In many workplaces, birthdays serve as an opportunity for the company to unite and celebrate, rather than merely being a personal milestone. Office birthday customs bring a sense of coziness and warmth to the working, whether they are organized events with decorations and surprises or an unplanned get-together with cake and laughter. These festivities not only honor the individual but also promote positivity and a sense of community at work. This post will explore the various ways that workplaces commemorate birthdays, the customs that make these occasions memorable, and how they contribute to a more contented and cohesive workplace.
Hello everyone! Welcome to another episode of our blog. Today’s topic is about how we celebrate OSH Team birthdays whenever they fall on a weekday. This way, we can make them feel how special they are on their special day.
Just a glimpse: when I entered Bridge Culture Inc. and became part of the OSH Team, we started a sinking fund where each payday we contribute 500 PHP. Then, whenever we have a birthday celebration, we each contribute 50 PHP for the cake. If we decide to have an "eat-in," we contribute 150 PHP. Let’s get started!
September 8 – It was Sir Jumeal's birthday. We surprised him with his favorite sport, basketball. I remember that we greeted him and gave him a cake, as he wanted to go home early due to an important errand. His girlfriend also had a surprise planned for him on his special day.
Actually, we wanted to celebrate Sir Arnel's birthday on May 5, Sir Raul's birthday on June 17, Miss Chatlyn's birthday on June 19 and Sir Vince’s birthday on August 16. However, some of these dates fall on days when we don’t have work, and the celebrants also gave us a heads-up that they would be on birthday leave. This year, the whole team decided that if we still don’t have work on their special day, we will celebrate it either in advance or belatedly, depending on our work schedules. Unfortunately, Sir Arnel won't be able to celebrate with us this year, as he decided to submit his resignation.
October 23 – It was Sir Eugene's birthday. This time, we implemented a contribution of 150 PHP from the whole team so that we could have a quick "eat-in" at the company to celebrate his special occasion. We had a lot of fun with a simple meal of lechon manok, BBQ, soft drinks, and cake and we were all full by the end. Sharing these kinds of bonding moments helps build trust and camaraderie within the team.
November 10 – It was Miss Crislyn's birthday. We surprised her with her favorite cartoon character, SpongeBob, and even made a DIY cake topper to make it extra cute. We wanted to make her feel special on her birthday, especially since she was away from her family. I remember that Sir Eugene volunteered to make native chicken tinola, and we also bought some lechon manok because I don’t eat native chicken. We started sharing the food and exchanged some words about our work. It was a good opportunity for us to communicate with each other and avoid any chaos.
December 18 – It was my special day. This was an unexpected surprise because we were all busy practicing for our year-end party dance presentation. This time, Sir Eugene volunteered to provide 2 lechon manok since he received his scholarship money. They surprised me with a cake featuring a cute butterfly topper, which is my favorite, and Sir Raul also contributed 2 gallons of Selecta ice cream and 2 trays of spaghetti. This was my first time being surprised at the workplace, and they truly made my birthday one to remember.
January 19 – It was Miss Mae’s birthday. We decided to celebrate it in advance since her birthday falls on Sinulog and we didn’t have work that day. We surprised her with a mocha cake, as she is a coffee lover, and Bangtan-themed toppers. She had no idea we were celebrating it early, as she expected the celebration to be after Sinulog. As usual, we had two lechon manok and soft drinks to share. We also discussed some important matters, and during that time, we started to feel sad since we knew that Sir Arnel would be resigning.
Sir Eugene and I are new to the OSH Team; we became part of the team in August 2024. We are happy to be part of this team because they are not just colleagues, but also a new family in the workplace. I know it’s sad that some members of our team will be resigning, and some have already resigned, whom we never had the chance to meet. Nevertheless, I am still grateful for this opportunity and for being able to be part of this team.
This team is truly unforgettable. Here is our complete and updated group photo from our year-end party. Miss Chatlyn and I are part of the health team, as we are the nurses in the company. Sir Vince, Sir Arnel, Sir Eugene, Sir Jumeal, Miss Mae, and Miss Crislyn are part of HIPCO, where they serve as safety officers in the company. And, of course, there's Sir Raul, our ever-supportive team leader. This team has had a huge impact on every special occasion, and we’ve become like siblings. I’m grateful that we can celebrate special birthdays together. In 2025, we hope to celebrate even more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and connect with my thoughts today. I’m excited to continue sharing my journey with you, and I hope you found something here that resonated or sparked an idea. This blog is a space for growth, inspiration, and conversation, and I’d love to hear your thoughts, feedback, or experiences in the comments. Feel free to share if something stood out to you. Here’s to many more stories, lessons, and moments of connection ahead! See you in the next post!