For several years now children have been going to work with their moms, dads, aunts, uncles, etc. on Take Your Child to Work Day to see what goes on in that person’s normal workday. This was the first year that my eight-year-old daughter, Jessica, was old enough by my company’s guidelines to join me for the day. I asked her (in passing really) if she was interested in coming to work with me and after I got up off the floor from being tackled, I concluded that the answer was a resounding, yes!

Jessica (pictured left) and a friend at the Prudent Publishing headquarters on Take Your Child to Work Day.

She went through what I call the girl drama process of picking out just the right outfit with just the right accessories and shoes. She asked me many, many questions about how the day would unfold and couldn’t wait for the day to come. She was so enthusiastic that I hoped she wasn’t setting such high expectations in case she would end up being disappointed. Finally the big day arrived (April 22nd) which happened to also coincide with Earth Day this year. I have to admit I was even a bit anxious myself to see how things would progress that day. I warned my husband that we were likely to be home early if she ended up getting bored.

Well, there was no need to worry. Several of my co-workers came up with such creative ways to get the children involved in learning about our company, which primarily sells business greeting cards. Jessica had a full day that started with typesetting and designing her name tag, then meeting with our company president to discuss her future career plans, after which she entered her own order on our website (which she found very easy to use) and designed and photographed her own birthday card design for the mini-catalog that our graphics team produced for the children. After a fun pizza lunch, we headed over to eat some dirt, er, I mean dessert; a fellow employee made an edible flower pot with crushed up Oreo cookies made to look like dirt, complete with gummy worms. Yum!

Everyone gathered like flies when the dirt dessert was put out. Thankfully, they weren't really eating dirt; it was crushed up Oreos!

The afternoon consisted of listening to one of our customer service specialists take a phone order for thank you cards, testing her typing speed to see if she typed fast enough to take orders, and various projects that were assigned for her to complete. She was sad that the day was coming to an end but happy to receive her paycheck and company newsletter before heading home. She couldn’t wait to get home and tell her family and friends all about her experience. Does she want to return next year? Well, let’s just say the outfit is already being planned!

One of the new business birthday cards introduced by The Gallery Collection is design #085AT, Star Studded Birthday Card. This design is printed on a heavy buff card stock and features a large light blue and silver foil star surrounded by the words “Happy Birthday” in an elegant script. Tiny blue and silver specks and stars running in a diagonal bar complete the celestial effect. This card is gender-neutral and has appeal to both male and female recipients. The design is perfect for an office environment and even the most upscale of companies would be proud to send this handsome design to their employees and clients. The overall impression made by Star Studded Birthday is one of class and good taste.

Design #085AT - Star Studded Birthday Card

Another of the business birthday cards added to The Gallery Collection’s line is design #089AY, Bursting with Birthday Wishes Birthday Card. This festive design is printed on glossy white card stock and features three colorful gift bags surrounded by gold foil confetti. The words “Happy Birthday” are printed below the gifts bags in a script font in shimmering gold foil. This unisex design is perfect for businesses to send to their employees or for employees to exchange amongst themselves. The emotions channeled by Bursting with Birthday Wishes are fun and good cheer.

Design #089AR - Bursting with Birthday Wishes
Birthday Card

Times are tough and it may be difficult to give the raises and bonuses to the dependable and hardworking employees whose productivity you need to stay afloat. Employee birthday cards, especially those of premium quality, send an important personal message to your valued employees. Even those who joke, “I’m not having any more birthdays!” appreciate having their birthdays remembered and acknowledged with birthday cards.

We tend to share a lot about our personal lives with co-workers with whom we spend so much of our time. Even so, in our professional atmosphere, we are more likely to “put on a happy face” rather than share some deeply personal worries and disappointments. The simple gesture of giving birthday cards may provide a needed emotional lift, even when you didn’t know it was needed.

When you send premium quality birthday cards, you’re making a statement about the high value you place on your relationship with your employee. A card that is proudly displayed says volumes over an easily deletable e-card or flimsy overstock item. And, don’t forget the importance of taking time to jot a salutation with the celebrant’s name, along with a short note and your own signature.

This gesture of respect for your employees will add to their respect for you and for the business that sustains you both. As a bonus, you’re more likely to find your own birthday remembered and celebrated with an impressive number of birthday cards!

Business birthday cards are a great way to bring a little bit of sunshine to the recipient. Every year I look forward to receiving the company birthday cards that I know are waiting for me when I come into work. Since I have been with The Gallery Collection, I have gathered eight years worth. I haven’t been able to part with them. I enjoy pulling them out every now and again, still getting a chuckle when I read some of the messages from my friends and colleagues. Now some people are happy to have just one birthday, but I however, have two. How can that be you might ask? Let me explain…

I was born February 10th (the year is not important), or so I was led to believe. I even have my hospital birth certificate to prove it – footprints and all! So imagine my surprise when I went to City Hall to obtain a copy of my legal birth certificate, only to find that I was celebrating the wrong date of birth. The clerk asked me to write down my name, mother and fathers names, and my birth date, which I dutifully did. She went into another room and a little while later, came back with a huge black binder. Not only did she have this big black book in tow, she also had a very stern look on her face. I was only 14 at the time, so I was scared to death. I wasn’t sure what I could have done to warrant that look.

The clerk looked at me with this accusatory look and said that I had written the wrong date. I said, “No, I really was born on February 10th.” “No,” she said, “You were born on February 11th!” She then proceeded to shove the book in front of me and pointed to the birth date. It did indeed read February 11th and below that in what was clearly my mother’s handwriting was her signature. So much for proofreading!

Of course, I went home with my copy of the legal birth certificate and immediately handed it to my mother. My poor Mom was flabbergasted to say the least. From that day forward, I have had to use the 11th as my legal birth date. Mom was having none of that and refused to give me my birthday cards on any other day but the 10th. I used to explain this to anyone that would ask me when my birthday was. Now I just give them my legal birth date and let it go at that. However, when any of my family members ask me which date I plan to celebrate, I always answer with the following – “Both, of course!”