Do you expect your work manager to acknowledge your birthday?

[Waferbiscuit]

Just that really. I work in a large organization as a member of the Exec team and report to the Director. My 50th is coming up later this year and I'm fairly confident it will pass unnoticed. On one hand we're professionals so I'm not hanging onto nor need his birthday wishes, on the other hand some kind of recognition would seem polite.

Would you expect your manager to acknowledge your birthday? Just trying to understand what's considered appropriate and reasonable.

What do you mean by acknowledge? And what do you do for his birthday?

Lol! Of course not!

What? No?!

If my manager owned a newsagents and I was delivering newspapers on my bike for pocket money, possibly. As a grown up, no.

If you have some type of professional friendship/ a nice rapport and he knows it is your birthday, then sort of. If not, no.

Not really. If my colleagues and I didn't pass around a card to be signed, he definitely wouldn't. If he's signed a card it'll be 50/50!

No. One of my former managers had everyones birthdays in their calendar and it was slightly creepy getting a happy birthday email tbh.

No, I’d be surprised if they did.

No, unless there’s a tradition of bringing cakes in - people walk into staff room, say “Ooh, who’s got a birthday?” and acknowledge it then.

No because I'm not 5

No.

We get flowers and cakes from the team and manager. I like birthdays!

yes - milestone ones at least. But - I've worked at my company for 15 years and most of us are what we call lifers. We have known each other a long time so it seems natural to us.

No because I'm not 5

That's funny! My query was genuine but it sounds like a no from most.

I've worked in offices where they do make a real 'thing' of it. I would at least mention my staff member's birthday, especially if it was an important milestone.

No, I wouldn't expect it.

If you want him to maybe acknowledge it, go on about it for a few weeks beforehand.

I've had a few managers acknowledge my birthday, but to be honest I can't remember the last time it was.

Slightly different with colleagues as I find you tend to have a different type of relationship and they may know more personal details about you.

I try to keep my birthday low key but I do take in cakes the day after.

No. I'd be happy if they did though.

No one at work knows my birthday but i don’t celebrate it neither. I don't go in announcing.

If i did, id not expect anyone to do something about it.

No, definitely not. Unless it’s the kind of office where a big deal is routinely made of birthdays in general.

Isn’t it usually the birthday person who brings in cake, if they want their colleagues to acknowledge their birthday? Not everyone likes a fuss being made and not everyone wants to admit to their age. Some people will not be in the workplace on their birthday, it’s unfair if some get money and time spent on them and others don’t.

No, and I'd feel embarrassed if people at work who I wasn't friends with out of work made an effort over something so inane.

No!

I actually think a nod of recognition is a simple but effective way of management showing they care.

Even in a large company, an email could be sent or a friendly "happy birthday" face to face, it takes seconds to check a calendar.

The place I work is small (70 staff) and one of my jobs is to issue a birthday card to each team member. We also have 50 service users and I do the same for them.

Staff anniversaries are a thing too, every newsletter has a section listing that months anniversaries with a "thank you".

I realise it isn't possible in larger companies but making staff feel valued isn't always about big bonuses, sometimes it's the personal touch that matters too.

Depends on your work relationships if you’d go out for a drink with your colleagues or bring in some cake for everyone but I certainly wouldn’t expect my boss to acknowledge it. Only time anything gets done publicly is if someone is leaving.

I wouldn’t expect my manager to do anything, but we take cakes in for the team on our own birthdays