Office Hazers Demand Donuts From The New Guy, He Serves Them With His Middle Fingers

Every office has its own unspoken traditions, but sometimes those “harmless” customs go too far. For one new employee, what started as a supposed team-building ritual quickly spiraled into relentless teasing and pressure over, of all things, donuts.

Instead of backing down, he decided to turn the situation around in the most unforgettable way possible. His creative response not only made his point crystal clear but also ensured he’d never be asked to bring breakfast again.

When a “new employee tradition” turns into harassment, one man responds with sweet, powdered defiance

In this case, the original poster (OP) found themselves newly hired into a senior role, only to be confronted with an unwelcome “initiation ritual”: being repeatedly told and pressured to buy donuts for the office.

Two coworkers in particular escalated the behavior, mentioning the required donuts over 20 times, interrupting meetings, refusing to answer work-questions until the donuts were bought, and even powering off the OP’s computer.

From one viewpoint, the demand to buy donuts can seem harmless, office treats are common. But the pattern here crossed into something formally recognised as “workplace hazing” or bullying: repeated unreasonable behaviour directed at a colleague, especially a newcomer and in a senior-level role. Researchers indicate that the phenomenon of workplace hazing affects between 25 % and 75 % of American employees. ResearchGate

In workplace bullying studies, around 10 % of employees reported being bullied in the past six months in one sample. PubMed Central

Why might this happen? One motivation is group control. Established team members may use “traditions” like purchasing donuts to assert dominance over newer hires, especially when the newcomer is senior or external. This serves both as a test of compliance and an informal probation ritual.

The OP, sensing the boundary had been overstepped, opted for a form of “malicious compliance.” They bought a cheap bag of donuts and distributed them desk-by-desk, then singled out the two instigators by offering them donuts held on middle fingers, clearly signalling they were done tolerating the behaviour.

The tactic forced the culture to shift: the two pushy individuals stopped demanding donuts thereafter.

On the flip side, one could argue the OP’s response veered into passive-aggressive and unprofessional territory. While the behaviour of the coworkers was unacceptable, the OP’s “double donut middle finger” move risked turning a hazing issue into a reputational one. The more neutral aim would have been to raise the matter via HR or management rather than escalate it with symbolic gestures.

Advice and Solutions

1. Document the behaviour: Keep a record of specific incidents (dates, times, what happened) so you can present a clear case if you escalate.
2. Set a boundary early: Politely but firmly communicate to the instigators (and perhaps your supervisor) that you’ll participate in reasonable team traditions once but will not accept repeated demands, especially when they interfere with your work.
3. Speak with management or HR: Use the documentation to request guidance or ask for a formal team-norm reset: explain that the repeated donut demands are creating a toxic dynamic.
4. Offer alternative engagement: Propose an inclusive treat rotation or optional team event instead of unilateral demands, which shifts the culture from coercion to choice.
5. Monitor outcomes and adjust: If the behaviour stops (as happened here), you may choose to move on. If it persists, escalate further or consider whether the team environment aligns with your values.

Here’s the comments of Reddit users:

These Redditors agreed workplace “treat traditions” are outdated and manipulative

This group shared personal stories of harassment and frustration over unfair office culture

These folks discussed the aftermath and social fallout of reacting too strongly at work

These commenters roasted the laziness and entitlement of coworkers demanding donuts

Sometimes the only way to end toxic traditions is to turn them upside down or, in this case, inside out and on your middle fingers.

Would you have handled it differently, or would you have served them their own dose of sweet poetic justice?