88 Ways To Say Goodbye To Coworkers When You Retire

The moment is here. You’re about to retire. And that is why you might wonder, how to say goodbye to coworkers when you retire?

No need to look further! This article lists 88 ways to say goodbye to coworkers when you retire. So continue reading!

Short Goodbye Messages To Say To Coworkers When You Retire

1) It has been a pleasure working with you all. I had a blast last 20 years at company X. Farewell!

2) This is not a goodbye. This is a see you later.

3) Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with such a group of special people.

4) What a ride these last 40 years. I’m going to miss you all Goodbye!

5) Thank you for bringing so much joy and dedication to the office. It was a pleasure being your coworker these 40 years.

6) I’ve enjoyed working with all of you, and I’m going to miss your energy, positivity, and professionalism. 

7) Cheers to John, Linda, Dean, and Peter, who have been my coworkers since the very beginning. You’ll always have a special place in my heart.

8) Thanks for all the great memories!

9) Goodbye and all the best. I wish all of you a bright, sunny, and happy future!

10) Thanks For The Fun, Laughter, And Good Times.

11) You’ve touched my life in so many different ways. Thank you and goodbye!

12) I will always be grateful to have worked with each and every one of you.

13) I’m grateful to have worked together with all of you. Thanks for your collegiality.

14) Goodbye, dear coworkers. I’ve considered you my extended family. Let’s stay in touch!

15) Farewell, my friends. It was fun.

16) Au revoir, Adios, Sayonara, Adieu, Bye Bye, I’m out! Goodbye!

17) Ciao, my dear coworkers. It has been an honor and a huge privilege to work with you.

18) Good luck with all future projects. I know it will be a huge success!

19) Each and every one of you has taught me valuable lessons. Thanks and farewell!

20) Goodbye legends and rockstars. It was a pleasure.

21) I can leave this company with the confidence that you will take it to the next level.

22) Goodbye to my friends, coworkers, and boss. I wish you all the best in all of your future endeavors.

23) It’s time to go. It was fun, but now the real fun will begin. Goodbye.

24) Seeing you all here makes me emotional. So I’m going to make it short and sweet. Thank you. It was a joy. Goodbye!

25) Thank you, everyone, for supporting me during my career. I couldn’t have done it without you. Goodbye!

26) Wishing you the best in your career. Best of luck and goodbye.

Funny Goodbye Messages To Say To Coworkers When You Retire

27) Yes, I’m free! I’ll think of you next Monday when I’m enjoying my gourmet coffee, beer, wine, or cocktail in the sun.

28) I’m outta here! Bye!

29) If you need me, I’ll be at the golf course/ beach/ lakehouse/ on the road!

30) Cheers to neverending weekends! Good luck on Monday guys!

31) I’m very much looking forward to picking up my new/ favorite hobby: golfing. So next week, when you’re all in a meeting. I’ll be at the golf course.

32) Cheers to not having to work tomorrow. Oops, wrong crowd!

33) My retirement announcement was the best news some of you had in years. Congrats. You’re finally rid of me. To my wife, good luck!

34) Yes! The countdown is over.

35) A lot of people ask me, what are you going to do in retirement? Well, here it is: Rest, Relax and Repeat. So goodbye to you and goodbye to tension.

36) Goodbye, coworkers. I’m now officially retired. The next time you want to talk, you’ll be charged a consulting fee.

37) I’m so glad to tell you: it’s not my problem anymore. It’s yours. Good luck with it, and goodbye!

38) I’ve been waiting 40 years for this retirement party. Let’s make it a good one!

39) I thought I retired, but now I have to work for my wife. Perhaps I’m going to regret this decision… So this is not a goodbye. This is a maybe see you later.

40) Goodbye! You are really going to be missed by somebody. However, it is not me!

41) A great tip for you: With your feet within your shoes, and brains inside your head, you will be able to go in any direction you like. Goodbye.

42) A wise woman/ man once said, ‘I’m outta here, and she/ he lived happily ever after.

43) Some people come into your life and quickly go. Some stay for a while, leave footprints on your heart, and you are never ever the same again. This is not the cause with you… haha kidding. You’ll be forever in my heart.

44) Good luck with finding a better coworker than me!

45) Chance made us colleagues. Crazy sh*t made us friends. Goodbye, my friends!

46) I really going to miss ignoring your emails.

Heartfelt Goodbye Messages To Say To Coworkers When You Retire

47) Dear (name), I have found both a friend and a leader in you, and I’m immensely grateful for it.

48) My goodbye does not mean it is the end, it simply means I will miss you till we meet again.

49) It’s not the goodbye that is hurts; it’s the flashbacks that follow.

50) I am so thankful to have the chance to work alongside you. Your enthusiasm, motivation, passion, and support are so inspirational to me. You make me laugh a little louder, smile a little brighter, and live a little better. Fate made us coworkers, but time made us friends.

51) I cannot say goodbye to those whom I’ve grown to love, for the memories we have made will last a lifetime, and will never know a goodbye.

52) You’ve made my work easier, even on the most dreaded days. We are not just coworkers like others, but good friends as well. Many thanks for sticking with me all those years. I can’t thank you enough. Goodbye!

53) I like the feeling of finding it difficult to say goodbye because it only means that I have found a true friend.

54) I’m proud of the work I have done, the person I am, and the difference I have made, and that is because of you, dear coworkers. You’re special, and I will always be grateful to have worked with you.

55) Thank you to Jim and Ricky, my closest co-workers who, over the years, have become my closest friends. We will see each other soon at the golf course. And thank you to all the people at company X for the last 30 years. You’re so special and talented. I treasure our time together. Keep up the fantastic work!

56) Here is a shout-out to my team. You’re such a dream team that our clients won’t even realize that I’m retired.

57) I have learned a lot from you during my time here. I wish you all the success for the future, and I know you will rock in the future. Thank you and farewell!

58) I am seriously going to miss you. Best of luck with your future endeavors and never-ending adventures. See you on the road!

59) Dear colleagues, working with you was a great gratification, and I am going to miss you so much.

60) It’s been great working together. I look forward to our paths crossing again in the future. Goodbye.

61) Goodbyes are not forever, are not the end; I’ll miss you until we meet again.

62) I am extremely fortunate to be someone who finds it so tough to bid “goodbye.”

63) For us, there are no goodbyes. You are going to be within my heart forever.

64) This isn’t a goodbye, dear coworkers; it is actually a way to convey thanks to you.

65) Dear (name) I had so much fun working with you that I can’t explain it in words. I will never find such an amazing person as you. Farewell, and keep smiling.

66) Retiring and not seeing you is painful, but the memories we created will always remain. Farewell, my friends and colleagues.

67) Dear boss, Your decision-making skills have always inspired me to be at your level. Farewell and good luck!

68) All your contributions to this organization have been immense and tremendous. I hope you keep doing your good while I retire. It was a pleasure working with you. Goodbye!

69) [Name], thank you for your patience, kindness, and the love you shared. I learned a lot from you. All the best in the future!

70) Thank you for making the workplace a fun place to be. It has been a pleasure to work with you. Farewell, and I wish you all the success in all your future adventures!

71) Dear Boss, The knowledge that you shared with me and the learning you bought cannot be compared with anything. You have been a true and amazing leader to me. Thank you so much for everything. May all the success bestow upon you! Farewell!

72) You were one of my best colleagues, and thank you for being by my side during those hectic days. It has been a pleasure!

73) Saying goodbye to a colleague who has been more than a friend is really hard. I will miss you, and it will be very difficult to go on adventures without you!

74) May this goodbye be only momentary. And may the coming day bring you all the success both personally and professionally. Hope to meet you soon!

75) Thank you, John, for your guidance. I’ve learned so many valuable lessons and you’ve helped me become better at every part of my job. It has been truly a pleasure working with you these years. I’m going to miss you.

Creative Ways To Say Goodbye To Coworkers When You Retire

76) Say Goodbye To Coworkers With A Letter

The most common and formal way of saying goodbye is to send a letter to your coworkers and colleagues. You can send a letter to a group or individually. It’s your decision if you want to send out a general letter to the company, department, or team or if you want to write personalized letters to certain coworkers. And it’s totally acceptable to send out these letters via email or the company (email) system.

Ideally, you want to give your direct supervisor or boss a signed, hand-delivered letter.

The content of the letter includes the following:

• Your upcoming retirement date
• Things you’re looking forward to in retirement
• Proud of the company and its achievements
• Thankful for the opportunities you’ve had
• Thank you to coworkers
• Contact details which person is taking over your position
• Your contact details to stay in touch in retirement (if that’s what you want)
• Invite to a retirement party (if you’re going to invite your coworkers)

Make sure your letter is positive, gracious, and thankful. Don’t burn bridges or put negativity in your letter. Whatever the case, you want to take the high road and end positively.

Example of Formal Letter to a Supervisor or Boss

Below is an example of a formal letter you can give to your boss. It’s best to hand-deliver your retirement letter with your signature on the bottom. You can tweak it to a more informal letter if you have a more friend-based relationship with your boss.

Dear (name),

Please accept this letter of my notice to retire. I will retire effective on December 15, 2019; this makes December 14 my final day. 

After X years working as a (job/ position), I am looking forward to traveling around the US with my wife and spending more time with my grandchildren. 

I am thankful to the company for giving me great opportunities to grow as a person and professionally. And I am most proud of our achievements with Project X, Y, and Z.

As to you, (name) thank you for your leadership and coaching. Because of your management style, I can view my mistakes as opportunities to grow. I am going to miss the meeting but will look back on great memories at the company.

I will ensure that (name the new person at your position) is fully informed and that the transition runs smoothly.

If there is anything I can assist with or if you seek advice, feel free to contact me at (phone number) or (email address). 

Sincerely,

(Your name and signature)

Example Of Informal Letter To Coworkers

It depends on the company or your relationship with your coworkers, whether if you want to send a professional letter or make it a funny one.

Dear Valued Coworkers,

You probably heard that I am retiring. And with this letter, I want to officially announce that my last day is at December 14, 2019. And from December 15 I will no longer be at the office and enjoying my time with my family and friends.

I am looking forward to finally getting that hole-in-one on the golf court and traveling to Europe with my wife. Because I promised her that years ago and now work isn’t an excuse I can use anymore.

Looking back on my career, I’m thankful I worked for (company) for X years. I started in (Year) as a (position) and worked on Projects like X, Y, and Z. The achievements and success with Project A, B, and C is what I’m the proudest of. And I’m thankful for the opportunities (company/ boss name) has given me. 

But I have to be honest. Although I’m looking forward to this new and exciting chapter in my life, I’m going to miss all of you. Working with you has been a pleasure. Together we rock, and I am going to miss the fun team meetings, gourmet lunches, and crazy office pranks. And on a more serious note: I have learned something valuable from each of you over the years, and I am thankful for all those lessons.

And I especially want to thank these awesome people:

Name coworker; Thank you for teaching me …

Name coworker: Because of you, I can now …

Name: coworker: Thank you for teaching me …

(Name) is taken over, and I will make sure she has all the information and insider tips she needs to make it a smooth transition. 

I am leaving the company, but I am taking your friendship with me. And I would like to stay in touch with you. You can reach me through Facebook or call and text me on (phone number). Feel free just to chat or seek advice or if you’re wondering where in the world I’m enjoying my beer. 

Thank you for all the years and for making my work fun!

Sincerely,

(your name)

77) Goodbye Email to Coworkers on Your Last Day

Dear Coworkers,

Today is my last day. From tomorrow on I’m officially retired. Congratulation to me because now every day it’s Saturday 😉

With this email, I want to say goodbye and let you know I’m thankful for all the years I have worked with you. Although I’m excited for tomorrow, I also feel a bit sad today to say goodbye to all of you. I am going to miss you. I have shared a special bond with all of you, and I am taking with me special memories of our time together.

I would love to stay in touch, so feel free to contact me on (phone number) or (email address) for advice or if you want to grab a drink. And for those of you who are coming to my retirement party next week: this is not goodbye yet. 

If you’re wondering what I’m going to do in retirement. Well, I’m re-tiring so I bought an RV, and I’m going to hit the road. The goal is to hit all 50 states over the next couple of years. So if you have any tips? Let me know!

Yep. It’s time! I’m out of here!

Best wishes to you all!

(your name)

78) Saying Goodbye With A Speech

You can say goodbye with a speech if that’s more up your alley. Or you can do both. First, send out an announcement letter of your retirement and give a speech on your last day or last important meeting.

It’s really up to you what you want to say and how in-depth you want to be. I think coworkers love a good speech over a letter. With a speech, you can really connect and also create an opportunity for coworkers to say something to you. But that choice is very personal and is up to you. And maybe a combination of multiple ways is how you want to say goodbye to your coworkers.

These Are Topics You Can Use In Your Speech:

• How you started your career vs. now
• Who helped you in your career
• Lessons you have learned
• Opportunities you’re grateful for
• Accomplishments and successes you’re proud off
• What and who are you going to miss (talk about the enjoyable years)
• The new chapter; What are you looking forward to in the future, and what plans do you have in retirement
• Memories you cherish
• (Funny) Anecdotes or quotes
• Thanking people

It depends on the company environment, your relationship with coworkers, and how informal and funny you want your speech to be. In general, you can strive for a combination of humor, sincerity, and respect in your speech. Use humor in a way that everyone can relate to and is not at the expense of 1 person or multiple people in the room. You don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable, get even with someone, and you want to stay away from burning bridges. Keep it gracious, positive, and respectful.

Keep it short, simple, and sweet when you feel overwhelmed and don’t know what to say. Use this example of a retiring policeman as inspiration if you want to say something to your coworkers but not give a whole speech.

When it comes to giving a speech, you want to keep a few things in mind. We’ve created an article on how to give the best retirement to help you out. 20 Expert Tips For Your Retirement Speech

79) Say Goodbye With A Video

Nowadays, we create a video for almost any occasion, so why not be creative and create a video to say goodbye to your coworkers and colleagues when you retire? You can keep it very formal, “read” your announcement letter on the video, and send it to coworkers. But that isn’t fun, right?

People expect videos to be more creative and less formal. Suppose you’ve always had a high position in a company. That doesn’t mean you have to formally say goodbye to your coworkers like you’re used to. You can use this opportunity to have a little bit of fun and show yourself a more personal side. But hey, if you want to make a serious or sincere video to say goodbye with a sincere farewell note, go for it!

For filming a video, you can ask family, friends, or coworkers to help you out. And you don’t have to get a professional camera to record it. You can easily create a beautiful retirement video with a phone or Tablet and use an online video maker such as Vidday. Or with apps like Imovie and Splice (ios) and Quick and FilmoraGo (android), you quickly edit it.

And if you have children or grandchildren who are way better at these things, ask them to help you. They can probably come up with even more ideas to create a fun goodbye video for your coworkers with a unique farewell message.

80) Say Goodbye With A Retirement Party

Saying goodbye to coworkers you’ve been working with for many years is never easy. Maybe your coworkers have become close friends, and you want to do something extra to say goodbye. If you haven’t had a retirement party at the office yet, you can grab the opportunity to organize a retirement party for your (closest) coworkers.

This can be from grabbing a bite to eat or a small drink at the end of your last day. Or you can organize a bigger feast to celebrate your retirement and genuinely say goodbye to your coworkers.

Retirement is a huge milestone in your life, so why not celebrate it to make it even more memorable with a party? And at this party, you can also choose to give a speech or show a video. Or use another way to say goodbye to your coworkers.

Retirement Party Ideas:

• Sunday Breakfast or Brunch
• Lunch Party at a restaurant or at home
• Afternoon Pool party with BBQ
• An afternoon picnic in the park
• Afternoon High Tea
• Afternoon BBQ in the backyard
• Wine Tasting with dinner at a wine estate
• Evening Dinner at home or restaurant
• Dinner and dance party at home or another venue
• Thank God It’s Friday (every day now) Party on Friday night
• Dance party in the evening till late…
• Go to a ballgame and have drinks
• Organize a theme party like Year when you started working

When you want to invite coworkers to your retirement party, ensure you host it in the evening or on the weekend so they are able to attend.

Read more: How To Host A Retirement Party: Step-By-Step Guide

81) Hand Out A Small Gift To Your Colleagues

On the day of your departure, it’s a good idea to hand out a small gift or token of appreciation to your colleagues and coworkers. Sometimes the office is too big to hand out a personal gift to everyone. If this is the case for you, you might want to put together a big snack basket, for example. 

You can easily give all your coworkers the same gift when you’ve worked in a small office. You can choose a small snack or cupcake, or you can go for a pen or cardholder with a funny inside joke printed on it. 

It’s best to give out the gift on the day of your departure, so you can leave your colleagues behind with something to talk about.

Read more: 10 Amazing Gifts To Give Your Coworkers When You Retire

82) Hang Up An Announcement Poster

Remember the days in school when they used posters to announce an event? Yes, I know it’s old-school, but it is a funny way to announce your retirement. You can add a funny message with an inside joke, so everyone will understand what’s happening.

Read more: Funny Retirement Announcement Ideas

83) Say Goodbye Personally On Last Day

This is probably not the best idea when you work at a company with more than a hundred employees. But when you work at a small company, it’s perfect to say goodbye personally. You have enough time for sentiments and talk about your post-retirement life. Share all the plans you have and all the good memories from the past.

84) Say Goodbye With A Cake

Bring a cake to work to create a group moment to say goodbye. Check out these retirement cake saying ideas.

85) Send Out Goodbye/ Thank You Cards

86) Deliver Cupcakes

And add a funny text or note to say goodbye. Read more: 90 Retirement (Cup) Cake Saying Ideas

87) Give Out Party Favors

Give your coworkers personalized party favors like beer openers, keychains, or pens.

88) Go On Trip With Your Closest Coworkers

Best Retirement Gift To Give Yourself

Having something fun to do in retirement and learning new things is the key to living a happy and fulfilling retired life. And with Masterclass, you get the opportunity to learn something new from the best in the world and explore new passions and hobbies in retirement.

The MasterClass platform is an online education platform with the world’s most successful teachers. From cooking, acting, writing, poker, singing, sports, science, and so much more. Masterclass offers masterclasses taught by the best in the world: Gordon Ramsey, Christina Aguilera, Usher, Hans Zimmer, Stephen Curry, Carlos Santana, Jimmy Chin, and many more.

Giving yourself the gift of learning something new is the best way to make the most out of your retirement. And that’s what retirement is all about.

Prepare For The Next Stage Of Your Life

Retirement is a life-changing event. It’s something you’ve been waiting for a long time and an exciting time. However, with all the lifestyle changes related to retirement, it’s important to prepare for this next stage in your life. 

The best way to prepare for your retirement is to plan what you want to do in retirement and how you want to spend your retirement years. Of course, you can always change this plan. But having an idea of what you want to do as a retiree helps to avoid a feeling of uselessness many new retirees struggle with. 

Because in the end, you want to enjoy your retirement in the best way possible. I combined my knowledge about how to prepare for retirement in my ebook, Five Steps To Happiness In Retirement. You can find more about it here.

Recommended Articles

The following articles might be interesting for you to read as well:

• What To Do When You’re Retired? 65 Ideas
• What Should I Do In The First Week of Retirement?
• What Should You NOT Do When You Retire? 11 DONT’S

Related Questions

Do you send thank-you notes for retirement gifts? Sending thank-you notes to people who gave you a retirement gift is a way to show your appreciation. And to acknowledge that the gifts you received are meaningful to you. You can send out the same thank-you note to everyone or send personal notes to each person. You can keep a list of all the gifts you received or ask someone else to keep a list at your retirement party.

How do you write a thank-you note? A thank-you note is a note you write to a person who gave you a gift. You can use a card or letter to write a thank-you note. For example, you can write: “Thank you for the retirement gift. You’re so kind, and I really appreciate it.” Or “Dear (name), Somehow you always know what I want. I really can use this (gift) while I’m traveling in retirement. Thank you so much!”

How can I have fun in retirement? These are fun things to do in retirement: Create a bucket list, Plan an adventure trip with friends or family, Join a club, Do volunteer work, Start a Business, get a (new) hobby, make new friends, become a coach or mentor, read an exciting book. Read more: How Can I Have Fun in Retirement? 21 fun things to do