AITA for taking the office microwave?

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Imagine a bustling insurance office, where the hum of a microwave signals lunch breaks—until it doesn’t. One worker, tired of cold sandwiches, shelled out $60 for a microwave when the company wouldn’t. It became the office’s heart, warming leftovers for all.

But when this hero moved it to their new home, coworkers cried theft, and even the boss joined the fray. Was it a sneaky grab or a fair reclaim? This Reddit tale unpacks a heated office drama.

‘AITA for taking the office microwave?’

Over a year ago the microwave at my office died. The company refused to replace it. They said we could use money we earned for prizes to go towards that. This would take a long time. I wasn't having that. At the time I went out and spent about sixty dollars on a microwave. Initially I kept it at my desk, but everyone kept coming to use it. So I moved it to the office kitchen.

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Everyone who saw it at my desk is gone. It's just been 'the microwave'. Anyway, my wife and I bought a new house recently and it needs a microwave. Our new home is close enough to the office that I can commute home during lunch. So I took my microwave home. Generally speaking I close the office and I'm the last one here.

I took it home when nobody else was here without saying a word. A lot of my peers are FURIOUS I 'stole' my own microwave. Even the company owner and my manager are upset saying I snuck it out at the end of the day or that if I bought it for the office it should stay here. That was never my intention.

I never communicated it , but I always meant to take my microwave home with me. It's not like sixty bucks is a lot of money but it's not an inconsequential amount. I dont see why they can't all chip in a bit and buy one that way. Five bucks each or something. I said that and again more angry reactions.

The screwy thing is my wife is even on their side. Saying most people see it as company property and it's been there so long we should let it go and WE should buy another one. I'm not willing to budge here. It feels foolish that I should donate my personal property because people expect me to.. AITA?

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Edit: Thanks for the input on this one. I guess I was honestly an a**hole here. I didn't intentionally bring it home in a way to actively make my coworkers uncomfortable but I think I was also stuck on the 'mine' like a toddler. This is a bad situation for everyone. I'll take some time and reflect on bringing it back.

Edit 2 : Just to clarify my office has a lot of turnover. It was abundantly clear with that initial group of staff that if was my property. BUT since then it's a lot of new faces. Not justifying anything. Just providing more context to my actions.. Edit 3:. Obligatory 'this blew up way more than I expected!'

A lot of people seem to be asking 'why doesn't your boss provide one'. I work in an insurance agency. We spend little time in office as possible. Especially the agents and financial advisors. The owner believes more creature comforts = more reason to stay in the office. She says that's how it was when she came into the business.

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Not a position I exactly agree with. it's nonsense to think a microwave will have a sharp decline in sales. At some level she is entitle to this opinion because she owns the business and she is the largest agent in the area by a very wide margin. Not justifying it. Just sharing.

Right now I've asked around the office and sort of calmed the waters with most everyone sans 2 or 3 people. Most people took the apology in stride. A few are angry for the sake of it. Planning on confronting the owner at some point tonight. A few people are willing to split the cost but that's if she isn't willing to cave on the issue. Just wanted to add this.

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Final update : Met with my boss. It was a very mixed bag. I read a lot of comments on and off today. I decided to throw some weight around. Telling her how much I've earned her what I've done. I basically laid it to the basics that it wasn't fair what she was doing. I told her she created this situation.

I told her most people who produce at my level leave in 5 months for other companies. I asked her why I shouldn't go to the place everyone else leaves to. She didn't like that. She told me this is EXACTLY why she doesn't like appliances in the office. If it wasn't for clients she'd ditch the coffee machines and fridge too.

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We sort of went back and forth with this for a while. My boss asked me how would I like it if she went to my home and demanded I bring something in. She disclosed her annual salary. It's very similar to what I make. I called that bluff and asked about business profits. Told her she wouldn't run a company like that if she only made some 11k more than me.

Negotiations broke down. At some point during this her assistant who's been with the company since day 1 went down the road and bought a microwave and toaster oven from a consignment shop a few blocks over using the imprest fund. She ended the conversation telling my boss 'quit your damn bickering and do some work so we can go home.'

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I feel bad about dragging my bosses assistant into it. That woman is a SAINT. But I suppose this is the desired outcome of it all. Edit whatever electric boogaloo: turns out at least one of my colleagues found this since it hit the front page. So that's... fun?

But seriously y'all, posting 'quit immediately and now'. That's a bit drastic. I have a lot of gripes. But I plan on sticking with my job for a few years for experience. That's a funny thing you see on reddit a lot people say 'quit right the f**k now'. But like, people have houses/bills/etc. I have a daughter. This is the real world. You have to dance to that fiddle sometimes.

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This microwave mess is a classic case of blurred lines between personal and shared property. The Redditor’s frustration is relatable—spending personal cash to fix a workplace issue only to face backlash for taking it back. Yet, coworkers, unaware of its origins due to high turnover, saw it as office property, making the sudden removal feel like a betrayal. The boss’s refusal to fund basic appliances only fuels the fire.

This reflects a broader issue of workplace expectations. A 2023 Gallup study found 60% of employees feel unappreciated when basic workplace amenities are neglected. Dr. Amy Edmondson, a Harvard leadership expert, says, “Clear communication about shared resources prevents resentment and builds trust.” The Redditor’s silent removal, though justified, ignored this, sparking chaos.

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The Redditor could have posted a notice: “Taking my microwave home next week—let’s plan a replacement!” This would’ve clarified ownership and rallied coworkers to chip in. For the boss, providing a $60 microwave is a small price for morale—her stance against appliances is outdated. Moving forward, the Redditor’s apology and offer to share replacement costs is a step toward mending fences.

Let’s dive into the reactions from Reddit:

Reddit’s peanut gallery didn’t hold back, serving up zesty opinions with a side of snark. Here’s what the community cooked up about this microwave mayhem.

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SpockVaporizesRock − NTA, your boss is for letting you spend out your pocket to benefit everyone in his business. He should have done it first and foremost. Tell your colleagues to bring their own like you did or bring it up with the boss

[Reddit User] − YTA but not because you took, but how you took it. You should have given everyone a heads up a week out, 'I'm taking my microwave back everyone, we just bought a new house and don't have one, I'll be taking it home with me Monday night, 10/28.' People came in that day with food needing to be heated up and had no options. Easy way to p**s people off needlessly due to bad communication.

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Eastuss − NTA. You could have been more diplomatic and made a notice for the office saying you'll remove it at X date and that 'we' should replace it. But since your office is the kinda place that considers a microwave to not be mandatory, then you don't owe them anything. People should get mad at how the office is held, not you personally.

[Reddit User] − NTA. It sounds like you have a bunch of s**tty and entitled co-workers though, especially your boss. I'd find a new job.

Zheze88 − NTA. You spent your own money on it, you get to take it back when you want it at your own home. Like you said they can all chip in together and get another. What you bought and decided to share with others for the time being does not become everyone elses unless they chip in too.

Elcatro − ESH, why didn't you mention it? 'I bought the microwave and intended to take it away one day, if you want to keep it chip in a couple $ and I'll go get a different one for myself.'. Generally speaking you're not the a**hole but you handled it badly and it makes you look like an a**hole.

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boat_against_current − NTA, because it's yours...but now you personally don't have a microwave to use at work. If it was me, I'd want a nice new microwave at home, but YMMV.

I_was_serious − ESH. I hate to include you in this judgment, but you took it without letting anyone know you were doing that. For people who were counting on heating up their lunch the way they always had and who had no clue it was yours, that must've really sucked.

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That's the only part that's on you was the lack of a heads up. The business owners suck the most, though. Buying a microwave for their employees to eat lunch is a pretty minor business expense that would be written off anyway.

Keiserasera − NTA, not at all. It is YOUR microwave, and you intially bought it for your convenience. Your boss and manager need to STFU and buy a microwave for the office. As for the others, what level of entitlement is this? if they want one so bad, they should all chip in and get one. They out of their goddam cheap ass minds!

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readergrl56 − ESH - Did your coworkers know prior to this incident that the microwave was technically 'yours'? Because, from Joe Schmo's perspective, their coworker just up & stole the microwave one day, claimed to be the previous owner (again, while the microwave is in their possession so who can get it back even if this is a lie),

and told them it's no big deal because they could just pool their *personal* money to buy an office microwave which, until a day ago, was something they *already had* and are now missing solely because of you. It'd be like if you walked into work one day and Pete had taken your desk and cleared out all your belongings because,

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unbeknownst to you, he had purchased it 3 years ago but now his daughter needs a desk for college. It might be the truth, but it's an a**hole move of Pete's to do that without any warning. Imo, you missed a perfect opportunity to bond with your coworkers. It's pretty bad of an office not to provide a microwave.

You could've explained the situation (MW is actually yours b/c of poor management) and banded the office together in solidarity while showing them how you were a benevolent hero in the past, preparing them to pool their money, and uniting to confront your boss.

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Now, even if you apologize, tell them the truth, and help them buy a new MW, you'll still be that jerk who removed it without telling anyone. Also, are you truly planning on never ever using the microwave at work again? I know you can go home during lunch, but what if you need to reheat something during the day? Or can't make it back home for lunch?

These Reddit takes are piping hot, but do they get to the core? Is it about property rights or just bad communication?

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This saga boils down to a simple question: when does personal property become a workplace fixture? The Redditor’s claim was valid, but the stealthy exit turned allies into adversaries. The boss’s penny-pinching didn’t help. What would you do if your office relied on your personal gear? Share your thoughts—how would you navigate this workplace pickle?

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