Is one of your colleagues too sick to come to work? Perhaps you want to say “get well soon,” but you’re worried it’s not the most professional phrase.
Luckily, there are options. This article will explore the best professional alternatives to “get well soon.”
Is It Professional to Say “Get Well Soon”?
It is professional to say “get well soon.” It’s a very generic phrase that works well in formal emails when you need to know how to respond to an email about sickness.
It is not rude to use “get well soon.” The phrase itself is quite polite. The only issue you may have with it is that it’s a bit overused and impersonal.
Still, this example will help you understand how to use it:
I hope you get well soon, Sarah. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.
Pros
- It’s fairly polite.
- It shows that you’re reaching out to someone and wishing them well.
Cons
- It’s overused and impersonal.
- It’s not the most loving way to wish someone good health.
“Get well soon” is a great phrase in most cases. It’s simple and works well to show that you want someone to recover. However, there are always alternatives that should help you keep things interesting.
Keep reading to find out what to include in an email or text message to sick colleagues.
What to Say Instead of “Get Well Soon”
- I wish you a speedy recovery
- I hope you feel better soon
- I know you’ll get through this
- You’re strong enough to get over this
- Wishing you all the best
- I hope you’ll be back on your feet soon
- I wish you a swift and full recovery
- I hope you get better as soon as possible
- Take your time to recover properly
1. I Wish You a Speedy Recovery
You could write “I wish you a speedy recovery” in a “get well soon” card or email. It works really well when you want to send positive wishes to someone who’s not feeling very good.
You may want to include it in an email to an employee after they’ve written you a sick note. It shows that you want them to feel better quickly and get back to work feeling fit as soon as they can.
Check out this email example as well:
Dear Aimee,
I wish you a speedy recovery. I have also sent you a care package to make your time at home easier, hopefully.
Yours,
Billy O’Neill
2. I Hope You Feel Better Soon
“I hope you feel better soon” is a more personal alternative to “get well soon.” Using “I hope” at the start of the phrase shows that you would like to share your good wishes personally.
Generally, this works best in a message to your manager. You can include it in an email if you haven’t seen them for a while and you hope they recover from whatever illness they might have and get back to the office.
You may also benefit from reviewing this email sample:
Dear Marissa,
I hope you feel better soon. You’ve been off work for a while now, and we’re worried that it might be getting worse.
Yours,
Roger Albertstein
3. I Know You’ll Get Through This
When someone isn’t feeling 100%, it’s good to know you’re in their corner. You should remind them of their strength and use a phrase like “I know you’ll get through this.”
For instance, this works well in cards or messages for colleagues. You can sign it yourself or use “we” to show that it’s from your team. Then, it will show your colleague that everyone is behind them and wants them to recover.
Here are some great examples to show you how it works:
Well, I know you’ll get through this. It might take some time, but you’re already on the road to recovery.
I know you’ll get through this. You’re going to come back fitter than ever. I can just see that happening!
4. You’re Strong Enough to Get Over This
Everyone wants to believe they’re strong enough to overcome any illness. So, why not highlight that fact in a card for your colleague? It is thoughtful and encouraging, showing that you hope someone recovers as quickly as possible.
Generally, this phrase works best in a text message rather than an email. It’s something you should be able to send directly to a coworker to let them know they can get through anything.
Here are some great examples if you’re still unsure:
You’re strong enough to get over this. You just need to keep going, and you’ll feel better soon.
I know you’re strong enough to get over this. Let me know if I can help in any way, though.
5. Wishing You All the Best
Going back to a formal email context, you can write “wishing you all the best” instead of “get well soon.” There are also two ways you can do it. For instance:
I am wishing you all the best.
We are wishing you all the best.
“I am” is more personal. It shows you want to send your positive wishes to someone. If you’re good friends with them (like a coworker in your team), you can use this phrase.
“We are” is more professional. It shows the positive wishes come from your company because “we” represents everyone at the company rather than one individual. This might work best when sending an email to your boss instead.
You can also refer to this email sample:
Dear Ryan,
We are wishing you all the best. Everyone is behind you and hopes you’ll make a full and speedy recovery.
Kind regards,
Sam Walsh
6. I Hope You’ll Be Back on Your Feet Soon
You should always try to wish someone well when they’re not feeling okay. Simple idioms like “I hope you’ll be back on your feet soon” go a long way to try and encourage someone to feel better.
Of course, there’s only so much your words can do. But that doesn’t mean you should offer them when people are off work because of sickness. At the very least, kind wishes show you care about the people you work with.
Here’s a useful email example if you’re still unsure:
Dear Rachel,
I hope you’ll be back on your feet soon. It can’t be easy to go through something like this without support.
All the best,
Becky Bella
7. I Wish You a Swift and Full Recovery
“I wish you a swift and full recovery” is a great alternative to “get well soon.” It works really well in a formal email because it shows that you hope someone feels better quickly.
Generally, this works best when emailing employees. You might want to include it in a reply email when someone has let you know that they won’t be making it to work because of their illness.
You can also refer to this email example:
Dear Katie,
I wish you a swift and full recovery. Let me know if there’s anything we can do to make things easier for you.
Yours,
Mr. Parker
8. I Hope You Get Better as Soon as Possible
You don’t have to make things more complicated when using a synonym for “get well soon.” Just say “I hope you get better as soon as possible” to keep things light and friendly.
It shows that you feel bad about someone’s illness, but you want them to get better quickly. It’s a great way to show that you care about your colleagues when writing them a card or email that says something other than “get well soon.”
Check out this sample email if you need more help:
Dear Bridgette,
I hope you get better as soon as possible. It sounds like you’re finally on the mend, though.
All the best,
Steve Adams
9. Take Your Time to Recover Properly
It’s all too easy to rush yourself when you’re ill. You might try to hurry back to work because you get bored at home, but this is never a smart idea. That’s why “take your time to recovery properly” works well in professional settings.
It puts no pressure on the recipient. It shows that you want them to recover fully before returning to work, so it is a great one to include if you’re worried that someone is trying to come back before they’re ready.
You should refer to this example if you’re still stumped:
Dear Zoe,
Take your time to recover properly before returning to work, please. It’s best that you come back as fit as possible.
All the best,
Joanna Clump