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I needed hot milk, so I boiled it in the nearest electric kettle to me, but I think I broke it, as water won't boil any more. I know this, because I tried it myself.
Should I tell someone in the office that it might be me who broke it and offer a replacement or should I not tell?
While I was heating it up, there was department director next to me who was curious to see the white liquid and was checking, but I told her myself what it was and she said "oh, it's milk".
You boiled milk in a kettle?
Yes, this will break it, or at least spoil the taste of the water for anyone else who uses the kettle going forwards. If you've ever boiled milk in a saucepan, you'll know that it boils over pretty easily if you don't watch it. This happening in a kettle will spew boiling milk out of the spout - which won't be a nice experience for anyone close by.
You'll need to report this to the operations department, or whoever controls the kitchen equipment.
Please only put water into kettles. Use microwaves or a hob to heat milk.
I generally think that adults should take responsibility for their actions. If you accidentally break something it's common courtesy to offer replacement, depending on the value you may have an insurance for that anyway (at least in Germany).
I'd consider it a poor character trait of you didn't report it. If it comes out later it certainly wouldn't reflect well on you. It would be another case if you didn't notice that you broke it, but you did.
Yes absolutely let them know, if you have someone who is in charge of office or kitchen supplies then they are the best person to speak to. Otherwise I'd talk to your manager about it, explain what happened, apologize and say that you won't be doing so again and offer to purchase a replacement.
Firstly, as others have already said, don't boil milk in a kettle. But I guess you've learned that lesson pretty well at this point.
In most offices I've worked at, the kettle tends to be a pretty cheap piece of equipment and needs to be replaced fairly often. It isn't going to be a problem for the company to get a new one, and they will be unlikely to make a fuss about it unless it was brand new or unusually expensive.
You will need to confess what happened and take responsibility for it. Possibly you'll be asked to pay for the replacement kettle. There's also likely to be a bit of mockery from your colleagues. If that happens, run with it: turn the banter around and laugh with them; this is a minor thing that is easily sorted out, so don't let it turn into a big deal or spoil your relationship with your colleagues.
One final note: People like their tea and coffee at the office. They're probably already missing the kettle. If there's no kettle for a long time, it may generate some resentment. Go and talk to your manager or the office facilities manager as soon as possible. The quicker you get this sorted out, the less of an issue it's going to be for everyone.
You should definitely tell you broke the kettle. Not telling may anger the person in charge of the supplies and everybody using it will be punished if this person decide not to replace it. By telling, you show this person the respect she deserves for this work and this makes you someone trustable. You didn't broke it for fun, it was a mistake, no big deal if you tell and assume. You can offer to replace it yourself to show some more respect, but you must say you broke it.
Kettles aren't for milk. Others already mentioned that of course you should tell whoever may be responsible for this kind of office or employee supply.
But of course, if your asthma requires heating milk for whatever reason, it is your responsibility to make sure you have the equipment needed to do so. Actually, a cup in a microwave will usually do fine. Less efficient than a pot on the stove but requires much less space than the pot in the dishwasher, and the extra electricity will be cheaper for the company than the additional time you wait for the pot to heat up.
It should be the person responsible for replacing the broken kettle if it would break without anyone's fault. Kettles do not serve for ages anyway. If you do not know who, ask for somebody like a secretary. No need to rush to CEO with the burned kettle in your hand.
Simply tell that person you broke the kettle and suggest that you either buy and bring in a new one (unpacked, will all papers it may have) or simply pay for a replacement. If the person cannot handle the process alone, needs some approvals, then more people will get involved but only as much as required.
I really do not understand which reason would be for everyone to know.
The main thing is don't leave the kitchen down a kettle. So immediately research the model then dash out to the local shop and get another, preferably same make and model, or better if that one had annoyances.
As far as disclosure, it's really no big deal, unless it's like a $300 magic kettle, these are Cheapie commodities that break all the time. Saying "it broke when I used it" is nothing special, it could've been anyone and they'll say "don't worry about it".
If you have learned your lesson about only use shared appliances in the same way everyone else does, then I wouldn't go so far as to mentioning the milk. If you did not learn that lesson, then yes, you should come clean about the milk. That way they will know who to talk to when they find egg yolk in the popcorn popper.
What would you do in your home country if you broke the thing you boil milk in?
If you don't have electric kettles (and it sounds like you don't), then you must use some sort of pan on a fire (or hob). If you broke the pan, would you get a new one, or just leave it (or hide it)?
Reporting it isn't really going to help you or anybody else. I would simply replace it discretely. Drop off the replacement when nobody's around to notice it was you.
Kettle's back, nobody thinks you're the "boiled milk" person, and everybody's happy!
I'm sure I'll get down votes for saying that. I just don't see the point of reporting it. In my office, I'm pretty sure the kettle is provided by a generous employee, not the company. If yours is like mine, reporting it doesn't do anything other than give you grief.
