It’s something that brings us back to our schooldays… a big cake, people sing, a few presents. It’s your birthday and absolutely everybody knows it.
You’d think we’d grow up and forget about the fuss, but it seems almost 80 per cent of Irish office workers have said they’d appreciate it if their birthday was celebrated in the workplace.
The majority of them said a day-off would be the perfect birthday gift…
Well, they could be left waiting. A new study shows that fewer than half of Irish companies acknowledge their employee’s birthdays. So much for being the nation who were “up for the craic”…
The survey was commissioned by leading provider of office supplies, Viking, and showed workers’ desire for Irish offices to lighten up and sing a ‘Happy Birthday’ tune.
Despite not being the centre of attention in work, three-quarters of workers admit to going on a big night out to celebrate their birthday, despite having to be in work the following morning.
We’ve no doubt they headed out “just for the one”…
The survey also showed that 55 per cent of birthday celebrations are paid for by colleagues chipping in together, with almost half of office workers contributing over 10 euros.
1 in 10 employees provide their own birthday cake. Sure God love us…
With staff working longer hours than ever before, 38 per cent of workers said the ‘gift’ of a day off was the preferred choice of present. Twenty seven per cent would prefer a small bonus, 17 per cent a cake and 10 per cent would choose flowers
“Employers would do well to take note of these findings,” saidd Michael Walby, Director of Viking in Ireland.
“For the cost of just a simple cake or flowers, marking an employee’s birthday can mean a lot in terms of improving office morale and thus productivity.”
We think he’s right, nothing brightens up a working day like a birthday celebration!
