How To Celebrate A Coworker Going On Paternity Leave

There was a time when paternity leave meant a handshake, a slap on the back, a “good luck, bud,” and maybe a joke about cigars, waiting rooms and sleepless nights. 

Thankfully, we’ve evolved.

When a coworker goes on paternity leave, it’s not just a calendar update – it’s a major life shift. It’s stepping into fatherhood, into night feeds, emotional overwhelm and a completely new identity.

That deserves a lot more than a Slack emoji.

Historically, caregiving has been framed as “women’s work,” with men often expected to return to work quickly or treat early parenthood as secondary to their careers. But over the past two decades with rising rates of dads taking paternity leave, researchers have consistently found that when fathers take leave, families are stronger, partnerships are more equal and long-term outcomes improve for everyone involved.

Studies have found that fathers who take paternity leave are more involved in childcare not just in the first few months, but years later. That involvement is linked to improved cognitive and emotional outcomes for children, better maternal wellbeing and more balanced household dynamics. In short: when dads show up early, they tend to keep showing up. So in supporting your colleague, you’re also supporting global growth. 

But workplaces benefit too – no it’s not just about family and society. Companies that actively support parental leave – including paternity leave – report higher employee retention, stronger loyalty and improved morale. When employees see that life milestones are respected, they’re more likely to feel committed and engaged. Supporting leave doesn’t weaken productivity – it strengthens long-term culture and performance. 

There’s also a broader productivity story here – when caregiving responsibilities are shared more equally, women are more likely to remain in or return to the workforce at full capacity. That ripple effect contributes to more sustainable workplaces overall – so celebrating a coworker going on paternity leave isn’t just a nice gesture. It’s a societal win. 

Here are six thoughtful (and actually doable) ways to celebrate a coworker heading off on paternity leave.

1. Write a Group Card From the Team

If you do one thing, do this. A Baby or Congratulations group card gives everyone the chance to say something personal – and with unlimited messages, we mean everyone. 

For maximum emotional impact, encourage people to write something specific, not just “Congrats!”

Ideas:

• “I see how dedicated you are to our team, so I know you’re going to be the calm, steady dad your little one relies on.”
• “Can’t wait to see your dad jokes level up.”
• “Your patience in meetings tells me you’re going to be incredible at 3am feeds.”
• “We’ll miss you – but we’re so excited for this next chapter.”

A digital group card makes it easy for everyone to contribute (without chasing paper around the office), and he can revisit it during those midnight moments when adult conversation feels very far away. 

2. Send an eGift Card

Here’s the thing: new parents don’t need another onesie. What they really need is flexibility.

An eGift Card gives him the freedom to choose what’s actually useful – extra points if you opt for a flexible eGift Card like the AnyCard. Because no matter how well you know him, you have no idea what he’s going to need – in fact, he probably doesn’t know yet either! It might be nappies after midnight. It might be takeaway at 9pm because cooking is the last straw. It might be coffee. And then more coffee. Or it might be something small just for him, in the rare 15-minute window of quiet. 

The beauty of an AnyCard is that it lets him choose – you’re not guessing, you’re not locking him into one store. Flexibility is the real luxury in those first few months.

3. Take Him Out to Lunch Before He Goes

Before he swaps meetings for midnight feeds, take him out to celebrate. A group lunch gives the team a chance to:

• Mark the milestone
• Share some sage advice – keep it non-preachy!
• Laugh about what’s coming
• Farewell him (temporarily!)  

It also reinforces that becoming a parent isn’t something that sidelines your professional identity. 

Tip: Don’t go over the top with the location – sometimes a low-key venue offers the most warmth and comfort, letting your conversation take centre stage. 

4. Give Him Permission to Fully Switch Off

This one costs nothing – and means everything. Make it clear that he doesn’t need to be on the clock. No “just help with this one thing!”  

Publicly reinforcing that paternity leave is real leave sends a cultural signal – not just to him, but to everyone watching. Supportive cultures are built up by moments like this.

5. Create a “Dad Survival Kit”  

If your team’s culture leans into warm and humorous territory, a small curated kit can be thoughtful without being cheesy – and it could be the life raft he ends up needing. 

Try the following:

• Coffee vouchers
• A snack stash
• A notebook titled “Dad Thoughts at 3am” – journaling is scientifically-proven to help keep your sanity! (No, really.)
• A support book for new dads
• Calming tea like peppermint
• A PDF print out of your group card with heart-warming messages from everyone
• A flexible eGift Card tucked inside

Keep it practical and respectful. Avoid anything that implies incompetence – modern dads are capable, thank you very much.

6. Celebrate the Bigger Picture

Paternity leave matters. When men take leave, it supports gender equity, shared caregiving and healthier family dynamics. Fathers who take leave are more involved long term – and that benefits partners, children and workplaces alike.

So celebrating paternity leave isn’t just about one coworker. It’s about reinforcing the kind of culture you want to build:

• One that values family.
• One that respects care work.
• One that understands life happens outside the office.

It doesn’t need to be an over-the-top gesture and it certainly doesn’t need to end with moths flying out of your wallet – it can be as simple as: 

• A group card filled with everyone’s messages.
• A flexible eGift Card like the AnyCard that makes life easier.
• A team lunch.

That’s enough, seriously. If you’re stressing about hosting an extravagant party that would make Liberace proud – stop. Put the candelabra down and walk away. 

Remember to keep it simple. Because when someone steps into a path as life-changing as parenthood, the most powerful thing a workplace can say is:

We support you, we’re thinking of you and we’ll be here when you get back.

Emphasis on that last part.

Meet the experts

Melissa Evans

Content Writer

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!