AIBU not to bring in anything for yet another work birthday tea?

[Hoardasauruskaren]

I work in a large dept with around 100 staff. Big birthdays, leaving, getting married or going on mat leave are all marked with a whip round & where possible a tea for the person.
I contribute to every gift & until recently every tea. A few times I have just forgotten to pick something up but last few times I have just not bothered. Reason is there is always a ridiculous amount of food (mostly cakes & biscuits) & a fair bit of it ends up in the bin/ taken home by those clearing up afterwards. AIBU & a Scrooge for just not bringing anything? I’m not a massive sweet lover & will usually eat 1 small slice of cake.

I think, rather than just stopping ( which leaves fewer people who are being relied upon), I would put the suggestion out about thinking again how this is done.
If there are 100 or so people, then presumably 'things to celebrate' come round quite regularly. Which means a huge amount of money being paid out (collection plus donations for 'the tea' on a regular basis) but also an awful lot of staff hours when people aren't able to be getting their work done.

Plus, presumably, with 100 people, you will often be being asked to contribute for people you don't even really know?

Is there not a way to break this down into smaller sections ?

Of course, suggestions for better ways to organise small celebrations, are likely to be better received than just criticism.

I think it's okay if you don't eat from the tea. You say you normally eat a piece of cake, so you are benefiting from the generosity of others. If you eat any of it you should contribute in some way, even a small gesture.
We had someone at work who never brought anything to buffets but would fill their plate, they were soon called out as being a scrounger!

I stopped years ago to bring stuff in.
Can't do gluten and milk so is never a part of it anyway.

They do come round regularly! Often 2 or 3 a month. The nature of our work means that we do actually know most others! It’s a hospital Dept which provides a 24 hour a day service, working a variety of shifts so we work with different colleagues all the time.

When there is a tea we get an extra 10 mins added on to our 20 min tea break so it doesn’t impact hugely on productivity. Patients still have to be seen regardless. Not sure if there’s any other way to do it as we don’t have sections or teams the way you would in an office environment.

We used to have a list of suggested items that people put their name down next to as they added their contribution of cash to-the envelope, this meant we were not inundated with just cake. Always had salads, savouries like quiche or sausage rolls, liz’s famous brownies and other stuff like crisps, hummus and dips.

If it's something that most people in the team enjoy and it means you all get an extra few minutes on your break in a difficult job, then I think some will view you as tight if you don't contribute. You definitely shouldn't be taking part in others' if you're never going to contribute yourself.

Maybe take some expensive teabags or coffee bags or something 🤷 You can keep a stash at your desk or in your locker

A rota?
Everyone gets to take part but not as much stuff is made/bought/wasted?

I think it's fine. You could argue you are currently in credit with amount brought by you Vs eaten so far. Not that I say it has to be one for one. But if your contribution genuinely isn't needed why waste money and food.

Can you do the equivalent of a birthday donation has been made in your name (!)

Instead of buying cake, can you buy something to make the staff room nicer, like a plant or birthday decorations that can be re used. Get a few of you together to agree not to buy food for a while and buy something bigger to improve the work environment

This will be ingrained in the team now so I think any suggestion of stopping it or changing it will not be warmly received!
If you don’t want to bring anything in then that’s ok but don’t eat anything on that occasion.
Or you can bring in savoury items that don’t cost too much, breadsticks and hummus,?

we have a similar team arrangement, also hospital working and we always have a list up of who’s bringing what so you can see that there’s loads of cakes and cookies and so I’ll put down cheese's for example. That might be a more expensive buy so the next time I’ll bring cucumber and tomatoes or I’ll bake.

The nature of our work means that we do actually know most others! It’s a hospital Dept which provides a 24 hour a day service, working a variety of shifts so we work with different colleagues all the time.

But equally, the fact you work with different people from the 100 or so all the time, means that it is unlikely the people are that close to you.

This will be ingrained in the team now so I think any suggestion of stopping it or changing it will not be warmly received!

Or there will be a collective sigh of relief, from everyone else struggling to put a fiver / tenner in an envelope 2 or 3 times a month, for people with whom they only have a passing relationship or who are really only an acquaintance on top of having to go out and buy foods to bring in 2 or 3 times a month.

Various suggestions could be
This 'tea party' can the people whose names begin with A - I all bring something. Next occasion can the people whose names begin with J - R bring something, 3rd time people with names that begin with S - Z. So, less stress of having to bring all the time , less expense of having to bring all the time, and less waste.

For the collection, everyone pays into 'the fund' either set amount, or, if thought fairer, a proportion based on earnings (so Consultants are expected to pay more than porters, and, if people think fair, PT staff pay less than FT staff - but, whatever rules people think fair), either a small standing order each month, or every 6 months or whatever, then the gift is bought out of the fund up to an agreed amount. Seems a bit clinical, but less pressure on everyone. If anyone doesn't want to join the fund, that's fine, but they won't get a gift when they get married / have a baby / have a zero birthday / etc.