How to make a get-well card from the team

Quick answer: To make a get-well card from the team, check with the person's manager that a card would be welcome, then create an online card and share the signing link with close colleagues. Keep signing open for three to five days, avoid mentioning any medical details, and send the finished card within the first week or two of their absence.

When a colleague is off sick or recovering from an operation, a card from the team says "we're thinking of you" without asking anything of them. The tricky part is doing it kindly: respecting their privacy, keeping it light, and not turning it into an office-wide discussion of their health. This guide shows you how.

What is a get-well card from the team?

It's a single card signed by colleagues to wish someone a good recovery while they're away from work. In the US it might be called a get-well-soon card from work or a "feel better" card; in the UK, a get-well card from the office.

Online versions are useful because the person is, by definition, not at their desk. Everyone signs from one link, and your colleague receives the card wherever they are. For the general process, see our guide on how to make a group card online.

How do you respect a colleague's privacy about their health?

Use only what your colleague has chosen to share, and leave medical details out of the card and the invite entirely. Health information is personal. In the UK, the ICO treats information about a worker's health as special category data, which employers must handle with extra care. Colleagues organising a card aren't processing records, but the same respect applies.

In practice:

• Ask first. Have their manager check quietly whether they'd like a card and contact from the team. Acas guidance says contact with someone off sick should be agreed with them and suit their circumstances.
• Keep the invite neutral. Write "Let's send Alex a card while they're off" rather than naming a condition, operation or hospital.
• Limit who sees the link. Share it with people who work closely with them, not a company-wide channel. Anyone with the signing link can open the card.
• Avoid questions in messages. "When are you back?" or "What happened?" can feel like pressure.

When should you send a get-well card?

Send it within the first week or two of their absence, once you know they'd welcome it. Early enough that they feel remembered, but not so soon that it lands in the middle of a difficult few days. For planned treatment, around the time of the procedure or shortly after works well, if they've told the team about it.

For longer absences, a second, smaller card later on can be a kind touch, for example before a phased return. Ask first again.

How do you make a get-well card from the team online?

Create the card, invite close colleagues, review the messages, then seal and send it. On SignThisCard the steps are simple.

1. Choose the get-well occasion and a cover

Pick the get-well occasion and a cover design, or upload your own photo (JPG, PNG or WebP up to 10 MB; ideally a 960×1280 portrait). A cheerful but calm image works well: flowers, a favourite view, a photo of the team's plants they'd normally water. Add a cover message such as "Get well soon, Alex" and pick a colour.

You'll need a free organiser account and must verify your email before you can share or send the card.

2. Share the signing link

Send the link to close colleagues by email, Microsoft Teams, Slack or a private WhatsApp group. Signers don't need an account. They press "Add your message", write a note, add their name and choose a note colour, and can draw a handwritten signature too.

3. Add a few cheerful extras

Signers can add photos to their messages, and the organiser can add music from the library or upload a short video, such as the team waving hello on a call. GIFs aren't a listed feature. Our guide on adding photos and videos to a group card explains what's supported.

Keep extras light. Someone recovering may open the card on a phone in bed, so a few warm photos often work better than lots of noise.

4. Review every message

Read through before sending. The organiser can remove messages. Take out anything that mentions symptoms, guesses about their condition, workload ("your inbox is waiting!"), or jokes that could land badly when someone is unwell.

5. Seal and send

Sealing closes signing and can't be undone. Then copy the finished-card link or enter their personal email address and use the email send button. They open it by pressing "Reveal card", with no account needed. If they'd like a paper copy, the print view lets you print it or download a PDF.

What if the news turns more serious?

Follow your colleague's and their family's lead, and keep things gentle. If the team later needs to support someone through a loss, a different approach is needed. Our guide to organising a group sympathy card covers that with care.

If your colleague is struggling, an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), where your employer offers one, may provide confidential support. HR can confirm what's available.

Message starters for a get-well card

Warm, short and pressure-free is the goal. A few starters to share with signers:

• "Thinking of you and sending lots of good wishes. Take all the time you need."
• "We miss you, but please don't think about work. Just rest."
• "Sending you a big virtual hug from the whole team."
• "Get well soon. The office plants are being looked after!"

For more examples, including what to write if you don't know them well, see our guide to get-well messages from work.

Key takeaways

• Check with the colleague's manager that a get-well card from the team would be welcome.
• Never include medical details in the invite or the card; use only what the person has shared.
• Keep signing open for three to five working days and send within the first week or two of absence.
• Share the signing link only with close colleagues, as anyone with the link can open the card.
• Review messages before sealing and remove anything about symptoms or workload.

Frequently asked questions

Should we send a get-well card if we don't know what's wrong?

Yes, you don't need to know. A get-well card is about showing you care, not about the illness. Keep the message general, such as "Thinking of you and hoping you feel better soon", and avoid guessing. Ask their manager to check first that a card and contact from the team would be welcome.

How soon should a get-well card be sent?

Within the first one to two weeks of the absence is a good aim, once you know they'd welcome it. Keep signing open for three to five working days so it doesn't drift. For planned treatment, sending it around the time of the procedure works well, if they've shared the date.

What should we avoid writing in a get-well card?

Avoid medical questions, guesses about their condition, comments about how long they'll be off, and anything about workload piling up. Also avoid jokes that might not land when someone is unwell. The organiser can remove messages before sealing, so read through the card carefully before sending it.

Can the team add photos to a get-well card?

Yes. Signers can add a photo with their message, and the organiser can upload a cover photo, add library music or upload a short video. GIFs aren't a listed feature. A few warm, familiar photos, such as a team lunch or the office view, often mean more than lots of extras.

Does the person need an account to open the card?

No. The recipient opens the finished-card link and presses "Reveal card"; the card opens like a book with messages, signatures and photos. Signers don't need an account either. Only the organiser needs a free account with a verified email address to share and send the card.

Is a get-well card free to make?

It can be. The SignThisCard Free plan gives you one card with up to 15 signers, and that free card can be used once. For larger teams, a Single Card costs £1.99 with unlimited signers and no subscription. Monthly plans suit people who organise cards regularly.

Conclusion

A get-well card from the team works best when it's quick, kind and private: check it's welcome, keep health details out, invite the right people and send it within the first week or two. Your colleague gets a reminder that the team is on their side, with no pressure to reply.

When you're ready, create a get-well card the team can sign. For other occasions, browse our group card ideas.