Office Birthdays

[lbhaeger]

I am a new receptionist/admin assistant at a busy architectural/civil engineering firm.   I have recently been given the task of sending out a birthday email every month letting the office know who's birthday is coming up.  They haven't done anything big for this in the past just becasue there are around 60 people to keep track of and doing the normal cake and balloons for everyone would be alot of birthday celebrations throughout the year.  

As of now, I am going to send out the birthday email once a month with the list of people and their birth dates.  

Does anyone here have any ideas that they can offer for me to make this a little more unique and exciting.  we have a couple of Birthday signs that we will hang by their desks for the day...but this is basically it.  

Keep in mind that this is an office setting that is pretty business minded.  Most of the folks here stay in their own little world during the day with various work things on their mind.  I dont want to distract from work...but I do want to make people feel special on their birthday.  Thanks for your help!

[diamondlady]

We had a group of folks at one point that would make note of everyone's birthday and posted it on a common area space, ie. cafeteria, or a common board that everyone sees (our boards are by the bathrooms, so eventually you get the idea), and posted each month everyones birthday on a calendar, and posted usually the last month and the current month, birthdays and work anniversaries.  Also they have the hallmark card maker on computer in the office and someone will print a bunch of cards and have the "team" sign them, and give to that person on their birthday or closest to it if it were on a weekend.  They would also provide a muffin or something special for that day.  Usually a big blueberry or cranberry, or bran muffin with a candle in it.  Something small, but just to remember your birthday. Got to be too much for the team and since our team has been disbanned for other reasons.  But it was good for a while, and they did sing happy birthday too.  Kinda fun for a while while it lasted, but seemed like they were doing an aweful lot of that in some months and it got distracting.



Diamondlady
Peer Moderator

[lbhaeger]

Good ideas.  Thanks!

[bluefire21]

One of the the offices that our company caters does a once a month birthday celebration.  Everyone in the company is invited, and there is a table special for the birthday people w/ a balloon tied to their chairs.  The girl in charge of ordering from us goes to the dollar store and buys them each one little present.  They cater lunch, and get a big cake for everyone.

I think it's a good idea, that way everyone gets to celebrate, and no one feels left out when John and Suzy's lunch friends give them a cake and Pete gets nothing.  

Ellen ( who's been on the receiving end of not getting anything) in TX

[countrigal]

Our office does a once-a-month birthday celebration.  One day of the month is set for the celebration and on that day we all get together for a few minutes to wish everyone a Happy Birthday, recognize who the birthday folks are, and have some cake.  I have been in offices that also present a card from the office for the birthday folks (one each) that is routed through as many folks as possible before that date.  We have routing slips with everyone's name already on them, so all we do is put the card in a folder, flag it for "hand carrying to actual people", and cross off the name of the birthday person so it doesn't route through him/her.  This has worked out very well.

And our organization does something that I think is really special.  The Director is told who is celebrating a birthday that month, and they are sent a special e-mail invitation which tells them when and where to appear (normally one of the conference rooms), and there is cake and ice cream for them, and all the Coaches and Supervisors and the Director and his office Staff all get together and sing Happy Birthday to them, and serve them the ice cream and cake.  You get to take 15 minutes to sit, eat your cake and ice cream and talk with the Director or other supervisors, and then go back to your desk.  The only non-birthday members there are the Coaches, Supervisors, and the Director and his staff, so it's kind of neat to be singled out like that, though still part of a group.  And this is done monthly for a company of something like 300+ employees.  I know that I was thrilled and felt special when it was my turn for the invitation and special party.

Considering everyone in our company is on production, and if you don't meet production it will affect your performance appraisal, and possibly your ability to remain here, these breaks away from our desks are prized.  We're very professional, very "nose-to-the-grindstone" here, and that extra 15 minutes away to meet with the Director is really a treasure, as is the team gathering once a month.

CountriGal
Peer Moderator

[gee4]

From past experience my only advice here is, be careful.  Not everyone likes benig the centre of attention, nor wants other colleagues to know when their birthday is.  It would really depend on each individual how you handle this, but keep things to a minimum.  In previous companies, I have brought in buns and in others they have been bought to me.  One year I came into work to find my desk covered in cards, presents, flowers, chocolates.  Needless to say I burst into tears as I had been having boyfriend trouble.  No-one knew so I found it hard to explain why I was upset.  Anyway it was still a nice gesture.

[queenbean]

I didn't want to be the first one to say it, but I'm with Gee.  I'd be absolutely horrified if my birthday was announced to the world whether I wanted it or not.  I know that such a gesture is meant in the nicest possible way, but people can be just plain funny about birthdays.

We do an informal thing with a trip to the cake shop, but it's usually within a department and not an official company thing.

[Jackie G]

I worked - very briefly - for a company who had a nice way of dealing with birthdays, and as it was mine in the short time I was there, I experienced it first hand.

Your dob is noted in your personnel file and is flagged up in the Chief Exec's office.  You were then sent a birthday card which they (joint chiefs!) had signed, and inside the card were some vouchers for a main UK clothes store.  I think it was £20 worth, but can't remember now.  

This was a nice touch, and perhaps a little more discreet way of doing things.  The card was timed to arrive at your desk on the day (or I guess, the day closest if it fell on a weekend) and you could display the card, or not, and simply put the vouchers away in your purse to spend at a later date.  The trick with the vouchers would be to choose the right place.  In the UK the shop chosen also sells great food so it's almost a no brainer.  That's the type of thing you need for this.

This might be a way to go so that there's a quiet acknowledgement of the birthday, which the birthday recipient can then acknowledge publicly or not, as they so choose.

Jackie, Peer Moderator
www.iqps.org

[raindance]

If you have inherited this task, then it is likely that this is standard procedure in your company.  A lot of people are quite reticent about their birthdays and absolutely hate any fuss, so it might be a good idea to take a straw poll and see what people wish to do in future.  What you do about birthdays also depends on the size of your company.

In my company, which is small, we have a list of people's birthdays on our computer network so we can all keep a discreet eye on who is the next birthday victim. .People  exchange birthday gifts with close colleagues/friends if they wish, but the general custom is that the person celebrating a birthday will bring in cakes to share with everyone.  Some people bake cakes and others head for the nearest cake shop.   it works well and there is no pressure to give gifts or cards. "Milestone" birthdays are another matter and people reaching the ripe old age of 30, 40, 50 or more are quite likely to come to work and find their desks adorned with balloons and streamers.  

[lbhaeger]

From what I gather...this is something that the office has done for years - acknowledge people on their birthday.  So for the most part I think that people are use to having something given to them or said to the at the office on their special day.  I just want to change things up a bit...if I don't do something "more" that whats already been done, I just would like to do something different.  

You guys have given me some great ideas so far.  Keep them coming if you think of anything!
Thanks!

[msmarieh]

I've seen it done many ways...

One office had each individual bring food in on their birthday. Seems like the executives often "forget", though not MINE - I made him bring it in!!!

One office had a monthly dessert potluck for all the birthdays that month. Multiple people brought in desserts for a common gathering at 2:00 in the afternoon.

One office did nothing - your department or closer friends might bring in treats on your behalf.

One way people had of getting around this, if they didn't want their birthday publicized was to instead celebrate their service anniversary (the day of their hiring).

Marie

[officeguru]

In our division we have roughly 200 staff...  a bit much to keep track of!  However, I admin for a director who choses to make sure each of her staff is recognized on their special day with a card.  We do have those that have balked at me asking when their day is, but when I explain it's for our director's personal use only - they indicate they do not want a fuss - and I make note of that (should they happen to be in a leadership role, since they may receive more than just a card).

In the individual areas... teams will try to do special recognition amongst themselves.  But it gets very costly rather quickly!