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Do You Celebrate Birthdays at the Office Anymore?
Jan 22
Today is my wife’s birthday. Sheryl’s not one for a big celebration, but she likes decorations and a cake and presents. We got those for her. (Every day is her birthday according to our dog, Snickers.)
This birthday made me wonder if birthdays still get celebrated in companies. We celebrate them at our shop — one at a time. In these tough days, it seems like it would be a meaningful to tell people happy birthday and have a little “party” for them at work. Monthly birthday parties were good when the money was flowing; now it’s the simpler things. I have to say that it really makes my day when my birthday gets acknowledged, even with a a quick note.
About the Author
Frank Roche
Frank started IFRACTAL over 7 years ago with Sarah Chambers. Together, they've created HR communications and HR software for some of the world's leading companies. Frank is also studying Flamenco guitar and origami.
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Funny you would post that today. My birthday is tomorrow and I was going to post on how in my 20+ years working in a corporate environment I never once had a birthday celebration and how that would have been a cool thing – if it were genuine.
Birthday wishes to your wife.
Happy Birthday to your wife!
At my company people receive a birthday card and most teams have treats. It's a small gesture but it makes a difference.
Birthdays make people feel good. In today's market, I think everyone deserves a day (or maybe an hour) to feel good. For my last b-day I got to spend it as a juror in federal court. When I got back to work, my co-workers had a cake made with everyones faces super-imposed over people sitting in a jury box. The cake read “The jury is in!”. it was awesome. I've never been a fan of mine own b-day but having such a nice gesture made was cool. And I think every now and then we need that…A recognition. An acknowledgement. And what a simple way to do it. Have cake!
I've always make a point of taking time to celebrate with my staff. Not to the point where the celebrations are meaningless, but to genuinely treat people. Monthly birthdays, an employee who graduates or gets certification, weddings and babies (for both male and female employees). If the company didn't cover it then I did. It's a chance to relax, mingle, laugh – we all need these things. And when you do it together you solidify the togetherness that is necessary to accomplish goals and do that happily.
Hi Joanne,
It's about being genuine…I like how you say that. It's really meaningful
to people…and they remember how you made them feel long after the money
has been spent. It's the kind gestures…glad there are managers out there
like you.
My approach is to celebrate the birthday by taking that person to lunch. Not only are you recognizing an event in their life but you also get to spend some quality time getting to know them even better.
Eric, it's about doing the personal things like what you do that really matter. Excellent.
I do not celebrate my birthdays at my office, did celebrate my birthdays in my office a five years back though!
We celebrate every employee’s birthday. It used to be done individually (everyone got their own company-wide celebration). Now we celebrate by month (all the January birthdays, all the February birthdays, etc.). The company I work for has been in business for 20 years and started with a husband and wife team. It has grown to 60 employees now but that sense of family has remained. The celebrations are a part of our culture, and even in a time of shrinking budgets, we still have a reason to celebrate.