Employee refuses to buy Girl Scout cookies from coworker's daughter because she's gluten-free, he then turns her entire team against her: 'It's not really about the cookies!'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jan 31, 2026 2:00 PM EST

Who knew that Girl Scout cookies could cause so much trouble for a team of fully grown working adults?

This new manager did not think it was a big deal when she politely declined to purchase Girl Scout cookies from her coworker's daughter. After all, she was gluten-free for legitimate health reasons and assumed her coworker would understand. Well, it turns out that her rejection was interpreted by him as a sign of cold-heartedness. 

Apparently, this was an annual tradition, and the manager who used to work there purchased these Girl Scout cookies each and every year. The new manager, however, was unaware of this tradition. Many employees on the team felt that she should have just purchased some as a gesture and gifted the cookies to someone else outside of work. Perhaps she would have considered doing this if she had known that declining the offer would have caused this much backlash moving forward.

The subsequent weeks were tense in the office. The coworker made sure everyone on his team knew that the new manager refused to indulge his daughter. As is often the case with these stories, all nuance was removed from the equation, and the manager's behavior was completely taken out of context. This was not exactly the healthiest of environments to run a team…

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  • We have to hand it to the manager for standing her ground and not giving in. Most of the time on this site, we come across stories in which a manager's refusal to budge is a sign of their stubbornness and inability to relate to their employees. In this instance, however, it's a matter of principle. The new manager shouldn't have to buy something she can't eat, and she shouldn't have to apologize for her choices either. 

    At this point, it sounds like everyone needs to let go of the importance of Girl Scout cookies and get back to work. Who knows? Maybe this manager is difficult for more justifiable reasons beyond not wanting to eat gluten.

  • A group of coworkers meeting in a hallway. A female manager speaks to a male colleague.
    via Vitaly Gariev

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • "[Am I wrong] for refusing to buy Girl Scout cookies from my coworker?"

    I (36F) am a new manager at my office. I started about 4 months ago, and while I've been trying to get to know my team, I still don't have all the dynamics figured out.
    via Haunting-Citron-4161
  • One of my team members recently asked me to buy Girl Scout cookies from his daughter and I said I couldn't because I have celiac dise which makes me allergic to the cookies.
    via Haunting-Citron-4161
  • He suggested I purchase a box and give it to a friend or family member because it would mean a lot to him and his kid.
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  • The conversation continued back and forth but we didn't argue so l thought everything was fine between us.
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  • Then I find out that he's been talking behind my back about how bad of a manager I am because I'm "stubborn and stingy".
    via Haunting-Citron-4161
  • Apparently their previous manager used to buy a lot of cookies so I look mean in comparison.
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  • I'm not close enough with my other coworkers (besides the one who told me about the gossip) to talk to them about this, but I get the impression they're on his side because one of them made a big show of leaving a plate of cookies. they'd bought from him in the breakroom telling everyone to help themselves and then saying directly to me, "this. flavor is gluten free so feel to eat some!".
    via Haunting-Citron-4161
  • I wanted to keep the peace so I just said thanks, but I didn't eat any because I'm pretty strict about cross contamination with gluten.
    via Haunting-Citron-4161
  • I worry that I made things worse by not eating them, but at the same time I don't think I'm obliged to support his cause.
    via Haunting-Citron-4161
  • My friends say I should just buy a box this time and if he does it again then I can stand my ground but it's not really about the cookies now.
    via Haunting-Citron-4161
  • It's about him trying to shame me into doing what he wants. AITA for not buying cookies from him?
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  • Edit 1: Thank you everyone for weighing in! I'm surprised by how many people have been affected by people selling things in their office.
    via Haunting-Citron-4161
  • I definitely won't be buying his cookies and I'm going to sit down with him to discuss the bad- mouthing.
    via Haunting-Citron-4161
  • I think I'll wait to escalate this to HR because I'm getting the sense that he wouldn't respond well.
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  • A tray of biscuit sandwiches.
    via Darren Halstead

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • It's definitely tough as a new manager and woman so I'm determined to do this right!
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  • blue-brachiosaurus NTA. The only Girl Scout cookies that are gluten free have to be shipped with four or more other boxes of cookies and they don't even declare whether or not they're made in a shared facility!! (Fellow celiac here). Health is not something to be taken lightly and you should never be forced to buy something you can't even consume.
    via Haunting-Citron-4161
  • Kitchen-Phase-6639 NTA. If a colleague puts an order sheet in the break room where people can write in their orders, I don't think anyone is bothered by that. Going up to each worker and asking is a bit much and I'm glad none of my colleagues actually want to do that!
    via Haunting-Citron-4161
  • 4theloveofbbw In my workplace it is banned to sell your Avon, scentsy, school fundraisers, etc. check with HR to see if there's a similar policy. I don't want to bothered with pressure to spend $ while I'm trying to make money.
    via Haunting-Citron-4161
  • [deleted] If you're the Manager, I would have a slit down with this employee and tell them you don't appreciate this becoming inter office chatter and him blasting you for not buying his cookies to the other staff. Explain to him that this is not professional behavior for an office environment and you are disappointed that something like this has become an issue. NTA
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  • neophenx NTA. You should never be forced to buy something or eat something that you do not want, regardless of your health or dietary concerns. This situation just sounds like an HR nightmare and not at all appropriate for the workplace. If you "look mean" because you won't shell out money for cookies, people need to be reminded that it's not in your job description.
    via Haunting-Citron-4161
  • A group of coworkers meeting in a hallway. A female manager speaks to a male colleague.
    via Vitaly Gariev

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Acrobatic-Kiwi-1208 "No, thank you" is a full sentence and your team member ought to respect it. I know selling cookies is mostly about $$ for the Girl Scouts, but it's also about teaching girls people skills, planting the early seeds of business/marketing/strategy/fundraising, learning to deal with rejection, and more, and all of this is undermined by the trend of Mommy and Daddy posting on Facebook or forcing their coworkers to buy cookies. You are not obligated to buy cookies from a grown man
    via Haunting-Citron-4161
  • inevitable_newb NTA. Wow. Just wow at his behavior. Manager or not, it is not ok to try to pressure coworkers for your kids stuff. I don't have celiacs, I just don't like girl scout cookies! And I shouldn't need a health excuse to say I didn't want more processed sugar.
    via Haunting-Citron-4161
  • Traditional-Load8228 Here's the deal. Girl Scouts only get something like $1 from every box. Ask if you can just donate $20 to the troop so they get all of the money. Edit to add: IF you want to. You're not obligated. But if everyone is going to be so stupid about it. This is an easy way to nip it
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  • badpandacat NTA. Talk to HR. If they don't have policies about employee solicitation, be it Girl Scout cookies or Avon or whatever, they should. At most, solicitors should leave sign-up sheets in the breakroom, and pressuring is a fireable offense.
    via Haunting-Citron-4161

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management terrible coworkers boss aita work stories girl scout cookies gluten free
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