Bringing baked goods into work

[Bibblybumblebee]

I really enjoy baking - I’m quite good - only thing I’m really any good at!
I like baking traditional cakes like Victoria sponge, lemon drizzle, carrot.

I normally bake on the weekend and sometimes bake a tray bake cake and take it to work.
I work in a team of about 10 people. So there’s plenty for everyone to help themselves- it’s normally demolished by Wednesday.

2 woman I work with are always on a diet or talking about fitness - both in there late 50s.
One of them asked to have a word with me today and said her and this other woman both agree it’s not appropriate to bring in homemade cakes to work because it’s unhealthy and not fair when people are trying to be ‘good’.
She also said that if I could be reported to HR as I haven’t had a hygiene rating certificate at home. She said she’s worried if someone got sick from my homemade food I could get in trouble.

AIBU to feel a bit upset about this. My home is spotless my kitchen is clean.

I think these woman have just got food issues but I am worried they could report me.

I don’t bake cakes every week. Maybe once every 6 weeks.

Whats your opinion on people being in baked goods from home into work?

I manage a team and this is the kind of petty shit that grinds me down on a weekly basis!

I hope you continue to bake and make people happy. Its them, they've concocted this between themselves, and some people are just like this and it's not okay.

I’d speak to HR but also make it clear that no one HAS to have a cake and that they CAN say no if they’d rather not!! What a couple of miseries

Ha ha ha, quick tell MacMillan that they'll have to stop their annual bake sale because nobody has a hygiene rating. What a pair of idiots.

In the name of god, tell the miserable fat cow to FUCK OFF!

I would go out of my way to get a food hygiene certificate! It’s cheap to get & the training is easy enough (I’ve got one myself).

Regarding the rest, it is so dramatic and petty…I wouldn’t stop baking, and I’m sure others have better advice re what to say. I would do my best not to get my manager or HR involved.

The OP has made it clear in her posts that the women complaining are actually very slim, much slimmer than she is.

INteresting that your idea of an insult is about a persons size.....

😂

Good idea.

Some people just want to rule the world - or their small part of it.

Hmmm, as nearly every other poster has said, it seems the issue is with the (lack of) willpower of the two women complaining, and they're using a fake concern for health and safety rules as a cover. My boss used to bring doughnuts to our weekly staff meetings for our team of five. A self-appointed spokesperson, who's forever on a diet like the two women in the OP, told the boss that "we don't need doughnuts", so she stopped bringing them. However, this staff member has no control over outside sources. Today one of my clients appeared with a box of muxed doughnuts for the office. I put them in the kitchen area while I met with him. Half an hour later, half the box was gone, apparently eaten by this woman. I was kind of miffed that I didn't at least get first choice as it was my client who brought them!

My opinion? She’s batshit crazy. If she doesn’t want your cake, she can say "no, thank you".

Crikey I'd never thought of that, HR will probably notice a pattern of sick leave every six weeks .....

All blaming food poisoning from cake ......

I realise now why one cake is called

Death by chocolate

I mean it's even advertising it's lethal.

Comes in and shoves @UniversalAunt out of the way..........

OP do me a lemon drizzle cake please!!!

I dont see how you need a hygiene rating if youre not running a business.
The cakes are a personal gift.
Sometimes rules are brought in ' to cover backs,'
Clarify with management or HR about bringing food into work AND GET IT IN WRITING AND FRAME IT.
If you choose to gift someone food.

I would love to see the article when you get MILLIONS for wrongful dismissal for taking a cake to work.
Have you heard of ; ' CONSTRUCTIVE DISMISSAL
The workplace is Heavily Legislated, dont forget that they cant make up rules as they go along.'
It comes under ' BULLYING' and ' CONSTRUCTIVE DISMISSAL' .

....check it out.

Well done op I wouldn't stop they are obviously miserable

To swim against the tide a bit here… two members of your 10 person team are vocal in saying they don’t like it. That’s 20%. If there are another two who are thinking it, but not saying it - maybe because they’re younger and so less forthright, or whatever - that’s 40% of your team who would prefer that you didn’t bring in home bakes.

I’d actually be a little bit circumspect and send round a group email asking for opinions in a really open way. We’re living in an obesogenic society and some people do regard sugar as a poison. Or perhaps you can give some notice so people can factor it in to breakfast / packed lunch plans?

The hygiene rating but is totally BS and your colleagues l sound quite grinchy and not kind about it.

(Personally I’d love your cakes, but then again I am overweight!)

I have to say when first reading this I thought you were bringing it in weekly and I could really see why that would be an issue! I don't agree with the rubbish about the hygiene cert and agree these women sound more like trouble makers etc
But cakes wise I just think sugar addiction, obesity and disordered eating are all real things and people should be allowed to go to their place of work without battling with temptation and extra pressure and distraction.

There's already so much advertising pushing sugar, sweets at every till, even if non food shops, sweet treats in every cafe and coffee shop, biscuits offered whenever you pop to see a friend, the list goes on. It's very hard. If that was alcohol (another common addiction) then you can see how that would be hard.

So when people are trying to just go to work and keep their head down, why should they constantly have temptation there (in the form of gorgeous home made goodies, the most tempting kind of sugar)

Imagine someone dieting for important health reasons who has packed up their little salad or otherwise healthy but unexciting lunch and they're desperately trying to stick to the plan but mon-wed there is temptation lurking on a regular basis. Yes it's their choice if they eat it but in my opinion it's fair to consider how much harder that makes things for them.

Occasionally yes, regularly no, not fair

If I dont want people bringing in cakes I just dont eat them

why is saying no so difficult

@WandaWonder sadly for plenty of people saying no is very difficult. Try and imagine if it was glasses of wine lined up in the staff room or high traffic area.
Or trays of cigarettes or vapes. Those who are trying to cut back/stop from smoking or drinking would find that hard and unfair. I think the issue is more obvious if you replace with those items.
People go into work to try make a living and not to battle their demons. For many it's not an issue and that's great but for a reasonable portion of people I would say it is an issue. It's just about being considerate to others

I'm late to the game but I love HR's answer.

I actually think it IS inappropriate to keep bringing cakes in. It’s a workplace, not a tea party.

The comments from people here about the women who complained smack of bullying. Contrary to what people are saying, it turns out they are slim, not obese and lacking willpower. But I bet they have had to work very hard to stay slim and not eat cakes. Why should they constantly have cakes shoved under their noses if they have made a decision this is not something they want to eat? There is so much unhealthy food in our everyday diet and people do not need the temptation. Enjoy your cakes at home with your family.

All this baking must be costing a bit too. Are you taking contributions for that or are you just a feeder?

I feel really sad reading that. I feel like you might be really unhappy. I hope not.

Those women were really inappropriate and gaslit the OP into thinking she was breaking rules. If you don’t want cake, don’t eat it. As you say we are tempted by unhealthy food choices all the time, are you saying we should stop selling them in shops too.

From an organisation perspective, happy workers are productive workers and those little bonding moments over a quick piece of cake once every few weeks can give a bit of joy, people can feel nurtured and the OP feel good about doing something kind.

In terms of the problem with carrying excess weight in this country it’s the manufacturers and marketers of UPF foods and drinks and the Government that doesn’t care enough to legislate that you should direct your energy at.

It's every six weeks and not constant.

I think they're just put on a table, not under the women's noses.

Judging by some on here the OP is likely using out of date ingredients for her every six week (8 times a year) cake making so it won't be costing too much.

@Sonyaleg That’s quite a patronising response too. I’m happy enough, thanks. Are you?

I have struggled with my weight all my life and have worked very hard to try to control it. Personally, it wouldn’t bring me joy to have cakes brought in and to face the expectation I would eat some. I mean, I love cake, but I am trying my hardest not to eat it.

This discussion is a bit like the old ones about passive smoking. I’m sure allowing smoking in the workplace made the smokers happy. It just wasn’t so good for those who breathed in their fumes and got cancer.

Whether or not to eat cake should be a private decision. But once it’s in the office and being offered round, no doubt it is seen as rude or “sad” to refuse.

The focus on UPFs is the latest fad. From real, lived experience I’d say cake is undoubtedly not a healthy thing to eat, be it homemade or shop bought. Fine if you want to indulge occasionally but don’t force it on others.

But you made up your own narrative of what's happening... it's not constant!