Birthday

[Anonymous]

I used to work for a company that gave your birthday off!

My birthday falls the day before a holiday so I get the day after off, which is kind of fun. We don’t do much for bdays but a free day is a free day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here, I should have been more specific. I’ve been speaking with friends who are managers (I’m self-employed and don’t manage others so doesn’t apply to me) where the GenZ employees expect it as an *extra* day off.
And for example, even if there is a time sensitive project that their team is working on where it would be expected that people would typically not take vacation time, they will still take the day off because “it’s their birthday”, and they feel entitled to not work on that day, regardless of impact on others professionally.

You and your friends forgot how being young is.

Really? I’m in my 50s but even in my 20s I never expected or cared about getting my birthday off from work. Of course I celebrated it however I would like but work was separate.

[Anonymous]

Unless we happen to be on vacation already, which does occur since I have a summer birthday, I go to work. For over a decade I worked for a place that had a conference every summer, all hands, and it always fell over my birthday, so taking it off wasn’t even an option.

I worked for a while with an older Gen X (I’m a young Gen X) who was very very into her birthday and took it and surrounding days off every year. But I’ve never run into anyone who expects to get an extra day off for it beyond their normal leave.

[Anonymous]

When I was in my 20’s, I used my PTO on my birthday cause why not? I had more than enough PTO and it is nice to just celebrate myself. On years when I took long vacations and had to conserve PTO, I worked on my birthday.

[Anonymous]

Now I doubt you even get a free ice cream cone on your birthday. Used to be some chains did that, HoJo or Friendly's iirc.

[Anonymous]

I am genX and when the kids were in primary school, would give them a day off from school and we would do something fun. Secondary school they would miss too much and wasn’t worth it, otherwise I would have continued that tradition.

As for myself, no, never had a day off on my birthday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am genX and when the kids were in primary school, would give them a day off from school and we would do something fun. Secondary school they would miss too much and wasn’t worth it, otherwise I would have continued that tradition.

As for myself, no, never had a day off on my birthday.

To add to my post in regard to the OP, I think it’s fine if the younger generation wants their birthday recognized. For my BD, no one cared, and at this point, it’s another day for me I get to see my loved ones, so I am happy.

But for the younger generation—it is the day my kids were born, it bringing great joy to the world: it should be recognized. We are not cogs in a machine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you expect to have the day off on your birthday? If your birthday falls on a weekend, do you like/expect to have a three day weekend?

There seem to be some generational differences on this practice, but I’m curious what others think and what their experiences have been (plus your age). Also, how do you feel about it if you are a manager of others at work? How do you handle it?

I am gen X and it would never have occurred to me to expect a day off for my birthday. I am judgmental of those who expect it and I think it seems remarkably childish.

Why are you bothered by this? If you don't want to take your birthday off, that's fine. If others choose to take a PTO day on there birthday, that's fine too. No one should judge either way.

[Anonymous]

I am a younger Gen X (77), and I have taken the day off every year that my birthday has fallen on a weekday for my entire 25 year careeer. It's a Saturday this year, and I may consider taking the Friday before for a three day weekend. I don't need others to celebratee me, but I damn sure celebrate myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a younger Gen X (77), and I have taken the day off every year that my birthday has fallen on a weekday for my entire 25 year careeer. It's a Saturday this year, and I may consider taking the Friday before for a three day weekend. I don't need others to celebratee me, but I damn sure celebrate myself.

+1 My birthday falls around (and sometimes on) Thanksgiving and I take the whole week off to do nothing. I have no regrets!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m
Gen x and I don’t “ expect” it off. I might use my leave to take the day off if I wanted to though.

+1 and tomorrow happens to be my birthday. I’m not too busy at work so I’m taking off for some R&R

[Anonymous]

Pro tip-be born on a Federal Holiday like me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a younger Gen X (77), and I have taken the day off every year that my birthday has fallen on a weekday for my entire 25 year careeer. It's a Saturday this year, and I may consider taking the Friday before for a three day weekend. I don't need others to celebratee me, but I damn sure celebrate myself.

Exactly this. I’ve never worked somewhere with an extra day off for your birthday, but I do book that day off in advance every year. I don’t advertise when my birthday is and don’t want any acknowledgment from co-workers. Because I plan in advance, I’ve never had something come up last minute that prevented me from taking the day off.

[Anonymous]

If I don't have anything especially pressing that day, I generally take leave on my birthday and spend it doing something I enjoy. Why is that a problem or childish?

[Anonymous]

Some people are crazy about ther birthdays. I have a girlfriend from chldhood who actually threw a small hissy fit that my wedding occurred on 'her' birthday weekend.

She actually asked me - AFTER THE SAVE THE DATE WENT OUT- if I'd consider movng it.