So it’s the boss’s birthday. And one of the natural questions coming to mind, especially when you can’t exactly pretend you have no idea when their birthday is, is: Do I buy him/her a birthday present?
My $0.05: I’ve experienced different types of situations when it comes to buying the boss a birthday gift. For instance, I’ve worked in companies/teams where it was customary for everyone to chip in a reasonable amount (read less than $25) to buy the boss a cake and gift. However, I’ve also experienced situations where a simple “happy birthday” was enough. And lastly, I’ve been in teams where it was customary to make a small donation to a charity in honor of the boss’s birthday, rather than outright buy her/him a gift.
So the answer, really is: It depends. I’d suggest consulting with your team, or with people who’ve been at the company longer than you, about what’s usually done. It’s also always preferable to act as a team and contribute a nominal amount of meme (less than $25, anything above $25 can create a conflict of interest). If you’re a single contributor and not part of a team, a simple card is enough, unless you have a particularly close relationship with your boss, in which case you should still keep your gift expense under $25.
What do you think about buying your boss a gift for their birthday?
Love,
The Corporate Sis.
