In my office we usually put together money to buy a small gift or we buy individual gifts (usually spend no more than $20). My Dr also takes us out to lunch as an office for birthdays. Since we are a small office and our birthdays are close in days or months, we combine birthday lunches. My office manager and I also in the same month so we pick a day during the month and we celebrate both of ours on the same day.
Like WarnerSL, my Dr takes the staff to lunch for someone’s birthday. We aren’t very good about getting each other gifts as an office, but do all sign a card. My Dr gets a cake for the birthday girl/boy too.
At my office everyone brings food for the persons bday (on a day everyone chooses).
Most of us have our birthdays in February actually.. So we typically have a party and cake every week or so. We work hard so it’s nice to have a lunch waiting for us there.
We don’t do presents but we all bring food according to what the person likes.
For example: I’m not too picky so they bought a bunch of PF Chengs lunches. Someone else is super healthy.. So everyone cooked or brought salads and veggies. Someone else loves Mexican food.. So we got tamales and Spanish rice and chips. And one doctor always buys the cakes.. So we eat good food and then have cakes.
If everyone pitches in something, it works out well and you get lots of food to eat.
My last doctor would take us out to eat. Honestly I like the “potluck” so much more.
We all sign a card and I usually make a dessert/treat… That’s it, kinda boring in my opinion! I really wish we did more, birthdays should be special!