An unforgettable birthday for every employee

As an employer, do you know which employee's birthday is coming up next? Have you been giving your employees the same gift year after year?

In this post, we'll help you make every future birthday unforgettable. Not by spending big, but by letting your creativity run free... What do you get in return? Motivated and engaged employees! So keep reading!

There are plenty of reasons to take a moment to mark each employee's birthday. At first glance, it might seem like a small thing, but it gives your company the chance to show recognition and get that bit closer to your employees. Many studies also show that recognition has a direct effect on employee performance. Celebrating birthdays is therefore a simple way to show your employees that you care about them.

In this article, we'll give you a series of tips to give your employees' workplace happiness an extra boost. Let's get started!

Birthday squad

If you're reading this intro and thinking "I'm too busy for this", here's our first tip: look for volunteers who want to be part of the birthday squad. You'll definitely find a few enthusiasts who want to roll up their sleeves alongside you.

Has the team been formed? Then sit down together to further shape your ideas and initiatives. TIP: keep it realistic... it would be a shame to have to stop certain initiatives because they end up creating too much work.

Below, you'll find our tips to get you started.

A little bit of admin

Ask about the employee's birthday during the onboarding process and keep track of it in your HR software tool (Excel works too, of course). For each employee, create a recurring yearly calendar invite. That way, nobody gets forgotten!

Depending on the initiatives you've worked out, you can set up several reminders, for example a few days in advance so you still have time to make the necessary preparations.

Written birthday message

Skip the classic pre-printed birthday cards. Do a quick round of questions with the people who work closely with them. Use their input to write something personal that truly captures who this person is.

Something personal

Want to go a step further? Tailor the gift to the person, because nothing is as powerful as a tailored gift. It shows the employee that you know and respect them.

Ask around among colleagues here too. Find out about interests, hobbies... or make the gift even more meaningful by tying it to past conversations. Think of something the person can really use, something that helps in everyday life... that's a sure way to score points!

Decorate the desk

Know that feeling... you arrive at the office assuming barely anyone knows it's your birthday? But the moment you walk in, your entire desk is decorated... :-). Nice to be in the spotlight for a moment, right? 

Go for balloons, streamers... and don't be afraid to go a little over the top. As if a birthday bomb has gone off.

TIP: does the birthday person have a favourite colour? Work it into the decorations.

Is the birthday person always early at the office? Then prepare everything the evening before, or in the morning if they tend to arrive a bit later. 

Gamification

Want to take it a step further and really build awareness around birthdays? The next team meeting is the perfect moment. Set up a prize wheel and let everyone who's had a birthday recently give it a spin…

Go for a range of prizes: shopping vouchers, books, a day off... A fun way to spice up the team meeting.

Out of the box thinking

Sit down with the team and brainstorm possible birthday gifts. A good brainstorm can lead to fun, creative ideas. For example:

• An individual wellness session or massage near the office
• A day off
• Lunch on the company
• …

Or a more nutritious, personalised gift box... 😅

Discover the possibilities

How do you celebrate employees' / colleagues' birthdays?