As adults, we dedicate a big chunk of our lives to our jobs, and a significant part of that time is spent with our coworkers. So it makes a world of difference when we genuinely enjoy the company of the people we share our desk (and office snacks) with. Especially when they go the extra mile to brighten everyone’s day with thoughtful gestures, like writing thank-you notes or even bringing homemade treats to the office.
If you’re one of those amazing people, know that your efforts are deeply appreciated. In fact, sometimes they resonate so strongly, they get shared all over the internet! Here at Bored Panda, we’ve gathered a collection of these wholesome moments where coworkers have gone above and beyond for each other. Find them below and upvote the ones that touched your heart!
#1 World Needs People Like Ahmed
Image credits: ahmedhankir
It may not seem like a big deal to look out for your coworkers, but when you consider that many are fighting their own silent battles, it really puts things into perspective. A colleague could be having health issues, a family crisis, or simply a bad day. Most people don’t even openly share with their employer if they’re feeling stressed at work.
“We all have different struggles, and yet kindness is something that everybody wants. It is a universal language that can help us communicate during times where there’s a lot of translation going on,” says Adrienne Bankert, ABC correspondent and author of Your Hidden Superpower: The Kindness That Makes You Unbeatable at Work and Connects You With Anyone.
#2 I Had To Say My Final Goodbye To My Kitty Earlier This Week And Took A Last-Minute Day Off During A Really Busy Time. I Was Worried My Coworkers Would Be Annoyed That I Was Out
But they just gave me this. Definitely broke my “no crying at work” rule.
Image credits: lissalissa3
Adrienne credits kindness as the reason she landed her job at ABC News. The general manager acknowledged that while Bankert’s resume was strong, it wasn’t the sole factor that impressed her. Instead, after speaking with a woman who knew Adrienne throughout her career, the manager came away with a sense of how she interacted with others. “I can teach you how to be a better writer, or be a better reporter,” she told Adrienne, “but I cannot teach ‘nice’. That is what we need more of in this business.”
“Our kind self is our best self,” thinks Adrienne. “Our individual kindness, our voice, our gestures are like our fingerprint.”
#3 This Is The Sweetest Thing I’ve Ever Heard
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#4 A Head Of The Department At Purdue University Babysat The Son Of An Award Recipient During The Ceremony, So That The Rest Of The Family Could Watch The Event
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Truthfully, a positive attitude can transform a workplace. Studies show that employees who are friendly and respectful to each other have 26% more energy, 36% more satisfaction with their job, and 44% more commitment to their organization. Moreover, when people feel supported and valued, they are more likely to be productive and deliver high-quality work. This encouraging environment creates a safe space where employees feel comfortable sharing ideas and taking risks.
“Humans are a very cooperative species,” explains Dr. Oliver Scott Curry, Chief Science Officer at Kindness.org. “Kindness in all of its various forms is a way of kickstarting that cooperation.”
#5 I Just Finished A Memorial Piece For My Coworker’s Cat. The Recipient Is An Avid Night Sky Photographer, So I Hope It Will Suit His Style Nicely
Image credits: swannygirl94
#6 My Coworkers All Came Together And Gave Me The Money To Finally Change My Name Legally For My Birthday
I am transgender and currently work full-time for Starbucks. I have savings but it’s never been enough to justify paying to get my name legally changed, but for my birthday this year my coworkers all came together and pooled money to give to me to get it changed! This is literally the nicest thing anyone has done for me and it certainly made me smile.
Image credits: Not_A_Cowboy2003
A recent study by Kindness.org, in collaboration with Beekman 1802, found that employees naturally gravitate towards workplaces where people are treated well. For instance, 77% of respondents said they are more likely to apply for jobs that list “kindness” as a key company value. 74% also reported that it’s important for them to have managers who check in on their team members, offering both professional and personal support. And, surprisingly, kindness at work appears to be a bigger predictor of happiness than income.
#7 Trash Pandas Found At Work
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#8 My Coworker Built A Feeding Station For His Local Chipmunks
Image credits: JayLapse
#9 This Is Awesome
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And it’s no wonder kindness is so highly valued. Dr. Kathryn Greiner writes that its impact extends to tangible physical benefits. It acts as a natural stress reliever, lowering cortisol levels and blood pressure. When we do something nice for others, our brains get a boost too. Pleasure and reward centers light up, releasing hormones like endorphins and dopamine, leaving us feeling warm and fuzzy on the inside.
#10 What An Awesome Coworker
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#11 Yesterday The Owner Of My Company Noticed That My Shoes And Jeans Were Worn Out. Today He Took Me To Costco And Bought Me 2 New Pairs Of Shoes, 4 New Pairs Of Jeans, And Some Food
I started in December of 2020 after being laid off/unemployed for the vast majority of the year. I’m still trying to get back on my feet financially and make ends meet. It was such an unbelievably nice gesture. I cried and gave him a hug. I can’t wait until I’m able to pay it forward.
Image credits: DRIPPINNNN
#12 My Coworker Brought Her Baby Goat To Work. She Fell Asleep In My Arms
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Moreover, good deeds are contagious, research proves. They spark a ripple effect, one person helping another, then another. When someone experiences kindness, they’re more likely to pass it on, creating a wave of cooperation that can influence many people within a social circle.
It’s even more meaningful when this attitude spreads to leadership levels. Three in five employees believe that kind management is the reason they want to stay at their company longer than they originally planned.
#13 I Would Work There Forever Out Of Irrational Loyalty
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#14 She Is Lucky To Have Such Colleagues To Cheer Her Up
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#15 Wish More Jobs Were Like This
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“Kindness is a choice, and we all have a choice,” says Dr Bonnie Hayden Cheng, an associate professor at Hong Kong University Business School. In Hong Kong, society is more hierarchical, bureaucratic, and traditional, which can hinder compassion and empathy in the corporate space. However, Dr. Cheng argues that these elements can make for an effective leadership strategy.
“[It] doesn’t mean you have to lower your standards,” she emphasizes. “You can still have high expectations, you can still hold your people accountable, but you’re doing so with kindness as the underpinning factor that allows your people to trust your decisions, knowing that you have their best interests at heart.”
#16 In 2020 Both My Parents Lost Their Jobs And I Was The Only Person Working In A House Of 4, Making $14.80 An Hour. We Had Decided We Wouldn't Do Thanksgiving That Year
When my coworkers found out 15 of them came together to make sure we had a proper family holiday. My sister's boyfriend even joined us.
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#17 I Made Peanut Butter Cookies with M&M's For The Office Yesterday. I Came In This Morning To My Tupperware And Found This Note On My Desk
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#18 This Is So Cute
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In Harvard Business Review, Andrew Swinand, entrepreneur and CEO of the Inspired Thinking Group, shares his tips on promoting workplace kindness. Start with yourself: prioritize your own well-being, because it directly affects those around you. This might involve setting boundaries, like avoiding non-urgent work emails after hours, or taking a mental health day to recharge. When you’re well-rested, you have more energy to be a great teammate.
#19 That's Beautiful
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#20 Now That's Really Wholesome
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#21 My Coworker Brought Her Day-Old Lamb Into Work
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Be intentional and sincere in your interactions with colleagues. Let them know you’re actively listening by remembering details they’ve shared, like their pet at home or their recent move. Ask follow-up questions and maybe even rephrase what they’ve said to show that you’re being attentive.
#22 A Fellow Coworker And I Burned A Checkerboard Into The Stump Of An Old Tree. We Played The First Game With Dandelion And Clover Flowers
The tree was struck by lightning and had to be removed for safety purposes. We thought putting the board there would be a neat way for the students to continue enjoying it.
Image credits: that1guyonajourney
#23 As A Going Away Gift, My Coworker Knitted Me My Favorite Children's Book Characters Frog & Toad
Image credits: betterbutterbattle
#24 Went To Work Thinking We Were Having A Serious Meeting And Was Surprised By My Coworkers With Some Gifts For Our First Baby. 1600 Diapers
Image credits: Sidbilly
Sarah Goff-Dupont, Principal Writer at Atlassian, suggests that small actions can make a difference. For example, something simple like inviting new coworkers to grab lunch or coffee is a great way to welcome them. Take note of your colleagues’ interests: if you see an article they’d love or an album that fits their vibe, send it their way. Highlighting their achievements is also easy—leave a personal recommendation on LinkedIn to show you care about their work.
#25 My Coworker Knits Crotchet Animals To Hand Out To Kids
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#26 Helping A Coworker With His Ties
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#27 It Is Bring Your Cat To Work Day, And Our Coworker's Cat Fell Asleep In The File Tray
Image credits: Work4Carbs
So, you don’t have to be incredibly elaborate to think of ways to support your coworkers. Make kindness a part of your lifestyle and see how your office becomes a happier place for everyone.
#28 My Coworker Hand-Made Me A Screaming Goat For Christmas
We did Secret Santa at work. I put down “a screaming goat” thinking... One of those easy buttons, that would lighten the mood when things get crazy. Anyways, we exchanged gifts and my technician had hand-made me a screaming goat made of straw, complete with a screaming goat button (in its bag) and a poem. I don’t know what I did to deserve this magnificence and I am speechless!
Image credits: misspharmAssy
#29 Coworker Passed His Citizenship Test
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#30 In Light Of The Fires In Southern Oregon, My Work Has Set Up A Staging Area For Donations For Those Displaced By This Terrible Event. I Love The People I Work For
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#31 The Plaque/Crest I Made From Scratch For A Coworker
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#32 Birthday Haul From The Most Considerate Coworkers In The World
Been at a new job for 4 months and really didn't expect anything, but I sure was wrong. Among many other perks, the owners set aside $175 and have the person's coworkers pick out the gifts (on the clock, of course). A couple of months ago I mentioned how I love Kerrygold, but man it is expensive, so I got 2 lbs of it. Also, I was talking about how I love making pizza from scratch but needed a new peel and screen so they got that as well as a few lbs of specialty pizza flour. Lastly, I just built my first PC with the help of a coworker (so they knew all the specs), but I mentioned how I could use a little more RAM, so they got me another 2 sticks of the same kind. I guess this is what an awesome workplace is like!
Image credits: NotSoAverageStoner
#33 One Of My Coworkers Brought This Cute Little Motivator Into Work For Us
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#34 My Coworkers Brought Cake And Food For My Birthday Since I Didn't Have Anyone To Celebrate It With
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#35 Homemade Seed Packets For Two Of My Coworkers
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#36 This Is Adorable
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#37 I'm The Only Geologist That My Coworker Knows, So He Came To My Office Yesterday All Happy And Eager To Talk About This Rock That He Found
During lunch hour, we spent a little time to look and talk about this rock. He'd found it on his parents' grounds and thought "Hey, I know a geologist, I'm gonna bring this to work to show her". When he told me he had the rock in his car I was ready to send him out to get it, he had the decency to wait until lunch.
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#38 I’ve Been Anxious About Our Finances All Week. One Of My Coworkers Left This In My Office Today
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#39 My Coworker Made A Crochet Mushroom Guy, And Someone Tucked Him In
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#40 One Of My Coworkers Is In Her 70s And Always Asks Me To Help Her With Tech-Related Issues. She Made A Point To Find Me Today And Give Me A Little Christmas Gift As A Thank You
Such a cute little old lady gift! Complete with old lady candy in the dish too!
Image credits: Shuddupmegz
#41 My Coworker Scooped Up These Baby Birds Off The Ground With An Empty Kleenex Box And Taped It To The Wall Nearby Because The Floor Of Their Nest Had Fallen Out
The mommy and daddy birds are visiting frequently.
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#42 My Company Has A "Great Ideas" Board. I Gave Notice Recently, Came Into Work Today And Found That One Of My Staff Members Left This On The Board. It's Good To Know I'll Be Missed
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#43 Yesterday Was The Last Day For My Favorite Coworker, With Whom I Shared A Love For The Movie "Office Space". I Found This On My Desk This Morning. Happy Trails, My Friend
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#44 It’s A Hot Day In Omaha, And At My Job, We Mostly Work Outside, So The Supervisors Decided To Come Around And Give Us Employees Free Ice Cream To Keep Us Cool
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#45 I'm An American Intern In Sydney. The Office Made Me This Spread Of Classic Australian Goodies
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#46 I Was The Only Person In My Office Building To Get The Security Team A Christmas Present. Today, As A Thank You, One Of Them Brought Me Back A Gift From Their Trip To Jamaica
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#47 My Dad Dressed Up As Batman For A Coworker’s Kid Who Was Celebrating A Birthday (Sometime In The Early To Mid-1990s). I Think He Was Pretty Cool
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#48 Someone Broke Into My Car And Stole My Steering Wheel For The Second Time This Summer. My Coworkers Showered Me With Love And Hugs
One brought me cakes (not pictured) and another made me this “screw thieves” care package.
Image credits: Original-Willow4606
#49 I Will Steal This Idea For My Own Parties
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#50 My Boss At My Internship Was Told By A Coworker That I Like To Listen To Music But Don't Have Headphones At The Moment, So He Gave Me A Headset
Image credits: MrQuackalotOWO
