Employee doesn't want to contribute $15 a month for the office snacks as they bring they're own food, now the coworkers are mad: 'One even said that I benefit from having a stocked kitchen even if I don't personally eat anything'

Author image for María Cetra
María Cetra • Writer
Nov 6, 2026 8:00 PM EST

Some people think that just because it's not a lot of money, it doesn't matter that you are spending it. Well, it doesn't work like that!

If your coworkers and manager pressured you to pay $15 a month for coffee and snacks to be available in the office kitchen, would you do it? And what about if you didn't eat that food, would you continue to pay for it just to avoid conflict? Do you see reason to continue giving money to the cause if you aren't going to eat said food? I don't think so. This story had a lot of things that didn't sit right with me, but let's analyse it one by one. 

The first thing that seemed very weird to me was the fact that employees had to pay for coffee and snacks to be available in the office kitchen. I kinda understand it with the snacks, but coffee? I have worked in different offices over the years, and no matter what the job was about, how much they paid, or how many hours I had to be at the office, I always had coffee and water (hot and cold) available any time I wanted. It was never something that I had to pay for; it was there. At one of the jobs that I had, we had available food and snacks. We had protein bars, fruit, cookies, all for free. It was just a custom of the workplace. I understand that not every place can provide the same thing, but to charge for coffee is just too much. That should be simply available for all employees, no matter whether they pay or not. 

Another thing that I don't understand is why they do this collective purchase of food for the office; isn't it simpler to just bring your own snacks from home? I would prefer a thousand times to go buy the protein bars that I like instead of having to hope that there are still the chocolate kind available in the kitchen. You will pay for it anyway; why don't you just bring your own stuff?

And the last thing that completely strikes me is the fact that the other coworkers are so mad that this employee stopped contributing. This employee brings their food and snacks. They don't need anything from the office kitchen, so why bother to pay for something they do not consume? And what is so bad about losing $15 a month? They said it was almost no money-wise, so why do they care so much that they are not going to count on that amount anymore? Also, prohibiting this person from even accessing the office kitchen is crazy behavior. That is going too far over a dumb dispute that shouldn't be happening at all. 

In conclusion, if I were in their position, I would have stopped contributing a long time ago and simply buy what I like to consume in the office, but also, I would notify HR about the behavior of the coworkers. They were too defensive over something with zero importance. As they said, it's just $15, so why make a whole deal out of this employee refusing to pay it? 

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  • 01
    Three coworkers spending their break together in the office kitchen. Recreated scenario included to enhance reader understanding.
    via Maurice Sardison

    Three coworkers spending their break together in the office kitchen. 

    Recreated scenario included to enhance reader understanding. 

  • 02
    Our office has a communal fund that everyone is expected to contribute to. It's used to buy coffee, tea, milk, sugar, cookies, protein bars and other snacks that people keep in the kitchen. Everyone puts in around $15 every month. The thing is, I don't use any of it. I bring my own coffee from home, I don't drink milk or tea, and I usually bring my own lunch and snacks. I've probably taken
    via Flashy_Law9975
  • 03
    something from the communal cupboard once since I started working here. I've been contributing since I joined because I didn't want to make a fuss, but recently I started thinking about how pointless it was. So when our office manager collected contributions for next month, I politely said I'd rather not participate since I don't use the supplies. She seemed a little surprised but said okay. I thought
    via Flashy_Law9975
  • 04
    that was the end of it. Apparently not. A couple of coworkers found out and started making comments about how the fund is supposed to be for everyone and how it would be unfair if people started opting out. One even said that I benefit from having a stocked kitchen even if I don't personally eat anything. I pointed out that I don't use the kitchen supplies and that nobody is stopping me from buying my
    via Flashy_Law9975
  • 05
    own things. They said it's only. $15 and that I'm making a big deal out of something so small. Yesterday, someone brought it up again during lunch and suggested that if I wasn't contributing, I shouldn't be allowed to use the kitchen appliances or communal space. I told them that was fine because | wasn't asking to use anything. Now things are a bit awkward, and I've heard that a few other people are considering opting
    via Flashy_Law9975
  • 06
    out too. I don't mind contributing to something I actually use, but I don't see why I should pay for other people's coffee and snacks just because we happen to work in the same office. AITJ?
    via Flashy_Law9975
  • 07
    The office kitchen filled with coffee, protein bars, and other snacks.
    via Petr

    The office kitchen filled with coffee, protein bars, and other snacks. 

  • 08
    Big_Year_526 NTJ... honestly your workplace should be providing coffee, tea and cream/sugar. Its such a small price to pay for employee morale and it avoids issues like this.
    via Big_Year_526
  • 09
    BulbasaurRanch "One even said that I benefit from having a stocked kitchen even if I don't personally eat anything." lol how ???
    via BulbasaurRanch
  • 10
    BeautifulChaosEnergy Hold on, how many people are paying $15 a month? How much food are they buying?! Like 30 people paying $15 that's $450 a month and 60 is $900 Are they making a profit on this? Like I doubt they're buying that much stuff every month. Coffee, sugar and stuff sure. But how often are they restocking the protein bars and such?
    via BeautifulChaosEnergy
  • 11
    Shoesietart How exactly do you benefit from a stocked kitchen if you don't use anything in it? Maybe those who actually use it should be paying more. You know, cause they're using it and you're not. Not the j rk.
    via Shoesietart
  • 12
    Tight-Researcher210 I think it's wrong for the company to insist on employees funding the break room. The company should cover the expenses associated with the benefits it offers. In fact the company isn't offering those benefits at all. They are self-funded benefits that not everyone signed up for. I would be the one to opt-out, too. I bring my food and drinks from home. It's shameful the company has out employees in this
    via Tight-Researcher210
  • 13
    max out on using the offerings exceeding $15 in product.
    via Tight-Researcher210
  • 14
    TyAnne88 Why did the manager let word get out? Your manager created the problem.
    via TyAnne88
  • 15
    Adoration0x The monthly contributions is $180 a year per person. How many people are in your office? I find it really hard to believe that every penny gets spent on basic office kitchen supplies (coffee, milk, sugar) and snacks. Like, the company doesn't provide basics? Also, if you don't use it, why would you be paying into this fund. That's basically extortion on the part of the co-workers who are being jerks about it. So no, NTJ
    via Adoration0x
  • 16
    Stinkerma Nta. How many people are contributing $15/month? I'd be asking for a breakdown of expenses if I were pushed to contribute. I would not be surprised if incoming and outgoing would not add up.
    via Stinkerma
  • 17
    Moist_Diamond_903 $180 per year is a lot of money. Don't let them tell you that it is just some insignificant amount. Ntj.
    via Moist_Diamond_903

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