Public birthday congratulations for the CEO and their partner appear in the general corporate channel — with emotional texts and emphasized admiration.
Everyone else? Congratulated in a separate chat. Formally. Briefly. Without visible attention.
At the symbolic level — this isn't trivial. Such rituals form a hierarchy of human significance: some are "worthy of applause," others are background.
The Signal
This is a signal to the entire organization: value is determined not by contribution, but by distance from power.
Even if done "out of respect," the result is a culture of differentiated humanity.
Those who build the system but remain invisible lose energy. Why strive if recognition flows only toward the top?
Trust in the "unified team" narrative crumbles. People see the gap between what's said and what's done.
Over time, such rituals breed fear, conformism, and performative admiration — displacing initiative and meaning.
It runs on mutual respect.