Deep inside, on our birthdays, we all expect to get some sort of recognition at work. This is our special day and we want to receive more attention than usual and make this an occasion that we can cherish years later.
It is simple to notice the achievements and accomplishments of each employee in smaller enterprises. As organizations or companies develop it becomes pretty challenging to acknowledge each and every employee.
One easy, but powerful method to show your employees that you care about and encourage them to give their best efforts is to celebrate their birthdays.
Ignoring occasions such as anniversaries and birthdays will not make employees feel like they are a part of the group.
So, it’s essential that you know how to wish happy birthdays to your employees and make them feel valued. Therefore, keeping this in mind, let’s have a look at some of the best office ideas that you can apply to make your employees’ birthday special.
1. A Tasty Birthday Cake Can be a Great Start
So, you can check out whether peanut butter cups, chocolate chip cookies, or red velvet cake are the goodies your employee prefers. Even a bag filled with candies can be a wonderful idea as well because colleagues can share it all day long. You can even send them to your employees’ homes if they work remotely.
Birthdays are indeed a great opportunity for your employees to establish some great bonding. That means these occasions are the perfect reason for a party! And on each of their birthdays, everybody gets a treat.
Moreover, you can also ask their team and find out what they like or dislike. In this way, you can arrange a surprise party for your employee and everyone can participate.
2. Decorate Their Work Desks
Print out some of their favorite celebrities’ photographs and even hang up a hilarious piece of art with balloons. You can also leave a little present or two like sweets or a beautiful birthday mug and leave everything on the desk of your employee.
Then when the employee sits on the desk give him a surprise by popping some balloons and party poopers. If you want you can even throw some party foam at your employee.
3. Show Gratitude with a Note
A birthday is a memorable moment for anyone and if it’s taking place in an office, try to make it a moment to cherish for your employee.
Instead of a generic birthday card, colleagues can write a few phrases regarding the contributions of the employee to the team and what they like most about working with him.
Think of the main features you value for the employee and write a few lines of recognition phrases, like:
- Your efforts have reinforced our relationships as a team.
- Thank you for showing versatility and dedication to the entire department.
- Stay fantastic! Stay awesome!
These convey a clear indication that the entire working environment recognizes and appreciates the hard work of each employee.
4. Take Them for a Tasty Meal
A birthday can be the perfect occasion for you to understand and know your employees better.
So, you can take them out to a restaurant of your choice for lunch or dinner. Bring several employees with you too, so everyone can participate in the fun.
The more employees you bring, the more understanding and bond they’ll share, making them more committed to the company.
And if you want to avoid the restaurant, you can simply arrange a good meal in your office where everyone can sit together and spend a great time.
Indeed, having a birthday treat together might be a terrific way to get your employees to communicate with each other and build stronger ties over time.
5. Give Them an Entire Day off
Certain employees might be uninterested in celebrating their birthdays at work. They may choose to be with their family instead.
Even, your employees may require a day off to spend some quality time with their families and get themselves recharged for the upcoming busy work schedules.
Whatever the situation is, providing a personal day for at least once-a-year occasion will indeed be appreciated by your employees.
However, if they are unwilling to take the day off, no need to force them, instead plan a small feast for the employee, and make sure that everyone participates.
6. Plan a Surprise Meeting
Another method to enjoy office birthdays is to think beyond anyone’s expectations.
Call an unexpected meeting, so that it appears to be a regular meeting. Call the meeting and inform the attendees that it will be your regular feedback meeting session or weekly report analysis so that they are unaware it is a surprise.
These unexpected surprises are ideal for assisting your team to build a strong bonding with the entire team and will even help them to be more committed and productive with their work.
Bottom Line
Birthdays are unique and memorable occasions for anyone.
Incorporate these ideas into your employee recognition program to demonstrate your appreciation for your team’s hard work.
Stick with the plans but make sure that each of the employees and team members has something special and memorable to offer. It doesn’t need to be an expensive gift or something like that, even an appreciation note will be enough to make the employee’s day a special one.
All you have to do is make your employees’ birthday special so that they can cherish it for a long time.
