Anonymous
Post 02/13/2026 18:59     Subject: Re:Colleague’s Birthday

Do not give a gift. It’s not the norm.
Anonymous
Post 02/13/2026 13:55     Subject: Colleague’s Birthday

Gift card. It's an obligatory gift that quietly suggests not much thought went into it. $10 max; no envelope. Bonus points if you get it from a place that she's not fond of.
Anonymous
Post 02/13/2026 08:28     Subject: Colleague’s Birthday

Slack them "Happy birthday!"

Done.
Anonymous
Post 02/13/2026 08:28     Subject: Colleague’s Birthday

Why? I've never given a birthday gift to a colleague. My team does recognize birthdays. Pre-covid, by the dept head bringing in a cake for everyone to share. Now we're mostly remote so it's just a "happy birthday" message in the team slack.
Anonymous
Post 02/13/2026 08:02     Subject: Colleague’s Birthday

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have never once bought a birthday gift for a colleague. IMO that's over the top and ridiculous unless you are also close friends.


+1. [/quote

Cheap! Not a single co-worker? Yikes. Op, why do you feel obligated to get a gift for someone you don't like?


I’m not cheap, it’s just it’s not something that’s done, in my experience. Where do you work where it’s normal to do this? I’m in the private sector and have worked at a number of different companies. No, I’ve never bought a birthday gift for a coworker and no one has done it for me either. I don’t even know when my coworkers birthdays even are.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 22:54     Subject: Colleague’s Birthday

A $10 giftcard to Starbucks. It says "Here's a token gift that I spent no time thinking about and spent the bare minimum on."
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 22:51     Subject: Colleague’s Birthday

A food, dessert or candy you know they don't like
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 21:01     Subject: Colleague’s Birthday

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have never once bought a birthday gift for a colleague. IMO that's over the top and ridiculous unless you are also close friends.


+1. [/quote

Cheap! Not a single co-worker? Yikes. Op, why do you feel obligated to get a gift for someone you don't like?
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 12:38     Subject: Colleague’s Birthday

How about just an email...or a Hey Enjoy your day!
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 12:03     Subject: Colleague’s Birthday

A bejeweled dagger
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 11:30     Subject: Colleague’s Birthday

Anonymous wrote:I have never once bought a birthday gift for a colleague. IMO that's over the top and ridiculous unless you are also close friends.


+1.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 11:28     Subject: Colleague’s Birthday

I have never once bought a birthday gift for a colleague. IMO that's over the top and ridiculous unless you are also close friends.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 11:24     Subject: Colleague’s Birthday

Why do you need to do ANYTHING for a colleague?
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 11:21     Subject: Colleague’s Birthday

Can you explain why it needs to be more? I'd do candy or flowers or coffee.
Anonymous
Post 02/12/2026 11:04     Subject: Colleague’s Birthday

What’s a birthday gift for a colleague that’s says, I’m obligated by social norms to recognize your birthday, but I don’t care for you nor your back stabbing, sabotaging behavior? Needs to be more than just a birthday card…