Skip to main contentA logo with &quat;the muse&quat; in dark blue text.
Advice / Succeeding at Work / Break Room

Lunch Theft: It's Real, and It's the Worst

There is no greater betrayal than having your lunch stolen by the very people you work with. The anger, the deceit, and the gut-wrenching suspicion will change you forever.

For all of you who don’t know the feeling, here’s an exclusive look.


After a slow and dreary morning, the promise of a midday meal has you reenergized and excited.

Courtesy of giphy.


As soon as the clock strikes 12, you abandon all manner of work and head for the office lounge.

Courtesy of giphy.


There’s nothing that can take you away from this moment—until you open the refrigerator door and realize your lunch is missing.

Courtesy of giphy.


You search carefully to make sure, but alas, the paper bag you scrawled your name on this morning has clearly been taken.

Courtesy of giphy.


You’re feeling confused and hurt.

Courtesy of giphy.


But your bewilderment is quickly replaced with anger.

Courtesy of giphy.


You wonder who the culprit is. Suddenly, everyone is a suspect.

Courtesy of giphy.


You grow angrier by the minute. But before you get the chance to overreact...

Courtesy of giphy.


...You decide to stop and weigh your options. After all, it is the mature thing to do.

Courtesy of giphy.


So you consider stealing someone else’s lunch.

Courtesy of giphy.


But with your break coming to an end, you decide to call it a day instead and admit defeat.

Courtesy of giphy.


After scavenging the vending machine, you pledge to keep your lunch out of greedy hands. From now on, you’ll keep your meal a little closer to home.

Courtesy of giphy.


Photo of man with sandwich courtesy of Shutterstock.