To vent about my workplace being TOO happy

[wheresmymojo]

I need to vent on here because I'd look like a really shit manager if I said anything in real life.

I work for a big company but one that has a lot of staff in their 20's. It has a culture that is genuinely lovely most of the time, relaxed and about bringing fun to work. Great.

However, there are times when bringing fun to work crosses over into feeling like you're working at a kindergarten...

Examples:

• We already do a whip round to on everyone's birthday and they get gifts and a present (lovely).

• We're also asked to send a celebratory message on each team member's 'work anniversary' (I mean...a bit much for me but fine)

• Now my team would like a card every year to celebrate their 'work anniversary' (this has tipped me over the edge)

• We have a million ways the teams get recognition including a monthly shout out at the strategy cascade (fine) and now a badge you put on your security pass strap (a bit extra but okay). We have an annual awards ceremony (fine). Now the teams say they don't get enough recognition (erm...what?)

A lot of people there haven't worked anywhere else and it feels like we're not exactly setting them up to understand work in the 'real world'.

Am I being a miserable git?

I mean almost definitely but I think I'm the only one that feels we go a little bit too far. I'm like the Grinch

The only reason I remember my work start anniversary is because it's the same day as my birthday. Other than that I wouldn't have a clue.

last job the only time I looked it up was to see if I was close to another years service for the redundancy package...

I agree with the posters who've said to check it is actually coming from the workforce as it sounds quite surprising to me. I was staff rep in 2 previous jobs (for my sins) and common to both was an endless cycle of feedback every year in the staff survey that staff wanted more recognition - senior management introduced some random idea like a laminated award, badge, present for x years working for company, praise in the company newsletter, raffles, shout outs in meetings/town halls, section on intranet for colleagues to thank each other, gift vouchers, blah blah blah. Whereas all the staff actually wanted was for their managers to recognise good work to them when they did it. Not even in front of the team, or in a meeting, just a "thanks for staying late last night to finish that draft," or "good work on that last report, it was really well written." No need to overcomplicate it.

If it is actually the staff that wants these things I'd either just take it on the chin and do it in a manner that's as cheap and least time consuming for you as possible, rolling your eyes internally but accepting that it's worth it for morale, or, as there's almost always a work martyr that enjoys doing all this crap, find yours and see if you can outsource it to them via a suitably flattering sell of it, "Everyone knows you're the unofficial social sec/most organised person on the team, how would you like the opportunity to be my Workforce Motivator" (or similarly wanky title). Bung them a few quid when needed and leave them to it, then you only have to worry about sorting their card, so 1 person rather than a whole team.

Sounds like funder mifflin

You lost me at 'strategy cascade'.
The whole thing awful to me, YADNBU