You’re announcing your retirement–congratulations! It’s a major milestone and you should be proud of this much-deserved achievement.
Even if you’re excited about this new chapter, you might be nervous about breaking the news to your employer. This is to be expected. After all, you’ve been a loyal employee and they’ll probably be sad to see you go. Letting your employer know you’re retiring isn’t easy, but it’s a necessary step to conclude your employment on a positive note and begin a smooth transition into this next phase of your life.
Follow these tips for how to write a retirement announcement letter and use our sample retirement letter below as your template.
What is a retirement announcement?
A retirement letter is the formal notice an employee gives their company of their intentions to retire. It specifies a date for the end of their employment and outlines any transition details that are important to put into writing.
Why is it important to send a letter?
Though you may have already given your boss a vague idea that you’re retiring soon, sending a retirement letter makes it official. It’s important for the company to have documentation of your notice for their records and to kick off the official process for wrapping up your employment.
When should you make the announcement?
When it comes to sharing the news that you plan to retire, there’s a bit of a sweet spot you want to hit. Share the news too early and you risk being pushed out or made redundant earlier than you’d planned. Share it too late and you risk putting your employer in a bind and creating an awkward situation during your last days on the job.
While two weeks is the standard notice period for quitting a job, most professionals usually opt to give their employer more notice when they’re retiring; three to six months is a standard time frame. As a more tenured staff member, you hold a lot of intellectual capital pertaining to your job, and this gives you plenty of time to transition it to someone new.
What to include
Date
Specify the date you’ll end your employment early in your letter.
A thank you
Next, thank your employer for the opportunities they’ve given you. This is a good chance to cite some personal examples of how working there has advanced your career, like getting the chance to lead a team or work with creative, talented colleagues.
Some highlights of your employment
Depending on your role, you might consider touching on some of your accomplishments during your tenure at the company. This builds positive feelings and reminds your employer of the many contributions you’ve made.
Your contact information
While it will be up to your employer to hammer out the specifics of how your position will be filled, it’s a nice gesture to offer to help in the transition (within reason). If you’re open to it, share how they can reach you after your employment is complete.
A copy for HR
Your company will have its own list of boxes you need to check before you’re officially set to receive any retirement benefits to which you’re entitled. Be sure to put the notice in writing for them with a hard copy delivered to your human resources manager.
Sample retirement letter
Dear Mr. Swanson,
I’m writing to announce my upcoming retirement from Swanson Enterprises, effective March 31.
It has been an honor serving the company in various roles over the last 20 years, most recently in the position of operations manager, and I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given here. One of the highlights of my tenure was launching the annual managers’ retreat, which has grown into one of the most-anticipated company events of the year.
If I can be of assistance during this upcoming transition, I can be reached at (987) 654-3210.
I wish you the best in all future endeavors.
Sincerely,
Hillary Richards
Retirement letter template
Dear [NAME],
This letter is to inform you of my upcoming retirement from [JOB TITLE], effective [DATE].
Thank you for the many opportunities you’ve given me as an employee. It’s been a pleasure to work alongside such a talented team. One of the accomplishments I’ll look back on fondly is [ACCOMPLISHMENT].
I am happy to be of assistance during the transition. You can reach me at [CONTACT INFO].
Sincerely,
[NAME]