It's easy, just get a bunch of pre-loaded phrases like "Happy Birthday" "Best Wishes" etc and then mix and match them every time you gotta sign. Not signing it at all is a bad call. I feel your pain cause my dad was a stickler for us always signing cards, sometimes we wouldnt even really know the recipients, but he would still make sure we did it. I get it though
Simply smear the card with your faeces, and wait for the DNA tests to come back revealing you as the culprit. Guaranteed you'll never have to sign another card (or turn up for work) ever again!
But all this bday nonsense at work is tiresome, and constant. It's not the little time it takes, it's just the constant need to congratulate each other all the time.
The problem is that if you don't participate, you're viewed as the jerk in the office. Office politics suck, but it's often necessary not to make it any worse.
It's either that or find a job that lets you never leave the house.
I don't think that's entirely true. I don't sign anyone's card here unless it's in my specific department. I'm not signing my name and a message for 800 folks throughout the year, and I don't expect folks in departments that I've never interacted with to sign a card for me. Just because someone doesn't sign a card doesn't automatically make them the "office jerk".
But all this bday nonsense at work is tiresome, and constant. It's not the little time it takes, it's just the constant need to congratulate each other all the time.
The problem is that if you don't participate, you're viewed as the jerk in the office. Office politics suck, but it's often necessary not to make it any worse.
It's either that or find a job that lets you never leave the house.
I don't think that's entirely true. I don't sign anyone's card here unless it's in my specific department. I'm not signing my name and a message for 800 folks throughout the year, and I don't expect folks in departments that I've never interacted with to sign a card for me. Just because someone doesn't sign a card doesn't automatically make them the "office jerk".
Everyone's workplace is different, and I don't think anyone expects you to acknowledge people you barely know. But the people who you work with daily there is an expectation of cordiality to some degree.
Workplace setting is also a factor. I wouldn't expect a card to make the rounds in a factory production floor, but the corporate offices would probably have it much more often.
I don't think people who don't sign cards are actually jerks, but given office politics and other bullshit that happens in those places, it helps to at least know the climate. It sucks, but it happens.
Not to make it a gender thing, but it's more often than not a gender driven thing...
I've worked in office settings that were mostly male and we never exchanged cards. We'd say happy bday in passing if we happened to actually see the person who's bday it was, but that was about it. And we were all happy with that.
I've also worked in a more mixed setting and the implicit pressure to do a little extra in regard to bdays (or even life events, marriage, babies, etc) was definitely felt. It's annoying and if you voice your desire NOT to participate, you can be subjected to some passive aggressive BS.
My current situation is mostly male, and we only sign retirement cards. It's great.
We only sign card for going aways typically. And even then it's only on a popularity basis. You'd have to be with the company for long enough and have enough friends here for them to circulate a card. If you're popular enough we'll also do a company paid happy hour for your going away.
But, I'll sign any card that passes by my desk and I don't mind. It's only a handful of times a year though, certainly not for everyone's birthday or anything like that. Only bigger events (going away, family death, etc.)
Not to make it a gender thing, but it's more often than not a gender driven thing...
I've worked in office settings that were mostly male and we never exchanged cards. We'd say happy bday in passing if we happened to actually see the person who's bday it was, but that was about it. And we were all happy with that.
I've also worked in a more mixed setting and the implicit pressure to do a little extra in regard to bdays (or even life events, marriage, babies, etc) was definitely felt. It's annoying and if you voice your desire NOT to participate, you can be subjected to some passive aggressive BS.
My current situation is mostly male, and we only sign retirement cards. It's great.
Agreed. Not making it a gender thing, but I have 8 guys in my office and one younger woman who manages inside sales. She is the only one who sets up our holiday parties, gets donuts when it is someones bday, etc. To be clear she expenses all of these things and does it on her own without anyone asking, which is great and very nice. But without her, us dudes only say happy bday if we see it on LinkedIn or FB....and we wouldnt even remember to have an Xmas party or Thanksgiving lunch together.
Not to make it a gender thing, but it's more often than not a gender driven thing...
I've worked in office settings that were mostly male and we never exchanged cards. We'd say happy bday in passing if we happened to actually see the person who's bday it was, but that was about it. And we were all happy with that.
I've also worked in a more mixed setting and the implicit pressure to do a little extra in regard to bdays (or even life events, marriage, babies, etc) was definitely felt. It's annoying and if you voice your desire NOT to participate, you can be subjected to some passive aggressive BS.
My current situation is mostly male, and we only sign retirement cards. It's great.
Agreed. Not making it a gender thing, but I have 8 guys in my office and one younger woman who manages inside sales. She is the only one who sets up our holiday parties, gets donuts when it is someones bday, etc. To be clear she expenses all of these things and does it on her own without anyone asking, which is great and very nice. But without her, us dudes only say happy bday if we see it on LinkedIn or FB....and we wouldnt even remember to have an Xmas party or Thanksgiving lunch together.
I'll make it a gender thing, it's always the women who are doing the cards and getting lil gifts and putting shit on people's desks etc.
Not to make it a gender thing, but it's more often than not a gender driven thing...
I've worked in office settings that were mostly male and we never exchanged cards. We'd say happy bday in passing if we happened to actually see the person who's bday it was, but that was about it. And we were all happy with that.
I've also worked in a more mixed setting and the implicit pressure to do a little extra in regard to bdays (or even life events, marriage, babies, etc) was definitely felt. It's annoying and if you voice your desire NOT to participate, you can be subjected to some passive aggressive BS.
My current situation is mostly male, and we only sign retirement cards. It's great.
Its ok for the genders to be different lol, no need to start with "not to make it a gender thing".
Comments
*Ahem* http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=7&threadid=184925
But all this bday nonsense at work is tiresome, and constant. It's not the little time it takes, it's just the constant need to congratulate each other all the time.
The problem is that if you don't participate, you're viewed as the jerk in the office. Office politics suck, but it's often necessary not to make it any worse.
It's either that or find a job that lets you never leave the house.
I don't think that's entirely true. I don't sign anyone's card here unless it's in my specific department. I'm not signing my name and a message for 800 folks throughout the year, and I don't expect folks in departments that I've never interacted with to sign a card for me. Just because someone doesn't sign a card doesn't automatically make them the "office jerk".
But all this bday nonsense at work is tiresome, and constant. It's not the little time it takes, it's just the constant need to congratulate each other all the time.
The problem is that if you don't participate, you're viewed as the jerk in the office. Office politics suck, but it's often necessary not to make it any worse.
It's either that or find a job that lets you never leave the house.
I don't think that's entirely true. I don't sign anyone's card here unless it's in my specific department. I'm not signing my name and a message for 800 folks throughout the year, and I don't expect folks in departments that I've never interacted with to sign a card for me. Just because someone doesn't sign a card doesn't automatically make them the "office jerk".
Everyone's workplace is different, and I don't think anyone expects you to acknowledge people you barely know. But the people who you work with daily there is an expectation of cordiality to some degree.
Workplace setting is also a factor. I wouldn't expect a card to make the rounds in a factory production floor, but the corporate offices would probably have it much more often.
I don't think people who don't sign cards are actually jerks, but given office politics and other bullshit that happens in those places, it helps to at least know the climate. It sucks, but it happens.
I've worked in office settings that were mostly male and we never exchanged cards. We'd say happy bday in passing if we happened to actually see the person who's bday it was, but that was about it. And we were all happy with that.
I've also worked in a more mixed setting and the implicit pressure to do a little extra in regard to bdays (or even life events, marriage, babies, etc) was definitely felt. It's annoying and if you voice your desire NOT to participate, you can be subjected to some passive aggressive BS.
My current situation is mostly male, and we only sign retirement cards. It's great.
But, I'll sign any card that passes by my desk and I don't mind. It's only a handful of times a year though, certainly not for everyone's birthday or anything like that. Only bigger events (going away, family death, etc.)
Originally posted by: Br81zad
Not to make it a gender thing, but it's more often than not a gender driven thing...
I've worked in office settings that were mostly male and we never exchanged cards. We'd say happy bday in passing if we happened to actually see the person who's bday it was, but that was about it. And we were all happy with that.
I've also worked in a more mixed setting and the implicit pressure to do a little extra in regard to bdays (or even life events, marriage, babies, etc) was definitely felt. It's annoying and if you voice your desire NOT to participate, you can be subjected to some passive aggressive BS.
My current situation is mostly male, and we only sign retirement cards. It's great.
Agreed. Not making it a gender thing, but I have 8 guys in my office and one younger woman who manages inside sales. She is the only one who sets up our holiday parties, gets donuts when it is someones bday, etc. To be clear she expenses all of these things and does it on her own without anyone asking, which is great and very nice. But without her, us dudes only say happy bday if we see it on LinkedIn or FB....and we wouldnt even remember to have an Xmas party or Thanksgiving lunch together.
Not to make it a gender thing, but it's more often than not a gender driven thing...
I've worked in office settings that were mostly male and we never exchanged cards. We'd say happy bday in passing if we happened to actually see the person who's bday it was, but that was about it. And we were all happy with that.
I've also worked in a more mixed setting and the implicit pressure to do a little extra in regard to bdays (or even life events, marriage, babies, etc) was definitely felt. It's annoying and if you voice your desire NOT to participate, you can be subjected to some passive aggressive BS.
My current situation is mostly male, and we only sign retirement cards. It's great.
Agreed. Not making it a gender thing, but I have 8 guys in my office and one younger woman who manages inside sales. She is the only one who sets up our holiday parties, gets donuts when it is someones bday, etc. To be clear she expenses all of these things and does it on her own without anyone asking, which is great and very nice. But without her, us dudes only say happy bday if we see it on LinkedIn or FB....and we wouldnt even remember to have an Xmas party or Thanksgiving lunch together.
I'll make it a gender thing, it's always the women who are doing the cards and getting lil gifts and putting shit on people's desks etc.
No men do that.
You guys think he's an asshole? There's a guy at my work that wouldn't take time to write on a card for a guy that's wife just passed.
We have a guy like that too.
Not to make it a gender thing, but it's more often than not a gender driven thing...
I've worked in office settings that were mostly male and we never exchanged cards. We'd say happy bday in passing if we happened to actually see the person who's bday it was, but that was about it. And we were all happy with that.
I've also worked in a more mixed setting and the implicit pressure to do a little extra in regard to bdays (or even life events, marriage, babies, etc) was definitely felt. It's annoying and if you voice your desire NOT to participate, you can be subjected to some passive aggressive BS.
My current situation is mostly male, and we only sign retirement cards. It's great.
Its ok for the genders to be different lol, no need to start with "not to make it a gender thing".