A man has sparked a massive debate surrounding workplace ethics after sharing a photo showing a bottle of milk locked up inside an office fridge.

While some offices come with separate mini-fridges for employees, other workplaces ensure workers get fresh deliveries of essentials like milk every morning. For most people, however, the sharing of a fridge in the office is inevitable.

Since a person’s got to do what they’ve got to do to protect their food and drinks from nosy coworkers, people have come up with various ideas – such as name tags – to mark their belongings.

Clearly, however, this didn’t work for one disgruntled employee who decided to protect his large bottle of milk with a padlock using a special tool to lock in the bottle cap.

“Peak pettiness or justifiable security in the office kitchen?” the caption read as the photo was shared on Reddit.

The picture has since sparked a debate with viewers who deemed this as petty clashing with those who believe it’s one’s right to protect their foods and drinks from co-workers.

“Justifiable, because some t**t has forced a person to become petty,” someone wrote.

“Why not? People can be vile especially when there are disagreements at the workplace. I wouldn’t risk someone spitting in my milk or putting something else in,” another suggested.

A third said: “It’s not any more petty than using a locker to store your belongings, or locking up your bike. It’s not petty to stop people from stealing your stuff.”

Some people, nevertheless, thought the action was “passive-aggressive” and a clear sign of a toxic work culture.

“It’s kind of both at once. If people didn’t take what’s not theirs there would be no need. I wouldn’t go that far with milk but people lost food at the last place I was at. 12-hour shift with no food ain’t a joke,” one viewer recalled.

Another suggested: “Offices should keep the fridge stocked with stuff like this for their employees.”

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