Signing a retirement card can feel surprisingly hard. You want to honor years of work, say thank you and wish them well, all in a few lines squeezed between other signatures.
These retirement wishes for a coworker are sorted by tone and relationship, so you can find the right words for a close work friend, a respected boss or a teammate you only knew a little.
Our editor’s top picks
- Happy retirement! Thank you for everything you brought to our team.
- Your hard work built this place. Now go enjoy the life you’ve earned.
- We’ll miss your wisdom, your laugh and your coffee runs. Congratulations!
- Here’s to sleeping in, traveling more and never setting an alarm again.
- Congratulations on a remarkable career and a well-deserved new chapter.
Short retirement wishes for a card
For group cards with limited space.
- Happy retirement! You’ve earned it.
- Enjoy every minute of your next adventure.
- Congrats on your well-deserved retirement!
- The office won’t be the same without you.
- Cheers to your next chapter!
- Retirement looks good on you already.
- Wishing you rest, fun and plenty of free time.
- Thank you for everything. Enjoy!
Heartfelt retirement wishes for a close coworker
For work friends who became real friends.
- Working with you made even Mondays better. I’ll miss you so much.
- You were a mentor, a friend and the heart of this team.
- Thank you for every piece of advice and every laugh along the way.
- I learned more from you than from any training manual.
- Our lunches won’t be the same, but our friendship stays.
- You made this job feel like a second family.
- I’m sad to see you go but so happy for you.
- Let’s keep in touch. You’re stuck with me as a friend.
Funny retirement wishes
For coworkers with a sense of humor.
- Congrats! Your new boss is your spouse. Good luck.
- Enjoy retirement: every day is Saturday now.
- No more meetings that could have been emails!
- Your new job title: Professional Napper.
- Retirement: when you stop living at work and start working at living.
- Goodbye, tension. Hello, pension!
- Your alarm clock is officially fired.
- Don’t forget us when you’re on the golf course at 10 a.m. on a Tuesday.
Retirement wishes for a boss or manager
Professional and appreciative.
- Thank you for your leadership, guidance and support over the years.
- Your example taught us what great leadership looks like.
- Congratulations on a career that made a difference to so many.
- It has been an honor to work for you.
- We wish you a retirement as rewarding as your career.
- Thank you for believing in our team and in me.
- Your legacy will stay with this company for years.
- Enjoy the freedom you’ve worked so hard for.
Retirement wishes for the next chapter
Wishes for travel, family and new hobbies.
- May your retirement be full of road trips and slow mornings.
- Enjoy more time with grandkids, gardens and good books.
- Here’s to beaches, hobbies and zero deadlines.
- Wishing you health, happiness and endless adventures.
- May every day of retirement feel like a vacation.
- Go learn the thing you never had time for.
- Your next chapter deserves all your energy. Enjoy it!
- Happy trails and happy retirement!
Frequently asked questions
How we put this list together: All wishes are original lines by our editors, written for group cards, farewell emails and retirement parties. Written and reviewed by John Moler, editor at Graceful Names. See our editorial policy.