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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you have your birthday off work?

153 replies

Wildhairdonotcare · 26/01/2026 15:41

Sorry a very boring AIBU but I am just curious as I have never experienced companies giving you the day off work for your birthday but my DP thinks its standard as thats what he is used to.

My DP gets a day of annual leave for his birthday every year, if it falls on a weekend he gets the following Monday off, I have never known anyone else who gets this so I am just curious as to whether its as common as he thinks or as uncommon as I think.

So do you have your birthday off work?

If voting YABU - you also get the day off
YANBU - you don't get the day off

OP posts:
ImpatientlyWaitingForSummer · 26/01/2026 16:16

We do, it’s an additional days annual leave along with what we already have and we can take it any time in our birthday month! My partner doesn’t have it though and I don’t know many people that do. To be fair though, prior to this being introduced I always booked my birthday off anyway 🫣

TheodoreisntBeth · 26/01/2026 16:16

Yes. Because my birthday is on Christmas day.

Having the day off work is the only upside of being born on Xmas day.

Edited, posted without finishing the post.

maslinpan · 26/01/2026 16:16

We get our birthday off here, I work for a homeless charity for a low wage and we all really appreciate the gesture.

Notmycircusnotmyotter · 26/01/2026 16:16

I have this. New policy for this year.

Original poster
Wildhairdonotcare · 26/01/2026 16:20

What do you get up to if you book the day off? I always work mine if it falls on a work day (part time) because I'd have nothing to do at home and all my friends are working.

Every day of my annual leave is precious as its never enough to stretch all the school hols as it is lol.

OP posts:
TheDandyLion · 26/01/2026 16:21

Yes but we don't have to take it on our actual birthday. It's built into our entitlement and we book it off whenever we want to use it.

ChimneyPot · 26/01/2026 16:23

I usually did in various jobs but it was not a perk. It was just because of the date of my birthday.

MamaagainJuly2026 · 26/01/2026 16:26

Not me but my friend does. Every employee gets their birthday off, it is falls on a weekend then they get the Friday or Monday off.

Jmaho · 26/01/2026 16:29

Nope and can never get it as annual leave as it falls during the 6 weeks summer holiday where everyone fights for time off. It's a Saturday this year though!
My husband gets it in his current job which is in IT

smokymountain · 26/01/2026 16:30

Yes, once you pass probation, you get an extra day’s leave which can be taken on or around your birthday. Medium sized charity.

LowdermilkPark · 26/01/2026 16:32

I take the day off, always have done. I’ve never worked anywhere that gives you the day. My husband too.

Miranda65 · 26/01/2026 16:32

Never known this. Neither have I ever booked the day off work - I mean, why? What's the point?

ErrolTheDragon · 26/01/2026 16:35

ChimneyPot · 26/01/2026 16:23

I usually did in various jobs but it was not a perk. It was just because of the date of my birthday.

Me too - the fact I always had my birthday off was definitely not the norm.
It’s a bit of an odd idea- kids have to go to school on their birthdays (well, except for me and probably thee) , and employees are grownups.

7238SM · 26/01/2026 16:35

Never heard of it for either DH or myself in the multiple companies we've worked for.
A colleague always takes an A/L day, but I never have.

rwalker · 26/01/2026 16:36

It’s getting more common as pay is nose diving
a lot of companies our using things like this to enhance there pay and benefits package

ReyRey12 · 26/01/2026 16:36

We get 50th and 60th birthday off

KitTea3 · 26/01/2026 16:36

I've managed not work one in 13 years

I book the week my birthday falls on off for holiday every year 😁 (obviously don't spend every day celebrating 😂😳 just nice to have time off to look forward to!)

DemiPlod · 26/01/2026 16:37

If you take the day off for your birthday, when do you give cakes and sweets to your colleagues? That's the normal routine for birthdays at my work. Everyone always comes in on the day, usually laden with treats for the office.

cupfinalchaos · 26/01/2026 16:39

pimplebum · 26/01/2026 15:45

No never , I wish !
Jehovah witnesses would get shafted

Showing my ignorance here but why would they get shafted?

Mary46 · 26/01/2026 16:39

Husb job they get their birthday off. Nice.

bumphousebump · 26/01/2026 16:39

No, and rarely take the day off for it - unless we are going away or something. My birthday is in November and it's normally shit weather.

KitTea3 · 26/01/2026 16:40

DemiPlod · 26/01/2026 16:37

If you take the day off for your birthday, when do you give cakes and sweets to your colleagues? That's the normal routine for birthdays at my work. Everyone always comes in on the day, usually laden with treats for the office.

Well we all chip in for birthdays, so id usually leave some sweets and bits for everyone on the last shift I'm in before I'm off and they usually have your pressies waiting for you 🎁

(My boyfriend however prefers to be at work, he works in an office and basically gets spoilt 😂 instead of him buying people cakes and sweets they all bring him them and his manager bakes him a cake?! I can see why he doesn't mind working it tbh! 🤔😂)

PickledMuffin · 26/01/2026 16:42

i used to at my old job, but not where i am now.

TheodoreisntBeth · 26/01/2026 16:45

cupfinalchaos · 26/01/2026 16:39

Showing my ignorance here but why would they get shafted?

Show quote history

JWs don't acknowledge their birthdays so wouldn't get the extra day off. I once knew some JW children who didn't know when their birthday was, and if you asked their age would say 'I'm 6 1/2 and I'm nearly 7 1/2'.

ErrolTheDragon · 26/01/2026 16:54

DemiPlod · 26/01/2026 16:37

If you take the day off for your birthday, when do you give cakes and sweets to your colleagues? That's the normal routine for birthdays at my work. Everyone always comes in on the day, usually laden with treats for the office.

Same as if it falls on the weekend or a public holiday, just the nearest day after.