Goodbye messages to coworkers can often be the most difficult ones to write. After all, how does one even begin to sum up the weeks, months or years that you’ve worked together, and the myriad of emotions they’ve inspired in you over all this time, or all the memories that you’ve shared?
Saying goodbye in person is hard enough, but having to write these goodbye messages in a farewell card to coworkers can be a daunting task indeed. It’s a bit easier to write goodbye messages to coworkers that you had a good relationship with, but, what if you weren’t particularly fond of the person? Or didn’t know them nearly enough to form an opinion?
None of that seems to matter when those farewell cards start to circulate in the office and you’re expected to write flattering and thoughtful goodbye messages to coworkers that you may not even have really known. Whatever your predicament, we’ve got you covered.
Here’s a list of goodbye messages to coworkers that you can use to appropriately express your sadness, mixed emotions, or even low-key indifference as a colleague retires or leaves to greener career pastures:
P.S. Stan is our fictional colleague in these goodbye messages so be sure to change this to your actual colleague’s name before writing in a farewell card. The last thing you want to do is to screw up your colleague’s name on his last day!
25 goodbye messages to coworker who is taking retirement
01“Farewell, old friend. The office won’t be the same without you, At least I know you’ll be happy somewhere planting your garden, traveling the world or whatever it is that old folks like you love to do 😊. Goodbye Stan. All the best!”
Image from Canva – under one-time use license
02“I envy all the free time you’ll finally have but I’m mostly just sad to see you go. Whatever you decide to do now and wherever life takes you, I wish you all the best on that journey. Goodbye and good luck with retirement.”
03“You made coming to work each day such a pleasure. It’s not goodbye by any means, but I’m certainly going to miss you around here. All the best with retirement. I’m right behind you!”
04“Retirement sure looks good on you Stan. Enjoy it! Good bye and all the best!”
05“We’ve started taking bets that after one week home, you’re going to be begging to come back to us 😊…at least, that’s what we all secretly hope. The office sure is going to be incomplete without you. We’re just happy you finally get to sit back and relax. Enjoy retirement old friend. You deserve it!”
06“The office won’t be the same without you Stan. You’ve been a breath of fresh air on even the dreariest of days. Good luck and goodbye for now. We’ll be seeing you around!”
07“Friend, coworker, mentor – these are all the things that you’ve been to me. As you move on to this new chapter in your life, I feel extremely blessed to have had the opportunity to work with you and learn from you. You’ve certainly made a lasting impact. Farewell for now! All the best.”
08“Of all the coworkers that I’ve had, you have made the most lasting impression. You approach life and work with such contagious zeal, that, being around you, it’s impossible not to feel the same. I know you’re going to go into retirement with that same spirit so, goodbye for now old friend. I wish you all the best.”
09“You’ve shared so many words of advice with me over the years and I’ll certainly miss being able to call upon your wisdom. Still, I’m happy to have had the honor of working with you and wish you the best in retirement. Farewell for now and good luck.”
10“I think HR’s data may be compromised…there’s no way a young thing like you could be retiring! But, since you’ve convinced everyone else, I guess there’s nothing else to do but say goodbye. I’m gonna miss you around here, Stan, but I wish you all the best.”
11“In moments like these, I truly understand the meaning of the word bittersweet. It was my absolute pleasure being able to work with you, and now that you’re leaving, I feel so sad for the loss but so happy for you at the same time. Enjoy retirement Stan! You’ve certainly earned it. All the best.”
12“Stan, over the years, you’ve been more than just a coworker to me. You’ve also been a close friend. I know how long you’ve waited for this day and I’m so happy that you finally get to experience it. With all the free time you now have, I hope you won’t forget me because I certainly won’t forget you. Goodbye for now and all the best!”
13“I hate having to say goodbye to you, Stan. You’ve been so many things to me in the time that we’ve worked together. Coworker, confidante, friend. I know you’ve been looking forward to this moment, though, so I wish you good luck and hope we keep in touch.”
14“It’s sad to say goodbye, but I’m thankful it’s not final. I’ll be seeing you around so all the best until then.”
15“It breaks our heart to see you go – you made work such a breeze with your sunny outlook and warm disposition. Good luck as you sail away onto the seas of retirement. You’ve certainly earned it! Goodbye, old friend.”
16“Things will definitely not be the same here without you, and though we feel a sense of loss, we’re also happy as we tell you goodbye. Your retirement awaits! Go forth and enjoy!”
17“We know this is not a final goodbye, yet somehow, the feeling of loss is tangible. You are indeed a treasure that we feel honored to have found. Though it pains us to say goodbye, say it we must. Farewell coworker, and good luck with retirement!”
18“While in retirement, do take up a hobby. Don’t show up to all office functions 😊. We love you Stan! Goodbye for now and enjoy all the perks retirement has to offer!”
19“Goodbye is hard to say, especially to those so dear. We’ve known this day was coming, but nothing could prepare us for how hard it would be to let you go. Though the moment is bittersweet, we are overjoyed for you and wish you all the best as you retire. Good luck!”
20“People wait so many years for this moment. Now that you’re here, I can’t imagine how overjoyed you must be. You will forever be etched on our memories. Goodbye and good luck as you retire.”
21“I do feel bad for the unlucky son of a gun who has to replace you…those are some huge shoes to fill! I won’t say goodbye, but I do wish you good luck. Have a blast with retirement!”
Image from Canva – under one-time use license
22“All the best fellow coworker. As you retire, we want you to know that you have inspired and motivated so many just by being you. Good luck and goodbye for now.”
23“You’re retiring on paper, but, for us, you’re still a part of the gang. It’s sad to say goodbye but we wish you all the best. Keep on being phenomenal!”
24“Many seasons have passed as we’ve worked together. Now that you’re leaving, we can’t help but be sad for the great friend and coworker that we’ve lost and happy (a bit envious too 😊) for all the free time you’ve gained. All the best and farewell!”
25“You’ve finally answered retirement’s call! I know you’re equal to the challenge. Good luck my friend and farewell for now!”
25 farewell messages to coworker who will work for another company
26“Your time with us has ended much too quickly. We hate to see you go, but know you’ll do well wherever you go. Farewell comrade. Good luck as you take on this new challenge!”
27“You’ve brought greatness with you into our midst. You’ve made your mark here, and the memories you’ve left behind will never be forgotten. Goodbye and all the best in this new role. We know you’ll totally dominate!”
28“I feel like a member of my family is being stolen. That’s how much you’ve come to mean to me. Despite this, I am so proud of you and I’m rooting for you as you move forward in the direction of your dreams. Goodbye my coworker. Goodbye my friend. I wish you all the best.”
29“Watching you leave is hard, but know that there is always a space here for you. Good luck on your journey and goodbye until I see you again.”
30“You have sparked a flame in each of us with your determination and iron will. Your absence from our presence with surely bring sadness, but this is only temporary. The inspiration and the mark that you’ve left behind will last forever. Goodbye for now and good luck on your new job.”
31“Today is not just a day when the team loses one member, but also the day a valuable friend has spread their wings and aims to soar. Though this is goodbye for now, know that we support you in all that you do and wish you all the best.”
32“As you step boldly into your future, know that the mark you’ve left behind can never be erased. We know you’ll got out there and wow others just as you’ve wowed us, and, even though this is goodbye, we wish you good luck and much success. All the best!”
33“I feel like it was just the other day that we met and already we’re saying goodbye. It hurts to see you leave, but you’re moving on to bigger and better things, and that makes me so proud. You will always be more than just another coworker – you’re family. All the best as you move to higher heights.”
34“I’m told that you’re leaving. If it were up to me, I’d keep you here forever. Since some crazy person has already okayed this, I guess it’s time to say goodbye. Make me proud out there! Good luck!”
35“Through the tough tides you were aboard our ship, facing challenges but never losing grip. Now that the seas of life are steering you elsewhere, we bid you goodbye, good luck and good cheer.”
36“Losing you as a coworker will be a lot to process, but seeing you progress makes it easier to bear. Goodbye and good luck on your journey…there will always be a space for you here.”
37“When I heard that you were leaving, I didn’t want to believe it. The selfish me wishes you would stick around for a while longer, but, since you’re leaving to greener pastures, I’m happy for you. It was my pleasure being your coworker and though things will be different without you, I’m happy that we met. Goodbye and all the best.”
38“Having a coworker like you makes work so much easier. I envy the lucky office that can now call you their own. Goodbye my friend. Go out there and kick ass!”
39“Higher heights are waiting out there for you to reach, and though this goodbye is bittersweet, I wish you all the best both personally and professionally. I’m truly going to miss you coworker. You’ve made your mark.”
Image from Canva – under one-time use license
40“You, my friend, are irreplaceable (that’s not gonna stop HR from trying though 😊). You have made a mark on me that will not be forgotten anytime soon. It saddens me to have to say goodbye, but, your destiny awaits. Good luck old friend!”
41“I remember your first day here. Instantly you were like a magnet that drew us all to you. Now that you’re leaving, it’s like someone has drained all the energy from us. It’s hard to see a wonderful coworker like you leave, but, we know you’re advancing in the direction of your dreams so goodbye, good luck and all the best in everything that you do.”
42“It’s quality over quantity on our little team, and you were one of the best. It feels hard to lose you, but we know you’ll do us proud out there. Kick ass on the new job! We’re proud of you!”
43“I wish I could meet your new boss so that I could tell her the gem of a human being you are. If your coworkers ever slip up over there, you’ve always got a home right here. I miss you already! Goodbye and all the best as you go forth.”
44“Those poor fools who’ve hired you don’t know what they’ve gotten themselves into. Don’t worry though – there’ll always be a space reserved here for when they find out just how crazy you are 😊! All the best and goodbye for now.”
45“Is it selfish for me to want you to stay? Even if it is, I don’t care. You made my days here so much brighter and I envy all those new people who’ll now have you to themselves. I miss you. You’re more than just a coworker…you’re a dear friend. Goodbye and all the best.”
46“Your departure will forever alter the atmosphere here. We take heart, though, knowing that amid this painful goodbye, you are one step closer to the future you have envisioned for yourself. Take good care and all the best on your journey.”
47“Good coworkers are hard to come by, so watching you go isn’t easy. I know wherever you go, you’ll add spark and flair. Godspeed and good bye.”
48“Coworker to coworker, please check if there are any vacancies at your new job…working here is going to be unbearable without you 😊.”
49“Telling you goodbye is like sending my kids off to college…so bittersweet. I’m glad you’ve finally landed the job you want, but a selfish part of me just wants to keep you here with me. After all, you’re more than just a coworker – you’re family. All the best!”
50“You put the ‘co’ in coworker. I can’t imagine having to walk by your empty desk each day, or to see it filled by some cheap imitation of you. It was a pleasure learning from you and collaborating with you. Congrats on the new job, goodbye for now and all the best!”
Concluding thoughts on goodbye messages to coworkers
Goodbye messages to coworkers in a farewell card do not need to be long. As long as you speak from the heart, anything you write in your goodbye messages will be well received.
