Retirement Congratulations Messages

Page Sections

• Examples of Retirement Congratulations Wishes
• Funny Retirement Messages
• Suggestions for a Great Message

What to Write in a Retirement Card

Retirement wishes can be difficult to write. Wishing the person a great retirement and acknowledging their work years is the basis of a good retirement message. Here are some tips and examples to use to help you express what you want to say. Choose an example you like best for your deserving retiree, and then use the tips to make it better.
Much depends on your relationship to the retiree. If you are someone's boss, then your retirement wishes will be different than if you are the retiree's grand daughter. For example, a supervisor might write:

• "Congratulations on your retirement. It has been a pleasure working with you. I am wishing you a relaxing, fun, and long retirement. Don't think too much about this place."

A son or daughter might write:

• "Dad, I am happy for you that you finally get to retire. I hope we can spend some more time together. Feel free to take your grand kids any time you want."
  

Here are plenty more examples to help you express what you want to say.

• You are a person I really admire because you are a person who gets to retire.
• I'm wishing you a long, healthy, and happy retirement!
• I'm glad you finally get to retire. You deserve it. You've worked hard!
• You have been one of the best employees I have ever had. I know that you will be just as productive in your retirement pursuits. Good luck! You will be missed.
• I am glad you are retiring. I am planning on hanging out with you more now.
• Your work years are over. Now your fun years begin!
• I have to admit, I am a little jealous of you. I wish I was retiring.
• Your retirement is probably just as welcomed by the company, since you can now be replaced by someone much less experienced and less expensive. The reality is that you can never actually be replaced.
• If you put as much effort into enjoying your retirement as you have all the years you've been working, you’ll have an amazing, productive, dynamic and long lasting retirement. You deserve it!
• I'm glad you get to retire while you still have many good and capable years of life left in you! Congratulations!
• Now that you've gone through birth, crawling, walking, school, and many years of work, you can finally relax!
• As you move into this next chapter of your life, I wish you all the best.
• Life is so much better when you don't have to follow an agenda or set an alarm clock.
• You have spent your time doing valuable work. Now you can spend your time enjoying valuable interests.
• Every day is a weekend now! Enjoy your long weekend!

Funny Examples

Use these funny retirement messages when you know the retiree well, and you know he or she can take a joke. Pick one you think the retiree will think is funny.

• Have fun in your retirement! Follow these words of wisdom. 'Don't do anything I wouldn't do.'
• I always thought of you as a permanent fixture at work. I guess we'll have to figure out how to get by without you.
• It's exciting to know that you are leaving the workforce! I bet it's exciting for you too.
• Now is the time to experience the part of childhood that was stolen from you by school and work!
• You always did work hard at not having to work. Now that you're retired, you don't have to work as hard at not working.
• Now that you are retired, you get an even tougher boss... Your wife!
• I bet your company is really glad to see you go. After that many years your salary was probably worth two or three younger, more energetic workers.
• I don't know why you are even retiring. You know you won't be able to keep from working, you workaholic!
• I thought you retired several years ago, you are just finally making it official just now. I haven't seen you actually work in a long time.
• You may be ready to retire, but is your wife/husband ready?
• Retirement is the last stage of your life. I hope you make it as long in retirement as you did in your career.
• I'm glad you finally retired. Now I can have your job.
  
• My therapist said that I should be open to talking about my feelings with others. Right now I feel envious.
  

Suggestions for Your Message

• If you are envious of the retiree, then tell him. It is actually sincere to tell the retiree that you are envious. He or she will probably feel even more privileged.
  
• Be sensitive to some of the emotions that a retiree will be feeling. Retirees can feel loss just like someone who has lost a person, relationship, or social status. Other retirees may feel extremely happy and have no feelings of loss. Those retirees are likely to be more family oriented individuals who will want to spend more time with family in retirement.
• Make plans to see the retiree more and communicate that in your message. If your mom or dad is retiring, he or she may not know what to do with all the extra time. Make plans in your retirement message to hang out more.
• Be funny and be personal. Retirement card messages are all about being funny. Retirement is supposed to be a happy occasion, so there are no taboo things to write. Just don't make jokes about the person dying soon. You can make fun of age, work ethic, etc.  When you make the retirement joke personal to the retiree, then it's even better.