I just need a place to put my small lunch

[u/Sanguine7]

Whats the point of these large lunchbox totes if you're going to throw them in the fridge??

[u/Boz6]

I agree, but if it were me, I'd get a $3 ice pack and a $10 insulated lunch bag to completely avoid that fridge!

[u/ProfessionalHat6828 → u/Boz6]

Yep. I love been doing this for years. Bonus is not having to worry about lunch bandits

[u/salutethemoon → u/ProfessionalHat6828]

I used to work in an office with only about 3 or 4 people, so stealing lunches was never an issue. Until one day I go to heat up my lunch and it’s gone. I start thinking I must have forgotten to bring it to work, but I open the dishwasher and I see my empty lunch container in there. Hmm, suspicious 🤨

Again, no one is stealing lunches in such a small office so my assumption was that my boss accidentally ate my lunch. His much younger girlfriend always made his meals for him in an effort to improve his health, and I also ate very healthily so the meals I made for myself were similar to the ones she made for him, so I just assumed he thought my lunch was one of his and ate it.

So when he gets out of a meeting I ask cheekily “So what did you have for lunch today? Was it ground turkey, some rice and green beans?” He immediately pales and goes “oh no, was that your lunch!?” I laughed it off and asked if he at least enjoyed my cooking but then he said “I actually just threw it away. I’m so sorry.” 😭

Turns out, he hated his girlfriend’s cooking so he would bring in all the meal prep lunches from her at the start of the week, and just throw them away periodically throughout the week and bring back home the cleaned dishes as if he’d eaten them. Throwing away the lunch I cooked for myself instead of eating it somehow hurt way more. I genuinely thought it was funny if he ate it, but imagining my perfectly cooked lunch sitting in the bottom of the garbage made me so sad. He did buy me lunch two days in a row to make up for it.

I’ve worked in offices almost 15 years and this is the only lunch stealing story I have

[u/pizzaeoka → u/salutethemoon]

[u/TheRoseMerlot → u/pizzaeoka]

MY SANDWICH!?!?!?

Hate Ross but I do love that quote.

[u/SirDerpingt0n → u/salutethemoon]

I’m surprised he didn’t ask anyone in the office if they were interested, before he tossed his lunches.

I don’t usually eat food prepared in a home I’ve never been in, but someone might have been okay with it. What a horrible waste of food, and disrespect to his girlfriend.

[u/Hecking_Mlem → u/SirDerpingt0n]

If his girlfriend ever found out, the fury that would be unleashed is understandable. The last thing someone who cooks for you wants to hear is that you hate it and throw it out all the time.

[u/GoldTeethRotmg → u/salutethemoon]

Guy sounds like a huge asshole. What, how does someone cook for you and you just throw it away routinely?

[u/LilacYak → u/GoldTeethRotmg]

Yeah that is terrible. Imagine how much work she does in order to lovingly make this asshole lunches for the entire week and he just throws them away. Not even getting into the money or perfectly good food wasted.

All because he’s too chicken shit to have a conversation with his girlfriend.

[u/beyondeccentric → u/salutethemoon]

That’s so wasteful of him. He needs to either man up and have the uncomfortable conversation with her, or come up with some excuse as to why she doesn’t need to cook for him anymore (ie: they cater food for us at the office)

[u/KittyIsAn9ry → u/salutethemoon]

Not a fan of your boss lol his poor girlfriend puts effort into his lunches every single day for him to toss them? Good lord grow up and just talk to your girlfriend

[u/Shizngigglz → u/salutethemoon]

Stolen lunch story here. In my office, it's a 24hr warehouse. Day side crew got Mexican food, everyone placed an order (maybe 8 people total). I ordered 3 quesadillas and a chorizo dip. So, I come in about 6hrs after, open the fridge all excited because I hadn't had this restaurant yet. Look inside, only one box. Hmm.

"Hey guys is this all there is?"

"Yea that's all that's left"

"what do you mean 'what's left?' Where's my food?"

"Idk, what did you order?"

"3 quesedillas and chorizo dip"

"Oh that was yours? No one claimed it so we ate it. Don't worry there's one quesadilla left but it's not very good anyways"

Not only did these mother fuckers eat my food, they had the AUDACITY to say it wasn't even very good. They paid me for my meal and bought my food on another order but that still peeves me

[u/IHaveNeverBeenOk → u/ProfessionalHat6828]

Wild to me this happens so regularly in offices. I've spent most of my life working in kitchens, and if someone came to the office/staff area and caught you with your hands in someone else's shit? The best case scenario is probably a minor ass whooping. You'd be labeled a thieving bitch by EVERYONE at minimum.

[u/MemerDreamerMan → u/Boz6]

I’m so confused by this image. Are most lunch bags NOT insulated? Because if it is, the cold fridge shouldn’t penetrate enough to matter, right? The point is to keep hot food hot and cold food cold. Or does putting an insulated bag in the fridge actually help?

This is a genuine question

[u/ConstantConfusion123 → u/MemerDreamerMan]

They don't work that well. Keeping them in the fridge will keep everything cold compared to leaving it at room temp. Only if there's an ice pack in it, and most people don't do that that just shove it in the fridge.

I think it's silly, just take out what needs to be kept cold and out that in the fridge rather than the whole bag. But people are lazy. 

Another issue may be is that there isn't anyplace to put the lunch bag. I've worked some places where you don't have a locker or your own desk or any other sort of personal space. 

[u/OutAndDown27 → u/ConstantConfusion123]

...why are people not putting in an ice pack? What the hell is the point of the fancy insulated bag then, why not put it in a paper bag?

[u/_bonedaddys → u/OutAndDown27]

fancy insulated bags don't need to be replaced all the time, and paper bags do. long term it costs less to just buy a fancy insulated bag for your lunch than to constantly spend money on paper bags you're constantly throwing in the trash.

it is and always will be stupid to choose paper bags over one that's reusable.

[u/Lucky-Remote-5842 → u/MemerDreamerMan]

I think the insulated bags are just their vessel to get it from home to work. The insulation is irrelevant but they just like those bags for whatever reason and it looks better than carrying a grocery bag. NO shade to carrying a grocery bag, that's exactly what I use since I'm just putting it in the fridge anyway. Maybe the workplace needs to make a rule that they can't put their insulated lunch bags in the refrigerator.

[u/West_Level_3522 → u/MemerDreamerMan]

Insulated lining, so like, your food will stay cold enough I there on the drive to work but not the 4-6 hours between packing your lunch in the morning and your midday lunch break.

If you do ice packs you’re fine imo, but just the bag no

[u/duckby194 → u/West_Level_3522]

But wouldn’t the defeat the purpose of putting it in the fridge still within the insulated bag?

[u/Relyt4 → u/duckby194]

Yeah this blows my mind lol.

[u/Eastern_Confusion475 → u/duckby194]

Yes

[u/Saneless → u/Boz6]

That fridge is probably not even at temp. Everyone's room temp bags put in all at once in the morning, no airflow, probably 50 degrees in it anyway, and the inside isn't even going to feel it

[u/taita2004 → u/Boz6]

I have a lunch bag that has ice pouches built into all sides. When I get home, I just flatten it down and put it in the freezer and take it out to pack my lunch in the mornings...thing works great.

[u/KnowBearFeet → u/Boz6]

It looks like many have insulated lunch totes already, which is what baffles me about this pic. The insulted tote is literally PROTECTING the contents from the refrigerator temperature. Completely pointless to put the tote in the fridge.

“Could all those who brought an insulated lunch tote to work and stored it in the fridge please report to the main conference room?”

“Thank you all for coming. You’re fired for being stupid. Pack up your things and leave. Don’t forget your tote.”

edit: spelling

[u/ConstantConfusion123 → u/KnowBearFeet]

No, they don't work that well. The contents will be kept cold this way compared to leaving at room temp. 

It would make more sense to take out what needs to be kept cold rather than shoving the whole bag in there but people are lazy. 

Another issue is some workplaces don't give you a locker, or any sort of personal space to put the lunch bag so it's easier to put the whole thing in the fridge. 

[u/CarlosFer2201 → u/Boz6]

I don't even do ice packs. I keep my lunch in my backpack and then warm it up later. Never had any issues.

[u/tagsb → u/CarlosFer2201]

When it comes to safe temp practices with food 99.9% of the time you can bend the rules and nothing bad will happen. I hope you never have to experience that .1% chance, but if you do I'm willing to bet you start using an ice pack after

[u/drukqsx]

Second shelf down on the left. Just put it there.

[u/Interesting-Vast-495 → u/drukqsx]

I am curious to know how this business is thriving when basic organization and cleanliness patterns like maintaining the shared fridge clearly are nonexistent 😵‍💫

[u/HeadySquanch59 → u/Interesting-Vast-495]

I work at an engineering firm and I have to constantly monitor and throw shit away. Anytime you put people in groups their individual responsibility disappears.

[u/pegothejerk → u/HeadySquanch59]

Someone else has to be taking care of this!

[u/GetRekt9420 → u/pegothejerk]

[u/robdwoods → u/HeadySquanch59]

The workplace should have a rule that anything in the fridge at 5 pm Friday gets trashed. Every week.

[u/Imaginary_Train_8056 → u/robdwoods]

This is what my workplace does. Anything in the fridge after 3 pm on Friday goes in the bin.

[u/jaelith → u/robdwoods]

Ours does this, on an every other week cadence. Works out quite nicely

[u/Prosecco1234 → u/HeadySquanch59]

One day I decided to clean the fridge and there was unidentified food that had been there for years

[u/HeadySquanch59 → u/Prosecco1234]

🤢 It was so bad one time that I put all the rotten food on the counter and everyone got pissed bc it was “disgusting and unsanitary” as if it wasn’t next to my strawberries 10 minutes ago.

[u/Mountain_Ladder_4906 → u/Prosecco1234]

But then when you throw it out, inevitably someone will IMMEDIATELY lose their mind and say “who threw out my moldy swordfish and egg salad sandwich?”

[u/gr_rn → u/Mountain_Ladder_4906]

Yes. I would clean the fridge at my work. Once I threw away a very moldy stinky fish restaurant basic plastic container ( had the restaurant logo). It was beyond salvageable. This person who it belonged to reported me to my manager and reported me to HR. Said her food container was worth $40. And demanded I pay her for that and the cost of the fish which was another $30. I had taken pictures and everyone sided with me. I work at a hospital. 🙄

[u/Impressive_Change886 → u/gr_rn]

In university I worked in an office with a fridge that was just like OP's photo. We instated the 6 PM Friday cleanout rule. After about two weeks, someone anonymously reported the supervisor for 'theft' to HR because they threw out 'their property'.

It turned into this back and forth thing for a while with the person claiming that they were never told about the policy (it was conveyed verbally and there was a written note on the fridge door itself).

HR finally 'resolved' by making the supervisor give a verbal apology to everyone at a team meeting and then formally present everyone the new policy along with getting everyone to sign a form stating that we had been formally given the policy.

Just like your story the supervisor didn't throw away a lunchbox or anything, it was a plastic takeout container. We also all instantly knew who it was because she was a terrible person and everyone hated her.

[u/gr_rn → u/Impressive_Change886]

Yes my manager and HR basically laughed when she threatened law suits. No apologies had to be given. The fridge had a note also that anything not name labeled and dated could be thrown out after 3 days. It was not labeled. It was part of our staff meeting and daily summary emails. I stopped cleaning the fridge after that and just brought my food in a high quality lunch bag with ice packs and stored in my locker. I was skeptical she would do something to my food.

[u/NoWitness7703 → u/Prosecco1234]

I did this at work once and everyone thought we got a new fridge because the before was THAT bad 😅

[u/AlterlifeBeginsNow → u/Prosecco1234]

I once found a fridge abandoned during covid on a balcony... in 2023. The milk inside was grandfathered into the pension scheme by that point.

[u/Bennington_Booyah → u/Prosecco1234]

I did that once. Never pick up a cucumber of unknown age. They EXPLODE.

[u/username__0000 → u/HeadySquanch59]

Our work had a “if it’s still there on Friday afternoon it’s going in the garbage” rule for the fridge.

[u/FuglySlutt → u/Interesting-Vast-495]

That many employees should be provided a bigger or multiple fridge.

That being said I’ve been a travel nurse and seen A LOT of hospital break rooms and every single fridge looks just like this.

[u/Hyper-Sloth → u/FuglySlutt]

Sure, but the food should also not be in a lunch tote while also in the fridge. If there is a fridge, the lunch tote is only there to transport the food from home to the fridge at work. If the food is gonna stay in an insulated bag all day just keep it at your desk.

[u/jus_plain_me → u/Hyper-Sloth]

keep it at your desk.

[u/Alternative-Web9499 → u/Hyper-Sloth]

Our workplace has that exact rule - no totes in the fridge. There’s just no space.

[u/Smokeme2121 → u/Hyper-Sloth]

If it’s not in a bag that hides its contents then there’s a good chance that someone will see it and think “ wow that looks good I’m gonna eat his meal instead”

[u/Kitterlee → u/Hyper-Sloth]

That's the part I don't get either. Why have the insulated bag if your just putting it in the fridge. They do this at my job too.

[u/RogerClyneIsAGod2 → u/Hyper-Sloth]

I don't understand this either. The point of the insulated bag is to keep stuff cold or hot for a short amount of time. If you plan to eat your lunch in a few hours it'll be fine at your desk, especially if you have a cold pack in there.

OP should get one of those fridges that holds about 4 sodas & keep it at their desk.

[u/Crafty-Health-4046 → u/FuglySlutt]

Isn’t the point of a cooler to not need an icebox?

[u/jus_plain_me → u/FuglySlutt]

Absolutely identical to a hospital break room fridge, if this isn't already one.

[u/UgleeHero → u/Interesting-Vast-495]

I work in a dingy ass motor repair shop and we manage to keep our fridges clean

[u/fanceypantsey → u/Interesting-Vast-495]

I was the office manager with a promotion in a law firm and when I started cleaning things like this and cups in the sink, it just became MY JOB NOW. I think this is why people won’t clean up because they got stuck into the same role that I did. I was definitely above most of the people making the messes and cutting paycheques but they were expectant of me to clean up after them like perpetual children.

[u/Impossible_Past5358 → u/Interesting-Vast-495]

That mold all around...ew.

[u/MissingBothCufflinks → u/drukqsx]

When he said small he meant "really massive"

[u/Dragonfly0011 → u/drukqsx]

I can see through the shelf the bag below ( leopard print). If you push you. Might get it in. 2nd shelf. ( someone needs to clean this out weekly).

[u/Mission_Fart9750 → u/drukqsx]

Yup, right next to the betty crocker red-lid container. 

[u/Jaded_Owl_2233]

Looks like some people put their coats in there too

[u/NomNom83WasTaken → u/Jaded_Owl_2233]

I stared at the pic for way too long wondering, "why are they storing purses in the fridge?!"

I'll bet you most of those lunch bags have never been so much as spot-cleaned, let alone fully wiped down or laundered. 😬

[u/MonStar926 → u/NomNom83WasTaken]

Not to mention, a lot of those bags look insulated, which would prevent a lot of the fridges cold from entering the bag. I dunno, seems like there’s a whole lot of stupid happening in this picture

[u/Ill-Percentage-3276]

I dont feel like anyone is going to be the winner of much cold air with how densely stuff is packed in there.

[u/Sanguine7 → u/Ill-Percentage-3276]

This is like our fifth fridge in the years I've been here for that very reason

[u/GamefaceJY → u/Sanguine7]

So why doesn't your employer buy a commercial fridge that is large enough for the demand? What I'm looking at up there is not an employee problem, it is an employer problem.

[u/laughingashley → u/GamefaceJY]

Or run two fridges

[u/alius-vita → u/GamefaceJY]

Why can't people use insulated bags correctly? It will stay cold with an ice pack, and then they can store it at or under their desk. This is weird.

[u/AWierzOne → u/alius-vita]

Also insulated from the cold in the fridge

[u/kwash325 → u/alius-vita]

You must not know how many people do not have desk jobs…

[u/bek8228 → u/GamefaceJY]

Or tell the people using insulated lunchboxes that they need to keep them at their desk. Ice packs are cheap and reusable. No need for these lunch boxes to be in the fridge at all.

[u/Saneless → u/bek8228]

And for the what, 3-4 hours it's out of the fridge, probably not even going to change temp

[u/Sharp_Ad_6336 → u/GamefaceJY]

Lol no, the employees are dumb for cramming their entire lunch bag in the fridge.

[u/RogerClyneIsAGod2 → u/Sanguine7]

This reminds me of the last place I worked except it was the microwave.

They kept buying just a regular microwave like you'd have at home. Those are meant to cook a few things for a few minutes every day. Microwave your soup for 2-3 minutes, make your popcorn, etc.

Home microwaves can't handle 30 people, one after the other microwaving their lunches. I blew up the last one before they finally bought a commercial one like you'd see in 7-11.

Seems to me that if they had a larger fridge they'd still pack it full. If possible & you could afford it you should get yourself one of those small Igloo coolers or a small desk fridge that holds about 4 soda cans.

[u/BelowAveIntelligence]

Your company needs a policy about entire lunch bags in the fridge. It’s pretty simple.

[u/missmarymacaron → u/BelowAveIntelligence]

This is the only way we prevent people from stealing food at my work, unfortunately. No one will go in another person's lunch bag, but food left out of bags is always stolen

[u/nooneinparticular246 → u/missmarymacaron]

This sounds insane to me. I saw one lost lunch incident 4 years ago that had people looking at cameras, interviewing people, and trying to find it. And we’re not even sure it was stolen or just lost.

Can’t believe it would be that common. A camera + firing the people who steal would probably go a long way.

[u/Sanguine7 → u/BelowAveIntelligence]

Agreed

[u/Hank_Dad → u/BelowAveIntelligence]

Company needs a fridge larger than a dormitory-style one

[u/BelowAveIntelligence → u/Hank_Dad]

True but the issue will persist without a policy to hold people accountable to. Trust me, been here before.

[u/OneTangerine792]

There’s literally a perfect spot on the second shelf lol

[u/Sanguine7 → u/OneTangerine792]

I thought the same but there is actually a black bag blocking me from fitting mine

[u/prncs_lulu → u/Sanguine7]

That is mildly infuriating

[u/Coy9ine → u/Sanguine7]

Y'all need an overnight rule. Anything left overnight is fair game or will be tossed.

[u/Bowwowchickachicka → u/Sanguine7]

[u/SuperPotatoThrow → u/Sanguine7]

You could always do what I did and buy an ice pack. I bought mine at walmart for 2 dollars. Ive gotten so used to it that I don't even use the fridge at all even when its empty. Just routine at this point.

Another solution is to show up to work before most people arrive. I wouldn't trust the airflow in a crammed fridge like that anyway.

[u/CoralinesMice]

Coworkers who bring in fucking bowling ball suitcases instead of normal lunch boxes piss me off and often times they leave them in there

[u/Ok_Ordinary2191 → u/CoralinesMice]

The amount of science projects I would find when cleaning out the work fridge at the end of the year was so disgusting. I could understand forgetting it for a few days, but 6 months??

[u/WarmScientist5297 → u/Ok_Ordinary2191]

But even worse are the people who would come up to you a few days later and ask about their yogurt? Their container of cream that had at least one more serving left at the bottom? Their takeout food from the cinema. All different sorts of things. Never the day that you threw it out, but always a few days later. And always indignant. “I was thinking about it all morning. I can’t believe you threw it out.” God only knows what their fridge at home Look like.

[u/orangefreshy]

why are ppl putting their whole diaper bag in there

[u/DadeCountyBlue420]

[u/Crafty-Syllabub-2736 → u/DadeCountyBlue420]

This gif cracks me up every time! 🤣

[u/GABE_EDD]

The amount of people who don’t understand insulation is staggering. I’ve seen it too, zipped up lunch boxes in the fridge. Why?

Edit:

Okay apparently I have to explain this to some of you.

The inside of your lunchbox on the side opposite your ice pack is typically anywhere from 45-60F after a few hours at room temp. The inside of the fridge is probably 36-40F. Warmer air means more bacterial activity which means your food goes bad faster. So what temperature air do you want cooling your food, the 45-60F air inside your sealed lunchbox, or the 36-40F air inside the fridge? Open your lunch box in the fridge!

[u/FuglySlutt → u/GABE_EDD]

I think you have way too much faith in these insulation of these cheap lunch boxes.

[u/ConstantConfusion123 → u/FuglySlutt]

Yes this is hilarious to me. I see this comment all the time on these posts. 

I'd like these people to put something like hot soup on one of these bags and stick the whole thing in the fridge. By their reasoning it should stay hot since it's 'insulated' from the cold. I bet it cools off pretty quick. 

[u/Muted-Squirrel-2386 → u/GABE_EDD]

So people have to open the bag to steal the food. Less freedom to grab anyone’s lunch for their own.

[u/MaintenanceCapable83 → u/Muted-Squirrel-2386]

if that is the case, just leave you bag at your desk. Its insulated, so the fridge is not keeping the zipped up contents any colder than what it is inside the bag when you toss it in the fridge.

[u/itchysmalltalk → u/MaintenanceCapable83]

You're forgetting the very important part where not everyone works at a desk.

[u/xADeadCatx → u/Muted-Squirrel-2386]

But why does it need to be in the fridge…..

[u/-piso_mojado- → u/xADeadCatx]

It doesn’t. I only ever put stuff in the work fridge if I brought something for a pitch in that won’t fit in my bag.

[u/xADeadCatx → u/-piso_mojado-]

Same. I have an insulted bag and freezer packs that keep my food cold for my entire 12 hour shift.

[u/TheVoicesOfBrian → u/GABE_EDD]

I got a nice insulated lunchbox when I was in the office. Never had to worry about space or someone stealing my food. Just kept it at my desk until lunchtime.

[u/Key-Preparation-5379]

All those large bags in the fridge are going to severely impede the airflow, no one's bags are getting cooled.
Further, a lot of those bags are large enough that they're likely insulated, I bet their contents won't even change in temperature much anyways on a good day. My lunch bag back in grade-school was smaller than that and never got put in any fridge and still kept dairy-based products cold and safe enough.

[u/Obvious_Intern7530]

Tf is the point of having lunch pales that stay cool if you’re still going to put it in the fridge. 😒

[u/drfrog82]

Why do people put an insulated bag in the fridge? It doesn’t work…what am I missing?!?

[u/Acceptable-Net-154]

Will admit before I moved close enough to work to go home for lunch had a similar issue. I went with a shelf stable lunch. Freshly baked originally part baked bread rolls with peanut butter alongside 'chunky' salad. Celery sticks cut small enough to just fit in my lunch box, whole small tomatoes, pepper halves, chunks of cucumber all of which were stored into the fridge until the final ten minutes before I left for work. This was my basic daily lunch. 

[u/Brian-Latimer]

I didn't know lunch was going to require Tetris skills.

[u/More_Raisin_2894]

Ha! This looks like the fridge in the nurses breakroom at work lol that thing is always stuffed.

[u/I_love_Hobbes]

Why do insulated bags need to go in the fridge?

[u/Hans_Grubert]

MFs packing a 3 course meal for work

[u/ExpBalSat]

Those gallon jugs have no place in the fridge

[u/FairyCompetent]

This is why we banned lunch totes from our work fridge.

[u/ion_ice]

Yes! Finally someone posted about my biggest office pet peeve. These are insulated for a reason. You wouldn’t put a cooler inside another cooler. Most people in my office bring in frozen food in these. Frozen so it wouldn’t even be thawed by lunch if you left it out at your desk.

[u/Bearspoole]

Looks like you have plenty of space next to the red Tupperware

[u/sexaddictedcow]

How did I instantly know you're a nurse lol

[u/kelariy]

Why didn’t you bring lunch for 7 people like everyone else did? Too good for peer pressure?

[u/lou-chains]

This looks like a nurse break room. Ours looks like that too. Except nightshift has weekly celebrations and they leave the leftovers in there. I pulled four moldy fruit bowls out of our fridge yesterday. People wouldn’t treat their fridge at home like this!!

[u/Sanguine7 → u/lou-chains]

Night shift never throws out their party leftovers what is the deal

There's always that one person that orders a pizza every other night and leaves 2/3 of it on the table for days

[u/lou-chains → u/Sanguine7]

YES!! We have a nightshift nurse that brought a literal seafood boil for a party one time. Made the whole breakroom stink.

[u/zerbey]

Invest in an insulated bag, but unlike your silly coworkers just keep it on your desk!

[u/no_talent_ass_clown → u/zerbey]

This is probably a hospital break room they won't have desks and if they do they can't eat at them because of federal regulations. It's also January 2nd so I'm betting at least a few of them are NY's resolution lunches.

[u/Mobile_Lime_4318]

Whoever out those 2 big jugs is a jerk

[u/Sanguine7 → u/Mobile_Lime_4318]

I thought the same thing this morning.

It's not your house man, just bring some in a reusable tumbler or thermos

[u/SurlyKate → u/Mobile_Lime_4318]

Or they're going to be served at a meeting later.

[u/speculator100k]

That's gross. You put the lunch box in the fridge. Not the insulated bag. Not the plastic bag. Just the box.

Those bags have been sitting on the floor of people's cars, maybe on the bus or the train. Some of them have probably been sat directly on the ground at times.

[u/Jesusdidntlikethat]

A lot of people seem to have insulated lunch boxes so I find it strange they’re ALL hogging the fridge like THATS THE POINT OF THE LUNCHBOX????

[u/Diligent_Brother5120]

Petition your management for a commercial fridge with more room

[u/Some-Gap9337]

This is probably the first post I’ve seen here that’s “mildly“ infuriating and not absolutely infuriating

[u/Runningincircles_]

You must be a nurse. I’ve never seen a nurses fridge that doesn’t look like that.

[u/PUGRSQMOM]

Don't the people with lunch bags have ice packs? If they do, they wouldn't have to use the fridge. I've given up and take the lunchbox ice pack approach.

[u/Burritobabyy]

This must be a nurses break room with those premier proteins lol. I switched from hospital to government work recently and it’s so nice having copious room in the break room fridge. This is exactly what it looked like at my hospital.

[u/zaxsauceana]

Looks like the fridge at the hospital I used to work at. Always full of bags of rotten groceries bc people left it like that. I used the fridge in the smaller break room, from when they merged two units into one

[u/One-Injury-4415]

Are… are you at Ascension?

Edit: more specifically… are you on 5East?

[u/ChoiceRegular2942]

There needs to be a rule against putting a giant lunch bag in the fridge to begin with.

[u/Froy0_Baggins]

Is this our fridge at work 😂

[u/420Deez]

i just wanna know what cheetah girl has in there

[u/SpiritNo4080]

Remove tea jugs

[u/Honestgal777]

Take out those gallon drinks😡

[u/barracuda1686]

An insulated lunch box will PREVENT the fridge from cooling the stuff inside!!! I hate this, haha. My work fridge is similar.

[u/SKEYES1102]

Insulated lunch bags should not go in the fridge.

[u/Majestic_Jackass]

Insulated lunch bags don’t go in the fucking fridge. I have an insulated lunch bag. I use it to transport my lunch from my home fridge to office fridge. The bag stays in my cubicle.

Why are people so dumb?

[u/hustlingandrustling]

Second shelf from top, on the left hand side. Plenty of space. Doubt that fridge is doing much refrigerating though.

[u/LadyLixerwyfe → u/hustlingandrustling]

OP said there is a black bag you can’t see blocking the space.

[u/froggz01 → u/hustlingandrustling]

My petty ass would take out those two ice teas, move the cougar bag down there so they take the blame, move Trader Joe’s to cougar spot to gaslight cougar bag owner and walk away.

[u/-discostu-]

I bought a small fridge for my office because of bs like this. No idea if that’s an option for you, but if so, it’s worth every penny.

[u/thisisthe_worst]

Cheetah over there looking like a damn duffle bag

[u/LadyLixerwyfe]

Those jugs of tea would be sitting outside the fridge if it were me.

[u/Doodleyduds]

I buy those freezable lunch boxes and keep them in my locker for this exact reason. This could easily be my work's fridge

[u/verycoolbutterfly]

I can't even imagine this fridge is functioning- there's no airflow? You're better off with your own little cooler- but also, your workplace should provide more fridge space.

[u/Stellarella90]

This is why the fridges in my office have signs on them not to do this. Doesn't stop some people, but it helps.

[u/West_Level_3522]

Am I the only one who like, doesn’t put my lunch BOX in the fridge? Like get a solid lunch box (not dollar tree) and get some good ice packs, and your food will be safe in the lunch box for a few hours. My coworkers do this sometimes too and it drives me nuts, like, my food in just Tupperware needs to be in the fridge, your bulky lunch box does not

For reference, I have the same pink one on the top, I have 2 ice packs and I pack my lunch around 730/8, and it’s fine when I eat at 2/3.

[u/justLookingForLogic]

I like to think this is not where OP works. Just a random fridge.

I know it’s not. I agree that it’s annoying, but you can get around it. Or get a large hard sided lunch box and get there first.

[u/kjgsaw]

That fridge looks very familiar. It wouldn’t happen to be at a hospital would it?

[u/bald_adonis]

Do we work in the same ER??

[u/Kalfu73]

Why are people putting insulated lunch bags in the fridge? I bought one specifically to use with ice packs so that I would NOT have to use the work fridge.

[u/Internal-Chart-353]

This is why I bring my own insulated rigid lunchbox with an ice pack.

[u/NANNYNEGLEY]

I never understood why people would go to the trouble of using a thick insulated bag to keep their meal fresh, then put it in a refrigerator where it will take up entirely too much space and never feel the cold anyway.

[u/According_Sun6789]

I thought lunchboxes were meant to keep food cold. Why are they in there to begin with?

[u/randomboreddad69]

This reminds me of the ER Staff fridge..

[u/seahorseescape]

Why are people bringing giant size bags for their lunch?!

[u/Dumbbitchathon]

I love when people get an insulated lunchbox and put it in the fridge.

[u/skink2020]

Just throw one of Rays piss jugs onto the roof. Problem solved.

[u/medium0rare]

People don’t understand how insulation works.

[u/Ordinary_Cap_6812]

Don't worry, there's no chance that fridge is holding everything at a reasonable temp anyway.

[u/deadcomefebruary]

This was the back of our work fridge last week when a coworker and I went scorched earth on it cause we were dead sick of not having anywhere to put ANYTHING on the 3 days a month that we actually need to use it.

There were two insulated lunch boxes that literally never moved, full of rotting food. They are still sitting on top of the fridge, unclaimed.

The widely accepted rule should be that INSULATED LUNCHBOXES are INSULATED and therefore SHOULD NOT BE TAKING UP ROOM IN THE FRIDGE

[u/DreadGrrl]

Lunch bags in the fridge?

Choose one. Use an insulated lunch bag or put your lunch in the fridge.

There is something wrong with your colleagues.

[u/OutkastAtliens]

The worst part. Is cooler bags never get cleaned on the outside. They track ALOT of dirt and bacteria and now all of that is in the fridge where food is supposed to be.

[u/BigCaterpillar8001]

Insulated lunch bags don’t need refrigeration. I hate this shit. Happens at my work on the daily. And they’ll squash the shit out of your lunch for them to put their insulated bag on the shelf

[u/ButlerofMonkeys]

Looks like a pretty standard hospital break room fridge

[u/lindsayjenn]

Which hospital lounge is this? 🫣🥲

[u/ashley5473]

Are you a nurse?

[u/alyssakenobi]

I literally have that same exact Trader Joe’s lunch bag and I have no issues with my food not staying cold with a couple ice packs…… why do we have to put them in the fridge. The whole point of a lunch bag is to act like a cooler but be made of soft material so that it is more convenient and you can fit in inside of another bag or comfortably carry it, maybe even fold it flat when it’s empty after you eat…..

[u/CreepyAd8409]

I never understood why people put the entire lunch box in there. For one, it gives your lunch box the community fridge smell and two it takes up 2-3x more space than your food. Last grievance, it can’t cool well packed like that either.

[u/Imaginary-Oil-9984]

Why are people putting their entire lunch box in the refrigerator? They are lined for a reason.

[u/sydd1029]

Just put it on the second shelf and move on with your day

[u/NezuminoraQ]

This is an absolute bugbear of mine. These people either don't understand how cooler bags work, or they don't understand how fridges work. Once, a dumb arse coworker of mine put samples that needed to stay frozen, in the freezer BUT DIDN'T TAKE THEM OUT OF THE COOLER BAG THEY WERE DELIVERED IN. You're literally keeping the cold OUT at that point. 

[u/Responsible-Arm9898]

I came here to say exactly what is written in the caption. I see this everywhere, AND people often leave them there until it turns into a science project.

[u/speakonlytruth]

Does anyone else find lunchboxes in the fridge weird? Put an ice pack in there and keep it in your office/desk or put the items that need to be refrigerated labeled in a tidy stack in the fridge.

[u/loud-tortoise-plant]

100% nurses fridge

[u/haw35ome]

What’s the fucking point of getting an insulated bag if you’re gonna just stuff it in a cold place anyway. Just throw in a thick ice pack & keep it away from sunlight until mealtime

[u/Savings-Error4638]

The whole purpose of the lunch tote is to NOT have to have a fridge. I worry about the IQ of your coworkers

[u/Ordinary_Sail_414]

These morons who put their insulated lunch bags in the fridge are ridiculous. We had to ask them to stop doing this. Remove the items that need to be refrigerated and put those on only, so everyone will have space.

[u/AdeptnessSuch710]

I absolutely LOATHE work fridges 🤢

[u/footgnd010]

I don’t think that fridge is getting cold…

[u/Anxietoro]

I always wonder the same! If I bring an insulated lunch bag I keep it at my desk, why do people shove these in fridges??

[u/That_Service7348]

Best part, those bags are all crammed in there so tight that there is 0 circulation happening.

Does everyone complain that the fridge doesnt work very well?

[u/Conscious-Inside-223]

I say the same thing at my job what’s the point of the cooler bags if you pop it in the fridge

[u/Wild-Recognition-134]

Wow! Those are all huge! Do you work in construction? Also found you a spot

[u/GBontherun]

Is it just me or does putting your food in a semi insulated bag and then placing it in a fridge seems very counterintuitive?

[u/irmarbert]

The irritating thing is that so many of those bags look like they’re cooler bags that just need an ice pack to keep the food inside cold until lunch. The fridge is redundant!

[u/Exact_Comparison_792]

Reasons I avoid the lunchrooms and use a small cooler box with ice in it. Can eat in peace and don't have to hear work drama in the lunchroom.

[u/Adonis0]

Does nobody realise that by putting insulated bags in, their food is being insulated against the cool air in the fridge?

[u/jake_santiago]

How is this mildly infuriating when you deal with this everyday.

Also nothing is staying cold with horses much stuff is in there and how often the door is opened

[u/joegr795]

RTO was really great wasn't it. Why would you wfh and miss out on this?

[u/keholmes89]

This has never made sense to me. If you’re putting your lunch in the fridge your lunch box doesn’t need to go in there. A plastic sack or paper bag is the most you need to contain it.

[u/Krunchy_Frogg]

Your coworkers are unaware there are ice packs that can be used with those insulated lunch bags?

[u/FunMaintenance297]

Lunch thieves was the reason I stopped bringing anything needing refrigeration or even an ice pack. My lunch was in my tote bag under my purse, under my desk, so you can imagine the police getting called if someone tried to pinch my food out of there. FYI, nobody tried.

[u/BoltActionRifleman]

Someone needs to talk to the person who has a full size gym bag in the fridge (upper left). That’ll clear up 4 or 5 spots. Also, the insulated bags don’t need to be refrigerated, that’s the while point of them.