My friend works for some company that has mandatory office birthday parties. Not everyone likes to celibate their birthdays, especially at work and especially him. There is always a birthday every week or so. But the only upside to it was that he did mention, at least you get free cake on your birthday. I reminded him that it's not free since you have to pitch in for everyone else's birthday. By the end of the year, your cake is probably very expensive.
Do any of you have to deal with mandatory birthday parties? What happens if you can't afford to chip in for whatever reason? And how often are they in your company?
Happy to say that this doesn't happen where I work. I wouldn't mind having free food but I wouldn't enjoy constantly paying for other people birthday food. Especially if I don't know them or would care to know them outside of work. I just want to be productive and go home to bed and hang out with by best friend in the entire world. (Bed is my best friend)