Writing a goodbye email 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 email is to say a simple and gracious farewell.
It may be sad to say goodbye, but a good goodbye email will have an upbeat tone about the future and assure coworkers that the retiree will always stay in touch. This type of email is very personal and individual and there is no one-size-fits-all.
Personal Email
The retiree may send a personal email to a superior and one or two coworkers, or one open email to everyone in their department or team. If the email is to a team, it is nice if each member is mentioned with a special tribute.
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 an email to coworkers and the boss. The email 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.
Memorable Moments?
Before beginning to write an email 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 email and show that the retiree has not forgotten his or her working relationships even from several years ago.
The email 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 email to coworkers:
• The email 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 email should be professional and polite.
• The email 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 email to each coworker who was especially close in the day-to-day work environment or on a special team.
• The email 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 email 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 email should contain the retiree’s personal contact information, so the coworkers can get in touch.
Below is a sample goodbye email to coworkers. Even though it is an informal email, it should be written with professionalism, and not have an overly casual tone.
Sample Goodbye Email To Coworkers
To: teammates@email.com
Subject: Goodbye to Coworkers
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,
Name of Retiree