Retirement Wishes, Quotes & Messages For Coworkers in 2023

Wondering how to say goodbye to your colleagues and friends at work? This list of Retirement wishes for colleagues has got your covered.

Good old retirement wishes can make a person feel loved and important when leaving an organization after a long service.

After all, when the word Retirement comes to mind, we see a picture of freedom glued together with fragments of anticipation, excitement, and hesitation.

Retirement can be quite scary but look at it as an opportunity to do everything you planned to do but never could make the time to do and you’ve got nothing but a lifetime of pension-funded vacation to make all your dreams come true! 

Fun fact: Japan now has retirement homes for senior dogs so they can receive the adequate love and care they need during their final years.

So, what’s there not to look forward to in retirement? In this article, we bring to you a compilation of the best retirement wishes to remind your colleague, friend, or boss of the jolly fun that awaits them as they bid adieu to their everyday regime!

Some of them even let you express your envy towards their great fortune. So, let’s dive into the best list of 150+ retirement wishes!

Read more: Fun Ways to Wish Your Coworkers a Happy Birthday

How to draft good retirement wishes?

The biggest tip for writing good retirement wishes is personalizing the message.

Any wish that is redolent with a personal experience or anecdote is going to instantly spread a smile across the face of the recipient.

You could write about how the person retiring has made a difference in your experience as part of the office and how grateful you might be to them in that regard. 

Apart from personalizing, heart-felt wishes with prayers asking the Lord to bless them with good health and well-being as a new leaf turns in their lives is a nice way to say goodbye to a colleague or your boss.

If you’re penning down a retirement note for a close friend, then you might want to sneak in an inside joke to make them laugh at the thought of parting with their pal. 

Another great way to write a good retirement wish is to accompany it with the hope of remaining in touch with the departing whether it may be a friend or a familiar coworker.

Letting them know that they will be missed and having someone to call in time of need is a great way to say goodbye. 

A wish that strikes a sweet balance between fun and emotion is always well-received and appreciated, so here we have a list of wishes that you can take inspiration from while writing a meaningful message to the envy-inspiring, retiring fellow in your proximity! 

Also read: 200+ Work Anniversary quotes, wishes and messages for your colleagues


Quotes for retirement wishes 

retirement wishes quote

  1. Retirement is the world’s longest coffee break. Enjoy your coffee!
  2. "For many, retirement is a time for personal growth, which becomes the path to greater freedom." –Robert Delamontague
  3. "Retirement is not the end of the road. It is the beginning of the open highway." –Unknown
  4. "There is a whole new kind of life ahead, full of experiences just waiting to happen. Some call it 'retirement.' I call it bliss." –Betty Sullivan
  5. "When a man retires and time is no longer a matter of urgent importance, his colleagues generally present him with a watch." –R.C. Sheriff
  6. "Retirement is a time to enjoy all the things you never had time to do when you worked." –Catherine Pulsifer
  7. "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want." –Bill Waterson
  8. "A lot of our friends complain about their retirement. We tell 'em to get a life." –Larry Laser
  9. "Retirement means doing whatever I want to do. It means choice." –Dianne Nahirny
  10. “There are far better things ahead than we ever leave behind.” - C.S. Lewis
  11. “Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.”  – Fred Rogers
  12. It’s time to say goodbye, but I think goodbyes are sad and I’d much rather say hello. Hello to a new adventure.” - Ernie Harwell
  13. “Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Also read: 200 Life Changing Monday Motivation Quotes to Start the Week

retirement wishes quote
  1. “Retirement is like a long vacation in Las Vegas. The goal is to enjoy it to the fullest, but not so fully that you run out of money.” – Jonathan Clements 
  2. "To me, retirement means doing what you have fun doing." - Dick Van Dyke
  3. “There is nothing to regret with a job well done.” - Joe Garcia
  4. “Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.” - Eleanor Roosevelt
  5. “You are never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream.” - C.S. Lewis
  6. “Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the great mystery into which we were born.” - Albert Einstein
  7. “There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” - Sophia Loren
  8. “Days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun. If you do not, the sun will soon set, and you with it.” - Marcus Aurelius
  1. “The joy of retirement comes in those everyday pursuits that embrace the joy of life; to experience daily the freedom to invest one's life-long knowledge for the betterment of others; and, to allocate time to pursuits that only received, in years of working, a fleeting moment.” – Byron Pulsifer
  2. “A thriving new beginning can be and should be a time for amazing engagement, growth, connections, contributions, and amazing possibilities.” – Lee M. Brower
retirement wishes quote by ella harris
  1. “Retirement is wonderful if you have two essentials – much to live on and much to live for.” – Author Unknown
  2. “For many, retirement is a time for personal growth, which becomes the path to greater freedom.” – Robert Delamontague
  3. “Retirement is not the end of the road. It is the beginning of the open highway.”  – Author Unknown
  4. “Don't act your age in retirement. Act like the inner young person you have always been.” – J. A. West
  5. “For retirement brings repose, and repose allows a kindly judgment of all things.” – John Sharp Williams
  6. “Living each day as if it were your last doesn't mean your last day of retirement on a remote island. It means to live fully, authentically and spontaneously with nothing being held back.” – Jack Canfield
  7. “A retired husband is often a wife's full-time job.” – Ella Harris

Also read: 25 funny and lighthearted office pranks ideas to use at work

Funny retirement wishes

Funny retirement wishes
  1. Enjoy your days of sleeping late and doing nothing! All the best in your retirement.
  2.  I am a little jealous, to be honest! Enjoy your retirement!
  3. Retirement isn’t really all as great as it sounds. No pressure from the boss, zero deadlines, no company meetings to enjoy—how will you manage?
  4. Retirement is like graduation- only this time, you will do a master on laziness!
  5. Now you’re rich and fat, what can be a perfect time for retiring? You’ve chosen the right path!
  6. Now you get a new boss who knows about your true work ethic, organizational skills, and excuses. Spouses make the toughest bosses. Good luck!
  7. Seeing your performance over the years you’ve worked, I’m sure that you’ll be very good at doing nothing!
  8. No matter how many college degrees, skill development courses and professional accreditations you have received, there is one more qualification you will still receive after your retirement – A master of Doing Nothing. Congratulations.
  9. Congratulations on availing of the longest vacation of your life! Enjoy your infinite free time and do not tell us how much fun you are having.
  10. If this workplace were a hell, which it is, you’d be one of the greatest devils of it, and you’ll be missed.
  11. People who call sloths the laziest animals surely have never met you. You were born to retire, buddy.
  12. I’m jealous that every day of the week will be the weekend for you. Have a good life ahead!
  13. Welcome to the old man club. It’s time to gossip about joint pain, high bp, sugar level, Et cetera Et cetera.

Funny retirement wishes
  1. If life is a meal, retirement is its dessert. To enjoy it, stay fit, and don’t let your blood sugar go high!
  2. What do you call a person who is happy on Monday? Retired.
  3. Congrats on your re-tire-ment. Have a wheelie good time!
  4. No more setting the alarm clock to snooze. You've just found the button for retirement. 
  5. You now have a good reason to blow all of your life's savings!
  6. I'm happy about your retirement. You will now be compelled to work on a never-ending project called "doing nothing" that will consume all of your time. 
  7. The body ages, the heart becomes fonder, and the mind gets younger after retirement. Best of luck managing an aged body with a fresh mind. 
  8. Now you can take 6 month holidays twice a year because you are retired. Happy retirement!
Funny retirement wishes

  1. Congratulations on never calling for sick leave again. Happy retirement!
  2. Say goodbye to tensions and hello to pension.
  3. Congratulations on finishing work-life, you lazy-bone! You may now return to your authentic self. 
  4. Over the years, you've engaged in conflict at work with your superiors, subordinates, managers, and coworkers. After retiring, you'll fight at home with your wife, kids, and grandchildren. Life goes on as usual. 
  5. The only thing that will make you understand how much time you wasted trying to be an adult when, at the end of the day, you can go back to being a child is retirement. A fantastic time. 

Also read: 30+ Funny Back to Work Memes to help your Return to Office

Retirement wishes for friends

Retirement wishes for friends

  1. Didn’t you only just start yesterday? Happy Retirement, friend!
  2. Don’t be scared of retirement. It’s a perfect opportunity to start doing what you’ve always wanted to do. Do you want to skydive? Maybe you want to learn how to play trumpet? I’ll be there for you no matter what. Happy retirement, mate! 
  3. I can’t believe you’ve finally retired. I’m so jealous of you! I hope you will enjoy your new amazing life and share your experiences with me. Happy retirement, buddy!
  4. Retirement is not as scary as you may think. In fact, it’s really fun. Now you are free to do whatever you want to and nobody will judge you for that. Can’t wait to see what the future holds for you. Enjoy! 
  5. You have no responsibilities anymore and can do all the things you enjoy! I’m sure you will be missed at your work, but retirement is good for you. You deserved it. Can’t wait for you to realize how amazing retirement is! 
  6. It’s time to embrace your future and reflect on your past. I know you are happy with what you did with your life. I’m happy for you as well. May this new chapter of your life be full of wonderful surprises! 
  7. Heaven is a place on Earth, and retirement is definitely a part of it. It can be a little bit scary at first, but we’ll figure out what to do with the amount of time that we have now. It’s time to watch cooking shows and play chess all day long. Happy retirement! 
  8. It feels good to have some spare time, isn’t it? Reading books and watching documentaries may bring you as much joy as working. I know you will get used to being retired. I will help you with that, bud. 
  9. Happy retirement to the oldest dinosaur on planet Earth! Can’t believe that my dear friend is retiring. I hope that you will not get bored from doing nothing and enjoy your endless free time. Godspeed.
  10. Retirement is the biggest blessing. You will finally have time to sleep all day long and do nothing 24/7, eating pizza during your breaks. Just like you’ve always wanted. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do. Happy retirement!
Retirement wishes for friends
  1. Another chapter has come to an end. But you have plenty of new chapters to come. You have to be proud of yourself for working so hard for all these years, and now it’s time for you to enjoy your free time. 
  2. Retirement doesn’t mean that you’re old. It means that you’ve been working hard enough to deserve a very long vacation. Wishing you a lot of beautiful adventures and happy moments with the ones you love. 
  3. You are a real professional who deserved the best. On this retirement day I wish you to be always so positive and loving life. You are worth it.
  4. Have you prepared a new list of works? You will have a lot of free time. Be ready for everything!
  5. Long sleep, walks in the fresh air, work in the garden and many such things are waiting for you. I know that your retirement will be full of enthusiasm.
  6. New time, new challenges, new you. Happy retirement. Wishing you strong health and lots of joyful moments every day!
  7. Are you ready for a new you? I hope you will discover something interesting at this stage. Let‘s have some fun!
  8. Heartiest congratulations. Wish you to start a new life without worries and full of happiness. Start everything from zero!
  9. “I congratulate you for being your own boss from now on. Order yourself for freedom and careless life that no one has ever ordered you in your life. Highs of success you have achieved, now achieve the highs of a joyful life. Happy retirement. ”
  10. Retirement means starting a new life, planning for your dreams, and doing things you never thought to do. This life is full of surprises and fun, so never let the time go and make the best use of the time. Wish you a great retirement.

Also read: Would you rather questions for work

Short retirement wishes

Short retirement wishes
  1. May this next chapter of life bring you endless time to do the things you love!
  2. Hope your retirement is as rockin’ as you imagined it would be!
  3. I’m so happy to see you retire with so many wonderful years left to be enjoyed!
  4. Retirement — the only time in your life when it’s okay to spend your entire life savings. Congratulations, you made it!
  5. When you get tired of your two new best friends, the bed and living room recliner, remember to give your old friend a call! Happy Retirement!
  6. You’ve finally retired! You now have all the time in the world to do all those things you haven’t quite got around to. Let me know if you want some company!
  7. Your new quarterly goal: avoiding anything that resembles work! Congratulations on your retirement!
  8. If you put in as much effort enjoying your retirement as you have working with this company, it is sure to be a success!
  9. Just because you’re retired doesn’t mean you stop taking coffee breaks. Be sure to schedule me in!
  10. To one of the best people who has worked at this office: I’m sad to see you go but wishing you all the best in this next stage of life!
  11. You embody hard work and optimism. Thank you for bringing such joy to the office. We will miss you!
Short retirement wishes

  1. You’ve been promoted to the retirement stage of your life! Congrats!
  2. Your new KPIs are relaxation investment and happiness return. Happy retirement!
  3. Congrats, you’re now your own boss!
  4. You’ve inspired me to always stay passionate. A colleague like you is irreplaceable. Happy retirement, it’s well deserved!
  5. Cheers to your retirement as a person who gave their all! May this be the best and most rewarding year of your life. Enjoy!
  6. Best wishes for your retirement. Here's to watching your grandkids instead of meetings and presentations.
  7. Retirement is an everlasting vacation, so enjoy it! Congrats!
Short retirement wishes

  1. Put on your dancing shoes now that you've made your mark and paid your dues! It's time to party for retirement!
  2. Can you say senior discount? Enjoy all the benefits of retirement!
  3. Now it's time for you to learn how to make your own coffee! Congratulations on your retirement!
  4. Good luck and congrats! I'm excited to see what awesome endeavors you will take on next.
  5. Thank you for being a mentor, friend and one of the hardest workers I know. Enjoy retirement!
  6. In your retirement, I wish you pleasant times, good health and great people by your side.
  7. Congratulations! Wishing you the best of retirement filled with fun and happiness.

Also read: 60+ Best Work Memes to Guarantee a Good Day at the Office

Retirement wishes for coworkers

Retirement wishes for coworkers

  1. We'll remember the fantastic work you did for this company. We've appreciated your time and dedication. Congratulations on your retirement.
  2. You are the kind of person that brings out the best in others! Thank you for everything you did. Wishing you a life full of success and happiness.
  3. You’ve always worked so hard at the office; now it’s time to relax and enjoy your retirement. Good luck and farewell.
  4. Often, when you think something is over and finished, something greater is just getting started. I'm happy about your retirement! 
  5. We'll never forget the outstanding job you did for this organization. We value the effort and time you have put in. I'm happy about your retirement. 
  6. I appreciate you always putting in a lot of effort, being a good colleague, and being a great friend. Go ahead and relax at this point! 
  7. We all agree that you've been a fantastic leader, and as you celebrate your retirement, we wish you the very best as you begin this new phase of your life.
  8. Working with someone who is so enthusiastic has been an honor. Even though I've only known you for a short while, it's clear that your enthusiasm has benefited our company. 
  9. It's good to see someone retire who has earned it. Do not forget to invest the same amount of time and effort into your leisure as you do in your profession. 
  10. Our many congratulations to a simple, kind-hearted and generous person. May you always be happy.
  11. No one else can fulfill your deficiency, what you have given to that company is unique. Have a great retirement!
  12. Infinite congratulations and best wishes to you, we are happy that you got the opportunity to go home.

Retirement wishes for coworkers

  1. Congratulations on stepping onto a new chapter of life. Happy retirement. 
  2. I sincerely hope you enjoy writing your upcoming chapter! Do not, however, make it dull for the readers! Enjoy your retirement! 
  3. It has been an absolute delight to work with you. You’ve always inspired me to work hard. I wish you the best of luck for your retirement.
  4. We will miss your wisdom and experience, but most of all, we will miss the encouragement you have been to us. We wish you the happiest of retirements.
  5. Remember that your contribution is enormous in our workplace. Best wishes for a happy and relaxing retired life.
  6. Retirement is not about giving up, losing yourself, slowing down, or feeling old. Retirement is about enjoying the longest holiday of life. Farewell.
  7. Work will no longer be the same, dear. You will be greatly missed, and we offer our heartfelt congratulations and prayers your way.
  8. Don’t retire with regrets about what you couldn’t do. Retire with ambitions of what you will do now. Congratulations.
  9. Cheers to one of the best workers in this office. Best wishes for your future. The way you worked all these years passionately, now enjoy your freedom passionately. Happy retirement!
Retirement wishes for coworkers

  1. Keep enjoying the things you have always wanted to do but couldn’t. May the Almighty bless you and keep you in good health.
  2. Every day is a new day. May you be happy and prosperous as always.
  3. Without you, the workplace would be empty. Now everything will not be the same as before. We will miss you every day.
  4. I hope you experience all the adventures you wanted to have after retirement and hope you enjoy every part of your life. Miss you.
  5. How wonderful were your moments with us, you have always won our hearts. Best wishes for the days ahead, dearest human being.
  6. Best wishes for your retirement. I wish you a blessed life during the days of rest and leisure.
  7. You have made every day at the workplace funnier and easier. Thanks for being such a great shoulder to lean on. May God bless you for your good deeds. Enjoy your retirement.

Read more: 50+ Best Quotes On Working From Home

Retirement wishes for boss

Retirement wishes for boss

  1. Dear boss, your retirement is life’s way of letting you know it is time you put your friends and family before your work. Happy retirement!
  2. If we think of profit and loss, your retirement is a loss for us and a profit for your family. Farewell.
  3. Retirement is the awesome reward for all the war-torn battles fought in the boardroom. Congratulations boss.
  4. We will be ecstatic if we can be even half as efficient, half as creative and half as amazing as when you were the boss. Happy retirement.
  5. There was never a dull moment or a slow day in the office when you were around. Even though you were older, your spirit was younger.
    Goodbye.
  6. Boss… I’m happy that you’re finally retiring. Now I’ll be able to tell you anything I want to without worrying about getting canned. Good luck with your retirement.
  7. It is a mixed feeling to say goodbye to you, I am sad from the bottom of my heart as you will not be here to inspire us, but I am happy too as you can live your life on your own. Happy retirement boss.
  8. Not only were you my boss, but you were also a good friend whom I could turn to throughout the years together in the company. Cheers to a well-deserved retirement!
  9. Your brilliance and wisdom have always motivated us to do better. You were not only our boss but also our mentor and friend. Your presence will be missed. Congratulations on your retirement.
  10. Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement! Your contributions to the company have been immeasurable. You are one of the pillars of this company’s success! Congratulations!
  11. Congratulations on your retirement. Without your leadership, the department will never be the same. You will be missed.
  12. Having a boss like you at work has been a blessing. Thank you for the bright light on gloomy days. Your advice, support, and cheerfulness will be missed.
Retirement wishes for boss

  1. You are more like a mentor and are less like a boss to us; you believe in freedom and free soul; without you, we miss our smiles in pressure; but be the same you are always. Happy retirement.
  2. While you were our leader, you assisted us in realizing our dreams. I hope that once you retire, you can also realize your unrealized goals. Best wishes for your retirement, boss.
  3. It can be difficult to find appropriate words of appreciation for someone as outstanding as you. Thank you for always being available when we needed you. Congratulations on your retirement, dear boss!
  4. It’s difficult to believe you’re retiring. But we know that your valuable words of wisdom will live on in our hearts forever. Congratulations! And we wish you much happiness after you retire. You will be missed.
  5. It’s time to take a break from your hectic schedule. May God help you and be with you in the next stage of your life. Happy Retirement, and may God bless you.
  6. May God bless you and assist you in realizing all of your dreams in this new chapter of your life. I wish you the best. I pray to God for a happy and healthy retirement for you.
  7. Freedom is equivalent to retirement. I hope you enjoy doing the things you previously didn’t have time for. Congratulations on your retirement!
  8. A life free of daily traffic jams and mountains of paperwork. My honorable boss, welcome to that rosy life. Congratulations on your retirement!
Retirement wishes for boss
  1. May your new chapter be exciting and full of opportunities for relaxation. Congratulations on your retirement!
  2. The lessons you taught us will always be cherished. Have a great retirement, boss!
  3. Your exemplary leadership will echo through these walls even when you retire. Congratulations!
  4. You deserve some R&R for all the great things that you’ve done here. You dedicated your life to the success of this organization. Have a happy retirement!
  5. Your constant encouragement and motivation are responsible for all of our accomplishments. Thank you very much, boss. You are our true source of inspiration. Happy retirement to you!
  6. You have been a big part of the company. Your knowledge and years of experience brought the company to where it is today. Thank you for all the hard work! We will miss you so much!

Also read: 12 Witty And Thoughtful Out-Of-Office Messages For The Holidays

Conclusion

A major chunk of the people falling into retirement worries about leaving behind a close group of friends that they have spent every day of their professional lives with.

The anxiety of plunging into an unknown territory far removed from their familiar surroundings is also amplified by the sense of loss of the social circle at work. 

So, retirement wishes reminding the retiree of the friendships that they have forged over time and the permanence of their bonds will bring a sense of joy and reassurance.

We hope that this compilation has brought to you some great messages and wishes to make the people leaving your office happy and loved. Write some lovely retirement wishes and bid your friends/coworkers a sweet farewell! 

Read more: 180 Best Who’s Most Likely To Questions for Couples, Work & Friends

FAQs: Retirement Wishes

How do you wish someone for retirement?

There are no stringent rules as to how someone should wish their friend/colleague for retirement. Usually, retirement is a celebration of a person’s loyalty and dedication towards their career and workplace for a long period of time.

It also marks a period of their lives when they get to live as they please, to do what they have also wanted to, to read and watch documentaries, to go for walks along the beach, and what not.

So, a retirement wish would ideally involve wishing someone good luck for new adventures in life and thanking them for their contributions. If they are very close to you, add in a joke or funny anecdote you share with them for a meaningful and heartfelt wish! 

What are the best retirement wishes?

The best retirement wishes are those that come straight from the heart, that holds some special meaning particular to the person they are meant for. Talking about the retiree’s irreplaceable presence in the office is a great idea for a wish that can be easily personalized.

If you know their family, you could even speak flowery of all the time they would get post-retirement to spend with their close ones.

Wishes that feature celebration of a person’s career whilst also sowing the seed for the hope of a bright and sweet tomorrow, are undoubtedly the best ones! Refer to our amazing list of the best retirement wishes for your colleague or boss or even a close friend. 

Do you tell someone happy retirement?

Yes, definitely, you do! Retirement is a period of excitement, leisure, and enjoyment with family and friends. It is a time one spends at their own pace, with nowhere to be, no clock to attend to - just bearing the fruits of their long years of labor.

Some people take trips around the world, others watch all the movies that they just couldn’t and even others read the greatest and lengthiest books penned down over ages.

So, definitely wish your coworker or family member, or friend a very happy retirement period, and wish them lots of rest and fun! 

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