Need Office Birthday Recognition Ideas.....

This works well: once it is someones b-day, they are then in charge of the next persons b-day. They could make it simple and bring in a cookie-cake or cake; or make it more elaborate. It's their choice. Then each person is only spending money once a year on the person whose day is after theirs.

I agree with others that your management needs to give you more guidelines. It wouldn't be fair for you to pay for cards, cakes, etc. Here's what an office I worked at did and it seemed okay until a few people decided they didn't want to participate. This has to be something that everyone is on board with. Everyone chipped in on a cake for the birthday honoree and then we had a short "Happy Birthday" party--some took their cake back to their desks and a few stuck around for a few minutes. I like the idea of the monthly Food Day as a way to celebrate al birthdays. Good luck!

The best way to learn is by asking questions. But your boss is probably the one you should be asking. It sounds like he has been about as clear as mud on what he expects of you.

I like that idea of the person whose birthday it is in charge of the next one...very clever and it's not all on you!!! Also, if you don't have a budget limitation, what about adding some sort of gift card to that card that everyone signs...could be for Starbucks, a local restaurant, whatever. If your office has a cafeteria, maybe they could get a voucher for a free lunch on their bday or something?? I also think it's nice to post up the birthdays in the break room or send out a calendar listing everyone's birthday for the year of something. Everyone likes to feel special on their birthday, so if you can do it all!! ;) I think when we grow up, and especially when we have kids, we rarely have days to ourselves and a birth is something to be celebrated for sure!

I worked in an office where the birthday person would bring in goodies to share on their own bday.

It sounds odd but it worked well for everyone. If there was someone that didn't want their bday recognized they could chose not to bring in treats. Everyone knew when your bday was coming up, though, and would remind you that they were looking forward to the cake or whatever that you were bringing. A lot of times people would just bring something like donuts or bagels that we could share in the morning before work and that could just sit around in the break room for whoever came later. We didn't usually have a party or singing or anything like that. But you always knew if that stuff was around that it was probably someone's bday and you could make a point to mention it to them during the day.

I would want a few more guidelines, is there money available to you to spend...or is it just something that you have to do without spending anything? Will they allow you to have that "food day" celebration when everyone can get together and at least tell the ones who are having a birthday....Happy BIrthday ?? As someone else said...you, or someone must have said they didn't like the way things are being done now or it might have never come up.
I worked for a major retailer for a few years and we always had the Monthly Birthday Party early morning meeting, before the store opened, listed off everyone having a birthday that month and then cut into the cake.
Now I work at another major grocery store retailer, they don't "do" anything to celebrate birthdays but the small pharmacy within the bigger store, where I work, does birthday cakes and such for each other as our bd's come up.
I don't think it should be anything big...if you are wishing someone happy birthday just because you "have" to...it somehow loses it's meaning. I would rather know that the wishes were sincere and from people who really care about me.

I think you need better guidelines. My office seems to only recognize random birthdays of their "friends". My husband's office has everyone that wants to participate sign up, and you buy for the person with a birthday ahead of you (or maybe behind you). They put the cake or doughnuts (the birthday person usually requests what they want) in an office do the, "Happy Birthday, XXX", and everyone goes on their way.

It sounds like your "assignment" came about because you or someone else complained about the current birthday policy or lack of it. Good luck!

several offices I know will put up a poster in the break room announces all birthdays of the month (just the day, not the year!) Then once a month, usually the last Friday of the month, the office orders a sheet cake (out of petty cash) and all employees that are available join them in the breakroom at an appointed time for enjoying cake and wishing everyone a Happy Birthday. Sometimes, people in an individual dept will take an honoree out to lunch on his/her birthday and share the cost.