Birthdays are a cause for celebration, and when we’re spending hours a day with our colleagues, it’s definitely worth sending them a little card on their special day. So, whatever sort of working relationship you have with your coworker, we’re here to help you wish them a huge happy birthday!
From saying happy birthday to an office bestie, to coworkers you’re not super close to or even your boss, we’ve come up with all sorts of birthday message ideas suitable to send to those you work with.
Before we dive into our birthday wishes for colleagues, you’ll need to pick out the perfect birthday card to jot your message inside. From hilarious illustrations to designs featuring more simple messaging, browse a selection of our faves below:
And if you’re really hoping to treat your colleague on their special day, you can check out our blog on gift ideas for coworkers too!
How to craft the perfect birthday message
So, your colleague’s birthday card is being passed around the office, your mind has gone blank, and you’ve got about two minutes to come up with the perfect message. Not to worry, as we’re here to save the day with some pointers on coworker card etiquette:
- Keep things sincere: we recommend you keep things simple and sincere, perhaps wishing them a great day and a wonderful year ahead!
- Be specific: it’s nice to add a personal touch to a birthday card, and we love the idea of mentioning one of their unique qualities you admire.
- Keep things positive: it goes without saying, but you should also keep your message light-hearted and perhaps infuse it with a bit of fun.
And with that out of the way, it’s finally time to dive into our coworker-friendly message ideas!
Simple birthday wishes for colleagues
When you’re not sure exactly what to say and prefer to keep your birthday wishes on the more professional side, it might be best to keep things short and sweet. If you’re struggling with finding the right words, these simple birthday messages for colleagues are a solid go-to:
- Wishing you the happiest of birthdays, you’re a great member of the team.
- You make work so much more fun, happy birthday!
- Happy birthday, hope you have fun celebrating after work.
- Enjoy your birthday day off from work, hope it’s filled with joy!
- Hope you have a wonderful time celebrating your birthday, you work so hard and truly deserve it.
- I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday and hope you have a great day off from work complete with lots of presents.
- We’ve been working together for a while now and it’s been lovely. Happy birthday and can’t wait to see what the future holds.
- Sending birthday wishes your way, work buddy.
Funny birthday messages for colleagues
Want a light-hearted birthday message that will add a bit of joy to someone’s birthday? These funny birthday messages for colleagues will be sure to stand out from the crowd. Why stop there when you can write your message inside one of our equally hilarious birthday cards that will have them giggling before they even get a chance to open it.
- There’s no one I’d rather call my work wife/husband! Happy birthday and thanks for always making the office a happier place.
- I just can’t wait for everyone to bring out the cake that we’ll all be eating on our lunch break. Oh, and happy birthday to you too!
- Sending all the birthday wishes to the only co-worker who will put up with all of my shenanigans.
- Happy birthday, one year closer to retirement age with only a few decades left to go!
- Wishing you a happy birthday! You better save me a nice slice of birthday cake after all I’ve done for you at work.
- Not sure I could genuinely make it through the workdays without you, thanks for keeping me sane in the office and happy birthday!
- Today is your special day so even though you’re working make sure to take full advantage (you could probably get away with anything today… just saying).
- Have fun celebrating your birthday although maybe try not get too drunk later as we’re still working tomorrow.
Thoughtful birthday messages for your boss
There’s nothing wrong with buttering up your boss a little bit, especially when it’s their most special day of the year. So, check out these thoughtful birthday wishes for a boss that are bound to mean a lot:
- Happy birthday, I truly can’t explain how great of a mentor and boss you are to me!
- Sending birthday wishes from your whole team, don’t forget to relax as it’s your special day.
- Happy birthday! I’m so pleased to have a boss as great as you.
- It’s your birthday and that’s certainly a cause for celebration, thanks for always being such an understanding and helpful boss.
- Thank you for being an amazing boss and happy birthday, you’re so valued by the rest of the team.
- You’re such a valued manager and take on so much. Happy birthday and hope the next year brings everything you want.
- It’s your birthday, boss! I know you’ll have a great time celebrating and thanks for everything.
- After all your hard work this year you certainly deserve a day to relax. Happy birthday boss, we hope you have the best day ever!
Cheeky birthday wishes for a manager
If you dare (and are sure it won’t put your job on the line), be a bit risky with one of our cheeky birthday wishes for your manager. Ideal for the super-friendly and relatable bosses out there, dive into our ideas below:
- Happy birthday! Since it’s your birthday I was thinking that we could finish a little bit early… what do you think?
- Wishing you a happy birthday, next round on you?
- Promise I’m not saying this just because I have to, but you really are the best manager, and I hope you have a wonderful birthday!
- Happy birthday boss from your absolute favourite employee ever… me, of course!
- I’d send you a lovely birthday gift to go with this card but unfortunately, I don’t get paid well enough for that, oops.
- Happy birthday to the best manager ever. Don’t get too drunk tonight, we have work tomorrow, remember?
- I better not see you online or sending emails on your birthday, we’ll manage just fine without you for one working day.
- We don’t share your stereotypical boss-employee relationship and for that, I’m extremely grateful. Happy birthday and can’t wait to celebrate when I next see you!
Birthday wishes for work besties
You wouldn’t survive without your work bestie, and their special day is the perfect occasion to let them know just how grateful you are for them. So go ahead and steal one of the below ideas (we won’t tell) and get ready to watch as their face lights up:
- Hope you have the happiest of birthdays (thanks for always keeping things entertaining in the office…).
- To the queen/king of coffee breaks, happy birthday to you!
- Happy birthday to the one who makes the working day tolerable (truly appreciate all that you do for me).
- Another year of office shenanigans, endless coffee breaks, and many laughs. Happy birthday!
- You make work feel less like work, and for that I’m super grateful. Enjoy your special day!
- Happy birthday to my fave coworker! What would I do without you, hey?
- It’s all about you today, so that means lunchtime coffee is on me!
- Happy birthday to my work bestie, I quite literally don’t think I could survive without you.
Hopefully our guide on birthday wishes for coworkers has inspired you, and you now know exactly what to jot down in your colleague’s birthday card this year!
All that remains now is to head over to the thortful blog for plenty more insights and inspiration! There you can read about how to celebrate a birthday at work as well as what to write in a leaving card. And if you found this even remotely helpful, then why not check out the rest of our what to write articles?
