Poisoning Coworker

I will try to make this as short as possible but then answer any questions that require clarification.

Background
Started working a middle sized company(accounting , tax, property ). I tend to be a the run around guy.Its mainly women here who are not the best at some of the manual office tasks, eg lifting heavy stuff, a bit of pest control such as rat poison and driving company car( no one can drive the manual car).

We have this annoying coworker who is a busy body and will micro manage work that is outside of her scope and role. she often comes to my desk and looks over my work , even when im not there.really annoying person . She reported me to my manager for not being able to find a file.(it was in the storage records area being scanned). She does this just to seem relevant and important and i am sick of it.

Incident.
So being the office handyman i was asked by my manager to take the company car and card to get some pest control products for the mice in the downstairs garage area and to pick up some food platters. I picked up my lunch along the way from a sandwich deli shop.

I came back and put the platters in the fridge, put my lunch(deli food platter) on my desk and went downstairs to give the foreman the mice bait.

When i came back the coworker was in hysterics claiming that i was poisoning her because she apparently she had come to my desk to check my work and ate a part of my lunch . The idiot is allergic to something and had mistake my lunch for the staff lunch in the fridge and had some. Her face was red and didnt look well.

She was led away by the first aid officers. she had to take an insulin shot or something.

The manager wants me to write some incident report about her accusation of poisoning her.

Did i do anything wrong here ?
should i get some legal advice ?

Update
Ive had some relationship problems recently so i wasnt here that much but that story is for another time.

Workwise i completed in incident report .
HR was concerned that the food and rat poison got mixed up but assured them that i had the bunnings stuff in the boot and food in the front and didnt handle them together.

coworker had to go hospital for the food allergy her face was ugly af the next day so she looked her standard. she is ok now no injuries suffered , turns out she was allergic to some nut products that was in my platter.

However they said that this will be recorded for WHS reasons which i had no objection to because my contract only has a few months left on it.

i did bring up that she micro manages me and that should not have eaten my food , HR agreed and put aside 30 dollars for my lose.

yeah i also do eat deli platters because they are tasty and when type i can use one hand .

thanks again for all the help and support everyone.

Comments

  • +1

    She can write the report

  • +3

    Most importantly, what ever happened with the hot blonde girlfriend who you were intimate with each night? Did she actually get pregnant intentionally to steal your inheritance? Was this the same girlfriend who (potentially) some years earlier had her old and infirm cat frozen accidentally? Was it ever determined if the cat passed naturally or with the assistance of the freezer.

    • lol

  • Copy paste what you have just posted as your report.
    Recommend for occupational health and safety reason that dear work colleague don't eat your lunch when it's not properly heated.

  • +18

    Here is your incident report from your point of view on the day. Keep it brief and dot points.

    • I ran errands in the car as requested by my manager
    • I returned to the workplace and put my lunch on my desk
    • I was away from my desk for a period of time
    • I came back to my desk to find part of my lunch eaten by another coworker without permission
    • She didn't look well and had to be treated by first-aiders
    • She then accused me of poisoning her
    • I was then ordered to write up an incident report.

    No need to put in any explanations, assumptions or guesses. Just keep it factual and from your point of view. Exclude anything you heard later on from other people's points of view.

    • +2

      Wish I'd read your response first. Wouldn't have bothered with mine.

      Am amazed that so few people understand how to write up an incident report.

  • +1

    This is not legal advice and I am not a lawyer.

    An incident report should be short and factual. Stick to the relevant facts. What happened and what you saw and heard as you saw and heard it.

    Unless you get the requirement in writing, it shouldn't include:
    - History of her doing whatever to you, your puppy dog and your loved ones.
    - How you feel about her, the incident or anything else.
    - Irrelevant facts (possibly such as the nature of your errand). Do not lie about having been out doing pest control but only mention it if it's relevant.
    - Your supposition of her motives for behaving this way.

    Something along the lines:
    I left my lunch <where you left it and was it labelled?>. I was returning from an errand when I returned to my desk. <Colleague blah> then said "blah blah blah (about eating your lunch)". <Colleague blah> was treated by <blah> from <blah department> with an injection and then taken away. I had not given <colleague blah> permission to eat my lunch. To the best of my knowledge the food was safe and edible. I <was/was not> aware of <colleague blah's> medical issues.

  • OP eats sandwiches with vegemite and rat poison?

  • +4

    lolz.

    Colleague is a grown adult and should be aware of her own food allergies. Children are taught not to share food at primary school level now - you'd think she would know better.

    As a result of the colleague eating my lunch I suffered significant distress at this act of bullying and will be making a claim against her for not having lunch on that day.

  • +2

    If you are in a union you should contact them and ask for legal assistance with this matter.

  • I agree you should report her stealing. Who in the right mind will eat someone elses food in the office. You should also report her not only to the companys hr but to your boss as well.

  • +3

    Write the report explaining what happened. In the remediation section suggest that the co-worker reimburses you for the stolen lunch. For preventative measures, suggest that the co-worker not be allowed within 3 metres of your desk to avoid further incidents.

  • +1

    Was the platter sealed in cling wrap when you left it on your desk or had you opened it in preparation to be eaten?

    • +1

      It doesn't matter, it was on his desk. Any food on anyone's desk is their property. Unless they stated to the whole office or person they can have some.

      Who goes around eating food from other peoples desk?

      • +1

        Oh I agree, was just curious to see if it was still wrapped which makes it even worse.

        • +1

          True, if it was wrapped and she unwrapped it and ate it, I would have lost it.

          It's bad enough, office workers eat other peoples food when in the fridge but from someone else's desk!

  • +2

    Jesus this sounds too familiar. Is her name Jo?

  • On which side is your manager?

    • It does not matter and nor should they anyway. If they were to take "sides" then that would simply be unprofessional. They have to stick to the facts and treat the incident in dot point style. Two sentences on a report; what he did, what she did followed by what action they take to avoid this sceanario in the future.

  • +1

    She doesn't want to take responsibility for her own poor judgement and is trying to redirect blame onto you. Don't accept the blame when it's not your fault.

  • +2

    So you're saying, you left food on YOUR desk, she came around your desk and thought it's her lunch, took a bite and went into septic shock?

    Well, no need to write anything else, she's got no-one to blame but herself

  • +1

    Click Bait title !!! I was looking forward to an murderous scheme being first discussed on OzBargain !!!

  • +1

    Write a report:

    I was working and had my lunch at my desk.

    She claimed to have come to my desk and stolen my food while I was not there.

    I Would like to report her for theft of my food.

    Also say that she is harassing you by going through your desk while you are not at it.

    Don't even mention the "Poisoning" as thats totally on her.

  • +2

    She's overreacting because she just got busted being little miss piggy and going and eating 'everyones' lunch before she was supposed to.

    Seriously - if it were a team lunch, you should eat it all together, at the same time.

    As someone who would also sneak an early muffin from the team platter, trust me, I know. You're supposed to wait around the platter like seagulls for a while, until someone brave enough comes around to peel back the glad wrap, and then it's on for young and old.

    Stressful situation for you although I think everyone deep down will know who is in the wrong here (and it's not you).

    Question - if it was a team lunch thing, why did you buy your own?

    • What CaptKirk didn't tell you is the other platters actually did have rat poison on them.
      His own lunch was to protect himself, but the co-worker foiled his plan by getting sick before he could poison the whole office!

  • find the receipt for the meal, and note everything that is in the platter.
    that way they can help identify what the reaction was from, and not from planting rat poison in it.

  • A lot of drama in OPs workplaces. I think maybe OP embellishes these stories somewhat.

  • Seek proper legal advices, not trolls. Take this matter very seriously since the lady accuse you for poisoning/ possibly murder attempt.
    Contact free legal aids first and go from there.

    • Legal aid might give basic information but will not help a working individual as they are their to provide assistance to those on low income. Perhaps a union rep if you are part of a union? I think the whole issue can be treated like she is "a crazy" unless the police somehow get involved. If you didn't poison her (as you have stated), there will be no proof that you did and they'll have nothing to follow up on.

      • That is a misconception you have, legal aids helps everyone. You can talk to them on the phone. There are areas they will be specialised in helping and some not, but they can advise you the right direction.
        Union can not help you with this. You are not being mistreated at work.
        Take the accusation very seriously. Cos you might go to jail for trying to murder someone.

        • You do know that it's not Guantanamo Bay, and he would need to be proven beyond all doubt to have attempted to murder her yeah? Hard to prove if he just left his lunch on the desk. If he is being unfairly targeted at work for this unproved accusation, then yes a union should help. Legal aid has provided me with little here in Vic previously, but it may be what you have said - that what I was after was a specialist area. Once they hear it's a workplace issue, its usually out of their expertise. I have had some experience in similar baseless accusations, and I simply asked them to prove I am responsible rather that waste my time with accusations and questions. Here we are, years later and nothing ever came of it.

  • Haha oh wow. She eats your lunch, experiences an allergic reaction and blames you for poisoning her.

    She's a keeper ;)

    An employee of the month right there!
    Give her a free cake.

    • Give her a free cake.

      The cake is a lie.

      • +6

        Can I get $5 back then??

  • +1

    This is where Jerry Seinfeld gets his ideas from.

  • So what happened?

  • People suck. Don't worry, you'll get her next time!

  • +3

    That rat problem that you have, have you ever seen rat and coworker both at the same time? Think maybe one and the same person.

    • +2

      Suggest to the boss to fix the problem of whatever food-supply is supporting the constant supply of rats. Rats gotta eat, if there's no food, there'll be no rats. Feed em, then poison them, this costs company money, risks being seen as mean, is cruel, and dead rats are a health risk, as is rat poison.

      Imagine if you had left some rat poison on your desk and she'd consumed it somehow, there'd be a lot more trouble going down than there is right now

  • I would put nuts this time on my desk and write “Gina, Don’t steal my food”

  • you should deny it..then poison her anyway.

  • +1

    I don't see what your report on the incident can possibly include apart from that your lunch was on your desk and it has since been alleged somebody took food off your plate.

    Nothing else is relevant, and I'd try to keep any emotion or dislike of your co-worker out of the report.

  • should have poisoned the bitch

    • Get fired and go to jail for murder over a co-worker being a b**ch and a plate of food? Not the best advice I have heard.

  • +1

    Honestly you have to put a complaint in for her stealing your food. Her claims of poisoning have forced your hand and tell your manager so. Also put a complaint in for harassment and bullying while you are at it. Her eating your food while at your desk kinda cements that as well.

    • Think the woman will be hanging herself in this process. I do agree with your sentiment entitely, but others suggest a milder approach more professional and "winning." Any reproach by the woman after the meeting can definitely be logged as evidence of bullying, and will probably be her undoing.

      • +2

        This is the professional approach. She has claimed something that is not only an instant dissmissable offence but a crime.

        He needs to make the complaint for his own sake.

        • He may be able to drop hints at her past behaviour at the meeting (say he has never invited her to take his food … etc.) but I do think she will be the one squirming. Being unemotional, but clearly unimpressed, at the meeting should give him more credit than he probably realises. The manager may even ask him leading questions, which will give him perfect opportunities to respond. Trouble causers in an office rarely go unnoticed by management; they see more than they would let on. I expect the woman to bear total blame for this incident in the end; there simply was no valid reason, no invite, to touch his food. He has been given the opportunity to simply set the record straight as it were, and should be keen to do so.

          I'd be very reluctant to touch someone else's stapler, in an office, without asking first. Would love to hear the result of this too.

        • @JediJan:

          It doesnt matter the fact is she brought up poisoning and they are bringing up a written incident about that.

          He needs to have a written incident brought up about her stealing lunch because of it. Its just covering his arse.

          Doesnt matter how much she looks like an idiot in the meeting when the paper trial only says OP possibly poisoned her.

          So the stealing of lunch part is to make damn sure they know you had no intention of giving her that lunch and its documented.

          The bullying and harrassment is because that is exactly what she is doing.

        • -1

          @kasp:
          We do seem to be in agreement here. Passive aggressive, it may be called, but he only has to state he gave her no reason, no invite (esp no history of offering her food, to touch his lunch; she helped herself without asking. His report really only needs two lines; one saying what he did and the other what he saw happened after. Yes, I'd ask for full payment of his lunch too; she ruined his meal.

          If she actually used the word "poisoned" then he can take her for slander, and also the aggravation. If she said so, seriously, then the Police should have been notified and a copy of an incident report filed.

          Once the meeting affirms he did nothing wrong, then her just bringing the matter up again, is harassment. OP does not have anything to worry about, but much much to gain, by telling it exactly as it is.

        • @JediJan:

          Yes but my entire point is he has to make it now. God knows why management thought it was a good idea to make an official incident out of itor even suggest it but you never know maybe she decided to make an official complaint.

          However that has happened and well now it's a covering your arse situation now.

        • -1

          @kasp:
          Management is doing the right thing by following through with the incident report; their hands are tied really. If they had not very real and even far more serious problems for them as a result. Imagine the repercussion for them if they had not and another similar occurence happened.

        • @JediJan:

          If an official complaint was made of course they do.

          If it was just her flailing around BS then they shot themselves in the foot.

        • @kasp:
          Company does not have the right to determine if her flailing around is BS or not. Have to take the complaint seriously. They have to be seen to be making proactive decisions as duty of care, OH & S. Most workplace accidents have more than one thing to blame. Meeting is determine the primary fault and what measures will be taken to prevent a similar reoccurence (that can even be a staff meeting on procedures). If proven to be BS then they have grounds for disciplinary action; fraud is still fraud. She will have to provide medical documentary evidence; if not why not.

  • +3

    Plot twist: He actually put rat poison in the food because he knew she wouldn't be able to resist the temptation of eating his food.

    I've seen way too many thrillers and can vouch for my own detective skills based solely on how many I've seen.

  • This has probably already been said. But a true allergy, which is what it sounds like she had, is not the same as poisoning. Even if it was the company platter that she ate from. Poison doesn't manifest quite that quickly, or in that manner.

    Unless she ate from the platter that specifically said "nut free etc." and it wasn't actually nut free, then it was either your fault (you switched the platters around) or the fault of the deli (unsafe allergy practices).

    This has nothing to do with rat poison. No one was poisoned.

  • Does your coworker happen to be a feminist?

    • How's that relevant?

      • -1

        I think VBO is referring to third-wave feminism. Those feminists are generally batshit crazzzy.

  • +2

    Thanks OP, this whole ordeal provided me with a giggle and i was feeling pretty down beforehand so please keep up the good work ;)

  • Nice work CaptKirk, I enjoyed the reading. Especially the part where they send you to get the mice poison. Can you do one with more explicit themes next time? Office affair etc?

  • I would bring in some CSIs. Throw some powder around, a few black lights and some photos, later maybe some phone hacking and then get them to do you up a report. Use report to lodge civil suit relating to false accusations and defamation. Never work again!

    Then write a book.

  • It should be a win win situation, Consult a specialist anyways. How would you possibly know what she's allergic to

  • +2

    Co-worker ate your lunch should equal co worker being told to f-off. She had no business being at your desk or touching your stuff. She should also reimburse you the cost of your lunch.

  • +1

    teach her a lesson, she should not be eating off your desk at all, write the indecent report, co-worker stole food off my desk that was not her's, nor the company's and was bad to assume it was the companies, add to the report she constantly comes near the desk, causing a hazards to your work environment, also get the company to make her reimburse you for stolen property. if all goes well she will leave you alone and be under constant super vision, so if she bothers you again, she will be gone

    • Love this and totally agree. I feel sure the manager sees things the very same way, just following procedures. I have read "indecent" report (in lieu of "incident") with a grin each time.

  • +3

    Sounds like a poisonous work environment, Get the Hell outta there!

  • +1

    Any status updates?

    Did she live in the end?

    • Yes.. this is turning into another post without an end.. similiar to the cake post

      • +3

        she is alive and well.

        i have been put on leave with pay till monday. ill let everyone know what happens next week. very stressful time

        what is the cake post ?

        • +1

          Why have they put you on leave?
          Seems pretty open and shut that she’s at fault.

        • @Baysew: god damm that was stupid

        • +1

          That's insane! I'm sure it'll work out for you.

          Do you think there is any chance people somehow thought you did this deliberately?

          Either way, maybe it's a signal to get a job elsewhere, what a cooky place this seems to be. They can learn manual themselves.

        • Very sorry to hear this.

          Please make sure you are familiar with unfair dismissal laws, in case they attempt to dismiss you, in particular s385 and s387 of the fair work act.

          Would also recomend documenting as much as possible. Did u keep the leftover lunch?

          Best of luck amd hope it works out ok.

        • @CaptKirk:

          god damm that was stupid

          Your post and that post filed under "Stuff I miss about working in an office".

  • +5

    This is hilarious. You bought yourself your own lunch, and she had the audacity to eat YOUR lunch from your own desk, then blames you for poising her. What a joke! Haha! How about, don't eat other people's food, especially when you have allergies to certain foods! OMG! How dumb! What a joke!

  • Maybe she wants your rooster…

  • To make incident reports is a normal process, the companies I've worked for usually do that. It's for their records/ investigation because she complained. Most likely they will ask her to do one as well.

    Just write what happened. Also, you should mention the previous incidents and that you feel bullied.

    She took and ate your food without your consent, completely disregarding her allergies. No way they can blame you.

  • +1

    Man… I need to see a picture of this platter and a picture of your lunch. I cannot image why some one can mistaken 1 portion of food vs a platter with many portion.

  • +1

    OP, I am sorry to hear this. But got to admit, from a third person point of view, this is quite amusing because she is quite……. special.

    It was on your desk, it was your food, she had NO right to touch it.

    It's just common sense if; lets say for example; you got the lunch platter and you put it on your desk for whatever reason, you had to go quickly give someone a file you forgot, its still common sense for anyone NOT to touch the food unless the managers or yourself say: "hey the food platter is on my or john doe's desk, help yourself".

    I would never touch anything on anyone's desk: staples, pens, chair etc unless I ask or been given the ok to use or eat.

    Conclusion;
    It's her own fault, you should report her for stealing and micromanaging.

    Do you have cameras? Tell HR to look at the footage.

  • +2

    Op what’s the update on this? Stop keeping us in suspense!

  • +6

    Back at work

    Update
    Ive had some relationship problems recently so i wasnt here that much but that story is for another time.

    Workwise i completed in incident report .
    HR was concerned that the food and rat poison got mixed up but assured them that i had the bunnings stuff in the boot and food in the front and didnt handle them together.

    coworker had to go hospital for the food allergy her face was ugly af the next day so she looked her standard. she is ok now no injuries suffered , turns out she was allergic to some nut products that was in my platter.

    However they said that this will be recorded for WHS reasons which i had no objection to because my contract only has a few months left on it.

    i did bring up that she micro manages me and that should not have eaten my food , HR agreed and put aside 30 dollars for my lose.

    yeah i also do eat deli platters because they are tasty and when type i can use one hand .

    thanks again for all the help and support everyone.

    • +4

      |her face was ugly af the next day so she looked her standard

      Savage lol.

    • +1

      Well done! Thank you for getting back to us. They paid you as it was quite obvious it was not your fault, and reimbursing you as it was due to her actions and not yours. She will be in the bad books now. The OHS report can never come back and bite you; guilt free. The lady shouldn't dare bring this matter up and gossip about it at work or she would soon meet HR disapproval. Just glare her down if she starts up … "Are you so bad mannered you are still trying to cause trouble?" Of course advise your manager if she does. She would have to be pretty dense to do this though.

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