A woman says her refusal to purchase Girl Scout cookies due to dietary restrictions has resulted in her being labeled “stingy” by a coworker, who is badmouthing her in the office.
In a post on Reddit’s “Am I the A——?” forum, the 36-year-old manager explained how her declining the cookies has created major office drama.
“One of my team members recently asked me to buy Girl Scout cookies from his daughter,” the woman wrote, going on to explain that she said she couldn’t “because I have celiac disease which makes me allergic to the cookies.”
However, the woman said that her coworker then “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.”
“The conversation continued back and forth but we didn’t argue so I thought everything was fine between us,” the woman added.
However, the woman quickly realized that their issues were just beginning.
“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,’ ” the woman wrote.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
After discovering that the previous manager used to buy “a lot of cookies,” the woman said that now she “looks mean in comparison.”
“I’m not close enough with my other coworkers to talk to them about this, but I get the impression they’re on his side,” the woman said.
Ultimately, the woman said she felt like she hadn’t done anything wrong, but not everybody in her life agrees she did the right thing.
“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,” the woman wrote. “It’s about him trying to shame me into doing what he want.”
Unlike her friends and coworkers, the overwhelming majority of Redditors took the woman’s side.
“She has a legitimate medical reason for not purchasing the cookies, and her coworker’s attempts to shame her into doing so are unprofessional and inappropriate,” one commenter wrote. “Her job is to be a manager, not to participate in every team member’s personal fundraising endeavors.”
“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,” added another.
A third user was shocked at the employee’s behavior.
“Wow,” read the comment. “Just wow at his behavior. Manager or not, it is not ok to try to pressure coworkers for your kids’ stuff.”
Read the full article here
