Team buildings, night shift chats, and countless laughs — memories come flooding back after you hear the words “Hey, I’m leaving the company in 2 weeks.”
It’s not the end of the world by any means, and if you have a strong relationship with your departing colleague, you’ll certainly remain friends. Still, not seeing them around the office any more or seeing their profile deactivated hurts.
So, what can you do?
Well, you can be there for them and make sure they don’t leave the company without a proper send-off. That’s why you should craft the best farewell message anyone’s ever sent.
It’s a touchy subject, sending farewell messages, which is why we’ve prepared examples you can use and tips you can follow when writing your goodbyes.
Stay tuned to read all about it!
Table of Contents
The importance of sending touching farewell messages to colleagues
Aside from being common courtesy, sending your colleague a farewell message can go a long way in the future.
The phrase “don’t burn bridges” does not refer to modern suspension architecture — it’s a way of saying you never know who you’ll run into or whose help you’ll need in the future. So, maintaining a professional relationship at all times is vital, even when departing.
Additionally, a goodbye message is a once in a lifetime opportunity to say the things you’ve always wanted to, but never had the chance to.
For example, you can use the farewell message to:
- Express gratitude to your manager for being there when no one else was,
- Say thanks for the skills a coworker helped you master, or
- Show someone you care for them.
Say your farewells the right way: 40+ examples
Without further ado, let’s dig into the farewell wishes employees all around the globe can use.
To make matters clear, we’ll split them into farewell messages you can forward to a colleague that is leaving and messages you can send when you’re leaving the company.
Last working day messages to a coworker
First up, we’ve prepared some examples you can use as farewell wishes to a colleague on their last day. We’ve crafted them to be professional in nature, but with an emotional touch.
Naturally, feel free to modify them by adding a sentence or two that speak volumes of the times you’ve spent working together.
“Wishing you all the best on your next adventure! Your positivity and hard work will be greatly missed. Farewell, and stay in touch!”
“Your dedication and hard work have been invaluable. It’s tough to see you go, but I know you’ll do great things. The best is yet to come, good luck!”
“Saying goodbye is never easy, especially to an incredible coworker like you. Your contributions have been outstanding. I wish you best of luck in all your future endeavors.”
“Your presence made our team brighter. I’ll always value the work ethic you instilled in our team. Take care!”
“It’s been remarkable working alongside someone as talented and as dedicated as you. Your absence will be felt. Goodbye!”
“Farewell, and may this new journey bring you joy and fulfillment you seek in your career. Stay amazing!”
“Thank you for being the best coworker I could’ve possibly asked for. Farewell, the best is yet to come!”
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Short and simple farewell messages to a colleague
For some, seeing their coworker quit or getting fired is a true shock, but in actuality, it happens more often than not.
In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ report on labor turnover shows that in September of 2024 alone, 5.2 million people quit their jobs or were laid off.
Therefore, if you’re working in the US, chances are one of your coworkers has left or is in the process of leaving the company.
So, if you want to say goodbye, but you weren’t that close, here are some short goodbye messages you can send in the spirit of professionalism.
“Congratulations on landing your new job! Best of luck!”
“Congratulations! Best wishes, I know you’ll do great!”
“Good luck on your new journey! It was a pleasure working alongside you!”
“It was great having you as a mentor! All the best in the future!”
“I know how much you wanted that new job, great work! I hope we will stay in touch. All the best, my friend!”
“Congratulations on your new job, you deserve it! Thanks for being there for me whenever I needed you, you truly are a great person!”
“It was great having you here by my side all these years. You kept me motivated and eager to learn more!”
Don’t worry if these messages seem too short — they convey the intended meaning using a formal mode of communication and they’re professional in nature.
💡 Pumble Pro Tip
If you want to learn more about the importance of staying in touch with your professional contacts and how to do so, read our blog post:
Goodbye messages to superiors
“Dear boss, thank God I won’t have to see you again!”
We know that some of you might want to send something like this to your boss when you hear they’re finally leaving the company. However, we strongly advise against it.
It’s unprofessional, to say the least, and, again, burning bridges is not a great idea — literally and figuratively.
On the other hand, if you’re one of the many who find their superiors to be invaluable mentors who helped shape their skills and careers, then you probably have more positive things to say, but perhaps don’t know how to express yourself.
Either way, sending a well-crafted message is in order — to express your thanks and let them know it was an honor working with them.
Here are things you can say to brighten up their last day.
“Thanks for being a great mentor! All the best in your future endeavors!”
“Congratulations on getting a new job! Best of luck for the future!”
“I will never forget the lessons you’ve taught me. Thank you for showing me what I can accomplish.”
“Thank you for giving me space to grow and letting me learn from my mistakes! All the best in your career!”
“You were a tremendous mentor, I learned so much thanks to you! Wish you every success in the future!”
“Thank you for being an excellent leader and for showing me what I am capable of. All the best, dear boss/manager/supervisor!”
Remember, a simple message might not seem like a big deal to you, but it can mean everything to the person leaving.
Farewell message to an employee as a boss
Finding the right words to say goodbye to an employee who has found a better job or just wants a career change is never easy — but a good leader needs to do it.
Here are our suggestions on what to say to someone who is leaving your team.
“Thank you for all the efforts you invested and everything you have done for our company! All the best in the future!”
“Thank you for your help during all these months/years! On behalf of the company, I wish you all the best in your career!”
“Your contribution was vital for the growth of our company! Therefore, thank you for your help, and good luck!”
“You were a wonderful asset to our company! Wish you all the best in your career and personal life!”
“If you ever decide to come back, the doors will always be open for you! Thank you for your great cooperation, and best of luck!”
By using the messages above, you avoid difficult conversations and ensure a good relationship in the future between you and the departing employee.
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Try Pumble, a secure, reliable, and easy-to-use communication tool.
Saying farewell to a retiring colleague
Imagine spending decades working alongside someone. They practically become your family because, chances are, you’ve made many memories and gone through so much together.
The thought of having to say goodbye to them is ineffable, but the best thing you can do is wish them well as they’re entering a new and exciting chapter in their lives.
Here are our top picks on things you can say to a colleague who’s retiring:
“Working with you was a huge privilege. I hope you continue sharing your knowledge with the younger folks. You’d be a great mentor!”
“I wish you all the best in the future! I learned a lot from you, and it was a real privilege to work with you. Happy retirement!”
“The office will never be the same without you. Thank you for all the advice you shared with us and happy retirement!”
“Unfortunately, I worked with you briefly. Still, it was an honor to have you by my side. Thank you for everything, and I hope to see you again!”
“Now is the time to take care of yourself, go fishing, and enjoy time with your family! You earned your retirement. Congratulations!”
In a lot of cases, older colleagues are great role models for younger generations.
Therefore, it is good to write a respectful message — and perhaps even emotional.
Naturally, the tone of your farewell message will depend on how well you knew them and the type of relationship you had. Nonetheless, any message is better than no message at all.
💡 Pumble Pro Tip
If you want to make better connections with your older and younger colleagues, check out our article:
Goodbye message on your last working day
The world is not that big, especially when it comes to the working industry. We walk among the same crowd, meet similar people, and make professional connections that last a lifetime.
Consequently, who knows when and where you’ll run into someone you’ve worked with in a previous company?
Therefore, when you’re the one who’s leaving a company, make sure to let everyone know it was a pleasure working with them. It doesn’t have to be a long and touching farewell; just a mindful expression of your gratitude.
Below, you’ll find some examples you can use.
“Thank you all for your cooperation! It’s been a pleasure working with you!”
“It’s been a great time working with all of you. Thank you all and goodbye!”
“I am grateful for the chance you gave me. Thank you all and best of luck in the future!”
“I have enjoyed my time here, but it is time for a new challenge. I wish you all the best!”
“There are no words to express how sad I am to leave this place. I’ll always cherish our time together and the memories we’ve made.”
“Thank you all for being nice to me and for helping me grow as a professional. Thanks to you I got the opportunity in [name of the company] that I dreamed of. Here is my [contact info/LinkedIn profile/phone number]. I hope to stay in touch with you all! Cheers!”
You never know where your career journey will take you.
The examples of farewell messages above will leave the doors open for you should you ever cross paths with your colleagues again.
💡 Pumble Pro Tip
If you’ve made the decision to resign, you can break the news via a resignation letter. To learn more about why resignation letters are beneficial and how to write one, follow the steps from our guide:
Retiring and saying goodbye to your colleagues
The period before your retirement is an emotional one, so you’re probably not sure how to act or what to say. After all, it’s your first and last time retiring — it’s not like you have a manual and know all the right steps to take and words to say.
Worry not, we’ve got some last working day quotes you can use to help you when you’re left speechless.
“Thank you all for making this corporation a wonderful place to work! All the best in the future!”
“I know I am leaving my second home in safe hands! Thank you all and goodbye!”
“We may not have changed the world, but we have done some extraordinary things together. I will miss you all!”
“Memories I have made in this company will last forever! Is it okay for me to stop by from time to time, am I allowed? But seriously, thanks. See you soon!”
“May you all have personal and professional success! I hope I will see our company grow further, and become stronger every day! I will miss you all!”
Your farewell message will be an acknowledgment to your former colleagues. They will be happy to see that they have had a positive impact on your career, as well.
Moreover, thanks to one of these touching messages, they will always remember you.
And that is one of the biggest satisfactions for every retiree, isn’t it?
💡 Pumble Pro Tip
If you need help writing your official retirement letter, we are here to help. Check out our blog post to get the best examples and tips:
How to write a farewell message
Naturally, every relationship is specific, which is why some of the aforementioned examples might not be the best choice for you — so you’ll have to come up with your own message.
When crafting a farewell message, your priority should be to convey the general sentiment — you’re sad to see your colleague leave and you’re wishing them all the best in the world.
However, you should bear in mind a couple of things:
- What is the reason for their departure? Is it moving on to a new position or was it termination of contract?
- Were you close? If so, can a single message truly express your emotions?
- Were they a higher-up? How personal can a farewell message be while preserving a formal mode of communication?
To answer these questions, we’ve compiled a couple of general guidelines you can follow while crafting your farewell wishes to colleagues.
Rule #1: Be short and concise
To avoid getting too emotional or seeming unprofessional, the best course of action would be to use your work messaging skills to keep your farewell wishes concise and simple.
After all, regardless of whether it’s you or a colleague that’s leaving, no one wants to spend their last hours answering messages and getting emotional.
But, what if it’s a close colleague that you’ve spent years working with side by side?
If that’s the case, finding a middle ground between keeping it short and getting emotional is key. Our advice? Write them a single, longer message that includes these 3 important elements:
- Expression of gratitude,
- Reminiscence about your time together, and
- Best wishes for the challenges to come.
An important thing to remember: it doesn’t matter if they’re leaving to a different city, area code, or state — if you’re close, you’ll stay in touch.
💡 Pumble Pro Tip
To learn more about the use of emotive language in the workplace, check out this article:
Rule #2: Make sure they feel supported
No matter the reason for leaving, changing jobs is stressful. In fact, if a close colleague announced their departure, chances are you saw it coming from a mile away.
Most employees exhibit similar symptoms at the tail end of their careers at a company:
- Feeling withdrawn,
- Disengagement,
- Missing deadlines, and
- Increased sensitivity.
Since this is an extremely stressful period in their lives, the best thing you can do is make sure they feel supported, valued, and affirm that they’re doing the right thing.
Of course, you don’t have to go on and on about how their new position is going to be their dream job. Just write a sentence or two that will put their mind at ease.
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Rule #3: Leave contact information
Bear in mind that when you or your colleague leave the company, you will not be able to communicate via work email or team channels.
Therefore, we recommend you always leave your contact information — such as your LinkedIn profile or phone number — to former colleagues or bosses, so that they can stay in touch with you.
💡 Pumble Pro Tip
If your colleague is leaving and you are wondering how to ask for their contact information, this post will help you:
Alternative ways to say farewell
For some, a simple farewell message might seem impersonal.
After all, you’ve spent countless hours grinding, chatting, and sharing experiences together. So, is there an alternative to saying goodbye with just words?
Of course there is!
Here are some examples you can try to make the best out of a sad moment.
Idea #1: Send a goodbye card
A farewell card is an old-fashioned way of saying goodbye to your colleagues.
If you are the one who’s leaving, feel free to send a farewell card to the office instead of sending a message via email or team collaboration apps.
On the other hand, if you send a farewell card to a departing colleague, your coworker will have memorabilia of their time in your company — something nice to help them reminisce about the past.
Idea #2: Send a gift
Who doesn’t like gifts?
A farewell gift will prove that there is a strong bond between a departing person and former company colleagues.
The best farewell present would be a thing one can use in their new role or something associated with their interests or hobbies.
Coming up with an idea for a farewell gift and buying it together as a team can be a great team-building activity.
Idea #3: Throw a farewell party
Do you want to go out in style? If the answer is “Yes”, we have a solution for you!
Instead of sending touching farewell letters to colleagues to say your goodbyes, throw a farewell party. It can be a proper team-bonding party in the office, a night out on the town, or a lunch at a restaurant.
In addition, if you have spent a lot of time in a company and have plenty of friends there, you can also contact your company’s HR department to see whether they can help you with the party.
We’re sure they would at least spread the message to people you want to invite.
Say goodbye to your team via Pumble
Saying goodbye is never easy, no matter the reason.
But, with Pumble — a business messaging app that’s great for internal and external communication — at least you don’t have to worry about not informing everyone.
Thanks to a variety of features, you’ll be able to send your farewell message to the team in any way you want.
You can opt to say goodbye to everyone at once via group chats or channels (and then reminisce about the old days in the threads) or send them individual direct messages.
Additionally, you can even say your goodbyes face-to-face thanks to Pumble’s quality audio and video calls.
Not a fan of live chats? Don’t worry — you can record a video message of yourself saying goodbye and share it with your team. Thanks to Pumble’s unlimited message history, your touching farewell message will stay in your company’s workspace forever.
Discover the power of seamless communication and collaboration — try Pumble for free today!
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