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Birthdays at Work
Seems like every other week someone at work is having a birthday. And while cake is a perk of the job, there's still the planning and preparation. Here are ideas to make the celebration less work and more fun...
TraditionsYou see each other almost every day for most of the day. You're almost family. Well, not quite, but each workplace develops its own traditions and cultures. Gather up the team and try these ideas...
- Hide slips of paper with kind words or jokes in desk drawers, under coffee cups, tucked in file folders, and under a keyboard or mouse.
- No one in their right mind would ever pay your group to sing. Eliminate the embarrassing noise by finding a toy that belts out the Happy Birthday song for you. The Birthday Bear (or whatever toy you choose) can remain with your coworker until it's time to pass on to the next celebrant.
- Designate a Valet-for-a-Day. Arrange for special kindnesses: Before your co-worker arrives, make sure there's a favorite beverage waiting. Warm up and deliver their car right to the door.
- Offer help with a task or project to ensure the birthday person leaves work on time, or maybe even a few minutes early.
- Double-check the party details with the boss and/or your human resource staff. You might not make the greatest impression if an important client's appointment coincides with a moment of office silliness.
- Food Day. 'Nuff said.
The Gifting - Create a memory book. If your office is the friendly kind, ask all the co-workers to write down their favorite memory, trait or accomplishment attributable to the birthday person. Or leave out a stack of magazines so teammates can make a collage of words and pictures.
- If you're stuck on an appropriate gift, store certificates or movie tickets are safe bets.
- Inspiring books of anecdotes and quotations offer quick words of encouragement on fast-paced, stress-filled days.
- Gather up the team, hold up a banner or sign with a special birthday message, and take a group photo.
- Instead of a gift, give the collected money to the person's favorite charity.
- Create a kitty for office celebrations. Too much or too frequent enforced giving turns fun into a burden.
- Draw names to see who will be responsible for getting the present, cake, etc.
- Don't splurge—even on everybody's very favorite co-worker. Once you break the budget for one person, it's hard to bring the spending back in line.
Beach Party Tropical beach resort or windowless cubicle...where would you rather celebrate? We thought so. Since you can't afford to send your co-worker on vacation (even on the company dime), you can bring a touch of paradise to the office. Grab two or three beach towels, make palm trees out of construction paper, put up beach-themed posters, set the computer wallpapers to an idyllic scene, and presto...Instant Waikiki! Create a mood with a CD of surf music and serve tropical punch with paper umbrellas. Coordinate the dress for the occasion with Hawaiian shirts, sandals, and other beach garb. If in doubt, check with your human resource staff about company dress and behavior policies. Keep the celebrations simple and everyone is sure to have a good time (and still get their work done).
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