I apparently stole someone's else lunch

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Throwaway account for obvious reasons. This is a North American culture company, should this matter at all with the question.



I've been working there for 5 years now, and i maintain very good relationship with my colleagues, both within my department and the company's branch.



Last week, we had people come over to follow some professional courses (like we usually do every few weeks). When there is a group of 10+ persons, our company usually contract a caterer for the lunch included in the service.



In the past, we had food to bring back home from these caterers, because they order more plates than the number of guests. They stack those in the "public" fridges for anyone else to grab, or leave the non-perishable food on the cafeteria's counters. We also have public jelly and peanut butters jar for everyone. We share ketchup, mustard... basically everything. I always thought that if i left something in the fridge and there were no labels on it to not touch it, it was for everyone else's uses.



Now to go back to what happened... Apparently i stole someone's else lunch.
While i was pouring a cup of coffee last week by said fridge, another employee came to me (while opening the fridge) and said something among the lines of "look at those (2) plates over there (talking about the caterers' plates). They've been there for 2 days. They seem really good!".



I guess my mind was stupid enough to bypass whatever logical step there was to the situation, but i went straight to "Damn, it'd be a shame if they were to go to waste. Since there are no stickers on it, i guess i'll grab them. I usually don't take anything from the leftovers, so now's my turn!". So i took both plates and went on my merry way.



Fast forward to this week, the company sent an internal email because they received complaints of people getting their lunch stolen from the fridge. They said some generic stuff as a warning, and then specifically mentioned that caterer's boxes are not to be taken from the fridge because they can be reserved to someone else.



Having said all that... I feel REALLY bad. Like astronomically bad. Obviously the culprit in this email is me. I'm such an idiot.



I am not someone who'd steal something at all. I really had no ill intentions when picking those "leftovers" (in my mind) and would gladly give them back if i could.



I'm torn on what i should do. I really want to come forward and say something among the lines of "I'm really sorry, i meant no ill intention, it was all a mistake and i can even offer to pay back the caterer's fee if you want.", since i'm a very honest person.



But i've talked about this to several people outside my job and all of them told me to basically "shut the hell up about it and to not mention it. They don't know who did it, learn about your mistakes and never do it again".



What would be the correct way to approach things from your perspective?



Thank you very much.









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    Throwaway account for obvious reasons. This is a North American culture company, should this matter at all with the question.



    I've been working there for 5 years now, and i maintain very good relationship with my colleagues, both within my department and the company's branch.



    Last week, we had people come over to follow some professional courses (like we usually do every few weeks). When there is a group of 10+ persons, our company usually contract a caterer for the lunch included in the service.



    In the past, we had food to bring back home from these caterers, because they order more plates than the number of guests. They stack those in the "public" fridges for anyone else to grab, or leave the non-perishable food on the cafeteria's counters. We also have public jelly and peanut butters jar for everyone. We share ketchup, mustard... basically everything. I always thought that if i left something in the fridge and there were no labels on it to not touch it, it was for everyone else's uses.



    Now to go back to what happened... Apparently i stole someone's else lunch.
    While i was pouring a cup of coffee last week by said fridge, another employee came to me (while opening the fridge) and said something among the lines of "look at those (2) plates over there (talking about the caterers' plates). They've been there for 2 days. They seem really good!".



    I guess my mind was stupid enough to bypass whatever logical step there was to the situation, but i went straight to "Damn, it'd be a shame if they were to go to waste. Since there are no stickers on it, i guess i'll grab them. I usually don't take anything from the leftovers, so now's my turn!". So i took both plates and went on my merry way.



    Fast forward to this week, the company sent an internal email because they received complaints of people getting their lunch stolen from the fridge. They said some generic stuff as a warning, and then specifically mentioned that caterer's boxes are not to be taken from the fridge because they can be reserved to someone else.



    Having said all that... I feel REALLY bad. Like astronomically bad. Obviously the culprit in this email is me. I'm such an idiot.



    I am not someone who'd steal something at all. I really had no ill intentions when picking those "leftovers" (in my mind) and would gladly give them back if i could.



    I'm torn on what i should do. I really want to come forward and say something among the lines of "I'm really sorry, i meant no ill intention, it was all a mistake and i can even offer to pay back the caterer's fee if you want.", since i'm a very honest person.



    But i've talked about this to several people outside my job and all of them told me to basically "shut the hell up about it and to not mention it. They don't know who did it, learn about your mistakes and never do it again".



    What would be the correct way to approach things from your perspective?



    Thank you very much.









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      down vote

      favorite











      Throwaway account for obvious reasons. This is a North American culture company, should this matter at all with the question.



      I've been working there for 5 years now, and i maintain very good relationship with my colleagues, both within my department and the company's branch.



      Last week, we had people come over to follow some professional courses (like we usually do every few weeks). When there is a group of 10+ persons, our company usually contract a caterer for the lunch included in the service.



      In the past, we had food to bring back home from these caterers, because they order more plates than the number of guests. They stack those in the "public" fridges for anyone else to grab, or leave the non-perishable food on the cafeteria's counters. We also have public jelly and peanut butters jar for everyone. We share ketchup, mustard... basically everything. I always thought that if i left something in the fridge and there were no labels on it to not touch it, it was for everyone else's uses.



      Now to go back to what happened... Apparently i stole someone's else lunch.
      While i was pouring a cup of coffee last week by said fridge, another employee came to me (while opening the fridge) and said something among the lines of "look at those (2) plates over there (talking about the caterers' plates). They've been there for 2 days. They seem really good!".



      I guess my mind was stupid enough to bypass whatever logical step there was to the situation, but i went straight to "Damn, it'd be a shame if they were to go to waste. Since there are no stickers on it, i guess i'll grab them. I usually don't take anything from the leftovers, so now's my turn!". So i took both plates and went on my merry way.



      Fast forward to this week, the company sent an internal email because they received complaints of people getting their lunch stolen from the fridge. They said some generic stuff as a warning, and then specifically mentioned that caterer's boxes are not to be taken from the fridge because they can be reserved to someone else.



      Having said all that... I feel REALLY bad. Like astronomically bad. Obviously the culprit in this email is me. I'm such an idiot.



      I am not someone who'd steal something at all. I really had no ill intentions when picking those "leftovers" (in my mind) and would gladly give them back if i could.



      I'm torn on what i should do. I really want to come forward and say something among the lines of "I'm really sorry, i meant no ill intention, it was all a mistake and i can even offer to pay back the caterer's fee if you want.", since i'm a very honest person.



      But i've talked about this to several people outside my job and all of them told me to basically "shut the hell up about it and to not mention it. They don't know who did it, learn about your mistakes and never do it again".



      What would be the correct way to approach things from your perspective?



      Thank you very much.









      share







      New contributor




      sd7fsjdf8878sd is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.











      Throwaway account for obvious reasons. This is a North American culture company, should this matter at all with the question.



      I've been working there for 5 years now, and i maintain very good relationship with my colleagues, both within my department and the company's branch.



      Last week, we had people come over to follow some professional courses (like we usually do every few weeks). When there is a group of 10+ persons, our company usually contract a caterer for the lunch included in the service.



      In the past, we had food to bring back home from these caterers, because they order more plates than the number of guests. They stack those in the "public" fridges for anyone else to grab, or leave the non-perishable food on the cafeteria's counters. We also have public jelly and peanut butters jar for everyone. We share ketchup, mustard... basically everything. I always thought that if i left something in the fridge and there were no labels on it to not touch it, it was for everyone else's uses.



      Now to go back to what happened... Apparently i stole someone's else lunch.
      While i was pouring a cup of coffee last week by said fridge, another employee came to me (while opening the fridge) and said something among the lines of "look at those (2) plates over there (talking about the caterers' plates). They've been there for 2 days. They seem really good!".



      I guess my mind was stupid enough to bypass whatever logical step there was to the situation, but i went straight to "Damn, it'd be a shame if they were to go to waste. Since there are no stickers on it, i guess i'll grab them. I usually don't take anything from the leftovers, so now's my turn!". So i took both plates and went on my merry way.



      Fast forward to this week, the company sent an internal email because they received complaints of people getting their lunch stolen from the fridge. They said some generic stuff as a warning, and then specifically mentioned that caterer's boxes are not to be taken from the fridge because they can be reserved to someone else.



      Having said all that... I feel REALLY bad. Like astronomically bad. Obviously the culprit in this email is me. I'm such an idiot.



      I am not someone who'd steal something at all. I really had no ill intentions when picking those "leftovers" (in my mind) and would gladly give them back if i could.



      I'm torn on what i should do. I really want to come forward and say something among the lines of "I'm really sorry, i meant no ill intention, it was all a mistake and i can even offer to pay back the caterer's fee if you want.", since i'm a very honest person.



      But i've talked about this to several people outside my job and all of them told me to basically "shut the hell up about it and to not mention it. They don't know who did it, learn about your mistakes and never do it again".



      What would be the correct way to approach things from your perspective?



      Thank you very much.







      software-industry company-policy training lunch





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