Christmas cards for your boss

The boss card is its own kind of problem. Everyone in the office has signed the big one, so yours has to say something more than a name and a smiley face. It should be warm without being a performance, and brief enough that nobody can accuse it of sucking up.

A good note to a boss names one real thing. A decision they made that helped, the day they backed you, the flexibility that got you through a rough month. Keep the jokes gentle and the thanks short. Pick a card, write a line or two of your own, and send it as a link so it lands in their inbox on Christmas morning, instead of among the conference papers on Friday.

See all funny cards (15)See all sweet cards (89)

10 things to write inside

Swap in their name. Change anything that doesn’t sound like you.

  1. sweet Thank you for a good year, [first name]. I have learned a lot from working for you, and I appreciate the trust. Wishing you a restful Christmas with the people you love.
  2. sweet [first name], thank you for backing me when it counted this year. It made a difference I will not forget. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
  3. sweet Merry Christmas, [first name]. Thank you for being the kind of manager who listens first. I hope you get a proper break.
  4. sweet It has been a good year to work for you, [first name]. Thank you for the patience and the fair go. Enjoy the break.
  5. funny Merry Christmas, [first name]. I promise not to check my email over the holidays, and I trust you will give me the same courtesy by not sending me anything marked low priority.
  6. funny [first name], thank you for the year, the clarity and the endless patience with my spreadsheets. May your inbox be empty and your leave be untouched.
  7. funny Season's greetings, [first name]. If I have not replied by the new year, I have fully embraced the holiday spirit.
  8. quiet Thank you for this year, [first name]. I'm grateful. Have a good Christmas.
  9. quiet [first name], thank you for your leadership this year. I hope the break is a restful one.
  10. quiet Merry Christmas, [first name]. It has been a pleasure to work with you.

Questions people ask

What do you write in a Christmas card to your boss?

Thank them for one specific thing, wish them a rest, and stop. Two or three sentences is plenty. A card that says what they did, such as covering for a deadline or letting you leave early for school pick-up, lands better than a general compliment.

Is it okay to send my boss a funny Christmas card?

Usually, yes, if your humour at work already runs light. Aim the joke at the shared enemy, like the inbox or the end-of-year rush, and not at them. If you have never joked with them before, a sweet or quiet card is the safer choice.

Should I send my boss a card if the whole office is signing one?

A personal card still stands out, because the group one is signed by everyone and says nothing in particular. Sending your own as a link keeps it private and low fuss. It shows thought without turning into a gift, which can make a boss uncomfortable.

Cards for other people