How companies celebrate their employees’ birthdays

Highlights

• Respect employees' privacy preferences for low-key celebrations.
• Include remote team members for inclusivity.
• Some employees like a quiet celebration, while others appreciate a fun moment more.
• It's essential to maintain sensitivity by discreetly handling discussions about age.
• Avoiding explicit mention of age ensures everyone feels respected and comfortable.
• Additionally, companies should refrain from overly extravagant gestures that might inadvertently alienate or embarrass employees.
• Employees’ consent should be taken before putting them in the limelight.
• Companies should consider budgeting restrictions while arranging this type of festivities.

Celebrating birthdays is one way to commemorate one's anniversary of being alive on Earth! In terms of no pun, by celebrating birthdays we are celebrating the person’s existence and acknowledging their presence in our life.

From a personal point of view, birthdays serve as an annual moment for self-introspection on the walked paths and envisioning new chapters with new resolutions.

But for some others, birthdays are just like any other day! They might not feel any big deal in blowing candles, cutting cakes or being in the middle of ‘Happy Birthday’ chants. Whereas some others would love to celebrate their birthdays in solitude with solo travel/candlelight dinner or other appealing choices. There are even people who keep forgetting their birth dates! And, it’s a fusion of all these categories of people in a workplace.

Of course, celebrating employees’ birthdays is a token of extending employee appreciation. But without proper customisation and personalisation, it may end as a disaster that could ruin an employee’s special day. And it wouldn’t be an easy job for employers to celebrate their employees' birthdays without any hassles. In this context, ETHRWorld reached out to HRs to know how companies are celebrating employees’ birthdays and what are the dos and don'ts in it.

Ways of celebrating birthdays

Violet Anthony, HR Lead, Repos Energy, says, “Birthdays aren't just a day for us, it is a testament to the strong meticulous sense of community and camaraderie within the organisation. At Repos, YOU matter to us, is the essence and there is no better day than a born day. Favourite flowers, favourite cake and desk decoration are just a few initiatives to add to the list, but the real deal is when we seek personal video messages montage from their family and friends to add a touch of heartfelt emotion and a strong bond as a community.”

“The galore begins the night before at 12 am by wishing through a collective company platform. The day at work is followed by a surprise gift carefully crafted to reflect his/her passions and interests. The entire company writes a handwritten letter each for the individual expressing their intangible gratitude and every person in the company gathers to celebrate one single person’s birthday. Also, as a remarkable gesture the flexibility to walk out of the office, post celebration is absolutely passable,” Anthony says.

Gradding.com celebrates its employees’ birthday in a truly extraordinary and heartfelt manner. Instead of the usual cakes and balloons that adorn birthday parties, the company goes for a pragmatic option of planting trees to mark significant birthdays. The birthday festivities don’t end there. As a platform for students to do overseas studies, the organisation is determined to not leave underprivileged students to miss the opportunity to study overseas.

“The thing we take into consideration is that financial considerations may be the factors that hinder such dreams, so we put the birthday party initiative in place for our activities. Birthday employees choose 2 or 3 underprivileged students and serve as mentors and counsellors. They offer vital assistance and support to needy students, including facilitating learning and introducing several study opportunities to study abroad, including government and non-governmental scholarships,” Ruchi Tambi, Senior Executive - Human Resource (People & Culture), Gradding.com, says.

“By organising employee birthdays in this unconventional way in our company, we create a community of our employees and develop a caring and giving culture. This reaffirms our identity as an entity and reflects our dedication to bringing about positive change in all the areas we operate in,” Tambi adds.

At brand-comm, the celebrations begin with a personalised e-card from the Founder-CEO, sent to the entire staff. This message sparks warm wishes to pour in from all their coworkers, making the individual feel acknowledged and valued. Also, the birthday person is welcomed with a personalised greeting on a screen at the reception.

To add greater fervour to these celebrations, the company has set up a dedicated ‘Birthday Santa’ team, which surprises the individual by decorating his or her desk and presents the person with a small, thoughtful gift to make the day special. Cake-cutting and a guessing game around the gift add to the festive atmosphere. But the most heart-warming element is the opportunity for each team member to express their appreciation for their colleague, creating a truly special and supportive environment.

Besides this, recognising the importance of work-life balance, the birthday person is given an off in the second half of the day to celebrate with their loved ones.

Meesho has a 'Celebrations Leave' policy where an employee can take two leaves in a year to celebrate his/her birthday along with a loved one's special occasion. At Dassani Brothers, there is a cake cutting, followed by snacks and the company gives X amount to the employee in an envelope.

At Eleganz Interiors the birthday employee can get their child to the office on their birthday. This creates a sense of belongingness and a homely feeling, at the same time the child gets to participate in their parent's birthday celebration at work, and they get to spend more time with each other on this special day.

“The work desk of the employee is decorated with their favourite items of hobby and other likes to make them feel special and as a token of gratitude from the company and co-workers. Also, a birthday message card is prepared a day prior, which has personalised messages and pictures from all the employees mentioning the uniqueness of that person and the memories associated with them. It’s a takeaway for the birthday employee along with some chocolates,” says Sheettal Sarvaiya, Strategic HR Head, Eleganz Interiors.

At Finvasia, birthday greetings are shared through their central HR portal. The platform not only notifies everyone about the special occasion, but also allows them to extend their wishes and join in celebrating the milestones. The company even provides a birthday gift voucher which employees can use as per their convenience. And at the end of every month, employees gather for a cumulative celebration with a cake-cutting ceremony and spend some good time together which also helps in cross-departmental engagement and bonding.

Ruchi Akolkar Saini, Director - HR Operations, ATechnos Group, says, “At ATechnos, employee birthdays are an opportunity to make each team member feel uniquely valued. The celebrations stem from our fundamental belief that every employee should feel special on their big day. Birthdays are a fantastic opportunity to encourage team interaction and bonding. We also organise team celebrations where colleagues can bond over games, music and memories with the guest of honour. The enthusiasm is contagious and sets the stage for a festive mood. This culture of appreciation boosts morale and deepens workplace friendships.”

From customised gifts to surprise parties, the HR team plans celebrations that align with everyone's interests and personality.

More than just cake: ATechnos personalises its employees’ birthday experience by sending a heartfelt email with birthday wishes along with their photo to all employees on their birthday morning. This small gesture creates a sense of connection and shows everyone that they are valued.

The power of personalisation: The company encourages its managers and colleagues to personalise their birthday wishes by incorporating inside jokes, shared experiences, or simply acknowledging a recent accomplishment. This thoughtful touch goes a long way in making the birthday celebration truly special.

“Most importantly, we make time for personal gestures. Leaders check in one-on-one with a thoughtful call. The joy is evident on our employees' faces when they feel seen and valued as individuals, not just employees,” Saini says.

More than just a day at the office: Birthdays are an opportunity to celebrate the individual beyond the professional sphere. ATechnos encourages its employees to take advantage of their birthdays by offering flexible work arrangements or paid birthday leave to allow them to celebrate with loved ones or pursue their personal interests.

Dos and don’ts

Ramneek Singh Ghotra, Chief Growth Officer, Finvasia, says, “When organising workplace birthday celebrations, strike a balance between inclusivity and respecting individual preferences. Start with a small gesture like birthday wishes on a central platform. Consider personalised gestures such as cards or shout-outs during meetings. Respect employees' privacy preferences for low-key celebrations. Recognise milestone birthdays with more elaborate celebrations. Include remote team members for inclusivity. Encourage team involvement for unique and bonding celebrations.”

Patricia James, HR Manager, brand-comm, opines that companies should prioritise inclusivity and thoughtfulness. James further shares some of the dos and don’ts while celebrating employees' birthdays:

• Video calls are ideal for remote workers, fostering a sense of togetherness.
• Ultimately, the key is to create an atmosphere of warmth and recognition while respecting individual preferences.
• Cake cutting adds a festive touch, while surprise celebrations demonstrate appreciation.
• It's essential to maintain sensitivity by discreetly handling discussions about age.
• Avoiding explicit mention of age ensures everyone feels respected and comfortable.
• Additionally, companies should refrain from overly extravagant gestures that might inadvertently alienate or embarrass employees.
• We should get employees’ consent before putting them in the limelight as we need to respect privacy and boundaries.
  

Tambi of Gradding.com says, “By showing a card or a small gift with the day's inscriptions and the employee's name, you can show that they are not just a number to the organisation. HRs need to take individuals' different needs and cultural variances as a guide when planning birthday celebrations. For example, some employees like a quiet celebration, while others appreciate a fun moment more. To avoid any employee feeling excluded or uncomfortable, companies should be ready to meet these needs and ensure none of the employees is experiencing that.”

“Besides, employers should never ruin birthday celebrations if employees dislike it. However, aside from the need to promote participation, which is an integral part of the employee's rights and build a sense of unity, one also needs to consider the employee's limits and personal preferences,” she adds.

Additionally, Tambi points out that firms should consider budgeting restrictions while arranging this type of festivities. Yes, it's good to go all out with all you've got and give the best birthday parties, but on this day, reserves should be carefully planned to ensure they do not overrun the organisation's resources. Rather than merely presenting employees with gifts, bosses can direct their attention towards practical actions and customised experiences, which may cost less than pricey ones but leave a long-lasting feeling of gratitude and sufficient respect.