Celebrating Birthday at the Office

19 Dec Celebrating Birthday at the Office

There were truly perhaps around a few people who watched The Office when Steve Carell played the character of Michael Scott and happily goofed his way through his head management position at Dunder Mifflin. And if you watched the show, you probably remember that painfully amusing episode when they celebrated Meredith’s birthday. Keep in mind the card Michael gave her? “Let’s hope the only downsizing that happens to you is that someone else downsizes your age.” Mmmmmmmk. That maybe funny to watch on a TV episode, but that would be horrible in the real world. If you’re looking for some better choices for celebrating employee birthdays at your office, here are some tips we hope you’ll enjoy.

Embellish their desk area. This one are more conventional or expected, but it never goes out of style. When they first arrive in the morning, streamers from the ceiling and a huge balloon bouquet waiting for them on their seat are a great welcome. Would like to adopt more of a trickster vein? Cover a whoopee cushion. Get anything that will up rise of their drawer when they open it. Send them on a birthday scavenger hunt all around the office to fetch the stuff that’s missing from their desk drawers. And hey, it’s never a bad idea to create a HAPPY BIRTHDAY screen saver that will be the first thing they see when they turn their computer on in the morning.

Stuff their voicemail. Get all of your employees to leave a voicemail and call on their private work line after they’ve gone home the day before. And instead of just saying the standard, “Happy Birthday,” have them share a favorite memory with that person. Maybe it’s the time they answered the phone with the wrong phrase because they were thinking of something else, or the laugh that was shared after a really awkward interview.

Allow them five paid hours, for FREE! On the week that their birthday falls, allow them to come in an hour later than normal. Rather than having to be there at 8:00, allow them to come in at 9:00, but pay them for that extra hour anyway.

Write it down. In at present’s world, people rarely take the time to write something with a pen anymore. Often our communications are over text or email, or we might send a simple e-card. Say that you think by having everyone in the office write their birthday greetings down, and then find a fun way to compile the wishes.

Grab a bite to eat. Find out what their favorite breakfast joint is, or the place they always go for lunch. You can shut down the office and take everyone out to eat, or just order takeout and have everyone come to the break room to enjoy some downtime.

Have some entertainment. Everybody collaborates, but it isn’t very often that people reach disconnect from the norm and get to know each other a little more informally. Get a Maine party bus with us and get everybody for an activity: go bowling, mini golfing, to the movie, or just out to eat.

Get some of their favorite treats. Give them a gift certificate to the best local steak house. Get some movie tickets.

After that time you’re trying to celebrate birthdays in your office, we hope these ideas will help you prevent repeating something akin to Michael’s class act. And hey, we hope they furnish some fun and laughter, too.