As with just about everything in the workplace, employers should take care in deciding whether to celebrate birthdays in the workplace and if so, how to celebrate birthdays in the workplace. Once an employer decides to celebrate birthdays in the workplace, certain considerations must be made to ensure that an office celebration does not cause issues.
Proponents of celebrating birthdays in the workplace assert that doing so is an enormous morale booster for staff. A birthday party in the office brings people together, builds relationships and fosters communication.
Who would think that one could find harm in the joy of celebrating a birthday with a co-worker? Unfortunately, people have and do. Opponents of celebrating birthdays in the workplace believe doing so can foster resentment. They believe that celebrations do not belong in the office because doing so creates one more place where personal issues can interfere in the workplace. According to opponents, inevitably someone’s birthday will be forgotten, while another’s birthday will be made a big deal and result in resentful feelings.
If an employer decides to celebrate birthdays in the workplace, it should consider: