Why is Important to Send Birthday Messages to Staff?
Knowing why you want to send birthday wishes is the first step to writing a good message. For example, if you write to colleagues, you probably want them to know how much you appreciate being around them. But if you write to employees, you may want to make them feel recognized.
Most employees usually spend their birthdays at work, so taking some time to celebrate creates a pleasant work environment. It makes people feel engaged and happy. They aren’t just a generic number on the payroll. They are individuals with distinct personalities, and this is their moment to shine.
You can use birthday messages to show people what matters to you and what you like about them. For example, some choose to send formal messages and praise employees’ professional skills. Others prefer to be friendlier and focus on social skills or creativity. It doesn’t matter whether you are their boss, colleague, or HR manager. Think about what you want to convey before writing the birthday message.
80 Examples of Happy Birthday Wishes for Employees
If you need some inspiration, feel free to use the following examples of birthday messages for employees. We cover several types of messages to make sure you find the right one for your employees.
Birthday Wishes for a Coworker
- Happy birthday to my dear [First Name]!
May this day be filled with celebration, joy, and good wishes! All the best in the year to come.
- I’m sending my best birthday wishes to my amazing colleague, [First Name]!
I hope you have a fun day today and enjoy your presents and birthday messages alongside your family, friends, and coworkers.
- My dear [First Name],
Happy birthday! May the year to come be filled with happiness, beautiful memories, and accomplishments. I wish you all the best in the world.
- Wishing a very happy birthday to a very special colleague! Enjoy your day!
- Happy Birthday! to an extraordinary colleague and friend. Your hard work and kind heart make our lives much better. I wish you a long, healthy, and happy life!
- My warmest wishes on your birthday, [First Name]. I hope you have an amazing party, many beautiful gifts, and all the good wishes in the world. Happy Birthday!
- Dear [First Name],
I would like to wish you a joyful birthday and an amazing year ahead. Your positive attitude and compassionate support are much appreciated. The team would not be the same without you. Happy Birthday!
- Enjoy your birthday, [First Name]! Having you around is a blessing, and I couldn’t wish you more happiness, good health, and achievements of all sorts. I hope you know how special you are to me. Happy Birthday!
Short Birthday Wishes
- Happy Birthday to my favorite colleague!
- Happy Birthday! I hope you enjoy this special day!
- I wish you a very Happy Birthday! and an amazing year ahead.
- All the best and more on your birthday. Happy Birthday!
- I hope you celebrate this day and have an amazing time. Happy Birthday!
- May all your wishes come true today. Happy Birthday!
- Happy Birthday! You are an inspiration to us all.
- May you have a Happy Birthday filled with laughter and joy!
Simple Birthday Wishes
- Dear [Title] [Mr./Mrs./Ms.] [Full Name],
On behalf of our team, I want to wish you a Happy Birthday! All the words in the world could not describe how happy we are to have you on our team. You are always friendly, supportive, and dedicated. You make our days at work a delight. We wish you all the best, good health, and good luck.
- Dear [First Name],
To our friend and colleague, Happy Birthday! We raise the glass (of coffee) to your health, happiness, and joy. May this birthday start a year of achievements and adventures. We know you want them! So Happy Birthday from all of us, and have a great year!
- Happy Birthday! to my best friend in the office. I hope you get the celebration you deserve, all the presents you can carry, and all the good wishes in the world.
- Wishing you an amazing year, good health, and a fantastic celebration! Happy Birthday!
- Dear [First Name],
I hope you took the day off and are on a beach somewhere celebrating your birthday. I wish you all the best in the world and good luck in the year to come.
- Happy Birthday! to someone who always encourages me and takes care of me. I wish you a year of happiness and the best of luck!
- Dear [Full Name],
May your wishes come true in the year ahead. I congratulate you on your anniversary and wish you a Happy Birthday!
- Happy Birthday to someone who makes my workdays funnier, sunnier, and merrier!
Funny Birthday Wishes for a Coworker
- Happy Birthday! I hope everything in your life goes according to plan and is on the verge of becoming better.
- May your life be filled with excitement and adventures like the ones we had together. Happy Birthday!
- Happy Birthday! I hope the boss gave you the day off and spared you from corporate emails.
- Wishing you a very happy birthday, I take this opportunity to invite you to your own birthday party! I hope you like vegan cakes…
- Sorry, your Happy Birthday card was already sent when I arrived this morning. So, here is a Happy Birthday from the one who’s always late.
- I wish you a happy birthday, awesome coffee breaks, inspired brainstorming meetings, and long lunch breaks. One of these is coming your way today. I’m not saying which. Brace yourself!
- Happy Birthday! May your day be filled with breaks, pauses, and chats.
- Congratulations! You checked one more item on your bucket list, the [X] anniversary at the office. Happy Birthday!
Heartfelt Birthday Messages
- Dear [Title] [Mr./Mrs./Ms.] [Full Name],
To an amazing employee, colleague, and friend, Happy Birthday! We wish you all the happiness in the world and a life full of joy and success.
We are grateful to have you in our company. Your contribution didn’t go unnoticed. Have a wonderful day!
- Dear [First Name],
We want to congratulate you on your birthday. Our blessings and best wishes will accompany you for the year ahead. We are happy to work by your side and hope you know you have our full trust and support. We are here for you, so let’s celebrate together. Here is to your happiness, good health, and all the adventures to come. Happy Birthday!
- Dear [Title] [Mr./Mrs./Ms.] [Full Name],
Happy Birthday! We are so happy to celebrate with you and wish you all the best in the world. May this special day be full of joy, surprises, and smiles.
We wish you an incredible year, just like you want it to be. Fulfill your dreams and make new ones. We are always here for you. Have an amazing birthday, and let us celebrate again next year!
- Dear [First Name],
A great person like you deserves all the happiness and prosperity in the world. We are grateful to have you with us and benefit from your kind heart and good spirit. We wish you all the best in every part of your life. Let’s celebrate this special day together. Have a Happy Birthday!
- My dear [First Name],
I have nothing but good words for you, and you know that. I take this opportunity to wish you a life of happiness alongside your family and friends. May your dreams come true. Happy Birthday!
- Happy Birthday to someone who fills my heart with joy, encourages me to do my best, and has my back every day. You are the best colleague one can ask for. Thank you for everything!
- All my blessings and good wishes to a wonderful colleague and friend. Happy Birthday! And don’t ever stop chasing your dreams.
- May the year ahead be full of happiness and cheer. It’s a pleasure having you around. I hope we’ll celebrate your next birthday working together, too. Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Wishes to Your Boss
- Dear [Sir/Madam],
I wish you a happy birthday and a great year ahead. All my best.
- May this year bring you good health, joy, and success. Happy Birthday, Boss!
- I would like to take this opportunity not only to wish you a happy birthday but also to thank you for your dedication, support, and mentorship. You are an amazing manager.
- Warmest birthday wishes to the best boss in the world! Thank you for taking care of us.
- Happy Birthday! to an amazing leader. You are an inspiration to us all.
- Happy Birthday!, boss. May this year bring you everything you wish for.
- Happy Birthday! You are the best and we love you.
- On this happy occasion, I take a moment to express my gratitude for everything to do for me and my team. Your leadership is greatly appreciated. Happy Birthday!
Career-Oriented Employee Birthday Wishes
- Happy birthday and all our gratitude for everything you do for the team.
- Wishing you a happy birthday and best of luck in the year to come. May your career flourish and success come your way.
- I wish you a long and successful life and a long and successful career. Happy Birthday!
- Thank you for all you do and all you bring to the team. Your commitment and dedication are much appreciated. But today, we celebrate. Happy Birthday!
- May your day be merry and relaxing! You deserve a joyful birthday after all your hard work. Enjoy it!
- Warm wishes for your birthday and let the year ahead be a successful one.
- On behalf of our team, I would like to thank you for your hard work and dedication and wish you a happy birthday, good health, and many accomplishments.
- Happy birthday to a great person that does so much for us. Thank you for everything!
Touching Birthday Wishes for a Coworker You’re Friends With
- Happy Birthday to first my friend and then my colleague. Having you around makes my life better.
- Here is to another year of making amazing memories together at work and outside the office.
- Happy Birthday, my friend. I am lucky to have you in my life and even luckier to work alongside you. All the best in the future!
- My dear colleague and friend,
I wish you a happy birthday from the bottom of my heart and hope to have a great year, full of love and joy.
- Happy Birthday to a special coworker I love to call my friend. Our coffee breaks are the events of my days. Thank you for everything that we share.
- You make 8 hours of work feel like a breeze. Thank you for being by my side and have an amazing birthday and year to come.
- Happy Birthday and all my good wishes to you, my friend. I’m so glad I took this job and got to meet you.
- Wishing my best work buddy a relaxing and joyful birthday. Thank you for making this office smile from time to time.
Birthday Wishes for a Coworker You Aren’t That Close With
- Happy Birthday and have a wonderful year ahead!
- Wishing you a joyful birthday and the best of luck in the year to come.
- Happy Birthday! May your day be bright and joyful.
- Here is to a successful year to come and a pleasant birthday!
- I wish you health, happiness, and personal and professional growth. Happy Birthday!
- Wishing you all the best and a successful year ahead.
- Happy Birthday! Enjoy your special day!
- On behalf of our office, I wish you a happy birthday and a good year ahead.
Professional Birthday Wishes for an Employee
Formal Birthday Messages to Employees from HR
- Dear [Title] [Mr./Mrs./Ms.] [Full Name],
We are happy to celebrate with you on this special day. From the moment you joined the company, [exact working period], we knew you would be a valuable employee and colleague. We appreciate your hard work and wish you all the best. Happy Birthday!
- Dear [First Name],
On this happy occasion, we want to wish you happiness, wellness, and prosperity. We are proud and grateful to have you here with us and hope to have another wonderful year together. Enjoy this special day. Happy Birthday to all of us!
Professional Birthday Wishes for Employees
- Dear [Title] [Mr./Mrs./Ms.] [Full Name],
On behalf of our department, I want to wish you a very Happy Birthday and all the best. You are a dedicated employee and reliable colleague, and we are happy to have you here. Keep it up! Happy Birthday!
- Dear [First Name],
Best wishes on your birthday! You are a valuable employee and deserve nothing but the best. Your creativity and friendliness didn’t go unnoticed. We really enjoy having you here and hope you have a wonderful day today. Happy birthday!
- Dear [First Name],
On behalf of our department, I wish you a happy birthday and a year filled with accomplishments and success.
- On the occasion of your birthday, I would like to express my full support for your career and wish you a happy birthday and a successful year ahead.
- May this special day be joyful and relaxing. We appreciate your hard work and dedication and hope to have you with the company for a long time. All the best in the year ahead.
- Warmest birthday wishes from your managers and colleagues. We are glad to have you on our team and wish you a lifelong of happiness and success.
If you want to thank your coworkers for their birthday wishes, we do have some messages you can use to bring joy and spark emotions.
Birthday Quotes
Ok, you want to surprise your friends or coworkers with something even more special than a personalized message. You want to add a quote that stood the test of time and can act as a way to differentiate your birthday wishes or a letter. A quote from Dr. Seuss, Oprah, or Picasso might be the one. Take a look below and choose the one that you fit best the personality of the celebrated coworker. Below you can find a selection of quotes that we enjoyed, and we believe you will do also.
- "Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you!" - Dr. Seuss
- "A birthday is just another day where you go to work and people give you love. Age is just a state of mind, and you are as old as you think you are. You have to count your blessings and be happy." - Abhishek Bachchan
- "Don't just count your years, make your years count." - George Meredith
- "Let us never know what old age is. Let us know the happiness time brings, not count the years." - Ausonius
- "The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate." - Oprah Winfrey
- "The best way to predict your future is to create it." - Abraham Lincoln
- "Age is a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it don't matter." - Satchel Paige
- "It takes a long time to grow young." - Pablo Picasso
- "The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age." - Lucille Ball
- "Today you are another year older, and we know how fast time flies as we get older, so enjoy every moment of your life to the fullest." - Kate Summers
- "Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest." - Larry Lorenzoni
- "Wishing you a day filled with happiness and a year filled with joy." - Anonymous
- "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." - C.S. Lewis
- "We turn not older with years, but newer every day." - Emily Dickinson
- "May your birthday be filled with sunshine, smiles, laughter, love, and cheer." - Anonymous
FAQ
How to Write Birthday Wishes for Employees?
Once you’ve established what you want to say, it’s time to consider how to say it. First, choose the tone of your message. It may be formal, friendly, professional, heartfelt, or even funny. Make sure the tone of the message fits the company’s culture, isn’t offending, and suits your relationship with the receiver.
Then, decide on the length of the message. It may be as short as a ‘Happy Birthday!’ written on a card or longer and more elaborate. Again, it depends on how much you want to communicate. Birthday wishes for employees may include congratulation for a good job, appreciation for being with the company for a long time, support for a difficult task, and other meaningful content for the person you send it to. The more detail you add, the more personalized the message will be. Therefore, the employee will be sure the message was intended for them and written for the current occasion.
Make sure your message begins with the receiver’s name and title. You can use their full name and title or just their first name based on your relationship.
You also have to decide how you send the message. It may be an email, including just text or a written card. Or you may want to be more traditional and send a printed card. Small details matter because employees and colleagues will appreciate the time and energy you invested in this gesture.
Once you are set on tone and length, follow these steps to write the birthday message for your employee.
Step 1: The Opening Formula
Make sure your message begins with the receiver’s name and title. You can use their full name and title or just their first name based on your relationship.
Step 2: The Congratulatory Beginning
Start the message with a congratulatory sentence that immediately discloses the purpose of the message. It lifts people’s morale instantly and puts them in a good mood. Let them know what you are congratulating them for. If you send it by email, it’s a good idea to reiterate the congratulatory phrase in the subject of the email.
Step 3: Acknowledge Their Accomplishment
Use the middle part of the message to show your appreciation and acknowledge the employee’s accomplishment. Even if it is just a birthday message and not one for a work-related milestone, you can still include your recognition of the employee’s accomplishments in personal and professional life. For example, a man may have become a father in the past year. A woman may have celebrated her 10th year of employment with the company in the last year. An employee may enter a new decade of his life. Make a small note to acknowledge their contribution.
Step 4: Personalize It
If you opt for a friendly, relaxed tone, now it’s the time to add a nice joke, a shared memory, or a heartfelt wish for the future. If you send a formal message, refer to a shared project or challenge. Include an uplifting remark and turn your view toward the future.
Sign the message in a personal manner, too. For example, include your full name for a formal birthday message or sign using just your first name for a more informal one.
Step 5: Find the Best Way to Deliver the Message
You also have to decide how you send the message. It may be an email, including just text or a written card. Or you may want to be more traditional and send a printed card. Small details matter because employees and colleagues will appreciate the time and energy you invested in this gesture.
How to Celebrate a Coworker’s Birthday?
Of course, sending a birthday message is a must. You can personalize it, use it to show appreciation and gratitude, and transform it into a nice gesture altogether. For example, you can write a birthday message by hand on a beautiful card, add a significant quote, or leave a sticky note on the colleague’s desk.
In addition, you may want to accompany the birthday message with a thoughtful gift (not expensive, but representative), a small office party or a celebratory meeting, a coffee, flowers, or anything else you may consider appropriate. Small gestures go a long way.
If you work in different locations, you can send your birthday wishes via email. Add a card or a photograph, write a funny subject line, or propose a 10-minute meeting to celebrate the person’s birthday with the team.
Tips for Saying ‘Happy Birthday’ to Your Employees
First of all, set up reminders to notify you when an employee’s birthday is approaching. Then, prepare an email or a written birthday message.
Tip #1: Personalize the Birthday Message
Include personal details, such as the employee’s name and team and your name. Don’t send generic messages starting with Hello and signed The management; customize the message as much as possible.
Tip #2: Acknowledgment and Appreciation
Take this opportunity to show your employee you acknowledge their work and appreciate their effort and results. You may want to underline a particular aspect (e.g., working hard on the last project) or an overall attitude or personality trait (e.g., dedication, teamwork, etc.).
Tip #3: Future-Oriented
Include a thought or two for the future. You may wish the employee a year of success, accomplishments, career growth, personal accomplishments, good health, and so on. Maintain a professional tone but warm and relaxed.
Tip #4: Positive Tone
The birthday message should only include positive thoughts and references. For example, you may want to refer only to successful projects and positive personality traits. Avoid remembering sad episodes, such as the employee’s illness or failure at an exam.
Language is also important. Use positive syntactic constructions. For example, to express your hope for a good year for the employee say “I hope everything will go well.” instead of “I hope nothing goes wrong.”
Tip #5: Extras
Last but not least, offer something more than birthday wishes. Amongst the most popular birthday benefits are time off (e.g., an entire day, starting the day late, ending the day early, etc.), in-office celebration (e.g., coffee and cake), a team lunch paid by the company, and gifts in products or services (e.g., a pampering day at a spa).
Bonus: How to Keep Track of Employees’ Birthdays
If you struggle to keep track of employees’ birthdays, some tools may help you. For example, you may use an employee birthdays report and get a notification with the employees’ birthdays when they happen directly within your Google/Apple/Outlook calendar. Or you may use dedicated Cloud HR software that stores employee data and sends notifications when a birthday is about to occur. You’ll never miss a birthday, and your employees will receive the birthday wishes they love so much in time.
Sending birthday messages to employees and colleagues should become a routine. It’s your opportunity to be more than a boss, HR expert, or team member. You can be warm and appreciative, send all your best, and create a pleasant and happy work environment.