How to Get Refund for Office Cake?

How can I get the new office girl to give me back the money she owes me? read on …

We have a birthday tradition where everyone including the boss puts in ten bucks for a birthday cake on a birthday. Then at 2pm we go to the birthday table and give the cake and we all get a slice to eat.

I am working there 1 and a half years no complains from me at all.

Then the boss gets a new assistant girl. Yesterday we all gave her ten bucks for a guys cake. 2pm rolls around and the cake isnt the best one caramel mud cake … but I eat it anyway.

But when I was making tea in the kitchen later guess what I saw in the bin … a docket for the cake. I am curious guy and I took it out to read it. Total cost for medium glucose free caramel cake was $63.50 but there were 8 of us who gave money in the office.

"What happened to the $17.50?" I asked the girl. She was very defensive that I brought it up, and said that she is allowed to keep it because she spent her lunch break to drive her car and get the cake.

I think if I told the boss she would be fired in an instance, but I am holding back because I don't want to look bad.

Whats the best way to deal with this? I'd be happy enough if she just gave me some small refund, 5 bucks?

EDIT: I saw some one say to put the docket on the bosses desk and keep photographs of it just in case. Honestly this is exactly what I wanted to hear. I am thinking of doing it after everyone leaves 5pm today. Some people said that the boss could take it the wrong way, so I am definitely not going to put my name on it, just anonymously put the docket there.

EDIT: for some reason no one has gone home yet, i will wait a bit more until i'm sure they are gone. I have some second thoughts after what everyone said about me only getting 2 bucks not 5 bucks or more, but I should trust my gut instincts to do the right thing.

edit didnt give docket to boss, and im getting a later train home. feel sick thinking about this whole thing. i will ask my life partner what they think and maybe come in early tomorrow morning and give docket then.


Mod: Thread has been closed.

closed Comments

  • +148

    Jesus christ.

    • +10

      He would multiply the cake by 1000.

      • +5

        He would multiply the "refund" amount by 2.5.

        Oh, wait. The OP already did that.

        • He explains later that “ didn't see anyone else complaining about the docket like I did, so they wouldn't get $2“
          FFS

    • +27

      This thread just takes the cake

      ;)

      • +2

        oh my god someone call the cops!!

      • +1

        Kate and Edith too

      • +1

        I think there are lots of trolls here who have been posting stuff like this recently and never follow up on end results.

    • +4

      OP must be really poor or extra stingy

      • THIS. IS. OZBARGAIN!!!1!!

        *kicks *

    • Agreed. Jesus Christ will know the answer.

      • Even Jesus would think you were taking the piss

    • Can you believe this guy.

      • +2

        I can kind of see his point "based on principle", it's pretty much stealing. A bit of a grey area.

        I don't think it's right to try and get her fired for such a small amount though. But over many birthday cakes it would start adding up.

        People get warned/fired for stealing office supplies…it's a principle/character issue…

        • +6

          If it is based on principle then he wouldn't ask her to get $5 back. He could have told the assistant that the remaining money should go in the pool for next party.
          That's how I have done in past, being the junior most in the team, I was the person in charge for organizing such events. After each party I published the expense to the team along with remaining amount. These activities are for team building and one is not suppose to take benefit out of these.

          OP - Send email to assistant asking for receipt, CC all other persons in email. Drop a line in there that whatever amount is remaining should be used up next time.

    • Christ almighty

  • +30

    hypocrite much, you're worst

    why do you think you're entitled to $5 , when …

    $17.50 /8 = $2.1875

    EDIT: Ohh wait, forgot finders fees

    • +40

      Actually $80 - $63.50 = $16.50, so $2.06.

      Sack OP for bin diving, poor financial skills and attempted blackmail.

        • +26

          I was only writing what I thought was fair, not basing it on maths or anything.

          That's exactly what she did.

        • +5

          they wouldn't get $2.

          A now now the cover up - Officecakegate.

          It all sounds like an episode from The Office.

        • +7

          So you think its 'fair' to get $5 back when only owed $2.06, and she thinks its 'fair' to be paid $16.50 to use her own car to drive and get a cake on her own time…..

          The fact is, you're owed at best $2.

        • +4

          you can't have your cake and eat it too

        • +3

          @idonotknowwhy:

          He just wants his cake and $5.

          Of course, nobody else gets the $5, because they weren't astute enough to find out that the assistant pocketed a few dollars for driving to the fricking cake shop IN HER OWN CAR DURING HER OWN LUNCH BREAK.

          WTF?

        • +2

          didn't see anyone else complaining about the docket like I did, so they wouldn't get $2.

          What the heck does this say about your morality, give her a break.

      • +7

        And also being a despicable snitch. It's entirely possible the boss has already seen the receipt and okayed the girl keeping the change as reimbursement for using her own car.

    • TightAss

      • Seriously OP, if I were your boss I will do my best to make sure you resign. Wow

    • +1

      Finder's fee ? WHERE ?

      • +1

        In the dumpster.

  • +4

    lol

    • +3

      It sickening

      • +5

        How dare she, she should've divided that 16.50 perfectly and gave everyone $2.06

        • +10

          I keep a bucket of 1c coins for exactly this situation.

          After all, if I only gave people back $2.05, I'd be reported to the boss for pocketing the difference.

        • +1

          this is law , not just courtesy

          hence why the banks rolling out Pay ID for instant $ transfer

        • +5

          @phunkydude:

          Usually, in most workplaces, the extra money goes in the office kitty for later use. For example, maybe they buy a cake and drinks for the next party that add up to $85. They just take the $5 out and it's sorted.

          I've never worked in a workplace where they worry about refunding a couple of dollars each and every time, or coming around and demanding 50c extra from each person if it goes over. The office assistant usually has a kitty for this sort of thing, and that's where the change goes.

    • +4

      order 66

    • +1

      CAKE CAKE CAKE

  • lol

  • +7

    Your maths is off, the difference is $16.50, not $17.50. And the refund should be divided by 8 so $2 per person. She ought to be allowed some expenses. So you're saying you want to make a fuss over $1 refund for yourself?

      • +27

        No you should ask for all of it back. You are entitled to the full amount for bringing it up and having the courage to confront that horrible evil person for buying a cake on her own time. Seriously WTF is wrong with you?

      • +5

        you should drive out during your lunch time to get the cake

        and return $5 each to 7 others

      • I think you need to ask yourself why is no one else complaining about the cake type….or the cost…

      • +1

        You want $5 for essentially not getting her 'sacked in an instance'. Very generous of you and of course, very fair!

  • +12

    the issue is not that she spent under the budget (of which i would have gotten around by spending the remainder on scratchies for the birthday person), but the real issue is that she bought a 'glucose free' cake….wtf

      • +4

        I thought it was worth $63.50?

        • +80

          @JFurter: this thread wasn't worth reading, you should give us all $5 for wasting our time.

        • +2

          @JFurter:

          Maybe she thought it was worth $80 because shes a real fan of Caramel Cake

        • @Fergy1987: let them eat cake

        • @JFurter:All it matters is whether the cake was acceptable/good for the birthday person. It does not matter if it is not your birthday!

        • @onetwothree:

          Sign me up.

    • Maybe she was under orders to do so because of one of the people in group. But $63.50 for a cake? You could get very nice slices of opera cake (for non-diabetics) for $5 each, and probably less as a cake.

    • Maybe add extra gluten to suffice.

  • +15

    Thread of the year

  • +35

    I'm personally amazed that every other cake up until now cost exactly as much as was put in at that specific moment in time.

  • +19

    People pay $63.50 for a cake???

    • This is exactly what I thought. $10 a slice lololololol. You can get a slice of ridiculously fancy cake from overpriced places like The Coffee Club for way less than that.

      • +3

        We grab a $4.00 mud cake at Woolies … sometimes $2 when they are on special!

  • +15

    I think the sad part is your company dosen't even fork out for birthday cakes

    • +1

      Not uncommon at all, we also chip in for birthday cakes in my company (unless the manager feels generous)

    • +2

      Yeah so each person is paying $10 for a slice or 2 of cake.

  • +6

    there's more whining on here than on Whirlpool

    • +2

      We've worked so hard - our efforts will soon pay off!

  • +8

    I really can't believe this cr*p……

    Or the fact that we're wasting our time reading it!

    WTF is wrong with this guy?

    • hahahahahahahhahahaha
      i know mate, so much h*cking d**n cr*p everywhere here

      • What on earth are the original words you censored? I can only guess at one.

  • +18

    Maybe offer to go and get the cake next time? Then you get to keep the change and decide what cake you wanted. Seems like cake is quite important to you, so don't leave your cake destiny to someone else.

    • But then the OP will have to use their lunch break to get the cake!

  • +7

    I would have thought you'd be complaing about paying $10 for a slice of cake given the way you economise on fuel.
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/355345

    • -7

      Its a different feeling in your stomach when you find out you got ripped off at office.

  • +13

    I think we need an OzB monthly prize for the most rubbish thread of the month; lots of choice now.

    • +52

      Careful, OP will sort through that rubbish to find your receipts.

  • +10

    Are you saying you are willing to create bad relations with a co-worker over two dollars? Ask yourself, is that two dollars worth all the animosity she obviously feels for you now?

    Work is already hard enough, why make things harder on yourself.

    • +7

      $2.06, it makes all the difference.

      • +5

        Actually, he's said he deserves $5, because he found out about this scandal.

        Nobody else deserves a refund, because they were happy to get fleeced by this evil, evil assistant who drives to the shop and buys cake in her lunch break.

  • +9

    Seriously are you actually going to announce that you went dumpster diving for the receipt then confronted the girl and demanded $5.

    If I were one of the other morning tea participants, I’d think you are the knob in this scenario rather than the girl who profited.

  • +18

    This is what I come to OzBargain for

  • +1

    I'm not even sure what to say here. It's not even a coffee.

    Did you really just want to come here to get a roasting?

  • +3

    pay $8 next time and go i don't have $10. move along.

  • +24

    You must be a real pleasure to work with

  • I would keep an eye on all your future slices of cake if I was you.

  • +3

    Fired for going to buy cake on her lunch break in her car…..and keeping 16 dollars? I would like you to try…..you know you will look really bad……..maybe next time you do it and get a better cake and if its money left you keep it and be happy? if this is the big problem for you I feel sorry for you……

  • Leave the reciept on the bosses desk… But make photocopies in case it gets lost

    • -3

      its exactly what I had in mind to do. Do it anonymus, i don't want to cause too much fuss over my $5

      • +15

        *$2.06

        • Just let it go and move on . FFS

        • +3

          you forgot the ~150% interest rate…

        • +1

          @RiseAndRuin:

          Finders fee.

      • +6

        $5 now? I feel like if I keep reading down this thread, next it will be $15 that you are owed.

        • +8

          $25 is my final offer

        • @Buzzl1ght: I see your $25 and raise $5 ;-)

      • +21

        You won't get your $5 if you do it anonymously.

        I highly recommend you bring an old milk crate to work tomorrow, and round everyone up in the office.

        Then, in your loudest voice, declaim the following:

        "I, JFurter, regretfully call you all here today, to solemnly announce that our new assistant has engaged in a travesty of cake deception. Under the pretence of going to the cake shop during her lunch break to buy a luscious cake for our comrade's birthday, she instead bought a cheap, non-delectable caramel mud cake. She shortchanged us all, and I demand she pay us back immediately or resign on the spot! Due to my hard work in exposing this deception, I demand full payment of $5. Everyone else may receive a smaller payment of $1.64, which I gracefully offer as compensation in my munificence".

        They will all fall over and kiss your feet in gratitude at this generosity, and chase the assistant out the door with brooms, rulers, and other blunt instruments.

        • +2

          ROFL this marlor comment is gold Jerry gold should have more upvotes

        • +1

          lmao I am laughing so loud right now hahhah

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