To think that bringing cakes into work is a bit try hard

[Cateyes113]

Fair enough if it's for an special event or something. It's a nice gesture, but I think bringing in cakes for everyone 'just because' is people trying to be liked and win people over. Maybe I'm just miserable.

I do generally think it's a lovely gesture...

BUT I don't really like cake and I have been in the position of having to turn it down... especially awkward if it's been "safed" for you by the baker!

I bring cakes into work every few weeks (shop bought, wouldn't inflict my "baking" on anyone!)
Colleagues bring treats as well, we are a small, understaffed team and every day is full on, a bit of cake goes down well.

Work 12 hour shifts on a packed busy psych ward and when colleagues bring cakes it always goes down well for morale

I work in the public sector, we get nothing for free not even a cup of tea, even have to bring in our own mugs. My team work bloody hard in an awful psychologically and emotionally draining industry. I can't give them bonuses or pay rises, I bake for them every couple of weeks, other team members who are bakers do similar. I always make sure I get them something for Christmas, a little something for Easter (out of my own pocket of course). Small gestures go a long way, it's not about being liked, it's about wanting to do something nice for people who actually deserve a lot more. YABU

It's not compulsory to either bring them in or to eat them when they have been brought. I love baking. Its like therapy for me. I'm constantly trying new recipes and new decorating techniques. We couldn't possibly eat everything I bake so I'm often giving things away. Sometimes they aren't pretty but they always taste good. Plus, it's good to get feedback for future adjustments to flavours, textures etc. If someone doesn't want to be a guinea-pig they don't have to be.

I love bringing in stuff for my colleagues to eat. I don't bake very often but I'm a sucker for a bargain so if I see something on offer I'll often bring it in. Brings a smile to their faces

Yes you are being miserable. I hate it when people's good intentions are twisted. Must be horrible to be such a cynic.

Not everyone has an ulterior motive. Sometimes cake is just cake, and people love it.

You don't have to eat, or be impressed by, them. It's just a nice thing that some people like to do. Pre-Covid there were a couple of people in my office who regularly used to bring "cakes without cause". It wasn't toadying, they just enjoyed baking. I don't myself, but I don't begrudge the pleasure of those who do. Or their cakes (although perhaps the marmite and chocolate sponge was not their finest hour).

I make cakes for my work place and also for my partners work place , I like making cakes , I don't go out to be dislikable but tbh I really don't care if people like me or not

Yes you are just miserable. I used to often take cakes, biscuits etc into work as my DC used to enjoy baking but it was far too much for just us to eat at home.

YABU. I love baking, so it's less cakes for me to eat and get fatter.

Yabu and miserable. Eat the cake.

Nah, you're just being miserable. There are many things to get irritated about in life, but free home-cake isn't one of them.

There’s miserable - and then there’s you OP

Well so what if they are? It works imo so smart move on their part. Unless the cake is rank.

YANBU.

I can't bake, I don't like cake, I don't have a sweet tooth, yet in my old office, everyone was expected to bake for the entire team every year on their birthdays!

Sod that. They got onion bhajis one year and the other years I took the day off.

YANBU if it's some show off type thing that's not even tasty and you have to listen to a 30 min description of how they did chocolate ganache in a bain-marie. Thankfully now bake-off has had its day its not that regular an occurrence.(plus covid)

No YABU to any other lovely form of kindness via food. Bring it on!
I work in the public sector too. I get given tea, cake and biscuits wherever I go. Sometimes full meals. Because we aren't allowed to take presents and people are very kind. They want to make us feel welcome. I always take it. The world is full of lovely kind and caring people (usually middle aged women but occasionally men). Often it's home baked. It's the best bit of the job!
A team meeting can't be held without a cuppa and a biscuit. When we were on zoom for the best part of 18 months we brought our own.

waiting for the gluten-free/egg free/dairy-free/vegan contingent to come along.these dietary considerations are among the different recipes I have tried

It can sometimes be competition between bakers too. Had that somewhere I worked, not that I was complaining.

YANBU when I first moved to this job I was told that X is a ‘star baker’ and I MUST try X’s creations. She makes them at least twice and week and yeah this is very cruel but they’re actually quite shit.

When I have worked with people I liked I would defo bring in cakes or pick up ice lollies if I had walked to the shop on a hot day, I would not do that for a team I did not like. We all worked hard, but had a laugh and it was nice for team morale.

For me it’s not them bringing the cake, it’s the judgement when I choose not to eat any.

Yes you are being miserable. People bring them in because they enjoy baking and baking isn't really something where you can make 1 portion. So if you enjoy baking the natural thing is to take the goods somewhere you can share them with others

Fucking hell, OP. Just let people enjoy things.

It says a hell of a lot about you that you can't imagine that people would ever do anything nice without some sort of ulterior motive.