Melissa Evans
Content Writer, GroupTogether.
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Writing end-of-year messages for employees is a bit of a corporate tightrope act. Go too heartfelt and it sounds like you’re about to announce budget cuts, go too formal and you might as well sign it “Regards, The Office Robot.” Add in the pressure of sounding grateful, festive, sincere and vaguely inspirational, and suddenly picking the right words feels harder than hearing the radio play something other than All I Want for Christmas is You in December. So, here’s a little help to nail it – greeting cards are kind of our thing here at GroupTogether.
By Melissa Evans
November 28, 2025
Is thinking about getting a start on all those Christmas cards sending your cortisol levels through the roof? After all, you’re trying to wrap twelve months of work, gratitude, humour and goodwill into a small card-shaped space. The secret? A few simple elements and knowing your person. Are you aiming for warm and heartfelt? Professional with a hint of humour? Light and festive? Once you know how you want to sound and why you’re writing the card – appreciation, reflection, celebration or simply a friendly sign-off – the words start to flow much more easily. (And if they don’t, we’ve got something for that too!)
When it comes to actually creating your thank you card, GroupTogether makes the whole process effortless. Whether you’re writing to employees, colleagues, clients or friends, we help you craft the perfect message – and package it beautifully. With thousands of greeting card designs to choose from, you can match your message to the exact look and feel you want, from elegant and classic to quirky and playful. Pair that with our easy tools for writing, collecting signatures and sending or printing your card, and you’ve got everything you need to end the year on a thoughtful, polished note – without raising your blood pressure. Wondering what you should write? We’ll show you how to get those creative juices flowing.

Sorting out the Christmas messages for your employees sounds like the easiest part of wrapping up the year’s work – until you’re staring at a blank screen trying to express gratitude without sounding like you swallowed a Hallmark card. You want to be sweet, smart, funny and inspiring – without ruffling any feathers – and that’s why we’re here. Here’s a complete guide to help you write something that feels genuine, and actually lands – we’ve laid out all the must-haves of any good employee Christmas card.
Tone is everything when it comes to getting your Christmas messages for your employees just right – after all, you don’t want to have your workers wondering if you’ve downed too much eggnog after reading your soap opera-worthy card. When it comes to your employees, we recommend going for appreciative, motivating and warm – but professional. Of course, your mileage may vary depending on your relationship with your team, but you can never go wrong balancing friendly and formal tones.
Go for any of these – feel free to mix and match or choose based on your team’s vibe:
If you’re aiming to get your message-writing aptitude down to an art form, you’ve got to have an end goal. In the case of employees, this would generally be to acknowledge their hard work, thank them and set a positive tone for the new year.
Elements to include:

Why make your end-of-year messages boring? You’ve got EOFY for that! With GroupTogether’s innovative message-writing tool, you can add a range of fun additions to give your Christmas message some metaphorical jazz hands.
Quotes: Add a fun or inspirational quote – and they don’t even have to be real. For a humorous effect, why not try a made-up quote attributed to a wise philosopher? Or perhaps quote your fellow workers to show how well you know them. It doesn’t have to be a sea of “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
GIFs: Digital greeting cards are the best way to give your message a bit of oomph – that’s why we have a range of fun GIFs on GroupTogether so you can give your employees a laugh and a smile. From classic Friends moments to hilarious cats, we’ve got the encyclopaedia of GIFs.
Photos: make it extra personal with some fun photos – since it’s an employee you might want to go for work-related photos at events, please don’t send them your family photos!
AI Magic Message Writer: Our cutting-edge AI tool lets you write in the tone of all your faves, from Winnie-the-Pooh to Cosmo Kramer. So why not have a little fun with it? If your employees have a good sense of humour, try writing in the tone of Michael Scott – world’s best boss (At least… “that’s what he said!”). If you want to keep it simple, you can also ask our AI Magic Message Writer to help you come up with something warm and formal, minus the wild references and character interpretations.
Are you more of a learner by example? We’ve got you. Take a look at a few different ways to share the love this festive season.
So, you’ve got a good back-and-forth going with your team – why not let your Chrissie card reflect that too? There’s no point going full corporate when the holiday season blows in after a year of jokes and banter. Let’s try a few sample humorous end-of-year messages:
Example one: Partnerships Manager who loves cats
“Hi [Name],
Before we wrap up the year, I just wanted to send a festive note to our favourite Partnerships Manager – the only person I know who can negotiate a contract and your cat's bedtime with equal authority.
You’ve absolutely smashed it this year. Honestly, if Leslie Knope had a spirit-animal-slash-partnerships-manager, it would be you (minus the waffle addiction… unless you’re hiding a stash somewhere?).
As sir Isaac Newton definitely once said:
"It's all relative… to cats."
Okay maybe he didn't quite say that, but you know he was thinking it.
Thanks for bringing so much enthusiasm, determination and cat videos to the team. Here’s to a new year filled with excellent partnerships, happily loafing kittens and zero late-night emails from me. (“It’s Christmas, not a TED Talk”, as your partner in crime Andy would say.)
Hope you and the cats have a wonderful Christmas!
Warm Regards,
Your fave boss, Robin”
Try these lines in your message:
Example two: Jim from Sales (no, not that Jim!)
“Hi Jim,
Before we wrap up the year, I just wanted to say thanks for another 12 months of Sales Wizardry – a skillset that apparently runs on caffeine and whatever mysterious force allows you to hit your targets even when the spreadsheet insists you shouldn’t.
It’s been a joy working with you this year. I’ve especially appreciated your ability to keep calm during chaos, maintain optimism in Q4 and pretend (very convincingly!) that you love my “quick questions” that turn into half-hour chats. A true professional.
As Einstein (almost certainly) declared,
“Success is simply sales, plus snacks.”
Okay, he didn’t say that, but if he’d spent five minutes in your world, he absolutely would’ve.
Thanks for always bringing humour, grit, and the occasional “did-that-email-really-have-that-many-exclamation-marks?” moment to the team. Enjoy a well-earned break – and may all your Christmas dinners be as successful as your Q3 close rate.
Merry Christmas, Jim!
Sarah”
Try these lines in your message:
Prefer to keep things more strait-laced? We get it! If the holiday season brings out your inner David Mitchell and you find yourself on your soap box ranting, “Christmas is NOT the time to push the envelope, it’s the time to sit back and read A Christmas Carol for the hundredth time,” then don’t worry, we’ve got something for you too – just step away from podium. Here’s a simple, polished response that Emily Post herself would endorse.
Example one: Elle the HR Manager
“Dear Elle,
As we wrap up the year, I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for everything you’ve contributed. Your support, guidance, and steady presence have made such a positive difference across the team. HR has a way of being both the heart and the backbone of a workplace, and you’ve embodied that beautifully this year.
Thank you for your clarity, your care, and your ability to navigate even the trickiest situations with calm professionalism. We’re all the better for it. I hope you enjoy a well-earned break and a wonderful Christmas, filled with rest, good company and time to recharge.
Looking forward to another great year ahead.
Kind Regards,
Dave”
Try these lines in your message:
Tip: Take a look at the beautiful result you can get with GroupTogether – we’ve added some fun adornments like GIFs and quotes for a more humorous style.

And we chose a gorgeous greeting card design to tie it all together:

Want to give it a go? Start your card here.
Writing to a boss requires a careful balance. You want to be warm and appreciative without overstepping, professional but not too stiff – again, it depends on your personal relationship, so if you’ve got a Jim and Michael thing going on, then by all means, banter away! Here’s a breakdown of the key elements:
Keep it professional and polished – generally, we’d opt for a respectful, sincere tone that focuses on appreciation, with perhaps a shot of humour. Don’t forget to show your thankfulness with a recognition of guidance, leadership and mentorship.
The main goal is to thank your boss for their guidance, support and leadership over the year, along with highlighting shared wins or achievements that their leadership helped make possible. You also want to reinforce a positive working relationship while keeping the tone appropriate – don’t worry, it’s easier than it sounds when you write with GroupTogether.
Adding a small touch can make a message feel more memorable while keeping it professional.
“Leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge.”
“Great leaders don’t set out to be leaders… they set out to make a difference.”
“Dear Helena,
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a well-earned break! Thanks for guiding the team through another year of deadlines, meetings and the occasional red alert moments.
May your holidays be filled with relaxation, laughter and absolutely no printer malfunctions or microwave mania – let’s not mention that undeclared bowl of burnt fish! And if anyone dares to ask for updates over the break, just channel your inner Miranda Priestly and tell them:
“That’s all.”
Looking forward to more adventures and successful projects in the new year!
Warm regards,
Andy”
Try these lines in your message:
“Dear Jonathan,
As the year draws to a close, I want to take a moment to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a joyful holiday season. Thank you for your guidance, leadership and support throughout the past year – it has been invaluable in helping the team achieve our goals.
I truly appreciate the time, effort and encouragement you provide, and I feel fortunate to be part of such a collaborative and driven team under your leadership.
I hope you have a restful and enjoyable break, and I look forward to continuing our work together in the coming year.
Warm regards,
Phoebe”
Try these lines in your message:

You have the benefit here of writing for someone on the same level – and while you may think it lowers the pressure, but it can also heighten expectations to come out with something impressive. You might also be nervous about getting the tone just right, but don’t worry – we won’t let you have any ‘Tall Jan is malicious’ misunderstandings here! This is your three-ingredient brownie recipe of message-writing guides – basically, it’s incredibly easy to get the content and structure absolutely perfect. Here’s what you’ll need.
Writing a message to a colleague or coworker gives you a little licence to play around with tone than an email to your boss or employee, making it the perfect chance to be professional while also letting your personality peek through. The tone should feel friendly and authentic, like you’re writing to someone you actually enjoy working with, without crossing the line into overly casual or personal – unless you have that kind of Leslie Knope/Ann Perkins bond. Typically, it’s a balance of warmth, gratitude and just enough fun to make your message stand out in the inbox. Think:
You can acknowledge hard work and shared wins, nod to the chaos of deadlines or the occasional office joke, and even slip in a little humour or playful ribbing – the main goal is to celebrate teamwork, rapport and successes.
Elements to include:
Example one: Ben from Customer Service
“Hey Ben,
Before we wrap up the year, I just wanted to say a big thank you for being such a steady force on the Customer Service front. Watching you calmly handle situations that would send the rest of us into a mild existential crisis has been truly inspiring. Your patience should honestly be studied.
You’ve made this year lighter, funnier and a lot more manageable. Whether it’s your ability to decode the world’s vaguest emails, stay cheerful through inbox chaos, or somehow fix things that the rest of us didn’t even know were broken. Customer Service really is an art form, and you’ve absolutely mastered it.
As someone probably once said:
“Great customer service is 10% skill and 90% smiling politely through the madness.”
Okay so I made that up, but it feels right, doesn’t it?
Hope you get a well-deserved break filled with actual peace, zero “quick questions,” and at least one day where no one needs anything from you. You’ve earned it.
Merry Christmas, Ben!
From Jan”
Try these lines in your message:
Example one: Ren from accounting
“Hi Ren,
As we come to the end of the year, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for everything you’ve contributed. Your steady approach, reliability and attention to detail have made such a difference, and it’s been genuinely appreciated by everyone who works with you.
You bring a calm, grounded presence to the team, and it never goes unnoticed. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a chance to fully unwind after such a busy year. Wishing you a restful break filled with good company, good food and time to recharge.
Looking forward to seeing you in the New Year.
Best,
Elena”
Try these lines in your message:
Your clients are the backbone of your business, and taking the time to send a thoughtful Christmas or end-of-year message is a small gesture that goes a long way. Reaching out shows professionalism and gratitude – key elements for maintaining strong client loyalty and long-term partnerships.
When it comes to your clients, you’ll generally want a professional tone that is respectful, formal and appreciative – particularly for high-value or long-term clients. But a friendly and warm tone can work as well so long as you maintain professional boundaries.
Playful and humorous can work too if you’ve got that kind of connection – just make sure you read the room!
The main purpose of your message to your clients is to show gratitude – thank them for their business, trust and support over the past year. You also want to reinforce loyalty and foster goodwill for future collaborations. Remember to celebrate achievements, milestones or partnerships and set a positive tone for the new year.
Enhancements that make your client message more memorable:
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller
“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” – Henry Ford
“Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.” – Steve Jobs

Have a good relationship with your clients? Go for a more light-hearted approach – but don’t forget the warmth and gratitude, even the Chandler Bing-level jokers want to feel
appreciated.
Example one: Harold from a partnering company
“Dear Harold,
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season! It’s been a pleasure collaborating with you this year, and we truly appreciate your partnership, support and good humour along the way.
We hope your holidays are filled with joy, festive treats and absolutely no emails!
So, thank you again for an incredible year together. Here’s to recharging, celebrating and returning in the new year ready to tackle the next set of challenges!
Warm regards,
The team at ACME”
Example one: Bonnie
“Dear Bonnie,
As the year comes to a close, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks for your continued partnership and trust.
Working with you and your team has been a true pleasure, and we greatly value the collaboration, creativity and dedication you bring to every project.
We hope you have a joyful holiday season, filled with time to relax, celebrate and recharge for the year ahead. We look forward to continuing our work together and achieving even greater success in the coming year.
Warmest wishes,
The Team at ACME”
Try these lines in your message:
Customers make the business world go ‘round – so don’t forget to give them a massive thank you. A well-crafted holiday message shows appreciation, reinforces your relationship and keeps your brand top-of-mind, without feeling pushy or salesy. For long-term or high-touch clients, a warm and sincere message works best, but for newer or more transactional customers, a friendly yet professional tone is often ideal. We’ve got the 411 on how to tailor your messages and what tone to use, along with sharing a few examples to give you some quick inspo.
Here’s how different add-ons can work depending on your customer relationship:
GIFs: Friendly & casual customers: Fun, festive animations like dancing snowmen, twinkling lights or playful holiday scenes. For professional clients, subtle, elegant GIFs like animated logos, gently falling snow or a simple “Happy Holidays” animation, are appropriate.
Photos: For long-term or high-value customers, feel free to share some behind-the-scenes snapshots or team shots to convey warmth and authenticity. For the more transactional or newer customers, go for branded seasonal images or product-focused visuals to keep it polished and professional.
Quotes: Playful, uplifting or humorous quotes are perfect for customers you’ve built a stronger relationship with, but you may wish to make the bulk of your quotes more inspirational or thoughtful – the goal is to reflect the connection back through the message, so don’t force something funny if it doesn’t fit!
Tip: Always align the quote with your brand voice and the type of relationship you have – you can go with funny for casual relations and more reserved for formal.
Example one: Rebecca, regular customer
“Dear Rebecca,
As the holiday season approaches, we want to take a moment to thank you for your support and loyalty this year. It’s been a pleasure having you as a customer, and we truly appreciate the trust you’ve placed in us.
Wishing you a Christmas filled with happiness and some well-deserved rest. May the New Year bring you joy, success and plenty of wonderful moments – we look forward to continuing to serve you in the year ahead!
Warm regards,
The Team at ACME
Try these lines in your message:
Tip: Keep it simple and appreciative when it comes to your customers.
Okay, so you have a LOT of people to write for and you’re surviving on coffee in an IV – yes, there is a way to craft a message that fits. Here are some more generic sample messages:
Example one:
As the year comes to a close, I want to extend my warmest wishes for a Merry Christmas and a joyful holiday season. Your dedication, hard work and collaboration have contributed greatly to our successes over the past year, and I sincerely appreciate your efforts.
May you enjoy a restful break, time with loved ones, and the opportunity to recharge for the year ahead. I look forward to continuing our work together and achieving even greater success in the coming year.”
Example two:
“What a year it’s been! We just wanted to send a heartfelt thank you for being part of our journey – your support has made all the difference. Here’s to plenty of reasons to smile this Christmas. We can’t wait to make more memories and share more successes with you in the year ahead!”
Try these lines in your message:
Easy, right? But don’t worry – if your brain is on 5% and you’ve still got a stack of work to get through before Christmas eve, let our AI Magic Message Writer do the hard yards. Take a look at how good it is at sounding, well, human in our guide on How to Make Every Message Magical.
In any workplace, you’ll have a mix of people who celebrate Christmas, people who celebrate something else entirely (Festivus, anyone?) and people who are simply excited for a few days off and a plate of snacks. That’s why keeping your end-of-year cards neutral is a smart (and very safe) move. You can still be warm, grateful, and festive without assuming everyone has a tree, tinsel or a strong opinion about fruitcake. Try using universal, inclusive greetings like:
Neutral greetings keep things respectful, keep everyone included, and – bonus – no one has to google whether Festivus is a real holiday (you’re curious now, aren’t you?).

So, you’ve got your greeting cards sorted, but surely you don’t plan on skipping the gift, right? With GroupTogether, you can easily send a greeting card and an eGift Card together as a package – because when it comes to end-of-year gifting, nothing beats the simplicity and universal appeal of an eGift Card, especially in the corporate world where preferences vary wildly and guessing wrong can get, well, awkward.
With GroupTogether’s AnyCard, you give the gift of choice: one card that lets your corporate crew pick from hundreds of top retailers. It’s thoughtful without being complicated, personal without the guesswork and perfect for teams of any size. Plus, if you want something with a little more wow factor, GroupTogether also offers beautifully curated hampers and premium gift options that feel festive and elevated.
Whether you’re wrapping up a big year with your employees – you’ll love our bulk eGift cards if you have a LOT of recipients – or thanking a long-standing client, our eGift Cards are an easy, impressive way to show appreciation, minus the re-gifting risk, no last-minute panic and certainly no massive holiday queues. That's Christmas, sorted!

A: Yes! GroupTogether makes it easy to add an eGift Card directly to your greeting card. They’ll receive the AnyCard, so your team or recipient can pick exactly what they want.
A: Yep, we’ve covered what to write for teachers too. Take a look at our Great Messages to Write in a Thank You Teacher Card blog for the easiest tips and tricks.
A: Absolutely. GroupTogether specialises in gift cards for employees for Christmas, whether you’re thanking one person or treating the whole team. You can send individual cards or create a beautiful shared card signed by everyone.
A: Yes, we’ve got all your faves. If you’re wondering where to buy Apple gift cards, where to buy JB Hi Fi gift cards or where to buy, well, any of the major retailers, look no further!
We’ve got the lot, from Aussie classics to international giants:
A: Yes, we provide bulk eGift cards and vouchers for staff at Christmas, perfect for companies looking to streamline end-of-year gifting. Simply upload your list, choose your amounts, and we’ll take care of the rest.
A: GroupTogether is a popular choice for organisations needing gift cards for research participants. Our quick, trackable delivery and wide range of brands make it easy to distribute incentives efficiently.
A: We offer multiple gift cards across a huge range of retailers, including the AnyCard that allows recipients to choose their own retailers, experiences, dining, entertainment and more. Recipients can choose what they truly want. Basically, it’s the ultimate gift card.

A: Yes, GroupTogether works perfectly for gift card rewards, whether for employee recognition programs, performance incentives or thank-you gifts throughout the year.
A: We do. Our platform is designed for companies needing corporate gift vouchers, with options to schedule deliveries, personalise cards and simplify bulk gift card orders.
Melissa Evans
Content Writer, GroupTogether.
Ali + Julie
Co-Founders, GroupTogether
Life’s busy. That’s why we’re here to make it easy for you to collect money from a group. Less wasted time, less packaging waste, and spending a little less but giving a lot better!
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