21 Alternative Ways to Bid Your Coworkers a Great Weekend in Emails – Writing Tips 2024
Saying goodbye to colleagues in a professional yet friendly way at the end of the workweek calls for the right choice of words. “Have a great weekend” tends to be the default phrase used in emails. However, it helps to have creative alternatives up your sleeve to keep things fresh.
This article explores 9 other professional yet warm ways to wish your coworkers or employees an enjoyable weekend in emails, along with examples.
Is It Professional to Say “Have a Great Weekend”?
Using “Have a great weekend” in emails is deemed professional in most work settings. It strikes the right tone polite, friendly and showing interest in the other person’s life outside of work.
However, the phrase may come across as generic and overused at times. Moreover, for colleagues going through a difficult personal phase, it could sound insensitive.
Having a repertoire of alternatives can make your weekend wishes more personal and thoughtful.
What’s Another Way to Say “Have a Great Weekend”?
Here are weekend wish phrases that you say instead of Have a Great Weekend:
Casual and Friendly Options:
- Enjoy the weekend!
- See you on Monday!
- Have an awesome weekend!
- Make the most of your time off!
- Hope you have a nice weekend!
Example usage: “Thanks for your hard work this week, Tom. Enjoy the weekend!”
Formal and Professional Choices:
6. I hope you have a pleasant weekend.
7. Wishing you a great weekend ahead.
8. Have a wonderful weekend.
9. Enjoy your time away from work.
10. See you next week.
Example usage: “Dear Ms. Johnson, Thank you for your prompt response. I hope you have a pleasant weekend.”
Thoughtful and Personalized Wishes:
11. I hope you have the best weekend.
12. Have a great time away.
13. Wishing you weekend delights.
14. May your weekend unfold beautifully.
15. Hope you have a blissful weekend.
Example usage: “Sarah, I know you’ve been looking forward to your family reunion. Have a great time away!”
Encouraging and Motivational Phrases:
16. Have a refreshing weekend break.
17. May your weekend bring new adventures.
18. Wishing you weekend harmony.
19. Relax over the weekend.
20. Have a blessed weekend.
21. May your weekend be as amazing as you are.
Example usage: “Great job on the project, Alex! Have a refreshing weekend break – you’ve earned it!”
Quick Table:
| Casual | Formal | Thoughtful | Encouraging |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enjoy the weekend! | I hope you have a pleasant weekend. | I hope you have the best weekend. | Have a refreshing weekend break. |
| See you on Monday! | Wishing you a great weekend ahead. | Have a great time away. | May your weekend bring new adventures. |
| Have an awesome weekend! | Have a wonderful weekend. | Wishing you weekend delights. | Have a wonderful weekend. |
| Hope you have a nice weekend! | Hope you have a blissful weekend. | Wishing you weekend harmony. | Make the most of your time off! |
| See you next week. | May your weekend be as amazing as you are. | May your weekend unfold beautifully. | Enjoy your time away from work. |
1. I Hope You Have the Best Weekend
Wishing someone “the best weekend” conveys your desire for them to have a truly memorable one. By using the superlative “best” instead of “great”, you emphasize that you want them to have an exceptional break.
Use this phrase for colleagues you share a warm rapport with. The caring tone will be appreciated.
For instance:
Dear Samantha,
I hope you have the best weekend. Looking forward to hearing all about it on Monday!
Regards,
Patrick
2. Have a Great Time Away
If you know a coworker has exciting weekend plans lined up, use “Have a great time away” to acknowledge it. For example, if a colleague mentions an upcoming hiking holiday, wish them a great time away. It shows you pay attention when they share their plans with you.
Dear Pedro,
Have a wonderful time away on your adventure holiday! Do share photos when you’re back.
Cheers,
Harold
3. Make the Most of Your Time Off
Getting into relaxation mode after an intense workweek can be challenging at times. “Make the most of your time off” nudges your teammates to temporarily switch off work mode on their days off.
Use this to remind colleagues that weekends are precious pockets of personal time in their busy schedules. Encourage them to unwind fully before Monday.
Hi Garry,
Hope you take a complete break and are able to make the most of your time off. Recharge those batteries before the big presentation next week!
Regards,
Kyleigh
4. See You on Monday
A simple “See you on Monday” works well too for non-chatty colleagues who just need a polite send-off for the week.
It reminds the recipient that you look ahead to resuming professional interactions next workweek, without sounding too personal or nosy about their weekend.
Dear Pepper,
Thanks for all your help with the reports. See you on Monday!
Best,
Sean
5. Enjoy the Weekend
For brief, to-the-point weekend wishes, keep it short with “Enjoy the weekend!”
It caps off emails efficiently without extra words, quickly conveying your wish for colleagues to have a pleasurable weekend break.
Team,
Enjoy the weekend! Let’s start next week recharged.
Regards,
Holly Maidstone
6. Enjoy Your Time Away From Work
This phrase warmly reminds colleagues that weekends are meant for enjoying outside of work.
Using “your time away from work” instead of just “weekend” personalizes the message. It signals genuine happiness for teammates to get their valuable non-work time.
Dear Team,
Enjoy your time away from work and return Monday feeling relaxed!
Warm regards,
Mr. Blanket
7. Have a Blessed Weekend
In certain cultural work contexts, this faith-based greeting may fit. The adjective “blessed” conveys wishing someone a peaceful, spiritually-fulfilling weekend.
However, take care to use this only if appropriate and avoid assuming someone’s religious leanings.
Hi Rachel,
Have a blessed weekend with your family. See you next week!
Warm regards,
Jacob
8. See You Next Week
This friendly alternative emphasizes looking ahead to next workweek, implying you wish the other person an enjoyably long weekend off in the meantime.
Use when emailing colleagues on a Friday, to highlight that you don’t expect to interact during the upcoming non-work days.
Mitchell,
Bon voyage! Look forward to catching up when you’re back next week.
Warm regards,
Duncan
9. Relax Over the Weekend
We often get so absorbed by work that weekends lose their relaxing charm. This phrase gently reminds busy coworkers to intentionally unwind and take a well-deserved break.
It’s a thoughtful nudge to colleagues to slow down and prioritize self-care and enjoyment rather than work over the weekend.
Hi Christie,
Hope you take time to relax over the weekend before our big launch next week!
Warm regards,
Jamie
Here are additional sections covering the 11 extra weekend wish phrases you provided:
10. Have a Nice Weekend
The simple phrase “Have a nice weekend” is a perfectly acceptable, polite way to sign off emails before the weekend. It’s generic enough yet pleasant-sounding.
Use this universal weekend wish when writing to colleagues you don’t know too well professionally. It encapsulates wishing them an enjoyable weekend without sounding too personal or effusive.
Hi Pablo,
Thanks for sending the report. Have a nice weekend!
Regards,
Matt
11. Hope You Have a Pleasant Weekend
Adding the word “hope” to the weekend wish conveys a warmer, more caring tone. “Pleasant” also comes across as more heartfelt than just “nice”. Use this to say goodbye to colleagues you share a friendly rapport with, without seeming overly familiar.
Dear Kate,
It was great collaborating with you this week. Hope you have a pleasant weekend!
Cheers,
Sam
You may wish to learn another related post: 18 Synonyms for “Including But Not Limited to”
12. Wishing You a Great Weekend
Starting the weekend wish with “Wishing you a…” frames the phrase as a friendly wish stated just for them. It sounds more thoughtful than a generic “Have a nice weekend!”
Use this to uplift colleagues you appreciate and wish to convey goodwill towards as they start their weekend.
Hi James,
I really valued your insights during this week’s client meetings. Wishing you a great weekend!
Best,
Amy
13. Hope You Have a Blissful Weekend
The adjective “blissful” adds a touch of warmth and blessing to the weekend wish. It suggests wishing the person deep contentment. While “blissful” may sound slightly personal, it can work well for close professional allies who you know quite well.
Dear Peter,
It’s been a stressful week! Hope you have a blissful, rejuvenating weekend.
Talk soon,
Terry
14. Wishing You Weekend Delights
This creative phrase makes the weekend wish more special by envisioning enjoyable experiences for the recipient rather than a generic “great weekend”. The playful, positive phrase “weekend delights” implies wishing someone relaxing, uplifting activities and moods all weekend. Use for colleagues you’re fond of.
Hi Paolo,
Wishing you weekend delights – you’ve earned it after this hectic product launch!
Until Monday,
Sophie
15. May Your Weekend Unfold Beautifully
This unique phrase conveys the sentiment of wishing someone a graceful, uplifting weekend by using the verb “unfold”. It suggests wishing their weekend activities and moments to align beautifully. Reserve for signing off emails to close colleagues who would appreciate such a warm, blessing-filled weekend wish.
Dear Maggie,
May your weekend unfold beautifully. See you next week!
Regards,
Claire
16. Wishing You a Refreshing Weekend Break
We all occasionally need to recharge from work’s pace by taking a refreshing break. This weekend wish frames the weekend as a refreshing pit stop on colleagues’ behalf before work starts up again. Use when you sense someone needs to pause and replenish their energies after an intense workweek period.
Hi Noah,
Wishing you a super refreshing weekend break with the family!
Talk Monday,
Zac
17. May Your Weekend Bring New Adventures
For the wandering spirit coworkers who are always exploring new horizons and experiences, this is a thoughtful weekend wish to use. It frames their weekend as a time of freedom for pursuing joyful adventures, new perspectives and making meaningful memories beyond everyday work life.
Hi Trisha,
May your weekend bring exciting new adventures to share stories about later! Safe travels!
Warmly,
Liam
18. Wishing You Weekend Harmony
For spiritually-oriented colleagues who value harmony and balance, this phrase frames their weekend as a time to nurture and align their inner selves. By wishing them harmony and the “perfect balance”, convey that you hope their weekend activities will create inner peace, contentment and centering.
Hey Carlos!
Wishing you a weekend filled with harmony – may you strike the perfect balance.
Warm regards,
Ada
19. Have a Wonderful Weekend
The adjective “wonderful” used here elevates the weekend wish beyond just “great” or “nice”. It suggests you wish the colleague to have an uplifting, excellent weekend doing the things they love. Use when writing to colleagues you share a warm relationship with and want them to know they deserve a glorious weekend.
Dear Myesha,
You were such a star this week during the client pitches! Have a wonderful weekend now.
Fondly,
Eric
20. Have an Awesome Weekend
For informal work cultures, signing off with a spirited “Have an awesome weekend!” can perfectly fit the vibe. While “awesome” may sound slightly casual on its own, pairing it with “Have a…” lends it enough polish for professional emails. Use for fun-loving, casual colleagues.
Hey Mosin!
Kudos to you for the hilarious prank! Have an awesome weekend.
Cheers,
Wendy
21. May Your Weekend Be As Amazing As You Are
This uniquely uplifting phrase conveys immense appreciation for the colleague by framing their inherent amazingness as deserving an equally amazing weekend. By tying their stellar qualities to weekend wishes, it makes the sentiment more meaningful. Use for very special colleagues whom you greatly admire.
Dear Moleboheng,
Your presentation blew me away this week! May your weekend be as amazing as you are!
Fondly,
Nigel
How to Choose the Right Phrase
When selecting a weekend wish, consider the following factors:
- Workplace culture: More casual phrases suit relaxed environments, while formal options are better for conservative settings.
- Relationship with the colleague: Use more personal phrases for close coworkers and formal ones for superiors or new acquaintances.
- Context: Consider recent events or upcoming plans your colleague might have shared.
- Frequency of communication: Vary your phrases to avoid repetition, especially with frequent email exchanges.
Tips for Personalizing Wishes
- Reference specific plans if you’re aware of them.
- Acknowledge recent accomplishments or challenges.
- Use the recipient’s name for a more personal touch.
- Tailor the tone to match your usual communication style with that person.
Things to Avoid
- Overly personal comments if you don’t know the person well.
- Assumptions about weekend activities or beliefs.
- Pressuring language about work during off-hours.
- Sarcastic or negative tones, even in jest.
Cultural Considerations
Be mindful that some phrases, like “Have a blessed weekend,“ may have religious connotations. In multicultural environments, opt for more neutral expressions unless you’re certain of the recipient’s preferences.
Conclusion of 21 Other Ways to Say “Have a Great Weekend” in an Email
Finding the appropriate words to say goodbye to colleagues while also conveying weekend well wishes can seem challenging. “Have a nice weekend” tends to sound mundane after one too many usages.
However, the 21 creative alternatives of “Have a Great Weekend” discussed above infuse warmth and variety into your weekend send-offs. They range from simple phrases like “Enjoy the weekend” to more personal ones like wishing someone a “blessed weekend” or the “best weekend”. With this diverse repertoire, you can pick weekend wishes tailored to each coworker’s situation. So next Friday, explore signing off your work emails with something beyond the predictable “Have a good weekend!” Show colleagues you care through thoughtful, creative phrases.