fruit station at work: just as their manager walked by. What followed was a write-up, a three-day suspension, and a meeting with management. Although the suspension was later put on hold, the worker now fears the incident could end with them losing their job.

I'm sorry, but this story sounds crazy to me. I've read a lot of pieces where people complain about receiving different treatment from their coworkers, getting blamed for things they didn't do, and things like that. Now, I've never come across a story about an employee that get's a three-day suspension for eating a blueberry off the floor.

It's not that disgusting: the employee accidentally dropped the blueberry, and since they were closing the store and finishing the shift, she didn't think much of it and put it in her mouth. I hope she did think it through because the manager saw this and was out of their mind and decided to suspend the employee for this hysterical and radical action!

And the worst of this whole invented mess is that the coworkers do this all the time. The difference is that the manager is not watching at this exact moment, so that's why they didn't get suspended right this moment. But that's not what I found to be the most disturbing thing: the thing that bothers me is that this is all because of a blueberry? I cannot get my head around this problem, really.

I really hope this employee can find a solution and really talk to the manager about this issue. It really cannot be a three-day suspension for the smallest piece of fruit that was already on the floor, so it's not like they were going to be offering that exact blueberry. I just cannot understand it… even writing these words feels funny and unbelievable.

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  • Retail worker arranging fresh fruit in a supermarket produce section.
    via Unsplash+ (via Getty Images)

    Retail worker arranging fresh fruit in a supermarket produce section.

    The person pictured is a model.

  • Was at work last night, closing down our fruit and salad station. I'd been fasting all day, really hungry, and ended up tossing a blueberry in my mouth. I was gonna throw it out anyway cause I'd dropped a few into the strawberry container, not a big deal.
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  • Only my manager was walking around the corner and saw me...now I've got a write up, 3-day suspension, and a meeting with our managers.
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  • I guess understand why I got the write up, but I can't help but laugh that all this is over a blueberry. Also kinda nervous for that meeting though cause I'm not the best with confrontation Luckily I plan on putting in my 2-weeks in the next month or so, so I won't have to deal with management anymore.
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  • I hate thinking "My coworkers do it constantly, but I'm the one that got in trouble?", because the difference is that I got caught. Such poor timing, smh
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  • Edit: So I met with my two managers this afternoon, and they essentially told me I didn't have to serve my suspension, but would just talk to the owner on Monday. Considering I don't work weekends, they had no reason to give me the suspension, which makes me feel like I'm getting fired.
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  • I also want to add that I've had no infractions or issues other than forgetting to complete my checklist a couple weeks into the job, and that was 6 months ago. I don't think I was in the right, but I just hope this
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  • doesn't affect future employment if I do get fired. It also sks that I might have to leave when I have such good relationships with everyone, and now they'll all think I'm a thief when I had just made a mindless mistake.
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  • Fresh blueberries on display.
    via Unsplash+ (via Jeremy Ricketts)

    Fresh blueberries on display.

    The blueberries shown are used for illustrative purposes only.

  • The comments section spoke my mind since nobody could understand how this crazy thing happened. Most of them are eager to see how this whole thing unfolds, but for the time being, they were all astonished.

  • Weird7954 That's crazy over blueberry
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  • agmj522 A three day suspension might mean youre getting termed. Ive never suspended an employee for 3 days without terming them. Those 3 day suspensions give management time to order your check and get your paperwork in order. If you get termed, drop your company name in my DMs or on this thread. If its a national chain, Ill never eat there again if you get termed over a blueberry.
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  • Nebula_OG Truly flabbergasted by how many people are saying you deserve to be punished for eating a single blueberry while closing. A simple "hey don't do that" is more than good enough.
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  • Shelley_n_cheese I've worked in multiple restaurants and have always been allowed to eat whatever as long as you are a cook
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  • ConsciousProblem8638 It blows my mind how grown a adults are treated like literal children at their grown a adult jobs.
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  • snowflake89181922 Years ago I worked for a supermarket chain and a guy lost his job/pension for eating a cookie out of a package that his grocery knife accidentally cut through. I'll never look at a marshmallow pinwheel the same. So stupid on both sides but ugh...it was going in the trash (vs having to send it back as "proof" the package was accidentally damaged).
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  • Millimede Ignore the bootlickers on here who think you need to be suspended for a blueberry. I can't imagine doing that to one of my employees. If I worked in food service again I wouldn't care if they ate things that were going in the trash. In fact, have at it.
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  • Grocery store employee stocking and handling fresh produce.
    via Unsplash+ (via Getty Images)

    Grocery store employee stocking and handling fresh produce.

    This image is a generic illustration of grocery store work and is not related to the employee described in this story.

  • Blushiba You'd think 1st strikes would carry a warning....
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  • Kinky_Creeper Iv never signed a wright up, got outta the game along time ago but miss the shocked look when I'd say no thank you to a paper confirming if I was guilty or not.
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  • Quiet Riot5150 I would bring a big a_container of blueberries to the meeting. Be like "Here, I didn't know it was such a big deal. So here's a box of them. I'll never eat another one of your precious blueberries again." Then dump them all over the floor and quit.
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  • Ok_Neighborhood_470 I'd suggest not fasting and eat something at lunchtime so you won't be tempted to do this. It seems ridiculous they make such a big deal about something like this but I also see why it's necessary.
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blueberries toxic-manager employee suspenders
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