I started a new position as an AN1 in IB in London around 2 months ago. My birthday will be in around a month and falls on a Monday. I would really appreciate not sitting at my desk like any other day on my birthday.
What is the etiquette on taking the day off for your birthday in the industry, especially given that I just started my role? Will it be regarded poorly if I request the day off? What if I ask to WFH instead?
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I personally don’t see a problem with this, but I think it depends heavily on your group. I plan to do this, but my group is relatively relaxed on this and I’m a 2nd year. I’d just ask around first to see the vibe
Could also just flag to your team that you’ll be out of pocket for the evening for a birthday dinner if you don’t feel comfortable taking the full day.
Depends on the culture of your firm. My firm would probably not be very stoked about it if you’re only 2 months in, but otherwise the above comment sounds good
As others have noted, this is firm and team culture specific.
You should take your acutal holiday days if that's what you mean. (If you're suggesting though that you can have a day off of work without it counting towards your allotted holiday then I struggle to see this as being acceptable - everyone has birthdays, after all). If you want to take a day of holiday though then completely within your rights - you shouldn't need to give a reason either to be honest.
WFH is the same as the above; birthdays would not, at least in my team, be seen as a reason to WFH. I realise where you're coming from here - it's a bit anticlimactic to be at your desk in an office environment, but the optics of asking for a day of WFH because it's your birthday might suggest you plan to not work somehow (I'm not saying you would, but some might interpret it that way).
Read the room again on taking the evening out for a birthday dinner - my team and myself again would be fine with this, but signal it reasonably far in advance if you have some live deal in particular.
Should the point have been that you were taking a long weekend to travel for your birthday with some friends, then it would make sense. To not want to sit at your desk on your birthday is a bit childish. You can celebrate Saturday / Sunday prior for example, communicate with your team that you have weekend plans according to your birthday, especially say you have family visiting to get extra leeway. But to take a day off 2 months in for no reason but to do nothing because it’s your birthday is kind of a waste. Point being, when something can be looked negatively upon, it better be worth doing.
Just tell them you’re taking a long weekend.
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