75+ Creative Ways to Say Happy Birthday, Coworker!

 

Funny Birthday Wishes

Happy birthday! Don't count the candles, just enjoy the glow.

Your birthday wish already came true - you get to work with me! Happy birthday, [name]!

You know you're getting old when your candles cost more than the cake. Happy birthday!

Warm birthday wishes, [name]. I think it's great you used to be so young.

It's National [Colleague's Name] Day! May your meetings be short and your cake be delicious. Happy birthday!

You're not old-- you're vintage. Happy birthday!

Sure, you're prehistoric, but at least you're not extinct. Sending birthday wishes your way!

Growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional. Enjoy your birthday celebration today!

May today be a happy birthday filled with tasty treats, delicious drinks, and a really fun surprise celebration later. (Oops - forget that last one!)

Happy birthday! Every coworker's birthday is a great excuse for cake in the break room. Thanks for being born!

It's a good day to celebrate someone who actually understands the difference between reply and reply all. Happy birthday!

 

Birthday Messages for a Remote Colleague

 

Happy birthday! Even though we're miles apart, I hope you have a fantastic day filled with joy and celebration. You deserve it.

Cheers to you on your birthday! Sending you virtual hugs and best wishes. I'm thankful to be celebrating another year of YOU.

Warmest birthday wishes and cheers to a wonderful year ahead. I hope your day is filled with all of your favorite things.

Happy birthday from afar! May your coffee always be warm and your wifi always be strong. You deserve all the best things in life.

Happy birthday to the best coworker on the internet. Cheers to another year full of exciting challenges and the chance to conquer them together. There's no one else I'd rather spend all my meetings with.

Even though we work remotely, you manage to help us all feel connected. Happy birthday wishes to a coworker I'm truly grateful to have.

I wish I could share this birthday greeting in person, but an email will have to suffice. Have a great day and an even better year! Happy birthday!

It's hard to believe how much your positivity and hard work shine through a computer screen. You're pretty great, [Name]. Hope you have a birthday that's just as wonderful as you!

Happy birthday! May your day be filled with virtual celebrations and real joy.

Here's to a day full of happiness and a year full of success. Happy birthday from across the country, [Name]!

Wishing you a birthday filled with productive meetings that don't require your camera to be on. Happy birthday!

 

Belated Birthday Wishes

 

Happy belated birthday! I'm so sorry I missed your special day. I hope it was as wonderful as you are.

Wishing you a happy belated birthday! May the year ahead be filled with joy and success.

You're such an incredible coworker that I couldn't fit all of your birthday wishes into one day. Happy belated birthday!

Happy belated birthday! I hope your day was fantastic, even though my wishes are late.

Belated birthday wishes to you! May all your dreams come true in the coming years.

Sending belated birthday wishes your way (and a coffee to make up for my lateness!). I hope it was the best birthday yet.

Happy birthdayweek! (Whoops). Sending warm birthday wishes your way.

Happy (fashionably late) birthday to a dear colleague and wonderful friend. I am ever thankful for you!

 

Short Birthday Wishes for a Coworker

 

Happy birthday! Have a wonderful day.

Enjoy your special day. Happy birthday!

Cheers to another year. Happy birthday!

Happy birthday! Here's to a fantastic year ahead.

Wishing you lots of happiness on your birthday.

Warm birthday wishes to a great coworker.

Happiest birthday wishes coming your way!

Here's to a great birthday and an even better year ahead.

Make a birthday wish-- happy birthday!

Warm wishes on your special day.

Cheers to you on your birthday!

Happy birthday! Make today a great one.

 

How to Wish a Very Happy Birthday to Your Boss

 

Happy birthday, [Boss]. Wishing you a year filled with continued success, happiness, and good health.

Warm birthday wishes to a truly inspirational leader. I consider myself lucky to learn from one of the best. Have a fantastic day!

Cheers to the BBE (best boss ever)! I hope your day is as wonderful as you are. Happy birthday!

Happy birthday! Your dedication and hard work are truly appreciated, and you make [Company] a great place to be. Have a wonderful day and an even better year.

Happy birthday wishes to a wonderful leader! May this year bring you unforgettable memories full of all the people and places you love the most.

Wishing you a very happy birthday! Your vision and dedication inspire us all to do our best, and you make [Company] a truly great place to work.

You're not just a manager-- you're a mentor, leader, and cheerleader. I hope your special day is as amazing as you make our workdays. Happy birthday!

Happy birthday to a special leader who brings out the best in all of us. Cheers to a wonderful and prosperous year ahead!

It's a special day for a special person. It can be hard to find someone to put up with all of our shenanigans, but you do it so well. Have a wonderful birthday!

Pssst-- Don't tell the others, but you're my favorite. Happy birthday!

 

Professional Ways to Wish Someone a Wonderful Birthday

 

Wishing you a birthday filled with all of your favorite things. Enjoy your day!

Here's to another successful year ahead. Happy birthday!

You make [Company] a better place to be. Have a very happy birthday.

Happy birthday, [Name]. May you have a great day and an even better year ahead.

Wishing you a fantastic birthday and a year full of success.

Happy birthday! Enjoy your special day to the fullest.

Cheers to another year, [Name]. Have a great birthday!

May today bring you all of the happiness (and cake) you deserve. Happy birthday!

I hope this next year is full of joy and continued success. Warmest birthday wishes.

 

Touching Birthday Wishes for A Dear Coworker

 

Happy birthday to a fantastic coworker and an even better friend. Wishing you all the happiness on your special day.

This is a happy birthday message and a coffee IOU all wrapped into one. I hope you feel appreciated both today and every day. Have a fantastic birthday!

All of my cherished moments at work involve you. I don't even want to image [Company] without you! Thanks for making work such a great place to be. Happy birthday!

May this birthday bring you all the joy I get to experience in working with you. Warmest wishes today and every day!

Do you know what you and coffee have in common? You make these early mornings a whole lot better. Happy birthday to my favorite person in the office!

For your special day I promise not to ask any annoying questions. (I'll save them for tomorrow.) Thanks for being my number one go-to and best office friend. Happy birthday!

The best coworker deserves the best day. Lunch is on me today for your birthday celebration! Happy birthday!

Happy birthday wishes for a coworker who's become more like family over the years. I hope your birthday celebration makes you feel truly loved.

You make it all look easy. I hope you take it easy today. Happy birthday!

If I was CEO of my own company you'd be COO, hands-down. Thanks for being so amazing and so amazing to work with. Happy birthday!

You should be celebrated not just today, but every day. You are kind, funny, and the best kind of person to share a cubicle with. Wishing you a birthday that's beyond your biggest dreams!

 

Simple Messages for a Colleague's Birthday

 

Heartfelt birthday wishes to an incredible teammate! I hope you take some time to celebrate today.

Very happy birthday wishes are coming your day. May it be an amazing birthday and an even better year.

I hope today is filled with all of your favorite things. Have a great day and insanely happy birthday!

May today be your best birthday yet and this year be your best year yet. Happy birthday!

Wishing you a birthday that's packed with fun and relaxation. Warm birthday wishes.

Last year you blew us all away with your hard work and positive outlook. I can't wait to see what this next year brings. Enjoy your birthday!

Your contributions to [Team] and [Company] are so appreciated. Have a very happy birthday and an amazing next year of life.

You deserve a year filled with goodness, may you have it all and more this next year. Happy birthday!

 

Birthday Messages From the Whole Team

 

Happy birthday wishes from all of us! We hope your day is full of joy and celebration.

Wishing you a joyous birthday from the whole team. Enjoy every moment.

You're a fantastic friend to everyone on this team, and you deserve a fantastic birthday. Thanks for the positive attitude you share with all of us on a daily basis. Happy birthday!

Happy birthday! We hope your day is as special as you are to the entire team-- an outstanding coworker should have an outstanding birthday.

Happy birthday from everyone on your team. May the day be as wonderful as your work ethic is.

This birthday card is filled with happy birthday messages from all of your colleagues. We appreciate and adore you. Have a wonderful birthday!

Our team wouldn't be the same without your tenacity, creativity, and all-around wonderfulness. You deserve to be celebrated every day. Happy birthday!

 

5 Tips for Your Birthday Messages

You can maximize the impact of your birthday message with a few simple strategies.

 

Be Timely

We included a few options for belated birthday messages, but consider these a last resort, not an automatic go-to. Aim to send your birthday message on a colleague's actual birthday so they don't feel forgotten or overlooked. (The exception to this would be celebrating a weekend birthday if you didn't acknowledge it the prior week.)

Staying on top of an entire staff's birthdays is no easy feat when done manually. But luckily Terryberry's employee recognition software includes every employee's birthday within the program. Admins can easily find every upcoming birthday and send well wishes within the program itself, making sure to never miss a special day again.

 

 

 

Be Personal

It doesn't take long to add a personal touch to your birthday wishes for coworkers, but it does result in a much more heartfelt message.

Always include your colleague's name at least once (if not twice).

Base your message on the relationship you have with one another. General birthday wishes are fine for someone you smile at when you pass in the hallway, but someone you're close with will appreciate a more personal note. Inside jokes or nods to a shared event can go a long way.

Consider your coworker's preferences and communication style too. Does he love to tell dad jokes? Does she love to chat about the weather? Weave personal tidbits into your birthday message.

 

Voice Your Appreciation

Gratitude goes a long way, and a happy birthday message is the perfect time to remind your colleagues what you appreciate about working with them.

Here are a few traits and characteristics you might highlight when you send birthday wishes:

• reliability
• creativity
• humor
• positive attitude
• good sense of humor
• communication skills
• team-focused attitude
• work ethic
• attention to detail
• friend to everyone
• motivation
• resourcefulness

 

 

Add a Thoughtful Gesture

Thoughtful ≠ expensive.

You can absolutely make a coworker's birthday special without spending a lot of money-- or any at all. Here are a few ideas to inspire.

• Deliver a handwritten birthday note to their desk or mail it to remote employees.
• Buy an office birthday banner and use it to decorate the desk of whoever is having a birthday that day. (Might keep a couple on hand for doubles.)
• Include some quarters in their birthday card with a note specifying that they're for a vending machine treat.
• Arrange a lunch outing with the entire department.
• Bring in their favorite baked treats to share with the team.
• Collect short video messages from colleagues wishing them a happy birthday and compile them into a surprise video.
• Create a playlist of songs they like or that remind you of them. Share the link with them on their birthday.
• Recognize them on your Slack channel or during your daily morning meeting.

Write a Social Media Shout-Out

On your company Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and/or Instagram, write a short post celebrating an employee on your birthday. Share what you most appreciate and admire about that person, and include a flattering photo they don't mind being shared.

 

More Ways to Celebrate Employee Birthdays

Want to make sure employees feel extra special on their birthday? Consider implementing one of these ideas.

 

Include Time Off

You may or may not have power over someone else's schedule, but if you do, consider making birthday time off a part of employee benefits. An entire day off is a generous allotment that may not be feasible for some companies, but even taking an hour off the day or encouraging a long lunch can add a leisurely feeling to the day and make work feel less like work on their special day.

 

Monthly Birthday Potlucks

Once a month, schedule a potluck to celebrate all of the birthdays in the office. Everyone brings food - except for those being celebrated. As an added bonus, the birthday guys and gals get first dibs on all the goodies being served in the breakroom.

 

Charity Donations

For mission-minded companies, consider making a donation to a charity in honor of your colleague's or employee's birthday. Choose an organization that's dear to their heart and then share an email, photo, or certificate showing what was sent in their honor.

 

Online Celebrations

Celebrating birthdays becomes a little trickier when employees work remotely, but challenging doesn't mean impossible. You can arrange a small virtual soirée to honor a coworker's big day. Since online meetings can sometimes get in the way of work-related tasks and disrupt the workday, schedule your celebration at a time that's convenient to the whole team.

It might replace part of your weekly team meeting or round out the week when everyone has wrapped up their workload on Friday. Enjoy an online happy hour or facilitate team trivia in honor of the birthday person.

 

The Easiest Way to Send a Birthday Wish

There's no shortage of ways to get your message across - write a card. Send an email. Message your coworker in Slack. Tell them in person. But one of the easiest avenues to send happy birthday wishes is through your employee recognition software.

With Terryberry's social recognition software, employees can participate in peer-to-peer recognition, celebrating everything from birthdays to impressive work ethic and team spirit.

Sending birthday wishes should be just one part of your overall recognition culture. Let us help you build a culture where people feel seen and appreciated for all their efforts, big and small. Schedule a demo today.