Are you ready to retire? It is best practice to officially let your employer, colleagues and staff members know by writing a resignation letter. This is an exciting time. You have accomplished various things during your time at the organization and are now ready to move to a new chapter of your life.
Whether you are planning to use this time to check things off your to-do retirement list or if you are simply looking to spend some time to yourself or with your family, there is a lot to look forward to. However, before starting your retirement plans, you must formally resign from your role. Hence why you need to know how to draft a retirement letter. A retirement letter is a sort of resignation letter that lets your company know that your time at the company is coming to an end.
What to include in your retirement letter
Key things to include in your resignation letter are:
- Your name
- Job title
- company name
- Notice duration
- Your last day at work
This is your last chance to formally thank your employer for the time you have worked with them and for the opportunities you have had and let them know how much you valued each moment you had at work with them. And even though you are looking forward to retirement, you’ll miss working with them and would like to stay in touch with them in the future.
How to give your notice of retirement
Retirement marks a new chapter of your life. Keep in mind that you are leaving behind a job that you were well qualified for, with years of experience to share. Retiring means that you will be leaving an empty position that may not be so easy to fill. Before sending in your letter, make sure that you discuss your plans with your employer in person and provide them enough notice to make the necessary adjustments.
Here is what should do when issuing your notice of retirement:
- Familiarize yourself with the company policies: In as much as you might be excited to retire right away, it is important that you learn about your company’s specific policies on retirement. The more information you garner about the retirement process, the smoother the whole discussion with your employer will go.
- Notice period: before handing in your resignation letter, give some thought to how much notice you’ll give your employer. This is usually governed by the company’s policies on retirement, but the standard period is usually two weeks. This is important in ensuring that the management has enough time to get your replacement and is duly prepared to ensure a smooth transition.
- Offer to help with the transition: since you have gained more experience, you are an asset for training your replacement. After all your replacement will have big shoes to fill and who’s better to train them than the person who was in that position?
- Stay positive: thank your employer for your experience with the company and for giving you the opportunity to work for them. Resist any temptation to bring up any negative this or attribute you may have encountered with them as there is no reason to air your grievances at this point.
Sample Retirement Letters
Retirement Letter to Your Boss/Supervisor
Dear Mr. Christopher
I would like to notify you that I am retiring from my position at ABC company on 30th Aug 2020.
Thank you for the opportunity to work for you. Your leadership shaped my career, and I have enjoyed every moment on your team. It is now time for me to move into this next phase of my life.
I would be happy to help you out with the transition in any way I can. Kindly let me know how I can be of assistance to you during this period. I have uploaded my contact information should you need to reach me after I leave the company.
Sincerely,
Tim Woods.
Retirement Letter to Your Entire Staff
To the entire team,
I am excited to inform you that I would be retiring from ABC company as the chief sales and marketing consultant effective 30th Aug 20xx.
I would like to thank you all for your continued support and kindness throughout the years I have been at the company. I have gathered so much from working with you, and I have this team to thank for my success at the company. Even though I am excited to start this next phase of my life, I will miss seeing you daily.
Kindly let me know if there is anything I can do to help with this transition.
Thank you all,
Tim woods
Tips for writing a retirement letter
After informing your employer of your plans to retire, this letter should serve as your formal notice. You can decide to write this letter as an email or a business correspondence, but either way, it should be free of abbreviations, typos, grammatically correct and checked for perfection.
- Give a date: early in your letter, give a specific date for your retirement. This will psychologically prepare your employer for your exit.
- Mention your successes at the company: consider reviewing the value you added to the company. Include the number of years you’ve worked for the company and remind your employer of your contributions.
- Express gratitude: your retirement letter is the ideal place to thank your employer for a great employment opportunity and experience. If you are unhappy with something about your job, don’t mention it.
- Offer your services: Most employers prefer consulting with their ex-employees when it comes to grave issues that they were best suited for. Offer them a chance to work with you after retirement.
- Send the letter to the HR: to ensure that your letter has been received and that everything you need during and after retirement is processed in good time, ensure that you send the letter to the human resource or any other department with similar capabilities.
- Contact information: if you are planning in moving out of town or state after your retirement, make sure that you provide your employer with your forwarding address and any other way to contact you should they need to.
Your retirement letter is a great opportunity for you to leave a strong legacy with your employer and colleagues. Starting off a new chapter of your life is never easy, so taking each step one at a time can make the entire process seamless. Whether you have been with the company for decades or just a few years, your retirement letter is your professional way to resign.