‘She shamed my coworkers’: Loyal client defends a sales employee after the entire office neglects their birthday, shaming a company that supposedly ‘celebrates everyone’

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Mar 11, 2025 11:00 PM EDT

You can see your coworker making rounds in the office from the corner cubicle, asking your colleagues to sign an egregiously large birthday card for your boss. Although you were aware that your company was all about birthday celebrations, you didn't realize that your signature on a birthday card wouldn't be the end of your celebratory contributions for upper management. After going out of your way to buy a $20 Starbucks gift card and pitching for a pizza party in their honor, you start to imagine the fun and exciting plans that your office will have lined up for your birthday. 

Alas, when the day finally comes, nobody remembers. Not one coworker says, 'Happy birthday' and there's not a single balloon, cupcake, card, or any acknowledgement to celebrate your big day. And after bankrolling your boss's birthday, it's starting to feel like an office scam! 

Luckily for the employee in this next story, however, a big-mouthed client wasn't about to let their birthday go unnoticed. Keep scrolling to read how this bossy, yet loyal, customer stood up for their favorite sales person after their company failed to follow up with their 'celebrate everyone' policy.

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  • I've never been much of a birthday person myself, however, I would say that most of my friends are very excited about their birthdays. Bent on spending the day of their birth commemorating their last journey around the sun, I've grown fond of celebrating other people's birthdays. The smiles they share and the excitement over even the tiniest compliment or thoughtful gift is pretty priceless. So when this employee realized that everyone forgot their birthday in the office (despite the Google calendar being very clear), they spilled the tea to their biggest customer.

  • Cheezburger Image 10478343168
    via Elnur

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • "AITA for telling my client my birthday and she shamed my coworkers for forgetting my birthday?"

    I was hired last May into a company that is all about celebrating everyone. I was asked and paid into collections for my bosses birthday, 3 coworkers birthdays were everyone got flowers and cake and cards and balloons and free lunch. I sung happy
    via AnyWinter7757
  • birthday and participated in pictures, etc. I also participated in collections for coworkers when family di d and my boss for the Christmas party. My birthday was last week. I had mentioned I was
    via AnyWinter7757
  • excited for my birthday the week before. Nothing. No one said a thing. Noone wished me happy birthday, or a card or anything. It hurt, but I ignored it. So, my client knew there was someone on the staff with
    via AnyWinter7757
  • a birthday near hers and she was trying to figure out who the Pisces on staff was. Every day for 2 weeks. The day after my birthday I told her. She had lots to say to the staff about not celebrating my birthday in
    via AnyWinter7757
  • our usual fashion. It hurts I was forgotten, but I don't think I did anything wrong. Somehow, my coworkers are blaming me for not giving
    via AnyWinter7757
  • them time to celebrate my birthday. (It literally is in our computer email system...wish your team member a happy birthday!) AITA?
    via AnyWinter7757
  • Fun_Effectiv... NTA If this is something that happens for everyone and suddenly no one did it for you, I'd be upset too. You gave plenty of time and your birthday is in the system, what more did they want you to do?
    via Fun_Effectiv
  • tasinca NTA but oof your workplace sounds like a nightmare. Collecting money for gift for THE BOSS? There's a "rule" in business never gift up. Your boss doesn't need your money. And if this is supposed to be about "celebrating
    via tasinca
  • everyone" then the company can pony up the bucks for a monthly donut or bagel run or lunch for the whole office, giving money for gifts for coworkers on a regular
    via tasinca
  • basis is BS. Since it's now clear they don't "celebrate everyone," start pushing back on this entire circus. I'll bet there are other people who will thank you for it.
    via tasinca
  • Cosmokkgirl I stopped contributing to everyone's birthdays after mine was regularly neglected.
    via Cosmokkgirl
  • Fragrant-Body-4644 So let me get this straight........ They didn't celebrate you for your birthday after taking your money for a year, and then shamed/blamed you when they were the ones who forgot your birthday? Wow, that literally takes the cake....
    via Fragrant-Body-4644
  • Maude Baggins NTA - how much 'time' do they need to organise something for everyone else. If this was a genuine oversight, they should have got you a cake the next day. Sounds mean and exclusionary when everyone else is celebrated.
    via Maude Baggins
  • RatQueen7272 Nta, I'm sorry you had that happen. At my job I'm the one who makes sure everyone at least gets a card signed by everyone. People on my team get a bday coffee. My birthday rolled around.... nothing. We also have
    via RatQueen7272
  • a system that let's everyone know when it's a co workers bday. My boss who regularly takes people to lunch for their bday didn't even wish me a happy birthday. I realize it's because I go out of my way to
    via RatQueen7272
  • make sure people remember and no one did that for me, but it S ks. I thought someone would at least get one of the generic cards we keep around in case an occasion gets forgotten. But oh well.
    via RatQueen7272
  • Uncorked53 "For not giving them time to celebrate your birthday? What, we're they waiting for the full moon to sacrifice squirrels in the park???? They're AHs... do you feel like they're cliquish?
    via Uncorked53

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customer service boss worker employee manager job birthday work coworkers client working ceo employees supervisor workplace Reddit company coworker business
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