Retirement Thank You Messages to the Retiring Boss, Employee, or Coworker

There are two kinds of retirement thank you messages. First, there are messages for the retiree and from the retiring person.

This article will cover thank you messages sent TO the retiring person. There are example messages from the retiree here.

Also, these messages are to help you say thank you to the retiree. 

Your messages to the retiree can be a short note, a longer letter if you have much to say or an email. 

How To Say Thank You to Your Boss, Coworker, or Employee Who Is Retiring

Here are some suggestions on what to include when writing a thank-you note to someone retiring.  If you do not know the person well, you can use some suggested phrases to reply to a retirement announcement towards the end of this article.

  • A thank you message. This could be for contributions to the team, company, etc. can be mentioned. Most people appreciate when their efforts are recognized.  Or, for a coworker, you can thank them for their mentoring,  help, kindness, etc.
  • Include compliments. Saying “great boss” or “great coworker ” is nice, but your note will feel more memorable if you can share what made them a great boss, coworker, or employee. Details will make your thank you message better! You may also see examples of thanking your boss here and your coworker here. The examples below mention retirement. 
  • Wish them a happy retirement! You can mention their favorite activities they plan to do (if you know what they are).
  • Shared Interests. If you connected at work due to a shared interest (hobby, cats, TV programs, etc.), you could share how much you enjoyed your conversations about it. 
  • Provide contact info if you want to stay in touch. Actually staying in touch will likely depend on your relationship with the person entering retirement. If you didn’t have much of a friendship while working, it’s unlikely that a connection will be maintained after you no longer see or interact with the person at work. Friendships can be for a reason, season, or lifetime.  

Short Thank You Messages for the Retiring Person

Here are some example short thank you messages for the retiring boss, coworker, or employee. They could also be used in a longer thank-you email.

A simple “Congratulations on your retirement” could be included with the thank you message. 

  1. Thank you for all that you do while working together. Enjoy your retirement! 
  2. Thank you for being a great [boss/coworker/employee]. I will miss you. 
  3. You made it! Thanks for everything, and congratulations on retiring. 
  4. Thank you for all of your many contributions. 
  5. It’s been an honor and pleasure working with you. Thanks for everything you taught me. 

Retiree Thank You Message Template

This template could be used for a handwritten thank-you note or email when writing thank you message to the retiring person.

[Name],

As you retiree, I want to thank you for all your contributions to [team/project/company]. [Briefly describe a valuable contribution].

[optional second and third paragraphs]

If you’d like to stay in touch with me, my contact information is:

Phone Number

Email

Social Media Accounts

[Include only the contact information you want to share]

I wish you all the best as you retiree,

[Your Name]

For more info on how to write thank-you notes, read Thank You Notes in 5 Easy Steps!

Retirement Thank You to Boss from Employee #1

Bill,

Thank you for being a great boss! Working on your team was a joy.

The way you assigned the work always seemed fair. And I liked how easy it was to bring up any issues with you as you were quick to find a resolution (when possible).

The team huddles will feel different without your sense of humor to start the day off.

If you’d like to get together sometime, my email address is [your email address].

Enjoy your retirement,

Heidi

Retirement Thank You to Boss from Employee #2

Jake,

Thank you for being such a wonderful boss! I appreciate your kindness and your willingness to hear new ideas from anyone on the team.

And I am grateful that you brought new opportunities to me (and others) when you saw a good fit. I’ve been so happy since I moved over to [the other department].

I will miss working with you and wish you all the best as you retire.

Sincerely,

Elwood

Retirement Thank You to Boss from Employee #3

[Boss’s Name],

You were the best boss ever! I am thankful to have worked on your team. Your integrity and dedication were an excellent example to all.

I hope you can do lots more golfing in your retirement. Our golf team for the company’s annual charity event will not be the same without you.

We could meet up at the driving range sometime. You have my number!

All the best,

[Your  Name]

Retirement Thank You to Employee from Boss #1

[Employee’s Name],

I want to thank you for your [#] years of service at [Company Name] as you retire. Your dedication and work on [project/task] are very much appreciated. And your improvements to [tool/process] helped increase usage and profitability.

Also, everyone on the team is going to miss having you around. Your kindness and willingness to help others made you a great asset to the team. 

I hope you can do everything you dreamed of doing once retired.

If you ever want to contact me, my phone number is 333-333-3333.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Retirement Thank You to Employee from Boss #2

[Employee’s Name],

As you prepare to leave [Company Name] for your retirement, I’m grateful for your [#] years of service. Your commitment to the team, company, and all the projects was unnoticed.

You were a well-liked team member because of your friendliness and eagerness to serve others. Many people told me how much they will miss you after you retiree.

I am excited for you and wish you all the best. I hope you can enjoy your [hobbies] every day!

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Retirement Thank You to Employee from Boss #3

[Employee’s Name],

I want to offer my gratitude for all of your work over the years as you retire. 

Also, your participation in the special process improvement groups was greatly appreciated. Your knowledge and experience helped influence how we work for the better.

Thank you for being a friend to me as well. I enjoyed discussing work and [politics] with you daily.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Retirement Thank You to Coworker #1

[Name],

I really liked working with you over the years.

My email address is [put your email address here]. Feel free to reach out if you ever want to get together after you retire. I will miss you and wish you all the best in your retirement.

[Your Name]

Retirement Thank You to Coworker #1

Ben,

I was excited to learn of your upcoming retirement. Before you go, I want to thank you for all the help you’ve given me over the years. You were the expert in [program/topic] I relied on the most. I appreciate all of the knowledge you shared and for all of your tips.

Soon, all your days will feel like the weekend! I hope you can do everything you desire once you’ve retired.

Sincerely,

Bob

Retirement Thank You to Coworker #1

Lucy,

Before your retirement begins, I’d like to express my gratitude for all of your assistance over the years. Working together with you during the busy periods made overtime easier to handle.

I loved how we connected once we discovered that we both like cats. Of course, I will continue to follow your cats on Instagram once you are done working.

Let’s plan to get together in a month or so. I look forward to hearing how retirement is treating you!

[Note: contact information not provided here, as the two people know each other well and already have each other’s phone numbers].

Sincerely,

Violet

How to Respond to a Retirement Announcement Email

Sometimes you may need a quick reply when you receive an email announcing someone’s retirement. It’s possible that you may not know them well and have nothing to thank them for. However, you can still acknowledge their retirement.

  • Congratulations on retiring!
  • I wish you all the best and will miss seeing you around the office.
  • Thanks for everything you did for [company name]. Your contributions will be missed.
  • Congrats on your upcoming retirement. I am excited for you!
  • Thank you for setting an excellent example for the [company] for so many years.  Congratulations on your retirement!
  • Congrats!
  • Congratulations!
  • Happy Retirement!  You can also review this list of things to say instead of happy retirement.

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Author: Heidi Bender

Title: Writer

Expertise: Thank You Notes

Heidi Bender is a writer and author who founded Tons of Thanks. She aims to help people write thank-you notes by providing examples and tips. She is the author of She is the author of A Modern Guide to Writing Thank-You Notes.