Bosses sometimes get the short end of the stick when it comes to gratitude.
When you have the chance, thanking your boss can help you build a positive relationship with them.
Review our quick list of opportunities for when you can show your boss appreciation with a handwritten thank-you note or email.
Thank You Note for Boss When Leaving Job
When you leave your job, you can thank your boss.
You never know when your paths may cross again, so do your best to make a favorable impression on the way out.
Read: Farewell Thank You Messages: A Complete Guide with 35 Examples
Thank You Your Boss For Helping You
After your boss helps you or provides extra support, you can send them a quick thank-you email.
Read: How To Thank Your Boss For Help or Support
Thank Your Boss For Opportunities
Sometimes a boss will help you find new opportunities, such as a new position, an exciting project to work on, or additional training for new skills.
Read: How To Thank Your Boss for Opportunities
Thank You to Boss for Happy Work Anniversary Wishes
On your work anniversary, your boss may wish you a happy anniversary. It’s polite to respond with a thank you, especially if you were given special recognition in any way.
Read: How to Thank Your Boss For Work Anniversary Wishes
Thank You to Boss for Raise
When you are given a raise, your boss may have had input into how much you were given. You can show your gratitude to your boss for the raise with a thank-you email.
Read: How To Thank My Boss for a Raise
Thank You to Boss for Bonus
I’ve had two jobs where bosses were given a pool of bonus money to distribute at the end of the year. However, the boss was not required to give each team member the same amount or percentage.
Read: How To Say Thank You To Your Boss for A Raise
Mistakes to Avoid When Thanking Boss
When thanking your boss, there are mistakes you will want to avoid.
One mistake is spelling their name wrong. Not knowing how to spell your boss’s name shows disrespect.
Some names have multiple spellings, such as Jon or John, Michelle or Michele, and Erin or Aaron.
Learn More: Don’t Make These 5 Dumb Mistakes When Thanking Your Boss
Thank Your Boss for a Promotion
When you are promoted, your boss likely provides input into the decision. Say thank you for letting your boss know you are grateful for any involvement they had.
Read: 23 Thank You for a Promotion Messages for Your Boss Examples
Thank Your Boss For Lunch
Before the pandemic, my boss would take the team out for lunch a couple of teams a year.
And a prior boss would occasionally take out each team member for lunch.
While the company likely picked up the tab, the boss set aside time for lunch.
In either situation, you can thank your boss for the team lunch or thank your boss for a lunch with only them.
Thank You to Boss for the Appreciation
Sometimes your boss may appreciate you! Perhaps, they sent you a nice thank you email or recognized your excellent work at a meeting.
Read: 25 Thank You Messages for Appreciation From Your Boss
Thank You To Boss for Gifts
There are many reasons that a boss may give an employee a gift. Some examples are weddings, baby showers, on your work anniversary, or to welcome you to the team.
Learn More: 41 Thank You Note to the Boss for Gift Examples
Retirement Thank You
At some point in your career, you may work with a boss that retires. Or you may be the one that retirees.
Like when leaving a job, you can make a good impression on the boss by expressing gratitude at retirement time.
Read: Retirement Thank You Notes From the Retiree to Boss or Retirement Thank You Notes to the Retiring Boss
What You Can Do When Bored At Work
Sometimes work can be boring! There are things you can do to stay busy.
Of course, working is always an option.
13 Things To Actually Do When Bored at Work To Stay Busy
Ways To Improve Your Career
Are you missing out ways you could be doing better at work?
11 Things You Could Be Doing to Better Your Career
Get Ready to Laugh
Enjoy some memes about work that most people can relate to.
These 22 Funny Work Memes Will Make You LOL Today
Heidi has been writing thank you notes for more than 30 years and is the author of A Modern Guide to Writing Thank-You Notes. Her goal is to help people write better thank-you notes by providing tips and examples.