Manager insists on buying expensive custom cakes for each coworker’s birthday and expects co-managers to pay for them, one considers calling in sick to avoid paying. “Average budget is $60 a cake, company does not reimburse.”

Olivia Arocena • Writer and Editor

Jun 4, 2026 12:00 PM EDT

How is everyone so comfortable with spending $300 a year on in-office birthdays?

Let's preface this story by saying I'm on the Redditor's side this time, and also that I find it so puzzling how some people can't even fathom considering others' economy when making suggestions like this. That said, it was my 29th birthday last week, and that also got me thinking about how people relate to birthdays and celebrations. I've forgotten so many people's birthdays, no matter if they were friends of mine, partners, colleagues, or even close family members, and I didn't tend to take it personally if somebody forgot mine or didn't give me a present. At least, that's what I thought before my favourite aunt couldn't be bothered to message me that day. In that moment, I felt all those years of karma staring at me right in the face. I know this seems beside the point, but bear with me here: birthday celebrations ARE an important event, even if they are not obligatory, and intelligent managers should make them a part of their agenda if they would like to have a healthy, enthusiastic team of workers; however, the expenses derived from that endeavour should ideally come from the company and nowhere else.

via Katie Rosario

Pink and white cake representing coworkers favorite.
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Obligatory Birthday Contributions Are Making Me Call In Sick Tomorrow

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I'm assuming this manager knew the importance of making everyone feel celebrated, while also knowing the company's budget limitations, and decided to take matters into her own hands, or well, into her and her teammates' hands. Or maybe she's just too rich and can't imagine someone could be upset about having to spend $300 a year out of their own pocket on CAKES.
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The calling-in-sick strategy is a sly but effective strategy unquestionably, but it's definitely a "one-or-two-timer"; eventually, when every birthday prompts a sudden illness truth will out, and the management team will have to have an honest conversation, which by the way should've been the first option to consider.