42 Wholesome Coworkers That Prove Not All Office Heroes Wear Capes (But Maybe Cardigans)
Because kindness in the break room deserves just as much applause as big wins in the boardroom
The workplace isn’t always just deadlines and Zoom calls. Sometimes, it’s surprise cupcakes, handwritten notes, and someone saving you from yet another awkward printer jam. It’s the little acts of kindness that keep the 9-to-5 from grinding down your soul—and the coworkers who become unexpected superheroes without ever asking for credit.
Grumpy Sharks proudly presents 42 photos and stories that spotlight the wholesome coworkers who make office life a little warmer, a lot brighter, and surprisingly heart-melting. Whether they’re bringing coffee to the night shift or leaving encouraging Post-Its on your monitor, these heroes don’t wear capes—they wear comfy cardigans, share their snacks, and remind us that goodness can thrive anywhere.
#1. My 87 year old co-worker showed me his binder of love poems he writes…he has 2 more binders of poems!
Source: saxesun
#2. A coworker noticed my boots needed replacing, I’m casual and new boots are at my cost. These were waiting for me at my workstation.
Source: Oldmate81
#3. My 72 year old grandma not only cleans schools, but cleans schools better than everyone she works with. Her teachers always make sure she knows.
Source: Peabo721
#4. Helping a coworker with his ties
Source: ajfoucault
#5. 4 years of sobriety! My coworkers got me “clean” stuff😂
Source: Better_Draft_1270
All of these stories and images are sourced from the internet’s most uplifting subreddits: r/aww, where adorable animals and acts of kindness reign supreme; r/MadeMeSmile, a hub for stories that restore your faith in humanity; and r/wholesome, a community dedicated entirely to moments of genuine, heartwarming goodness.
These platforms showcase everything from colleagues celebrating quiet personal milestones to teammates showing up for each other during tough times. Whether it’s an IT guy who brings in muffins for everyone after a tough system outage or an intern who tapes a thank-you note to the breakroom microwave, the examples we found prove that warmth and thoughtfulness are alive and well in office spaces around the world.
We, Grumpy Sharks, scrolled through this digital treasure trove of feel-good content to curate the most touching, smile-inducing coworker moments—proof that even under harsh fluorescent lights, kindness still glows.
#6. This was my face of pure happiness when a coworker brought two kittens by the office yesterday. Sat there for an hour while they cuddled on my lap.
Source: jelly_jam_toast
#7. Today is my birthday. My coworkers know I’m on a diet but I told them they were more than welcome to still get a cake for themselves to enjoy. Instead, this was waiting for me when I got to work. Truly made my day and was quite delicious!
Source: itchypoopsarethebest
#8. at least he was cute tho
Source: Educational_Divide34
#9. Heartwarming
Source: ThatOtherGirlYouKnow
#10. Had a rough day and my co-workers saw me crying..I came back to this. Honestly thought they’d judge me, I’ve only worked here for about 5 months and I’m just in a junior position.. Oh it’s the little things 🥺 I’ll remember this forever ❤️🩹
Source: mushyflower
Maybe it was the coworker who noticed you were having a rough day and left a chocolate on your desk. Or the one who remembered your birthday when you thought no one would. These are the everyday gestures that hit unexpectedly hard—and stick with us.
In a world of tight schedules and tighter budgets, these small acts speak volumes. They say: “I see you. I care. And I’ve got your back—even if it’s just with a spare stapler.”
#11. I’ve been biking to work in the cold every morning, my coworker noticed and she made me this scarf and beanie
Source: Then_Ad7687
#12. I’m a dental technician and my coworker is getting a new crown. She allowed me to add some extra love.
Source: xTeylu
#13. One of my former coworkers absolutely flooring me with his kindness. I’m 25, have no GED or driver’s license, and live with parents who aren’t very kind to me. He said he’d probably give me the car as well.
Source: ErwinAckerman
#14. The 66 year old receptionist where I work prints out memes on paper and puts them on the wall
Source: tokensbro
#15. Just saw this on my timeline, Rocky is headed home
Source: Facerless
I once worked in an office where the cleaning lady left motivational quotes on our whiteboard every Friday. No one asked her to do it. She just did. Sometimes funny, sometimes profound, always handwritten.
One day it said, “You survived Monday. You’re basically unstoppable.” And honestly? That got me through the week. Quiet care like that echoes louder than most realize.
#16. 1 yr ago during the height of the pandemic, this coworker and I began keeping tabs on each other while working from home. We fell madly in love. He is THE MOST INCREDIBLE man I’ve ever known. We now share the same address and he just took me to my first MLB game. I’m a baseball fan. He is learning.
Source: DivineMs_M
#17. I’m a nice colleague
Source: Hijae
#18. I asked my coworkers to not do huge decorations on my desk. My work place is the kind to bubble wrap your whole desk and fill the cubicle with balloons for your birthday. I asked them to keep it low key The picture is a shelf of my desk.
Source: jester_kat
#19. New friend/coworker of mine couldn’t afford a new computer. I built a new one and gave him my old one for free. He was so happy he asked me to take his picture!
Source: JumpyyyKO
#20. My coworker is having a hysterectomy. So the department had a food day.
Source: tjackso6
According to a study by the Harvard Business Review, positive interactions at work not only improve morale—they also boost productivity, increase team engagement, and reduce burnout.
Kindness isn’t fluff—it’s function. It builds trust, reduces stress, and creates a culture where people want to do better because they feel better.
#21. Going back to work next week. Trying to convince my colleagues I had a beach holiday.
Source: Hoger
#22. 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. We spent a little time during lunch hour 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 go get it, he had the decency to wait until lunch 😅
Source: nukaati
#23. My coworker said my water bottle looks like Perry the Platypus now I can’t unsee it
Source: MissTeriousGal
#24. My coworker had this picture taken at a Dodge Charger meet-up he helped organize.
Source: Ghawblin
#25. 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.
Source: Not_A_Cowboy2003
Psychologists say acts of kindness trigger the release of oxytocin (the bonding hormone), along with serotonin and dopamine. Translation: being nice actually rewires our brains for happiness.
So when Carol from accounting brings in extra donuts or Dave refills the coffee without being asked, it’s not just thoughtful—it’s chemical.
#26. Coworker has a tabasco holster that his wife gave him. He brings it to lunch every day
Source: EndGuy555
#27. wholesome co-workers
Source: maryclaireee7
#28. My work friend just got back from a cruise and I found this under my office door this morning
Source: Snowbank_Lake
#29. my coworker was crying during our shift so during lunch i got her a gift 🙂
Source: comickbook
#30. Today was my boyfriend’s last day at his “big box mart” job. The company itself did not acknowledge his last day, but a coworker in the bakery made him this.
Source: kmonizzle
Dr. Jamil Zaki, professor of psychology at Stanford University, explains: “Empathy is a skill—and it spreads. When people witness acts of kindness, they’re more likely to pay it forward.”
So when one coworker offers support, others follow. A single kind gesture can quietly shift the entire workplace dynamic.
#31. This giant carrot made my day but it made my coworker’s hole weak
Source: heiditron
#32. You’re joking. You’re joking. I can’t believe my eyes! This is how my coworker came into work today.
Source: bobcrochets
#33. I’m having a rough week. Sat down on break to talk to my coworker and heard a hard thunk from my cargo pocket where I keep my notepad. My toddler snuck in her two favorite rocks she found yesterday, into my pocket
Source: ImThe1Wh0
#34. Nurse discovers her new coworker was the premature baby she cared for years back.
Source: Theon_Graystark
#35. My one coworker brought into work this cute little motivator for us
Source: Gibby5683
In a world filled with bad news, spreadsheets, and too many reply-all emails, these wholesome coworkers remind us that humanity still shines—softly, persistently, and often wearing fuzzy socks.
They restore your faith in the everyday. And that’s no small thing.
#36. Happy retirement to my coworker that always brought us candy. Thanks for always being awesome, Mark!
Source: Dabrina_Meah
#37. This single dad walked 11 miles to work every day for seven long months. When his co-workers found out, they came together to buy him a car
Source: CNN
#38. The president of our company is a giant kid, so for his birthday we made his office into a ball pit
Source: Reddit User
#39. A co-worker of mine with down syndrome makes me a card every Christmas
Source: nickm78
#40. Tomorrow is my last day at my current job and my coworkers knew I liked anime so one of the older ladies made me an “anime” quilt
Source: AccordianAttack
#41. I took care of my colleague’s snail while she was gone and it unexpectedly had babies. I threw a baby shower for her to come back to. Congrats, Loki!
Source: outofthedesert
#42. I have the best co-workers in the world. Down with Lymphoma for a bit and they just made day!
Source: CarnalSanders
You don’t need a promotion to be powerful. Just listen. Show up. Share your snacks. Keep that extra umbrella in your drawer. And don’t underestimate what one kind act can do.
We, Grumpy Sharks, salute every behind-the-scenes hero in open office plans and home offices alike. May your coffee be strong and your coworkers be kind.
