last day (18 days later) » 

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Q: Coworker asking me to not bring cakes due to self control issue. What should I do?

Shadow WizardSometimes I bring cakes to work, e.g. leftovers from birthday party to one of the family members. Most coworkers are happy about it and eat them without a problem, however one employee doesn't want to eat the cake, however finds himself eating it anyway due to lack of self control. Most of the ...

I don't have "self-control" issues, but, I am opposed to junk food, sweets etc. So similarly, I'd ask you not to bring cakes/etc to my home/etc. I personally see it as bad form, bad etiquette, when someone brings cakes or any sweets to a home or workplace. A tricky one!
Is this in the US?
OK. Next question. Are the cakes like (to be blunt!) crappy supermarket cakes, or are you talking home-made cakes made from natural, "health-nut" type ingredients?
@Fattie hehe.. well.. home made fast cakes, i.e. the not-so-healthy kind. Lots of oil, flours, and usually chocolate. :/
feel free to drop off anything with chocolate to my office :-)
There is never a way to make everyone happy, and any attempt at doing so will be so bland that nobody will enjoy it.
@Fattie one pic worth thousand word? Here is the cake I brought couple of days ago.
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Looks healthy enough for me! Got my mouth watering.
@Kilisi really?? I swear I can see the calories popping out of the cake. :P
I never worry about calories and things like that, I get a lot of exercise and have never seemed to put on much weight. If you cut chocolate out of your diet then you miss one of the great joys in life.... in moderation of course.
Talk to your boss to see if you can get work-from-home permission for your colleague the next time you plan to bring cake!
@Kyralessa hehe, nice idea but as I told in a comment elsewhere, it's not just a "cake sharing" event, the cake stay in the work place (usually fridge) for days, sometimes whole week if it's in good shape.
Talk to your boss to see if you can get work-from-home permission for your colleague...forever! (Well, then he would probably just raid his own fridge and have the same problem.)
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@ShadowWizard you need to bring it to my workplace, when I (or anyone else) brings in cake or cookies they are gone within an hour or so. Makes self control easy, I just have to hold out for one trip thru the kitchen and I'm good.
@ShadowWizard : "one pic worth thousand word?" -> SE style = Q: who killed the cake? A: ShadowWizard with a knife, in the office :D
Is this a joke?
To elaborate on what @Jeremy said, are you sure your co-worker is not joking around?
@Fattie There's nothing "tricky" here. You just don't let silly people spoil things for everyone else, especially when no one's requiring them to participate. Coworkers are not obligated to eat any of it any more than you're obligated to eat junk food, sweets, and anything else you're opposed to. Saying that this is "bad form, bad etiquette", and so on seems like a double-standard. For example, why is the act of being opposed to food you don't personally approve of not also considered "bad form/etiquette/etc"? You seem to imply that you'd have a problem when other people who do like it, do it.
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I realize it's not in the USA, but our friends in the USA havfe incredible weight problems. If you have 10 people, at least 4 of them will be vehemently "trying" to lose weight. I bet, if the issue was vodka with alcoholics you'd feel that is inappropriate. (Sure, the alcoholics could "just deal with it.") Overweight / junk food / snacks is a huge issue (certainly in the US).
WBT
WBT
03:00
Is there a cake-appropriate flavor this co-worker has a particular unusual aversion to/dislike of?
Is there a place you can put it that's out of the way enough that he can avoid it, but not so out of the way that it would be inconvenient for everyone else?
The cake is a lie
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Just make a big notice saying "Important: this cake is NOT for xxxxx." If that doesn't make the guy suddenly discover his power of self control, nothing will.
Bring some healthy foods instead of cake, some suggestions here: youtube.com/watch?v=kjZUQb19fWg

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