34 Ways to Write A Farewell Message to Coworkers

Category: General Tips

Last updated April 12, 2023

Did you know that in July 2021 alone, 4 million people in the US quit their jobs? Let’s say you found out your colleague has a new job and you’ve been assigned to circulate a farewell letter amongst the office. But when you actually get to pen your goodbye message…oops, brain freeze!

Not everyone can simply put pen to paper and develop a creative goodbye note. Even though you attempt to be genuine and wish someone well at their new job, goodbye card notes may sometimes come off as bland or cliché. Another possibility is that you don’t really know the individual who’s leaving, and you’re simply searching for anything to lighten the atmosphere!

If an employee or one of your co workers is leaving your company, the following article may assist you in providing a suitable farewell message to leave a positive impression on them. Depending on which tone you want to set in your farewell card, whether formal, friendly, or witty, we’re here to help. Keep reading for what to write in a farewell card of an employee or coworker.

Why Write a Farewell Message?

Saying goodbye to a colleague properly is important because it gives them confidence that you valued your time together. Besides that, you also want to wish them the best of success at their new job.

The process of saying goodbye to a co worker may be difficult. You may have become good friends or close working buddies. However, when it comes to expressing your respect and appreciation for their assistance, friendship and encouragement are important throughout your working time together.

In addition, when you write farewell messages to co workers leaving the business to take up a new position, you retain a professional connection that may be useful in a future job hunt. You never know when some goodbye card ideas will come in handy!

We know, 34 is a big number – time to exercise your decision making skills!

17 Ways to Say Farewell to a Coworker

When someone leaves their job, moves to a new job, or to a brand new company, it is customary to send a farewell card. You’ll find some farewell cards on what to write or say to your coworkers and workplace pals who are departing in the section below.

Make use of a farewell card template or even some co-worker leaving quotes to help you write the perfect farewell message for your colleagues while avoiding irrelevant topics, like wishing a coworker to be well. This will help you understand what to write in a leaving card,

Lastly, if you were good friends with them, after you wish them well, leave your personal contact information so you can stay in touch (if you want to, of course).

Simple and Straightforward Farewell Messages

It is best to write a worded phrase for colleagues you may not be close to but have worked with. Some examples of simple and straightforward farewell messages are:

1. Moving forward, I’ll miss you around the office every day! You certainly have a bright future ahead.

2. My dear friend, I’ll miss lunch breaks with you. Here is wishing you all the luck for the future!

If you deliver this farewell message verbally, perhaps you could see if they’d enjoy having a goodbye lunch with you, one last time.

3. Good luck in the next chapter of your life at your new company, and thank you for the hard work!

If we’re being honest, this kind of message is probably best for new coworkers who you never really got to know.

4. Thank you for helping out, and good luck! You are a wonderful person.

5. Keep in touch and good luck in your new job! I wish you continued success.

This one is perfect for awesome colleagues who you got along with, for the most part.

6. So sorry to see you leave-you will be missed! You’ve always been a great friend.

This type of greeting will show you shared some form of connection. However, it also shows that you wish them well, especially in the situation that you have to write more of a sympathy-driven card (if they were fired).

Funny Well-Wishes and Farewell Messages for Coworkers

Normally, while saying goodbye to a coworker, you must make it official and professional since it concerns your job. It’s never easy to say goodbye, and you may find yourself at a loss for words.

When it comes to what to write in a leaving card, here are some humorous goodbye notes that you could send to coworkers or otherwise awesome colleagues as they leave the workplace. 

7. I won’t tell anybody it was you, so don’t worry! Good luck in the next stage of the simulation.

8. Simba, run. And never come back! (Okay guys, time to have that farewell party without him/her). Jokes aside, best wishes!

Verbally, this joke would land with most people under the age of 50. In a handwritten note? Debatable – use your best judgement.

9. You’re one of the most amusing colleagues I’ve ever met, and your sense of humor brightened up my day every day! In that way, thank you for all the support!

10. It’s your birthday, you managed to escape this ‘fun’ place! It’s been great being part of such a great team.

11. We are going to miss avoiding you in the passage. Good luck with the new job!

12. Good luck finding brilliant coworkers like us! I’ll never forget the laughs we shared – you were a wonderful colleague.

13. May all the splinters on your life’s banister point in the right way as you slide down it!

Sometimes humor helps in difficult times. So, with a grin on your face, bid them farewell.

Witty and Playful Farewell Wishes for a Departing Coworker

There is always that one colleague that is the joker of the office. With this type of person, it is good to send a playful and witty farewell letter when bidding goodbye.

14. Now that you are leaving, can I have your calculator? I mean… uhh… it’s been a pleasure working with you, and you’ll be greatly missed.

This one is probably best delivered verbally – on paper, it may not have the same effect. Either way, a truly awesome colleague and true friend will understand the humor.

15. I have no clue who you are, but I didn’t want to make a poor impression as they passed out this farewell card. Good luck on your new journey I guess.

16. My time wasted by the coffee pot will not be the same without you. Thank you for all the good times – you are a true friend.

Sometimes, mix it up with a bit of humor, and a bit of true sentiment. We’re all on this incredible journey of life – making someone smile and cared for at the same time is a skill we can all aim to learn.

17. I thought you had gone a long time ago? Whatever. Good luck and best wishes!

Your funny farewell messages or clever and amusing goodbye wishes will make them grin on their final day at work.

12 Ways to Say Farewell to Your Boss

We’ve included these messages in the total count for this article (34), but they’re a slightly different subject, so they’re split off.

Respectful Farewell Messages to Your Boss

Send a polite, personalized message  to your boss, whether they are resigning or retiring.

In a professional career, your boss will leave and move on to another phase of life or career and needs to know you care with a simple bid farewell. If you express gratitude like this to them, it will leave a positive impression on their mind, and if you reach out to them in the future, who knows what will happen? Perhaps they’ll see you as their go to person to bring onboard to their next company.

Here are some examples of respectful farewell messages you can write in a leaving card for your boss:

18. I always appreciated your strategic thinking, and honestly, your guidance taught me more than I anticipated! You helped me get this wonderful new position. Thank you for your support and good luck in your future endeavors!

19. [Your boss‘s name], thank you for your patience and guidance. I’ve developed a lot since starting here, and you’ve been an integral part of that. Enjoy your new job! I would say good luck, but with your work ethic, I don’t think you’ll need it.

When saying farewell to a boss, you have the exciting opportunity of maintaining a friendly connection with a presumably successful person by complimenting them, which can only help you down the line if you need someone with connections.

20. Working with you has not only been enjoyable, but I have acquired valuable knowledge and managerial skills through you. You are one of the great leaders I’ll always remember in my career journey.

21. You’ve been an inspiration to us all, and it’s been a pleasure working with you. We wish you success in your endeavors. Fare thee well, boss!

There is a mountain of ways to write a respectful message; you could even consider ordering your boss a little farewell cake! Just be sincere and straight to the point. And remember – this is an exciting time for them, so having a positive attitude is key here.

Amiable and Funny Farewells to Your Boss

Of course, some of us develop a more friendly, good working relationship with our boss. In these cases, here are some examples of the best farewell messages to funnily write in a leaving card to give a ‘proper’ goodbye to your boss:

22. You will be immediately escorted off the premises! You are fortunate! Best wishes in your next adventure sir/ma’am!

23. I couldn’t care less whether my ambition is to work with visionaries such as Steve Jobs and Bill Gates since I have already worked for a genius like you. Best of luck at your new job!

24. In fact, retirement is just the transition from one position to another. Yes, with you switching places to the worker and your wife as the Boss. Ha, Ha! You’re going to miss professional life!

25. I’m ecstatic to be free of you! I’m joking! After all, we will miss you. Always stay in contact, Boss. Now I can say this – thank YOU for your grade work.

26. I feel very sorry for your replacement. They will have to learn to put up with me. We bid you farewell and wish you the best of luck!

27. Boss, for years you’ve been there for us through the difficult times at work. However, we are no longer coworkers but rather friends. Farewell! I know you have a glorious future ahead – best of luck!

This sort of a positive note will hopefully warm anybody’s heart – unless, of course, the only relationship you and your boss had were performance reviews.

28. On the one hand, I am relieved that I will no longer be subjected to your rants, but on the other, I am dreading the arrival of the new Boss. Best wishes to me in the new workplace.

29. A change in dress code from suits and shirts to flannel pants and blankets is all retirement entails. So enjoy and relax; you have worked for it all your life! Best of luck in all your future endeavors.

When your boss is the one who is going to depart the business, sending out goodbye and thank you notes becomes very important. It is a chance to express your appreciation for your boss‘s contributions.

5 Colleague Farewell Messages for When You’re the Departing Coworker

Saying goodbye to co workers is essential because it lets them know that you valued your time together and that you hope they have the best of success in the future.

If you are leaving your company, here are some of the best farewell messages that you can use in your last day email to say goodbye:

30. I am grateful for the chance I have had here to further my career and become a team member. The experiences I got while working here will remain in my memory forever!

31. I will miss the encouragement and support I have gotten from my dear colleagues while I was here. You will all be sorely missed – luckily, I’ve got sweet memories. Wishing you all the best of luck!

32. The past few years have been great, but it’s time for me to move on to my next endeavor – my dream job. I’ve provided my contact details below, and I’m looking forward to hearing from you in the future. I wish you all the success.

33. I am ready to move on to the next step of my career. I want to express my gratitude to you all for providing me with the skills and confidence to be the greatest version of myself in moving to my next position. I will miss working with you – my best wishes to everyone!

34. I am grateful to you for the guidance you have provided me with. It has helped me in a variety of ways as I have grown and developed my skills. I’ll stay in contact with you to let you know how things are doing with my next job. Best of luck to everybody!

In addition, saying farewell to a colleague may help you retain a professional connection that may be useful in the future, especially if you send group cards for the office. You know what is said: ‘never burn your bridges!’

Don’t Say Goodbye, Say Until We Meet Again!

It is a two-way street! It’s not just the person who is departing who will need to adapt to a new stage of life, but also the others who care about them and who remain in the company. Bidding goodbye only sends the message that you wish them well on their new journey; instead, maintain that connection.

Indeed, sending a digital farewell note/farewell email and including a great closing is more than just a way of saying goodbye to feelings and memories. The right words combined in the proper ways can elicit feelings of gratitude from your coworker, building a relationship that we highly doubt can be tarnished by much.

Saying goodbye, potentially sending an email via your personal email address, can be a coping technique for both parties that allows them to transition into future endeavors smoothly. In addition, it helps to minimize the amount of baggage a person carries when they decide to move on to the next chapter of their life. But, we recommend to not make it a permanent goodbye when a colleague leaves.

Contact us if you need to send personalized, handwritten birthday cards for your employees or coworkers! We make sending handwritten notes as simple as email, so if you want to wish someone a successful future or simply want to wish them best of luck, come check us out! We can even include an extra farewell gift for a person leaving your company.

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