It’s that time of year again, when you see groups of grinning, green-clad Girl Scouts hawking cookies outside of every grocery store in town. Know this: You’re actually more likely to get a sales pitch from an adult, in your workplace!

According to CNN, cookie sales raise money for programs for local troops, and they’re designed to boost the kids’ confidence, and to help them learn basic skills, like making correct change. However, a lot of parents do all the selling, and say they don’t have any other choice but to do it at work. Why? Parents worry that it’s dangerous to send their kids door-to-door, even if they watch from the sidewalk. With kids overbooked with after-school sports, art classes, and other obligations, the kids simply don’t have time to sell to the neighbors.  

Unfortunately, a lot of co-workers aren’t happy to be approached at work. A poll of workers who were approached by cookie-selling moms and dads found that they don’t want to be bothered, don’t want to spend the money, and don’t think they can say “no,” especially when their “cookie pushing” co-workers bring their daughters to work to sell to a captive audience. They also don’t like the fact that parents are doing what’s supposed to be done by their kids.

It’s not just cookies. Parents often sell candy, cookie dough, and wrapping paper to raise money for their kids’ schools. Fortunately, most fundraising parents want to avoid making coworkers feel pressured, so they simply post a sign-up sheet in the break room.