Birthday celebrations can offer a much-needed break from the daily grind in the office. When you are uncertain about office gift ideas, it can take away the celebratory nature of the birthday party. With a variety of employee gifts available to present to the workaholic or office comedian, you can't go wrong when choosing something from Office Depot. Here are seven birthday gifts that are bound to leave employees smiling.

Classy Pens

Pens are one of the most essential tools in the office. Spruce up the birthday celebration by presenting special co-workers with a fine pen to personalize their notes, memos or office correspondences. As a bonus, they are likely to remember your birthday gift each and every time they grab hold of their new classy pens.

Headphones

It’s no secret that offices can get noisy and even distracting at times. Help your co-workers boost their productivity while eliminating office distractions when you give headphones as birthday gifts. Choose from noise-canceling models or slim earbuds they can use when they’re on the go. A durable set of headphones is often an appropriate, yet practical birthday gift idea for the musically inclined employee.

Personalized Notepads

Add a personal touch to employee gifts by purchasing personalized notepads. Pre-printed notepads and notecards with the co-worker's name and position make the type of unique birthday gift that most people often overlook. Choose a color that fits the personality of the birthday girl or boy to add to the excitement of the celebration in the office.

Fitness Bands

Delight the fitness enthusiast in your office with tools to track their progress. Fitness bands are an ideal birthday gift for the type of employee who takes the stairs instead of the elevator, saunters off to yoga class on lunch breaks and heads straight for the gym after the workday is done. With this wearable technology, the birthday girl or boy can set alerts, create daily fitness goals, and monitor steps and calories throughout the day.

Coffee Mugs

Quench the thirst of the avid coffee drinker in the office when presenting gifts for co-workers. You can choose from ceramic mugs with decorative images or a travel mug for the employee on the go. Ensure no one in the office mistakes the mug as their own by adding a personalized message or photo to the front. You can also opt to purchase a travel mug with an enclosure that allows the birthday celebrant to insert his own photo of choice.

Portable Flash Drives

Office gift ideas for the techie are plentiful. Purchase a bulk set of portable flash drives for the data-driven employee. Gather your co-workers together to create a video to load onto the drive, so the honoree has something to remember everyone by when the workdays are chaotic and long. Take a bunch of pictures during the office party and load them to the drive as well to share with the celebrant.

Laptop Bags

Select laptop bags if you’re looking for a birthday gift for a co-worker that keeps on giving. Choose a style that is sleek and modern for the traveling professional, or opt for a fun and colorful backpack for your spunky colleague. Laptop bags are practical birthday gift, yet the style chosen allows you to personalize the gift.

Instead of spending time brainstorming birthday gift ideas for that special colleague, opt for one of these seven office gifts that are ideal for professionals in any industry. You can add a personal touch to each of these employee gifts that shows you appreciate their service to the company.