Retirement Wishes for Coworker

Retirement Wishes for Coworker: Message Builder for Cards, Emails and Toasts

Use this retirement wishes for coworker builder to write to a colleague, a boss, a direct report, a mentor, a client or someone you barely knew. Choose how well you know them, the tone and the channel, and the builder gives you a retirement message written by hand that you can copy and adjust. Nothing you type leaves this page.

Your shortlist

Nothing saved yet. Use “Add to shortlist” on any message you like. The shortlist stays on this page only and clears when you leave or reload.

How the builder works

The builder holds 220 messages. Each one was written by hand for one kind of recipient, one tone and one level of closeness, so a retirement message to a coworker you sat beside every day reads differently from one for a colleague you knew a little. If you add a name, the number of years you worked together or something the person is known for, the builder puts it into the message as plain text.

The channel changes the layout. Email adds a subject line, a greeting and a sign-off. LinkedIn keeps to the shorter messages. “Speech or toast” adds an opening line for the room and ends by inviting everyone to join a toast. “Another one” moves through every message for your choices before any repeats.

The messages celebrate the work, the person and what comes next. None of them mention age, and none assume how the person will spend their retirement.

Worked example

Choose “A coworker”, “We are close”, Heartfelt and Card, type the name Maria and enter 12 years. The first message the builder gives is:

Maria, I have been trying to picture this place without you and I cannot quite do it. You have been my sounding board, my second opinion and my friend. Thank you for every bit of it. I am so happy for you, and I will miss you very much. I have been lucky to work with you for 12 years.

Select “Another one” to see the other heartfelt messages for a close coworker.

64 retirement card messages, grouped by recipient

These examples come from the builder, shown without a name. Every one is original to Employee Experience Magazine and free to use. Each has a label showing the tone and how well the writer knows the person. Any of them works as a happy retirement message to a coworker, boss, mentor or client.

Retirement wishes for coworker and friend

Heartfelt, for someone you are close toI have been trying to picture this place without you and I cannot quite do it. You have been my sounding board, my second opinion and my friend. Thank you for every bit of it. I am so happy for you, and I will miss you very much.

Heartfelt, close or friendlyCongratulations. You have left your mark on the work and on the people here, and both are better for it. Thank you for your generosity with your time and your knowledge. I wish you every happiness in what comes next.

Heartfelt, close or friendlyHappy retirement. When something went wrong, you were the one who stayed steady and helped the rest of us find a way through. That is what I will remember. Thank you, and enjoy every part of what is ahead.

Heartfelt, friendly, or you know them a littleCongratulations on your retirement. Even without working closely together, I could see how much people here rely on you and respect you. I wish you all the very best for what comes next.

Professional, for someone you are close toCongratulations on your retirement. Working closely with you has been one of the most valuable parts of my career. Thank you for your advice, your high standards and your friendship. I wish you every success in whatever you choose to do next.

Professional, close or friendlyCongratulations on your retirement. Your contribution to the team has been substantial and lasting. Thank you for your professionalism and your support over the time we have worked together.

Professional, friendly, or you know them a littleCongratulations on your retirement. Your reputation for careful, reliable work is well deserved. I wish you all the best for the future.

Short, for someone you are close toHappy retirement. Thank you for everything, my friend.

Short, close or friendlyHappy retirement. This place will not be the same without you.

Light humor, for someone you are close toHappy retirement. You are leaving me alone with the shared drive, and I want you to know I have noticed. Congratulations, and thank you for all of it.

Light humor, close or friendlyCongratulations on your retirement! Please leave a note explaining where everything is, how everything works and who to call. Take your time. We will wait.

Light humor, friendly, or you know them a littleCongratulations. May every future meeting you attend be one you chose yourself.

Retirement wishes for boss or manager

Heartfelt, for someone you are close toThank you. You gave me chances before I was sure I was ready, and you stood behind me while I worked it out. Much of what I know about leading people I learned from you. Congratulations on your retirement. I will miss working for you.

Heartfelt, close or friendlyCongratulations. You led this team with fairness and good sense, and you always made time for the person in front of you. Thank you for everything you did for us. We will carry it forward.

Heartfelt, close or friendlyHappy retirement. Good managers are remembered for a long time, and you will be. Thank you for your trust, your honesty and your patience. I wish you every happiness in what comes next.

Heartfelt, friendly, or you know them a littleCongratulations on your retirement. Even from a distance, your care for the people on your team was clear. I wish you all the very best.

Professional, for someone you are close toCongratulations on your retirement. Your guidance has had a lasting influence on my career, and I am grateful for the time and trust you invested in me. I wish you every happiness.

Professional, close or friendlyCongratulations on your retirement. Your leadership has left this team stronger and better prepared for the future. Thank you for your support.

Professional, friendly, or you know them a littleCongratulations on your retirement. Thank you for your leadership and for your service to the organization. I wish you all the best.

Short, for someone you are close toHappy retirement. Thank you for backing me every time.

Short, close or friendlyHappy retirement! It has been a privilege to be on your team.

Light humor, for someone you are close toHappy retirement. Who is going to tell me my first draft is “a good start” now? Thank you for all the honest feedback, delivered kindly.

Light humor, close or friendlyCongratulations on your retirement! We promise to keep doing things the way you taught us, at least while you are still in the building.

Light humor, friendly, or you know them a littleCongratulations. Enjoy never again hearing the words “do you have five minutes?”

Retirement message for a direct report

Heartfelt, for someone you are close toI am supposed to have been managing you, but we both know how much I leaned on you. You made my job easier and made me better at it. Thank you for your loyalty, your honesty and your excellent work. Congratulations.

Heartfelt, close or friendlyCongratulations. Your work has been excellent, and the way you supported your teammates mattered just as much. Thank you for everything you gave to this team. You will be missed.

Heartfelt, close or friendlyHappy retirement. You set a standard here that new hires will be measured against, whether they know your name or not. Thank you for your dedication and your good humor.

Heartfelt, friendly, or you know them a littleCongratulations on your retirement. Thank you for the commitment and care you have brought to your work. The team will feel your absence, and we wish you every happiness.

Professional, for someone you are close toCongratulations on your retirement. Your expertise and reliability have been central to this team’s success, and I have valued your counsel personally. Thank you for everything.

Professional, close or friendlyCongratulations on your retirement. On behalf of the team, thank you for your dedication and the consistently high quality of your work.

Professional, friendly, or you know them a littleCongratulations on your retirement. Thank you for your service and your contribution to the team. We wish you all the best.

Short, for someone you are close toHappy retirement. Thank you for making me a better manager.

Short, close or friendlyHappy retirement! The team will miss you.

Light humor, for someone you are close toHappy retirement. Your final performance review is in: exceeds expectations, and far too good at this to be leaving. Thank you for everything.

Light humor, close or friendlyCongratulations on your retirement! I would ask you to train your replacement, but I am not sure what you do can be taught.

Light humor, friendly, or you know them a littleCongratulations. The team has asked me to check whether you would consider leaving your notes behind. Best wishes.

Retirement wishes for a mentor

Heartfelt, for someone you are close toI would not be where I am without you. You saw something in me before I did, and you kept telling me until I believed it. Congratulations on your retirement, and thank you with all my heart.

Heartfelt, close or friendlyCongratulations on your retirement. You shared what you knew without holding anything back, and you made time for my questions even when you had none to spare. I am deeply grateful.

Heartfelt, close or friendlyHappy retirement. The best advice I ever received at work came from you, and I pass it on to others whenever I can. Thank you for being so generous.

Heartfelt, friendly, or you know them a littleCongratulations on your retirement. The advice you gave me has stayed with me, and I have used it more often than you would guess. Thank you.

Professional, for someone you are close toCongratulations on your retirement. Your mentorship has been the greatest single influence on my professional development. Thank you for your time, your candor and your confidence in me.

Professional, close or friendlyCongratulations on your retirement. I am grateful for the advice and encouragement you have given me. Your influence will continue in the work of the many people you have guided.

Professional, friendly, or you know them a littleCongratulations on your retirement. Thank you for the guidance you offered me. It was valuable and much appreciated.

Short, for someone you are close toHappy retirement. Thank you for believing in me first.

Short, close or friendlyHappy retirement. I will keep passing on what I learned from you.

Light humor, for someone you are close toHappy retirement. Everything I do well, I learned from you. Everything else, I worked out on my own. Thank you.

Light humor, close or friendlyCongratulations on your retirement! I took careful notes on everything you taught me, and I hope to be able to read my own handwriting one day.

Light humor, friendly, or you know them a littleCongratulations. If good advice were filed anywhere sensible, yours would need its own folder. Thank you.

Retirement wishes for a client

Heartfelt, for someone you are close toWorking with you has been one of the real pleasures of my career. You were honest with us, fair with us and kind to everyone on the team. Congratulations on your retirement. We will miss you, and I will too.

Heartfelt, close or friendlyCongratulations on your retirement. You have been a thoughtful and generous partner, and our team did some of its best work because of the way you worked with us. Thank you.

Heartfelt, close or friendlyHappy retirement. Thank you for your trust, your clear direction and your good humor when plans changed. It has been a pleasure from start to finish.

Heartfelt, friendly, or you know them a littleCongratulations on your retirement. In the work we did together, it was easy to see why you are so well regarded. Wishing you all the best.

Professional, for someone you are close toCongratulations on your retirement. Our working relationship has been built on your fairness and openness, and I have valued it greatly. Thank you.

Professional, close or friendlyCongratulations on your retirement. Thank you for a productive and rewarding partnership. We have appreciated your professionalism throughout.

Professional, friendly, or you know them a littleCongratulations on your retirement. Thank you for the opportunity to work with you. We wish you all the best.

Short, for someone you are close toHappy retirement. Thank you for your trust and your friendship.

Short, close or friendlyHappy retirement! We will miss working with you.

Light humor, for someone you are close toHappy retirement. You were the client we argued over, in the sense that everyone wanted to work with you. Thank you.

Light humor, close or friendlyCongratulations on your retirement! We promise this is the last message from us that you will ever need to read. No reply required.

Light humor, friendly, or you know them a littleCongratulations. Our team has agreed that this is one deadline we were all happy to meet.

Retirement card messages when you barely knew them

HeartfeltCongratulations on your retirement. We did not get to know each other well, but it is clear from all the good wishes how much you mean to people here. I wish you every happiness.

ProfessionalCongratulations on your retirement. I wish you all the best for the future.

ShortCongratulations on your retirement!

Light humorCongratulations on your retirement. I am sorry we are only being properly introduced by retirement message. All the best.

Three short retirement toast scripts

Each script takes under a minute to say. Replace the parts in square brackets, and read it aloud once before the day. Happy retirement wishes sound best when one real example sits in the middle of them.

Toast from a coworker (about 45 seconds)

Could I have everyone’s attention for a minute? I want to say a few words about [Name]. Ask anyone here who they go to with a hard question, and you will hear the same name. [Name], you gave your time and your knowledge to anyone who asked, and you never made anyone feel slow for asking. [Add one specific memory or example.] You are leaving behind good work and people who are better at their jobs because of you. We are going to miss you, and we are very happy for you. Everyone, please raise a glass. To [Name].

Toast from a manager (about 45 seconds)

Thank you all for being here. On behalf of the team, I want to thank [Name] for [number] years of work that all of us have depended on. [Name], you brought skill and care to this job, and you treated people well while you did it. [Name one project or contribution.] The standards you set will stay with this team. We wish you every happiness in whatever you choose to do next. Please join me in a toast. To [Name], with our thanks and congratulations.

Light-hearted toast (about 30 seconds)

I have been asked to keep this to one minute, which is shorter than any meeting [Name] and I have been in together. [Name], we have a few concerns. Nobody else knows where anything is kept, how the old system works, or who to call when it stops. We have talked it over and decided to forgive you. Thank you for the work, the patience and the good company. Wherever you go from here, you go with our thanks. Everyone, please raise a glass. To [Name].

Organizing the send-off: guidance for the person in charge

If you are the one collecting retirement wishes for a coworker and planning the send-off, a few early decisions make the day go well.

• Ask the person first. Find out what kind of send-off they want, who they would like there and whether they are happy to be the subject of a speech. Some people want a party and some want a card and a quiet lunch.
• Start the card early. Send it around at least a week ahead, and give remote colleagues, former teammates and clients a way to add a message.
• Brief the speakers. Ask for two minutes or less, one real story and no remarks about age. Check the facts in advance: the start date, the roles held and how to say every name.
• Keep contributions voluntary. If there is a gift collection, do not name who gave or how much.
• Plan for everyone to take part. Choose a time inside working hours, offer drinks without alcohol and food that suits different diets, and add a video link for people in other locations.
• Keep the messages. Collect the card, any printed messages and photographs so the person can take them home.

Retirement message to coworker: what to leave out

Leave out jokes about age, slowing down or being old, and do not guess what the person will do next. Some people start a business, some take another job and some have no plans yet. In the United States, federal law protects workers aged 40 or older from age discrimination, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission notes that harassment can include offensive or derogatory remarks about a person’s age. See its page on age discrimination. That is federal law, and state rules and the law in other countries can differ.

Questions about retirement messages

What do you write in a retirement card for a coworker?

Good retirement wishes for a coworker congratulate the person, thank them for something specific and wish them well in what comes next. Two to four sentences is enough. For example: “Congratulations. You have left your mark on the work and on the people here, and both are better for it. Thank you for your generosity with your time and your knowledge. I wish you every happiness in what comes next.” The retirement wishes for coworker builder above has 220 messages to start from.

What is a good retirement message for a boss?

Thank your boss for what they did for you and the team, such as trust, fair treatment or honest feedback, and keep it sincere. For example: “Congratulations on your retirement. You gave credit freely, took responsibility when things went wrong, and made this a team people wanted to be on. Thank you.” Choose “My boss” in the builder for more retirement wishes for a boss.

What do you say in a short retirement toast?

Ask for attention, say one or two things the person is known for, give one specific example, thank them and invite everyone to raise a glass. Thirty to sixty seconds is long enough. This page has three short retirement toast scripts you can adapt, and the builder’s “Speech or toast” channel adds an opening line and a toast to any message.

What should you not write in a retirement message?

Leave out remarks about age, slowing down or being old, and jokes about health or money. Do not assume how the person will spend their time, because not everyone plans to travel, rest or stop working altogether. Write about the work they did, the kind of colleague they were and your good wishes for what comes next.

What do you write when you barely knew the person who is retiring?

Keep it short and honest. Congratulate them and wish them well without claiming a closeness you did not have. For example: “Happy retirement. I am sorry we did not have more chances to work together. Wishing you all the very best for what comes next.” Choose “Someone I barely knew” in the builder for more.

What is a happy retirement message to a coworker who is also a friend?

Say what you will miss, thank them, and tell them you are happy for them. For example: “Congratulations on your retirement. You taught me how to do this job well and how to keep my sense of humor while doing it. I am grateful for both, and I hope what comes next is everything you want it to be.” Choose “We are close” in the builder for more retirement wishes for a coworker and friend.

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