Retirement is the time to get a full-fledged break from the workforce and enjoy life without the restrictions of having to go to work. Before you can retire from your job though, you need to write a retirement letter. This is the letter that officially announces your plan to retire. It’s also an opportunity to share the good moments you have had with the company and your colleagues.
The first thing you do is ensure that you qualify for all retirement benefits you are entitled to. Do some research and make sure everything is handled well in advance to allow for a smooth retirement. This will include finding out if you qualify for retiree health benefits to prevent gaps in coverage.
Do not rush to announce your retirement. Find out what the company policy is on retiring because in some companies, the moment you announce you want to retire, you are asked to leave immediately. If they keep you, then they stop inviting you to company meetings on future projects.
You want to make your exit clean but straightforward. You have been at this job for some time now and resigning means that the company must find someone to fill your shoes. Offer to train the person who will take your place (if interested) and increase your chances of getting called back for consultancy purposes. Offering to train the replacement before you leave shows that you still mean well for the company and ensures your future dealings with the company will be secure.
Discuss your plans to retire with your supervisor and do it in person before drafting the resignation letter. Do this in time so that by the time you leave, they will have found a replacement and you will have trained them. Take notes during the meeting and enquire on any burning question you need clarification on. They may give you pointers on essential details to include in your letter. If interested, inform them that you are open to consulting work.
Be positive throughout the whole process. This is not the time to bring up a rivalry you had with your colleague 2 years ago. Any grievances you have about the company should not be aired now. Make your exit graceful. It’s a small world out there and burning bridges so you can go out with a bang is the worst idea you can have.
Draft the letter after ensuring you have had a talk with the supervisor and made sure everything will move on smoothly during your transition and after.
1. Details
Some of the formalities you need to include:
2. Be formal
Make sure the letter is addressed to the specific person receiving it. Include the correct name of your boss in the salutation. Avoid familiarity, even though you and your boss are best friends. Use official language; Mr. /Mrs. Alternatively, Ms. Include their last name or full name. Also, don’t use sarcasm or jokes. This letter will be kept for future purposes.
3. Highlight your achievements
Use the letter to review some of your most significant accomplishments and the value you added to the company. This will include the number of years you have been with the company.
4. Be thankful for your tenure at the company
Thank your boss for the experiences you gained at the company. Make the tone professional and don’t use this to mention how unhappy you are with the company, even if you are. Include some of the things you learned or something you helped the company achieve. Reiterate your offer to work with the company on a freelance or consultancy basis, as discussed earlier with your supervisor.
5. Provide your contact information
Provide contact information or where they can reach you after you have left the company. This could be an email address, a phone number or current address. Also, conclude the letter by wishing the company well.
6. Proofread your letter
Ensure there are no grammar mistakes or structural mistakes. Make sure none of the sentences are awkward. You can have a friend go through it before printing the final copy. Ensure you deliver the letter to the relevant departments such as Human Resources, among others.
[Your Name]
[Address. Include the new address if moving after retirement]
[City, state, zip]
[Current Phone number]
[email.]
[Date]
[Insert supervisors name]
[their Title]
[Company name]
[Address of the company]
[city, state, zip]
[Include correct name on salutation] Dear Mr./ Mrs. [write their last name]
Kindly accept this letter which serves as my retirement notice from the [insert your current job title] at [the name of the company] effective [state the last day you will work for the company].
My time as a [insert your job role] at [insert company name] has been exciting, and I have learned a lot. In the ten years, I have worked here, I have had the opportunity to see the company grow from a small shop to a chain of restaurants spanning different cities. I have also made numerous lasting friendships and memories to last me a lifetime.
I plan to work right until the last day and would love to help with the transition of my current work to another employee. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work in the [position you held], during which I oversaw [name a great achievement the company achieved through your work].
Like we discussed earlier, I would like the opportunity to consult or work on a part-time basis at the company once my retirement begins. I have included a personal email through which you can contact me in the case said opportunity arises.
[name of company] will always be dear to me. Thank you for believing in me and giving me the chance to see it grow. May you and the company succeed in all future endeavors.
Sincerely,
[Your signature]
[position currently held at the company]
[Your name]
Remember that the retirement letter is a statement, it’s not a request to retire. You have already decided on it, and you don’t need permission. So be direct and clear in your letter, avoid beating around the bush.
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