Writing a correspondence can be difficult, especially a retirement letter to your employer. You must choose your words carefully. If you didn’t enjoy your time at the company, you risk revealing your frustration. On the other hand, if you force a false tone, you might come across as disingenuous.Your employer is a valuable contact to have during your retirement. You never know when you might need to re-enter the work force. In addition, actively participating in nonprofit events with your former co-workers is a great way to stay active in your golden years. You want your letter to sound professional and respectful so you don’t burn bridges.Our retirement letter to your employer templates have the tips you need to polish your writing. With our help, you can craft a letter that makes a great impression.
Retirement Letter to Your Employer Template
Natalie is a senior programmer at an insurance company. At age 60, she is ready to retire from the workforce and spend quality time with her husband, kids and grandchildren. The following is a well-written letter she wrote to her supervisor. Notice she focuses on remaining active within the company by expressing gratitude and offering her services; she doesn’t let her excitement about her retirement overshadow her professionalism.
Dear John,
Please take this as a formal notice that I’ll be retiring from my position as senior programmer from Five Star Insurance. As discussed during our meeting, my last day will be October 15, 2017.
Thank you for the many opportunities you have provided me throughout my 10 years with this wonderful company. From leading a team through a variety of development and troubleshooting projects to participating in a supportive culture, every day was a challenge and a pleasure. I will look back on this position fondly.
I would like to do everything possible to transition smoothly from the company. I have scheduled a meeting with Mark next week to train him on the scope of our current project. In addition, I plan to have a final meeting with members of my team to ensure that the project is moving along satisfactorily before my last day.
If there is anything else I can do, please let me know. I have included my phone number and personal email in case you would like to keep in touch in the future.
Sincerely,
Natalie Johnson
How To Write a Retirement Letter to Your Employer
Try to write a retirement letter to an employer after an in-person meeting. The purpose of this letter is to provide a formal two-week notice of your resignation, reflect on the positives of your time at the company and detail how you plan to delegate your duties or train your replacement. Even though a retirement is a happy occasion, you should tread carefully when wording your message.
Begin by stating that you plan to retire. Mention the name of your position as well as your official last day. HR often requires you to do this and it adds credibility.
Keep your audience in mind. Since the letter is to your boss, you want to remember the dynamics of your relationship. Avoid sounding angry or upset at all costs. Our retirement letter to your employer template explicitly thanks the employer for the opportunity to collaborate. This is a good approach because it leaves no question that you appreciated working with the organization.
Next, lay out the nuts and bolts of how you plan to prepare for your transition from the company. Be as specific as possible by listing two or three tasks. Make sure they are realistic. You don’t want to suggest that you’ll exceed sale goals, for example, in order to make a good impression. Rather, think of tasks that you can actually complete; actions speak louder than words.
End on a strong note by maintaining a polite tone. Offer your boss the upper hand by asking if there is anything else you can do in case he or she wants you to approach your transition differently than you suggested. Close with a warm “sincerely” or “best regards.”
What To Avoid in Your Retirement Letter to Your Employer
You want to sprinkle your letter with personalized specifics. A resignation letter that is too short suggests you’re flippant about leaving. Rather, go into detail. Don’t simply state that you enjoyed your time at the company; point out which aspects of the job you enjoyed the most. Don’t just say you’ll pitch in by training your replacement; state how you’ll do it.
Keep your tone professional. Avoid explaining what you’ll do after you leave the office. Your boss is more interested in learning how you can contribute until your last day. Bragging about the free time you’ll have during your retirement won’t do anyone any favors. If there is any bad blood between you and your supervisor, don’t add fuel to the fire by adopting an angry or sarcastic tone. You want to portray that your experience was beneficial more than financially.
Remember that you want to be sincere. Phony exaggerations might elicit rolling of the eyes rather than a positive reaction. If necessary, ask a co-worker to proofread your letter before sending it your boss.
How To Follow Up After Sending Your Retirement Letter to Your Employer
If you didn’t have an in-person meeting prior to submitting your resignation letter, schedule an appointment as soon as possible. It’s a nice gesture to speak to your boss face-to-face, even if he or she is busy. Keep the meeting brief, but be polite.
If you’re unable to speak to your supervisor and haven’t received confirmation from anyone about your pending resignation, consider writing a second letter. You can keep it similar to the first one while adding a short sentence that this is your second attempt to contact someone. Ideally, you want someone to heed your message by providing you with a verbal or written confirmation.
Top 5 Retirement Letter to Your Employer Writing Takeaways
1. Cut to the chase
Your boss is busy and doesn’t have time to waste. Open your letter by clearly stating you’re retiring. Don’t forget to include the specific date of your last day.
2. Check your contract
Read your employee contract to make sure you’re following protocol. Most offices require a two-week notice of resignation, for example. If you break a rule, you might not be eligible for a severance package or other benefits.
3. Help out with your transition
The best way to not burn bridges is to work hard until you step out the door. Your effort won’t go unnoticed. Train your replacements, delegate your tasks fairly and collaborate with your boss.
4. Remain friendly with your co-workers
Just because you’re leaving doesn’t mean that you can’t maintain a friendly demeanor. Take the high road and say goodbye to your colleagues, even the ones you didn’t enjoy working with. Cultivate team spirit and most likely your co-workers will respond similarly, even if there was some tension or negative feelings.
5. Write an impeccable letter
Your resignation letter is not just another piece of correspondence. It is a reflection of your time at the company and an opportunity to maintain a valuable contact after you leave. Even one spelling or grammar error is unacceptable. Proofread carefully.
