Nowadays, a lot has changed in the way people work and stay connected. Employees move between companies, cities, remote and hybrid offices, while friends and family often find themselves separated by new jobs, retirement, relocation, or other life changes.
That means saying goodbye is something most of us eventually have to do—and finding the right words is not always easy.
Workplace goodbyes also happen across offices, homes, and time zones. In July 2026, 22.2% of people at work teleworked or worked from home for pay, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Pick a message that feels right, add a personal memory or note, and send it in a card, email, text, or group message.
To Draft a Good Farewell Message
Keep it personal, specific, and appropriate for your relationship with the person. Mention what you appreciated about them, include a meaningful memory or contribution, and end with a positive wish for what comes next.
Simple formula: Appreciation + specific memory or contribution + best wishes + warm closing
Example: “Thank you for always bringing calm and clarity to the team. I really appreciated your support during our busiest projects. Wishing you every success in your new role. Keep in touch!
How to Write a Professional Farewell Message
A good farewell message should be short, personal, and positive. Thank the person, mention something you appreciated, and wish them well.
Match the Tone to Your Relationship
Keep it friendly for a close coworker and more professional for a manager, senior leader, or an executive departure.
Make It Personal
Mention one specific thing you appreciated about the person, such as their support, teamwork, leadership, or a shared experience.
End on a Positive Note
Wish them success in their next role, retirement, move, or whatever comes next. You can also add “Keep in touch” if it feels natural.
What to Avoid
Avoid workplace complaints, confidential details, salary discussions, sensitive reasons for leaving, or jokes that may make the person uncomfortable.
A simple formula works well:
Thank them + mention something specific + wish them well.
80 Farewell Messages to Say Goodbye
Not sure what to write? Use these 80 farewell messages as starting points, then personalize your choice with a memory, shared experience, or detail about the person.
Short Farewell Message for Someone Retiring
Keep it warm and simple by thanking them for their contribution and wishing them well in retirement.
- “One question: Can you please take me with you?”
- “I am so happy you finally got your dream job. Happy retirement!”
- “The good thing about retirement is that you become your own boss. What’s more, you don’t need to deal with employee issues. So, enjoy!”
- “Goodbye to all the pressure, welcome to the endless leisure.”
- “Your retirement is well deserved. Thanks for all you have done over the years.”
- “I cannot believe I will be working while you nap. Enjoy your retirement!”
- “Retirement marks the end of a familiar phase and welcomes you to a new and exciting life. May you find joy in your retirement.”
- “Goodbye tension and hello pension! Congratulations!”
- “Welcome to retirement life, where you set the alarm to schedule sleep, and your work is to rest.”
- “After all you’ve done for us, it’s only fair to let the rest of the world get their turn. Best of luck!”
Looking for a short farewell message specifically for someone ending their career? See these retirement wishes for coworkers for more ideas.
Say farewell with a group eCard
Create a custom card, invite others to leave heartfelt goodbye messages, and make the moment special.
Short Farewell Message for a Coworker
A short coworker leaving message can be enough to show appreciation and wish them success in what comes next.
- “It was great to have you on our team. Thanks for being an awesome colleague. Good luck at your new job.”
- “You brought humor, energy, and a lot of good days to this team. Working with you has been a genuine pleasure, and you’ll be missed.”
- “Congratulations on your new job! I am sad to see you go.”
- “Things are not going to be the same around here without you. Your contributions and expertise were invaluable to the team.”
- “The tiring work days seemed much more enjoyable when you were around. You will be missed, but I wish you all the best moving forward.”
- “Thank you for everything you contributed to the team. Wishing you plenty of success and great people to work with in your next role.”
- “Your leaving this job is a cruel reminder that every good thing comes to an end. You might not be my colleague anymore, but you will always remain my good friend.”
- “It’s hard to imagine the team without you. Thank you for always being someone we could count on, and all the best for what comes next.”
- “It was a pleasure working with you. Thank you for your time and dedication while you worked for us. Best wishes on your new opportunity.”
- “I’ll miss your positive attitude. I loved having you as a coworker.”
If you are the person leaving, thank you messages for colleagues when leaving should focus on appreciation. Mention what the team taught you, what you enjoyed about working together, or why you will remember the experience.
For more workplace-specific inspiration, see these farewell messages to coworkers.
Short Farewell Message to a Friend
- “I am so grateful you took a chance on our friendship. Keep in touch.”
- “Thank you for being there for me through thick and thin. I can’t wait to come and visit you.”
- “You know, they say the best way to keep in touch with friends is to send them presents…just saying.”
- “May this goodbye be only momentary. May the coming days bring you personal and professional success.”
- “True friends never say goodbye to each other. They just take extended leaves from each other. Keep in touch, friend.”
- “When you miss me, remember how much you would roll your eyes at me most days.”
- “You have been a true friend through all my hard days. I’ll miss you dearly.”
- “I will force myself to say the word goodbye, but my heart will never mean it. Goodbye.”
- “Bidding farewell to a friend is like bidding farewell to half of your soul. Take care until we see each other again.”
- “I’ll miss our adventures and late-night chats. Good luck!”
If you want to make the message feel more personal, add it to a Goodbye Card with photos, memories, or notes from others.
Funny Farewell Messages
- “How much more money are they giving you? Write the number down. Double it. Throw the paper away. I don’t have that kind of money, but I can bribe you with brownies!”
- “We’ve all got our fingers crossed that your resignation gets rejected and your dog eats your acceptance letter.”
- “I’ve been waiting to sit on your chair for a while. Thanks for finally giving me the opportunity.”
- “Dear friend, I sure am going to miss you. Now, who’s going to pick up all my slack?”
- “Congratulations on successfully executing your escape plan. Best of luck at your new job.”
- “I’ll never forget you, [insert the wrong name].”
- “I know you will get an awesome salary in your new job, but there is no guarantee that you will get awesome colleagues like us. Do you still want to go?”
- “I don’t know of a harder thing to accept than watching a friend leave… especially a friend who willingly pays for my meals.”
- “I assume your office is up for grabs now?”
- “They say true friends never say goodbye, only “see you soon.” Yes, that is a threat. I will come visit you if you’re not back here soon.”
Read More: Writing Funny Farewell Cards and Comments
Farewell Messages for a Colleague
If you are looking for thank you messages for colleagues when leaving, focus on appreciation, shared experiences, and staying in touch.
- “Wishing you all the best in your next role. You’ll be missed.”
- “It was great working with you. Good luck with what comes next.”
- “Thank you for all your support. Wishing you continued success.”
- “The team won’t be the same without you. All the best.”
- “I really enjoyed working with you. Hope we stay in touch.”
- “Best wishes for your next opportunity. You deserve great things ahead.”
- “Thanks for being such a great colleague. You’ll be missed around here.”
- “Wishing you success and happiness in your new role.”
- “It’s been a pleasure working alongside you. Take care and good luck.”
- “Good luck with your next chapter. I’m glad we got to work together.”
Do you want more examples for different workplace situations? Explore these farewell messages to colleagues.
Bring your community together to say farewell
Send a group eCard filled with goodbye messages, memories, memes, and more.
Farewell Messages for a Boss
If you’re wondering how to say goodbye to your boss, focus on appreciation rather than flattery. Mention their leadership, support, mentorship, or an opportunity they gave you, then wish them well.
- “Thank you for believing in me and encouraging me to be my best.”
- “Thank you for all of your hard work and for training me. I will always aim to uphold the work ethic you brought into this role.”
- “In the years we worked together, you were my boss first and my friend second. Now, I look forward to just being your friend.”
- “Thank you for supporting me the last ___ years. I appreciate your willingness to teach.”
- “You are a compassionate and talented leader. You will be missed.”
- “Your leadership skills helped me be the person and employee I am today. Wishing you all the success moving forward.”
- “I wouldn’t be where I am today without your mentorship. Thanks for being such a great leader.”
- “Thanks for being the best boss someone could ask for. Wishing you the best with this new opportunity and continued success.”
- “Your presence will continue to have an impact on me moving forward. Thanks for your support and goodwill over the years.”
- “I will always remember the mentorship you have given me. Thank you for your hard work.”
For more ideas on saying goodbye to a manager, explore these farewell messages for a boss.
Goodbye Quotes for a Farewell Message
Quotes about saying goodbye can help when it is difficult to put your feelings into your own words.
- “The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.” — Charles Dickens
- “Parting is such sweet sorrow.” — William Shakespeare
- “Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
- “We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we will take a little of each other everywhere.” — Tim McGraw.
- “To make an end is to make a beginning.” — T. S. Eliot
- “Sadly enough, the most painful goodbyes are the ones that are left unsaid and never explained.” — Jonathan Harnisch.
- “It feels right. But it’s emotional. Saying goodbye to anything you’ve done that long is hard.” — Angela Ruggiero.
- “This is not goodbye, my darling, this is thank you.” — Nicholas Sparks
- “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
- “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.” — Henry David Thoreau
For more options organized by mood and occasion, see Kudoboard’s collection of farewell quotes.
Farewell Messages to Someone Moving
Keep the message positive by acknowledging the distance while wishing them well in their new home or city.
- “I hope you have a spare room for me to stay in when I visit. I will miss you.”
- “May your new town bring you new opportunities, adventures, and your favorite restaurant.”
- “You’re about to show everyone in the new city what a strong and loving person is.”
- “The community just won’t be the same without you.”
- “You are off to great places. I am just sad you are leaving me behind.”
- “Distance doesn’t matter when a bond is this strong. Keep in touch.”
- “I hope your new home is exactly what you hoped for. Wishing you the best.”
- “It’s time to say goodbye, but I think goodbyes are sad, and I’d much rather say hello. Hello to a new adventure.”
- “I’ll miss you, but I’m excited about your new adventure. I know you will do great things.”
- “Although you are moving away, you’ll always have a special place in my heart.”
If you want to make the message feel more personal, add it to a Goodbye Card with photos, memories, or notes from others.
Send Your Farewell Message in a Kudoboard
Once you’ve chosen the right farewell message, a Kudoboard Farewell Card gives friends, coworkers, or family members one place to add their own words, photos, GIFs, and videos.
Kudoboard is a versatile choice for both consumers and businesses looking for group greeting cards. You can create your board to be one-to-one or easily gather messages to celebrate the milestone as a group. Once the board is complete, you will be able to adapt the delivery of the board to fit your needs. You can use a Kudoboard and:
- Print it as a poster to display at a farewell party.
- Play it as a slideshow during their farewell party or on a company display TV.
- Print it as a book so the recipient can have a physical copy.
Whatever you decide to say, and however you choose to send it, saying goodbye is never easy. To help make the transition easier for everyone, send a genuine and meaningful farewell message to a coworker, friend, or loved one.
Change is scary. Using a farewell message to say goodbye can be just the thing to boost the recipient’s confidence as they embark on their new adventure with a whole lot of change.
Saying goodbye is hard. Getting the card isn’t.
Create a farewell card and easily collect goodbye messages from friends and coworkers
Frequently Asked Questions
An effective farewell message should include appreciation, a positive memory, or specific contributions, and best wishes for the person’s future.
Professional farewell messages should maintain a respectful tone, acknowledge the person’s contributions, and express gratitude without sharing overly personal or confidential information.
A meaningful retirement farewell message celebrates the person’s achievements, recognizes their dedication, and wishes them well in the next stage of life.
Here is a simple farewell message for a coworker: “Thank you for everything you contributed to the team. It has been a pleasure working with you, and I wish you continued success in your next chapter.”
Thank you messages for colleagues when leaving should focus on what you appreciated about working together. Mention the team’s support, something you learned, or a shared experience, then let people know you’d like to stay in touch.
Try: “Thank you for everything you contributed to the team. It has been a pleasure working with you, and I wish you every success in your next chapter.”
Some of the hardest goodbye quotes are:
- “Parting is such sweet sorrow.” — William Shakespeare
- “This is not goodbye, my darling, this is thank you.” — Nicholas Sparks
- “The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.” — Charles Dickens
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