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.

In previous jobs we would get a card/ take cake it. This year (my 30th), my boss didn’t say anything. She knew it was my birthday as I was going on holiday the week after.

You haven't said what you've done for his birthday?

You haven't said what you've done for his birthday? He's quite private and I honestly don't know when it is and no one has ever done anything for it. I guess that's my answer right there!

Just saying happy birthday would be nice. It would be nice to know they remembered it, but that's about it. My birthday was this past week. My manager got me a card. I find these sorts of things a bit embarrassing and could have done without the card, but it was nice she remembered. It was nicer that she encouraged me to leave a couple hours early (I've been working some late nights anyway the past few months) so that I could get home and enjoy dinner and cake with my dh and dc. I wouldn't expect more than that though.

yes, they get an email from HR and the manager always gets a cake in or if the person doesn't like cake a cheese board or something else.

only time it wasn't aknowledged manager was on a long holiday and didn't get the email in time.

Our people management system (holiday bookings, sick leave etc) emails people's managers the week before their birthdays. Gives enough time to get a card/arrange a lunch out if you're the sort of team that does that. As a manager I like it.

I'm quite surprised by all the no's, but that's because our department at work is fairly small (19 people), the birthdays are on the wall, and we do afternoon cake for every birthday that passes for every person, including the director.

I guess it depends on whether other birthdays are celebrated by other people in your company and area, and whether acknowledgement of birthdays is the norm or weird (for your department specifically)

Not at all

yeah surprised at the nos and people saying 'im not 5' as if they are more superior for that

MN is the only place where if you like birthdays as an adult you are a loser

I agree @TheJellyBabyMadeMeDoIt it's nice to feel valued.

Our manager has the most appalling personal skills of all time yet likes to mark birthdays. The poor birthday girl sits there all day waiting for the inevitable cake and awkward singing followed by 10/15 minutes of stilted conversation. Taking your birthday off doesn't get you away with it, it's marked before or after. I really wish it wasn't marked and I say that as an extrovert who absolutely loves her birthday!

Nope. My manager doesn’t celebrate birthdays for religious reasons.

No! I'm not a child. I don't tell my colleagues or anyone at work when it's my birthday.

My manager no but there are managers with small teams who do, personal preference in my workplace

No

I think it depends on the organisation culture and the working relationship you have with your line manager.

My current organisation is a large national company and there are 20 of us in the team and so birthdays aren't really acknowledged as we all have different work patterns or we are off site.

I recently had a big birthday and all I got was a couple of birthday wishes.

In previous organisation, which were a lot smaller, we gave birthday cards and the birthday person would bring in cakes.

I’m a manager and always buy a small gift for my direct reports and get their teams to sign a card for them.

Nothing wrong with wanting a birthday celebration but as he doesn't do anything for his own birthday you are going to drive this yourself. Suggest a group lunch/cake/coffee.

I just turned 40 & my team put up banners, bought cake, did an amazing card & got me presents. We also went out for food & cocktails.
My manager was definitely involved in night out organisation and even top management who are my internal customers signed card.
Depends on your team I guess & if you acknowledge your birthday. My colleague who was 40 last year hasn't told anybody & everyone thinks she's younger.
We generally do group cards & take cakes in on our own birthdays for normal birthdays.
I didn't realise we were so unusual

We get to have our birthday as a day off work on top of our annual leave but other than that I wouldn't expect my manager or anyone else mark it with a card or email.

At our work the person whose birthday it is generally provided cakes or biscuits and emails round to say they’re there because it’s their birthday. Generally then people will mumble “happy birthday” at you when they come over and take a slice of cake.
I wouldn’t expect anything more than that. I’d find it incredibly awkward if I hadn’t told people it was my birthday and my manager announced it or did anything for it.

If it’s a milestone birthday than yes, the manager organises a card, whip round and we have a tea party to celebrate. If you want it acknowledged. Otherwise she just says happy birthday.

In the last two jobs I’ve had I was asked on the first day when my birthday is
It gets noted down and then a card appears signed by everyone
And the birthday person brings cakes

Although years back I didn’t bring cakes and got in massive trouble!
A grown adult (and a dentist !) got really angry because I didn’t bring cakes

I acknowledge all of my staff's birthdays - I make sure i have reminders the week before so I can remember to get a card, cake, etc
Its a fairly small nit team but I think it helps with morale and its a way of showing appreciation, I think it all depends on your work dynamic!

In my office the person who's birthday it is is expected to bring cakes in for everyone else. It's very odd