Farewell Message for a Colleague: 60 Examples to Copy

Someone you work with is leaving, and you have been handed a card, a chat thread or an empty email draft. You want to say something warm, and you do not want to write "Good luck in your new adventure" for the fifth time this month.

This guide gives you 60 farewell messages for a leaving colleague, sorted by situation, from a one-line card note to a longer email. After the examples there are tips for making a generic message personal, and a short list of things to avoid. Names and details in the examples are invented.

What Makes a Good Farewell Message

1. Thank them for something real. "Thank you for training me on the billing system" is better than "Thanks for everything."
2. Wish them well in a specific way. "I hope the new team knows how lucky they are" lands better than "All the best."
3. Keep it short. In a group card, one to three sentences is plenty.
4. Be warm without being heavy. A sentimental message is fine, but do not make the person feel pressured to respond.
5. Say how they can reach you, if you would like to stay in touch.

Short Farewell Messages for a Card

1. "Thank you for making the team better. We will miss you."
2. "Wishing you every success in your next chapter."
3. "It was a pleasure working with you. Stay in touch."
4. "The office will not be the same without you."
5. "Congratulations on the new role. They are lucky to have you."
6. "Thanks for all the help and all the laughs."
7. "Good luck, and please do not forget us."
8. "You made the hard days easier. Thank you."
9. "Best of luck. Keep in touch."
10. "Gone but not forgotten. Take care."

Heartfelt Messages for a Coworker Who Is Leaving

1. "Working with you has been one of the best parts of this job. Thank you for your patience, your humor and your help. I hope our paths cross again."
2. "You taught me more than you realize. I am grateful for every time you stopped what you were doing to help. Wishing you all the best."
3. "I am sad to see you go, but excited for you. You deserve this."
4. "The team is stronger because you were part of it. Thank you for everything, and good luck."
5. "I will remember the late nights on the launch and how you kept us calm. Thank you. Please stay in touch."
6. "You made this place feel like a team, not just a workplace. We will miss you more than you know."
7. "Thank you for being the first friendly face when I joined. I will always remember that."
8. "Whatever comes next, you will do great. You always do."

Messages for a Boss or Manager Who Is Leaving

1. "Thank you for believing in me and giving me room to grow. I am a better professional because of you."
2. "You led with kindness and clarity. Your team is better for it. Good luck in what comes next."
3. "I appreciate every piece of feedback, even the tough ones. Thank you for helping me develop."
4. "It has been an honor to work for you. Wishing you the very best."
5. "You made it safe to ask questions and to make mistakes. That is rare, and I am grateful."
6. "Thank you for everything. We will keep the standard you set."

Messages for Someone Retiring

1. "Congratulations on your retirement. Thank you for [number] years of dedication. Enjoy every moment of what is next."
2. "You have earned this. Thank you for everything you built here, and enjoy your freedom."
3. "Your knowledge and kindness are part of this place. Wishing you a retirement full of travel, rest and good company."
4. "Retirement looks good on you already. Thank you for the years, the advice and the stories."
5. "We will miss you at the office, but we are glad you can finally do everything on your list."
6. "Thank you for showing us how to do this job with grace. Happy retirement."

When You Are the One Leaving

1. "It has been a privilege working with you all. Thank you for everything. My last day is [date], and I would love to stay in touch at [email or LinkedIn]."
2. "Thank you for the support, the lessons and the laughs. I am taking a lot with me, and I will miss you all."
3. "Leaving is bittersweet. I am grateful for this team and the chance to work with you. Please keep in touch."
4. "I have learned so much here, mostly from you. Thank you, and best wishes for the future."
5. "Thank you for making my time here so good. I wish you all continued success."

For a longer goodbye to your team, see our guide to a resignation letter and two weeks' notice, which includes a short goodbye email you can adapt.

Funny Farewell Messages

Use humor only when you know the person well and the message will be read by friendly eyes.

1. "I am not crying, you are crying. Okay, we are both crying. Good luck."
2. "Who will we blame for the broken printer now?"
3. "You are leaving us with a lot of unanswered emails. Thanks a lot."
4. "The coffee machine will never forgive you."
5. "Please do not forget us when you are famous."
6. "Congratulations on escaping. Send help."
7. "We were going to say 'do not forget to write,' but you never answered our emails anyway."
8. "Our loss, their gain. Please keep the snacks coming."

Farewell Messages for Email, Chat or Slack

1. Chat: "Sad to see you go, [Name]! Thank you for everything. Wishing you the best at [Company]."
2. Chat: "[Name], thank you for all the help over the years. Keep in touch, and good luck!"
3. Email subject: "Farewell and best wishes, [Name]"
4. Email: "Dear [Name], I wanted to say thank you for the time we worked together. Your help on [project] meant a lot to me. I wish you the very best in your new role. Please keep in touch. Best regards, [Your name]"
5. Email to the team about a departure: "Hi all, [Name] is leaving us on [date] to [next step]. Please join me in thanking them for their work on [project] and wishing them well. We will have a small send-off on [day]."

Short Messages for Leaving Colleagues in Specific Situations

1. New job: "Congratulations on the new role. I know you will do amazing things there."
2. Moving away: "Wherever you land, they will be lucky to have you. Stay in touch."
3. Starting a business: "Cheers to your next adventure. I cannot wait to see what you build."
4. Going back to school: "Good luck with the studies. You will be excellent."
5. Career break or caring for family: "Take care of yourself and your family. The door is always open."
6. Laid off or let go: "I am sorry things ended this way. You did good work here, and I am glad to give a reference. Please stay in touch."
7. Short tenure: "It was great meeting you, even if it was too short. Best of luck."

Quick One-Liners

1. "Happy trails."
2. "Good luck out there."
3. "You will be missed."
4. "Keep in touch."
5. "Thank you for everything."

How to Make Any Message Personal

• Add one specific memory. The project you shared, the joke from the all-hands, the time they covered for you.
• Use their name. It is a small thing and it works.
• Mention what they gave the team. "You brought calm to the chaotic weeks."
• Match your usual tone. If you never wrote that formally to them, do not start now.
• Read it aloud. If it sounds like a greeting card, add a real detail.

What to Avoid

• Complaints about the company or the people left behind. The card will be seen by others.
• Inside jokes that could embarrass them, or jokes about their reasons for leaving.
• Long speculation about why they are leaving.
• Pressure to stay in touch if you barely knew them. A simple "best wishes" is enough.
• Copying the same line as everyone else. Change a few words.

Get Help Writing Yours

If you are staring at a blank card, the free email generator can draft a farewell note from a few details, such as the person's name, how you know them and what they are leaving for. Edit it so the details are right and the tone sounds like you. For the opening and closing lines, see our guides to how to start an email and email sign offs, and our page on email writing.

What These Messages Cannot Do

A message cannot replace the relationship. If someone is leaving after a difficult period, or in sad circumstances, a copied line may land badly, so say something that is true. Workplace customs also differ: in some offices a long handwritten card is normal and in others a short chat message is the norm. If you are unsure, ask a colleague what the team usually does.

Related Guides

• Resignation letter and two weeks' notice
• Email sign offs
• How to start an email
• Email writing with Writingful