Employee brings cookies in for their coworkers, boss sells them instead, employee quits: '[He] decided to sell my gift to my coworkers for a profit'

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Jul 24, 2024 10:00 AM EDT

Most people in this world fall into two camps: Those out to make things better for everyone and those in it for their own gain and to meet their own ends. 

Sure, this concept sounds quite reductive (it is), and the reality is things aren't quite so black and white… It's more than likely people will play to both sides depending on their current needs and motivations. Still, ultimately, I maintain that if you distilled people down to their true purpose and intention, you'd find the original statement to be true. 

This is the same reason why when you see someone flying up an open lane to dodge traffic—only to try and cut in at the last minute, you can't help but feel your gears grinding… They're taking advantage of a situation to get ahead while everyone else is suffering for order and the "greater good" (the greater good)—thinking they're clever all the while for their sheer willingness to go places others won't.

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  • Where is this all going? You're probably thinking to yourself, "Where is this going? I didn't click on a post about traffic and all this nonsense…" Well, the point is that this boss is clearly in the second group of people, taking advantage of the goodwill of others for their own literal profit.

    The audacity to go around and sell a gift that someone in your employ has brought in for their peers is, well, immeasurable. So, it's no surprise that the employee who brought them in was frustrated enough to turn to this online community to share their story. Later, returning with an update telling how they had resigned from their job. 

    Please take a look at the selections of the original post, the reactions, and the update in the images below.

  • 01
    Boss sold my gift to my coworkers So I just came back from a 1 week vacation. I work at a café and all the staff is pretty close. Before I left, I made a load of meringue cookies because I had a bunch of eggs that would rot in my fridge if I left them.
    via u/Ok_Top5974
  • 02
    After giving tons away, I still had a bunch left and thought I'd do something nice for my coworkers and drop off a bunch in the breakroom. There was a note on top that said they were from me and to be eaten by the employees. I come back from vacation and ask one of my coworkers if anyone liked the meringues and she was like "the ones in the display?" I went to the front of the store, looked at the display cabinet and saw (with few left) the basket of my cookies with a price tag sticker of $2 for
    via u/Ok_Top5974
  • 03
    Apparently my boss found them in the morning, and decided to sell my gift to my coworkers for a profit. Not to mention that it's totally against food safety regulations to sell them. I told him that I was hurt by this and that the revenue from the sales should go towards our tips, and that I didn't want him to sell them. He comes heavy on the defense saying how "they were a gift so it shouldn't matter". I did stand up for myself and let him know that that was a and thing to do to very someone re
    via u/Ok_Top5974
  • 04
    Edit: So I wrote this on my lunch break and have since gone home early after a larger argument with my boss. I quit, and have told him that if he does not return the money that he earned from those sales to me that I won't be back for my shifts this week which would other his vacation plans (I am the assistant manager and he is both the store owner and manager). He has reluctantly agreed to this but is obviously furious at me because he's a _
    via u/Ok_Top5974
  • 05
    I have also texted the work groupchat and let everyone know exactly what happened and my reasons for leaving. It will be sad to go, I like a lot of my coworkers but it's just not worth the insanity anymore. I also feel like some other people will quit because of this too. Everyone is angry with him and letting him know it, which is great to see.
    via u/Ok_Top5974
  • 06
    Noone should feel bad that I quit, I've thought about it for some time now, this was just the breaking point lol, and I have some other options for work coming up. There are a lot of comments about reporting him for health code violations and I will. For those reasons I am not going to sue or anything (and also because he is giving me the money). I have a lot on my plate already and would rather just rid myself of this job. Thanks for all the support from everyone!
    via u/Ok_Top5974
  • 07
    fenriq 7 hr. ago That any boss would be that cheap, lame and petty to sell cookies you made for your coworkers, I'd be looking for the exit immediately and try to take as many people with me as I could, what a scummy person.
    via u/Ok_Top5974
  • 08
    content_great_gramma. 6 hr. ago If you can, report him to the health department. He sold consumable items that were not made in the store. Probable violation of the health code.
    via u/Ok_Top5974
  • 09
    TimeLordEcosocialist . 7 hr. ago It was not a gift for him, so of course it matters. This is such bizarre, sociopathic behavior.
    via u/Ok_Top5974
  • 10
    nerdiotic-pervert 6 hr. ago Agreed, like what kind of bucket head makes the connection to sell food brought in by an employee. What would he have done if someone had gotten food poisoning from an item that wasn't made in house? It's illegal to sell food to the public that wasn't made in a kitchen that was approved by the health department. Some restaurant managers have lowest morals and intelligence. I swear.
    via u/Ok_Top5974
  • 11
    kevinlc1971.7 hr. ago Send him an invoice. • CagaliYoll 7 hr. ago 1000% this. He sold a product. Presumably collected taxes for those sales and established a paper trail. He cannot prove how he acquired them. Threaten to sue over his unpaid invoice.
    via u/Ok_Top5974
  • 12
    Low-Rabbit-9723 6 hr. ago I mean, this sounds like an anonymous report to the health dept to me.
    via u/Ok_Top5974
  • 13
    BlueRFR3100 - 7 hr. ago They were not a gift to him, so he's a thief.
    via u/Ok_Top5974
  • 14
    AlternativeAd7151 7 hr. ago • Ask them for a refund. That was your property and you dispose of how it's going to be distributed. Your boss essentially stole from you.
    via u/Ok_Top5974
  • 15
    KP_PP. 6 hr. ago The thieving stole from you. And admitted to it. I would file a report with the local police, and try to contact whatever relevant local health inspectorate. But, I'm an impulsive idiot sometimes
    via u/Ok_Top5974
  • 16
    baffooninstein · 6 hr. ago Is the cafe you work at actually the Krusty Krab because this sounds a thing Mr. Krabs would do
    via u/Ok_Top5974
  • 17
    KidenStormsoarer 6 hr. ago • ...that's quite literally theft. tell him to give you the money, all of it, or you're going above his head and reporting him to corporate. then report him anyways.
    via u/Ok_Top5974
  • 18
    Sufficient-Meet6127 7 hr. ago Your boss has no shame or decency. I hope as many people find out as possible. And someone should report them for breaking food safety regulations.
    via u/Ok_Top5974
  • 19
    Caledric 6 hr. ago If the cookies were bought by customers a few of them may have been regulars. Put up a sign letting customers know that those products were not safe to eat, and they can request a refund from your boss. Let them know that if he refuses to refund them they can use their receipt and file a claim with the health dept for him selling unsafe food. I know it might hurt your ego a bit to call your cookies
    via u/Ok_Top5974
  • 20
    unsafe, but for the public they were. Also file a complaint yourself with the health dept stating you provided home baked goods that were made without following any health and safety guidelines in an unapproved kitchen as a treat for your co-workers, and the STORE instead sold them for profit putting customers in danger of food born illness or allergic reactions.
    via u/Ok_Top5974
  • 21
    Your boss will need to be able to provide to the health dept the exact kitchen they were baked in. Do not provide him with this info. He will need to provide the health dept with EXACT ingredients and their measurements... again do not provide him with this info. And he will need to prove to them that you are an insured and cleared vendor that is legally permitted to provide him with baked goods.
    via u/Ok_Top5974
  • 22
    When the health dept or whoever comes to question you. You merely need to say that they were provided as a gift to the employees and were not intended for sale.
    via u/Ok_Top5974
  • 23
    LowerEmotion6062 6 hr. ago Boss would be looking at a visit from the health dept if it were me.
    via u/Ok_Top5974
  • 24
    "This might be the final straw for me, though..."
    via Blake Carpenter

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workplace discussion employment issues antiwork workplace-stories jobs employment-discussion job work i quit quit workplace Horrible Bosses quitting employment in the workplace
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