How to Write a Retirement Letter to Coworkers (with Samples)
Use this sample retirement letter to coworkers as a template for your formal retirement letter.
Last updated on March 15, 2022
Writing a retirement letter to coworkers is one way a person who is retiring can show coworkers how much the retiree appreciated and enjoyed working with them for, in some cases, many years.
The aim of the letter is to say a simple and gracious farewell. It may be sad to say goodbye, but a good retirement letter will have an upbeat tone about the future and assure coworkers that the retiree will always stay in touch.
This type of letter is very personal and individual and there is no one-size-fits-all. The retiree may send a personal letter to a superior and one or two coworkers, or one open letter to everyone in their department or team. If the letter is to a team, it is nice if each member is mentioned with a special tribute.
Portray Retirement in a Positive Light
The retiree should keep in mind that he or she is retiring and not resigning. There is a big difference when it comes to writing a letter to coworkers and the boss. The letter should portray retirement in a positive light.
The retiree need not praise every coworker, but should mention a few who were especially close or on the same team. This is not the place to mention grievances or complain about a fellow employee or the boss.
The aim of the letter is to say a simple and gracious farewell. It may be sad to say goodbye, but a good retirement letter will have an upbeat tone about the future and assure coworkers that the retiree will always stay in touch.
This type of letter is very personal and individual and there is no one-size-fits-all. The retiree may send a personal letter to a superior and one or two coworkers, or one open letter to everyone in their department or team. If the letter is to a team, it is nice if each member is mentioned with a special tribute.
Portray Retirement in a Positive Light
The retiree should keep in mind that he or she is retiring and not resigning. There is a big difference when it comes to writing a letter to coworkers and the boss. The letter should portray retirement in a positive light.
The retiree need not praise every coworker, but should mention a few who were especially close or on the same team. This is not the place to mention grievances or complain about a fellow employee or the boss.
Before beginning to write a letter to coworkers, the retiree should think about some memorable moments he or she would like to mention.
It is nice to mention some details about their years together. This helps personalize the letter and show that the retiree has not forgotten his or her working relationships even from several years ago.
The letter should have a professional but friendly tone and may contain humor if the coworkers are also the retiree’s friends. The retiree can make a list of things they like about the company as well as milestones or achievements.
It is nice to mention some details about their years together. This helps personalize the letter and show that the retiree has not forgotten his or her working relationships even from several years ago.
The letter should have a professional but friendly tone and may contain humor if the coworkers are also the retiree’s friends. The retiree can make a list of things they like about the company as well as milestones or achievements.
Some tips for writing a retirement letter to coworkers:
Below are sample retirement letters to coworkers. Even though it is an informal letter, it should be written with professionalism, and not have an overly casual tone.
The letter should be written in business-letter style, and it may be acceptable to copy the letter to everyone via email, except the direct superior. His or her letter should be a hard copy signed and hand delivered. This letter is written to the retiree’s entire project team.
- The letter should be sincere. It should express sincere feelings when letting coworkers know how much they meant to the retiree. If the retiree was not close to any of his or her coworkers, then the letter should be professional and polite.
- The letter should mention a few close coworkers by name. This will let them know that the retiree appreciated working with them and the friendly relationship they had and may still have. In some cases, a retiree may want to write a personal letter to each coworker who was especially close in the day-to-day work environment or on a special team.
- The letter may say a few words about the retiree’s plans during retirement. For example, if he or she plans to travel abroad, spend coveted time in their garden or play golf every day.
- The letter should be brief while still being friendly. It need not be several pages long. The retiree can thank everyone and express his or her feelings within one page.
- If the retiree is not ready to stop working completely, it may be a good idea for the retiree to leave the door open for consultation work or even part-time work with the company.
- The letter should contain the retiree’s personal contact information, so the coworkers can get in touch.
Below are sample retirement letters to coworkers. Even though it is an informal letter, it should be written with professionalism, and not have an overly casual tone.
The letter should be written in business-letter style, and it may be acceptable to copy the letter to everyone via email, except the direct superior. His or her letter should be a hard copy signed and hand delivered. This letter is written to the retiree’s entire project team.
Sample Retirement Letter to Coworkers
Name of Retiree
Address of Retiree
City, State, Zip Code
DATE
Name of Each Team Member
Name of Company
City, State, Zip Code
Dear Valued Teammates:
It will not be news to you that I am retiring at the end of this month. My last day on the job is DATE. You have all heard me go on and on over the last five years about planning my retirement, and I fully expect to have a great time camping, fishing, hiking and just enjoying the great outdoors.
We have worked on many projects together to clean up the city, including plastic waste removal, residential recycling and starting sustainable agriculture in small gardens throughout the city. I think we make a great team, each with a strength that makes us more formidable as a team than as individuals.
Abigail always kept us on target and within budget, without which we would not have been so successful. Sean made sure we never lost sight of innovation, always imagining the impossible and, very often, making it possible.
Kathy is the backbone of the team always inspiring us to greater things through her hard work. It was an honor to work with each of you.
I will miss the satisfaction of seeing how we can make a difference for this city and the world. I am fully confident that you will continue the good work and keep me informed of your great strides in the environmental industry.
My cabin is only a two-hour drive away, and each of you is more than welcome to visit, bring your family, spend a night and enjoy a relaxing weekend in the mountains.
I will have my mobile phone, Phone Number, and a computer, Email Address, so you can reach me at any time to keep me up to date and tell me you are coming for a visit. Thank you all for making the last 15 years of my career a real pleasure.
Sincerely,
Signature of Retiree
Printed Name of Retiree
By Andre Bradley
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