'I feel used': Company asks employee to bake cookies for after-work event, fires her 2 days later

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Sep 13, 2025 10:00 PM EDT

Baking for others can be an enjoyable way to feel like you're giving back. Maybe you take joy in the act of baking, and find that it calms you down by giving you something to do with your hands. Maybe you love trying out new recipes, innovating new flavors, and trying to recreate stuff you see online. But you can only eat so many cookies yourself. Odds are you want to give some of them away, and odds are, you find pleasure in doing that. It makes you feel useful and creative, and it makes a positive impression on others. It's a way for you to connect with friends, neighbors, and even coworkers. 

There is a big difference between that and being forced to bake. It's a quick way to drain all the joy and pleasure out of something. It goes from being something you do out of the kindness of your heart to something you do because you're obligated to. It's even worse if it's an employer who is forcing you to do something (far outside your job description), and almost unforgivable if they fired you the next day. 

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  • 01
    A woman rolls cookie dough for a tray of cookies.
    via Lisa Gageler

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • That's what happened in this story, though, where an employee's kindness was taken as weakness. After being asked to spend her own time and money baking cookies for a work event, she was promptly fired. One last twist of the knife before sending her off into the great unknown. Read on to see what happened. 

  • 02

    Bake for us... oh by way, you are fired.

    My colleagues had a pool party/get-together (that's a whole other topic). I had previously received feedback that I wasn't participating enough in the afterworks so I reluctantly joined. My manager personally asked me if I could bring some home-made cookies that I had made another
    via u/Low_Presentation_500
  • 03
    time before because they were very good. I agreed, bought all the ingredients, spent the evening baking (for 15+ people) and brought them to the party. Everyone was eating them, manager included, and telling me how good they were.
    via u/Low_Presentation_500
  • 04
    Two days later, I get a call from my manager telling me they are letting me go because they aren't satisfied with my work. So let me get this straight: 1 provided free food for a work social event, spent my own time and money to make something people specifically asked for, and then they turn around and toss me out right after.
    via u/Low_Presentation_500
  • 05
    I feel used. Like they wanted one last thing out of me before cutting me loose.
    via u/Low_Presentation_500
  • 06

    Commenters commiserated with this worker.

    randomhobo130 • 1d ago . I planned for MONTHS and hosted a whole a golf tournament for my work. Everybody loved it. Owner participated and shook my hand saying thank you for putting this together. I was laid off on the following Monday. This was a month ago and still infuriates me every time I think about it.
    via u/randomhobo130
  • 07
    Bored_Eastly 1d ago . Some humans s k. Sorry for your lost job. Hope your next one is soon and great.
    via u/Bored_Eastly
  • 08
    Slumunistmanifisto 1d ago . You know, I bet your not wrong about the last cookie hustle. I've heard management talk like that before.
    via u/Slumunistmanifisto
  • 09
    Frustratedtx • 1d ago . Send an invoice for the ingredients and your time.
    via u/Frustratedtx
  • 10
    SierraStar7 · 1d ago That's some bulls, I'd be angry if that happened to me. This is why I no longer give notice before leaving a job.
    via u/SierraStar7
  • 11
    A man in a suit speaks to a woman at work.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 12
    you over Companies will f without a second thought & don't deserve the courtesy of notice. There's only been one time giving notice worked out in my favor & it's because I was let go the day I gave notice per company policy, but they paid me for those two weeks. Ended up going on vacation before starting the new job.
    via u/SierraStar7
  • 13
    introitusawaitus 23h ago • And send them an email stating you just found out some of the ingredients you purchased were contaminated and on a recall.
    via u/introitusawaitus
  • 14
    PimpinWeasel · 1d ago Also send everyone an email that you're glad they enjoyed your cookies. If anyone would like them for future events you'd be happy to work something out with them. If people want them individually give them a good price but make sure you make some profit. If its for a business event be sure to add a screw you fee.
    via u/PimpinWeasel
  • 15
    SmoovCatto • 23h ago bill them according to typical retail food prices and catering fees: cost of ingredients x 2, plus $30-$50/hr for your expertise and labor producing the cookies, plus $100 rental for your kitchen, plus $50 for delivery, plus $50/hr for serving at the event, plus $50 cleanup fees -- they not only used you as slave labor, they are guilty of theft of services.
    via u/SmoovCatto
  • 16
    SnooMachines2673 20h ago • They know what they did. They get to live with it. Tell any coworker that will listen and let the news fester.... In the end, they did you a favor. .sounds like some real high class individuals.
    via u/SnooMachines2673
  • 17
    Due-Criticism Nach... 23h ago . I'd absolutely be selling those cookies. Give them a tongue- in-cheek name and make money to spite the stupidity of the company.
    via u/Due-CriticismNachos
  • 18
    dummkirb • 21h ago Yeah, my coworkers have been golfing and going to football games together, often. I also don't fit in the social circle, but am an excellent source of revenue for the company, considering my less than average hourly rate, and willingness to spend my paycheck to make the company more profitable.
    via u/dummkirb
  • 19
    alexanderpas· 20h ago If you were asked by your manager in writing (such as text) to provide those cookies, bill them for it. Either trough OT and reimbursement of ingredients, or by billing them directly.
    via u/alexanderpas
  • 20
    Distinct_Cry_3779 • 19h ago >So let me get this straight: I provided free food for a work social event, spent my own time and money to make something people specifically asked for, and then they turn around and toss me out right after. Tell me you said this verbatim to the manager when they fired you.
    via u/Distinct_Cry_3779
  • 21
    Grendel0075 • 18h ago Too bad you didn't know what was coming, you could have mixed laxatives in the batter
    via u/Grendel0075
  • 22
    Imaginary-Friend-... . 15h ago Saying you don't participate enough in unpaid non work related events is irrelevant feedback.
    via u/Imaginary-Friend-228
  • 23
    DiamineViolets4Ro... 20h ago Assuming you're American, I cannot imagine a job where external socialization off the clock was welcome, much less required, in this way. Feels like a big red flag, in context of a boss caring so much they provide feedback. You probably already know this, but really feels like you dodged a long term bullet here.
    via u/DiamineViolets4Roses
  • 24
    Networking is one thing, and goes with the territory of some careers, but this is well beyond that sort of expectations. Also, screw these entitled morons. Send homemade cookies to literally anyone else on the planet and they'll be more appreciative.
    via u/DiamineViolets4Roses
  • 25
    And I just realized that they expected you to not only be sociable after work, but to incur actual costs making cookies etc - perhaps technically reimbursable or deductible, but precious few people would bother.
    via u/DiamineViolets4Roses
  • 26
    W2 employment should never incur costs to the employee, both legally and on general principles. You wouldn't pay up front to get a job, that's a guaranteed scam, and you shouldn't have to gift a penny of your pay to coworkers. (Yes, exceptions exist, schoolteachers are a notorious one, but your OP reads pretty clearly that this was a job, not the sort of career or calling where anyone would find that reasonable.)
    via u/DiamineViolets4Roses
  • 27
    KeaAware · 10h ago You feel used because you were used, OP. I'm so sorry. I'd be telling this story (naming the company and individuals involved) to everyone I could for the rest of my life. You'll need to get the tone right so you don't sound bitter (tho you have every right to be bitter, just to be clear). Tell it right, and this is a story that could follow the people involved for a long time.
    via u/KeaAware
  • 28
    terraaus • 2h ago . They might have done you a favor. Think about starting a successful cookie business.
    via u/terraaus

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boss antiwork workplace-stories toxic-workplace job bosses baking work coworkers working reddit story toxic-boss workplace reddit thread bad bosses Reddit cookies toxic-work-environment
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