Staffbase Birthday Widget – GDPR-Compliant Birthday Display

Overview

The Birthday Widget automatically displays your colleagues’ birthdays in the intranet. Whether as a Celebration Board, calendar, or compact sidebar — no birthday goes unnoticed.

Why This Widget?

Birthdays are a simple and effective way to show appreciation within the team. The Birthday Widget makes congratulating a breeze:

• ✅ Automatic: Birthdays are read from profile data
• ✅ GDPR-compliant: Full control with opt-out option
• ✅ Interactive: Congratulate directly through the widget
• ✅ Flexible: Various views for every placement

Key Features

1. Automatic Birthday Detection

The widget reads the date of birth from Staffbase profile data and automatically displays upcoming birthdays:

• Today’s birthday person highlighted
• Countdown to the next birthday
• Filterable by team, department, or location
• Automatic sorting by date

2. Versatile Display Options

Choose from various layouts:

• Celebration Cards: Large-format cards with congratulation button
• Calendar View: Monthly calendar with marked birthdays
• Dark Mode: Elegant design for dark themes
• Compact Sidebar: Space-saving for sidebars

3. Privacy & GDPR

Privacy is the top priority:

• Opt-out for employees (hide birthday)
• Age can be hidden separately
• Configurable notifications
• Full GDPR compliance

4. Congratulation Feature

• Direct congratulation with one click
• Optional message to the birthday person
• Team notifications via push or email
• Automatic birthday messages

Typical Use Cases

🎂 Daily Birthday Display

The homepage automatically shows who has a birthday today.

📅 Monthly Calendar

The calendar view shows all birthdays of the month at a glance.

🏢 Location-Based View

Show only birthdays from your own location or department.

📊 HR Dashboard

The HR department gets statistics and can manage privacy settings.

Integration & Setup

The widget can be set up in under 2 minutes:

1. Select widget from the gallery
2. Choose display variant
3. Configure privacy options
4. Publish — done!

Birthdays are automatically read from existing profile data.

Design Options

• Celebration Cards: Ideal for the homepage with congratulation button
• Calendar View: Perfect for a dedicated team page
• Dark Mode: Modern design for dark themes
• Compact Sidebar: Space-saving in the sidebar
• Statistics View: Key metrics and privacy for HR

GDPR & Data Privacy

Displaying birthdays in the intranet involves personal data — a clear legal basis is therefore essential.

Legal Basis

Dates of birth are personal data under the GDPR. For displaying them in the intranet, data protection experts recommend obtaining explicit consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR) from employees. A works council agreement can also serve as a legal basis.

Opt-In in the Widget Builder

The Widget Builder supports both approaches:

• Opt-in: Employees actively give their consent — birthday is only shown if they have agreed
• Opt-out: Birthday is shown by default; employees can hide it at any time
• Age protection: The birth year can be hidden separately — only day and month are visible

Both settings can be configured in the Widget Builder without IT involvement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I allowed to display birthdays in the intranet?

This is generally possible, but requires a legal basis. The recommended approach is either employee consent (opt-in) or a works agreement. Without one of these, the birthday date should not be displayed. (More on GDPR and birthday lists at wbs.legal )

Do I need consent from employees?

Yes, in most cases consent is required. A date of birth is personal data that cannot be made public without authorization. Exceptions apply if a works agreement governs the display.

How does opt-in work in the Widget Builder?

In opt-in mode, employees receive a one-time prompt in the app asking whether their birthday may be displayed. Only after they agree do they appear in the widget. Consent can be revoked at any time.

Where does the birthday data come from?

The widget uses the date of birth from Staffbase profile data. Alternatively, data can be imported via HR system integration.

Can employees hide their birthday?

Yes, every employee can opt out to hide their birthday. Age can also be hidden separately.

Are colleagues notified?

Optionally, push notifications or email reminders can be activated so the team can congratulate in time.

Is the widget GDPR-compliant?

Yes, full GDPR compliance with configurable opt-in/opt-out settings, age protection, and EU data hosting. The specific legal basis is determined by your organization.

Best Practices

• Homepage: Place the widget prominently on the homepage
• Communicate Opt-out: Inform employees about the opt-out option
• Combination: Use together with the Anniversaries Widget for a complete recognition page
• Team Notifications: Activate push reminders for more interaction

Next Steps

Ready to visibly celebrate birthdays in the team?

Try for Free → or → Book a Demo