Wishing someone a happy retirement is a thoughtful way to delight them with meaningful words for their big transition to retired life.
However, creating a befitting happy retirement wish can be challenging as some retirees may feel confused and a bit frightened by the unknown that lies ahead of them.
That’s why your words for retirement should be supportive and encouraging, and make them feel good and confident about entering this new phase of life.
So, if you’re not quite sure what to say when someone retires, scroll down to read the best retirement wishes I could find online and use them to share some cheerful retirement sentiments.
Whether it is your friend, colleague, boss, or a beloved family member, these retirement greetings will inspire you to communicate your sincere wishes for their remarkable achievement.
Let’s take a look!
10 Best Retirement Wishes
1. “After climbing the mountain all these years, you can finally sit back and enjoy the view. Best of luck in this new chapter of your life.”
2. “Happiness is knowing that you’ve achieved your goals and because of you, the world’s a better place. Or, at the very least, our place is. You will be so missed.”
3. “It’s great to see someone retire who is as deserving as you. Make sure you work just as hard at relaxing as you have in your long career.”
4. “Now that you are done making the world a better place through your career, you can make a big difference in your grandkids’ lives. Happy retirement!”
5. “Your years of hard work have paid off, and I’m so excited for this next part of your life. Enjoy everything you may not have had time for when you were working 9-5!”
6. “Cheers to your retirement as someone who gave their all! May this be the best and most rewarding year of your life. Enjoy!”
7. “All of your sacrifices in life have successfully paid off! Enjoy the benefits of having the time to do anything and everything you’ve always desired to do.”
8. “Be proud of what you’ve accomplished, the person that you are, and the difference you’ve made in the lives of those around you. Happy retirement!”
9. “What we leave behind isn’t nearly as important as what lies ahead. The best of luck to you on your next chapter.”
10. “There are no ends or new beginnings, just transitions that take us where we’re meant to go next. Happy journey, happy everything.”
What To Write In A Retirement Card
1. “Best wishes for a safe voyage as you navigate the ship into uncharted waters. Adieu and happy retirement!”
2. “With this retirement card message, I bid adieu to a special person who set the standard for loyalty, kindness, and character. Good luck and take some well-deserved time just for you.”
3. “As the wine keeps getting better with time, so do you. You have chosen the best time to begin your retired life. Enjoy!”
4. “Be proud of your accomplishments, who you are as a person, and the impact you’ve had on the people in your life. Wish you all the best!”
5. “Best wishes for your retirement. I sincerely hope you allow yourself enough time to explore everything you’ve always wanted to.”
6. “Many congratulations on retiring! I hope your upcoming endeavors are filled with love, laughter, and joy!”
7. “I hope retirement brings you the chance to do whatever it is that you always wanted to do but didn’t get to. All the best!”
8. “Congratulations on your retirement! May your future be filled with more of what you appreciate and less of what you don’t!”
9. “Cherish every moment of this precious time and revel in this new stage of your life. Best wishes as you embark on this new journey.”
10. “You now have plenty of time to make up for lost sleep, pursue your hobbies, and enjoy the holidays. Have fun living your new life to the fullest.”
Short Retirement Wishes
1. “You’ve reached the finish line! Enjoy your retirement and your next adventures.”
2. “You’ve been promoted to the retirement stage of your life! Congrats!”
3. “Have a restful but fun and active retirement!”
4. “You have been a true professional all your life. Congratulations and best wishes!”
5. “Retirement is the world’s longest coffee break. Enjoy your coffee!”
6. “You set the standard for the rest of us with your dedication and perseverance. We’ll miss you.”
7. “Enjoy your days of sleeping late and doing nothing! All the best in your retirement.”
8. “There’s no one like you. Congratulations on your retirement, your legacy lives on!”
9. “Enjoy a long-overdue retirement and continue to chase your dreams.”
10. “Seasons pass, but your legacy lives on. Best wishes for your future.”
Retirement Wishes For A Coworker
1. “Good luck to someone who already has it in abundance. To better opportunities and more rewarding things in life!”
2. “Now is the perfect time to go over your bucket list since you have so much leisure time in your hand, don’t you think? Good luck for your future endeavors!”
3. “I knew we’d be more than mere coworkers from the moment we met. You will be missed greatly. I wish you a very joyous retirement!”
4. “You are now officially free. No more meetings, presentations, deadlines, or bossy managers. Happy retirement!”
5. “You were there for the whole team every time we needed you. What would we do without you? Good luck, and enjoy some well-earned alone time.”
6. “The legacy you leave behind is your hard work, dedication, and greatly-enjoyed humor. Without you, things will not be the same anymore.”
7. “When loyalty and perseverance are coupled, success is guaranteed. That is precisely what you brought to the table every day. Congratulations on your retirement.”
8. “You have always given your all to every project you have worked on. What if you put in that kind of effort and dedication to do nothing but relax? Happy retirement!”
9. “Even though we hope they wouldn’t, all good things in life must eventually come to an end. Thank you so much for everything.”
10. “You are among the best coworker I have ever had. How I wish you were always here to guide and encourage me. Congrats on your retirement!”
See also: 120 Farewell Messages To Say Goodbye To Your Coworker
Retirement Wishes For An Employee
1. “If persistence is the key to success, you proved it for the rest of us. My best wishes are with you! Enjoy your retirement!”
2. “Our office is not like any other place. It is because people like you make it a place of creativity, productivity, and success. Thank you for your time and effort.”
3. “You are, without a doubt, the best employee we have ever had. I appreciate your effort and time. Congratulations on your retirement!”
4. “You have been the epitome of loyalty, generosity, and integrity throughout the time you were with us. Thank you for your time.”
5. “Thank you for caring and always giving your all. Your dedication has greatly contributed to our company. We wish you all the very best in your future endeavors.”
6. “The future holds much greater significance than what we leave behind in our past. Wishing you luck as you begin your next chapter.”
7. “I want you to know that the quality, effort, and soul you put into this role every day cannot be replaced. Happy retirement; you’ll be missed dearly.”
8. “I would like to say that having you on my team has been a privilege. Enjoy your retired life!”
9. “We are proud that you have realized all your dreams duly. Your delightful presence will be missed every single day starting tomorrow. Happy retirement!”
10. “Thank you for everything you’ve done to justify your role in our company, but most importantly, thank you for being you. Wish you all the best!”
Retirement Wishes For A Boss
1. “You inspired us to achieve our goals, perform better, and evolve into our best selves. Thank you so much for everything.”
2. “You’re proof that it doesn’t require a bossy person to be a leader. We will miss your confidence, passion, and hard work more than you can imagine. Congrats on your retirement!”
3. “I genuinely appreciate the time and effort you invested in helping me become the professional I am today. You have been a fantastic boss. Wish you a happy retirement!”
4. “Even after retirement, you’ll always be our guide, our leader. I wish you the best as you start this new phase of your life.”
5. “Your retirement marks the end of an era. I wish you joy as you begin this new chapter of your life. Happy retirement, boss!”
6. “There are bosses, and then there are extraordinary people like you. Thanks a ton for being a mentor, a role model, and a leader to me. Happy retirement; you earned it.”
7. “You’ve left behind an admirable legacy of great work ethics and first-rate professionalism. We hope you’ll keep making a positive difference in society with your passion and enthusiasm.”
8. “You’re one of the best people I’ve known in this lifetime. I wish I could be half as efficient as you are now when I reach your age. Happy retirement!”
9. “Even though it is sad that you are leaving us, the guidance that I’ve received from you since the time I joined our company will be enough to help me survive and thrive. Enjoy your retirement!”
10. “How does one identify the difference between a mentor, a friend, and a boss? One cannot when it comes to you. Happy retirement!”
Retirement Wishes For A Mentor
1. “You have been a great mentor throughout the time you were here. Now, it’s time to take some well-deserved time off and relax. Happy retirement!”
2. “You helped me find a footing in the department; since then, you have been my mentor. Even though it is hard to see you leave, I hope you enjoy every day of this retirement.”
3. “You’re the one that welcomed me warmly and with open arms when I joined this company. You’re the best mentor one could ever ask for, and I sincerely thank you for everything. Happy retirement!”
4. “It is still unbelievable to me that you are all set to retire. I’ll never forget how you dedicatedly mentored me and always had my back. Happy retirement, you’ll be greatly missed!”
5. “Your commitment to the company is unparalleled, and your guidance and mentoring have helped me a great deal. I wish you a happy retirement.”
6. “I’ll forever be grateful for the time I spent working with you. You not only challenged me to perform better but also helped me grow professionally. Happy retirement!”
7. “You made it so easy for me when I first entered this office. I’m forever grateful and indebted for all the support and encouragement I received from you. I wish you a very happy retirement.”
8. “The entire team feels incredibly grateful for all of the hard work you did for the company. We wish you a very happy retirement, even though we will miss you every day.”
9. “As you embark on this new phase of life, I wish you peace, happiness, prosperity, and good health. Thanks for being such a wonderful mentor and an even greater friend!”
10. “I hope your retirement years are as wonderful as the time you spent mentoring me. Congrats on retirement, you got this!”
Retirement Wishes For A Friend
1. “Happy trails to you, my longtime friend. Wishing you clear skies and sunny weather ahead. Best wishes and good luck with your retirement.”
2. “I’m happy about your retirement, ma dear friend. After a lifetime of hard work, you deserve it! I hope you’ll keep leading a happy and healthy life.”
3. “Friends don’t let friends retire without a good bottle of wine. Here’s a toast to you!”
4. “Dear friend, this is your chance to enjoy life after work! Best wishes for a wonderful and long retirement!”
5. “Remember retirement is an adventure! Especially if you count trekking out of bed, climbing on sofas, diving into takeout… Have fun.”
6. “I am so glad you’re retiring after years of dedication and hard work, my friend. Now you can work with me on ticking off our bucket list.”
7. “Finally, the day to retire has come. Remember to schedule me in as you make plans for all the stuff we love doing together.”
8. “When you get tired of your two new best friends — the bed and living room recliner — remember to give your old friend a call!”
9. “Dear friend, congratulations on achieving the greatest accomplishment possible: no longer working! Happy retirement!”
10. “Congratulations! You’ve had a great career and I’m so glad you’ll have more time to spend with yourself, with your family, and with friends like me!”
See also: 100 Awesome Quotes About Spending Time With Friends
Retirement Wishes For Family Members
1. “Wishing you all the best as you retire. Knowing you, you’ll still be busy as ever, but at least it will be with things you love doing!”
2. “You’ve worked hard for so many years. Now you deserve to relax and take it easy for a change. Enjoy it!”
3. “Congratulations on your retirement! We’re all proud of you and you deserve all the wonderful things to come. Can’t wait to be able to spend more time with you!”
4. “Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something more amazing. Congratulations on your retirement.”
5. “You’ve worked hard for your team and for your family for many years. Glad you’ll have more time to spend with the family and more time to spend on your favorite hobbies. Happy retirement!”
6. “So happy that you’re going to retire! I cannot wait to see you more and to be able to spend more time with you. You’ve worked so hard and you deserve to relax and retire.”
7. “Much like life, work is a journey. Now that this leg of the trip is over, I am so excited to see what comes next for you.”
8. “In my eyes, you were successful not only at your job but at winning over my heart. I can’t wait to spend more time together in your next chapter.”
9. “It is time for you to enjoy all the perks that retirement offers, rightfully. Waste no time and do everything that you love. Happy retirement!”
10. “Success comes from knowing you did your best to be your best. It should feel good knowing that you were at the top of your game. Congrats!”
Funny Retirement Wishes
1. “Just when the wife thinks she got rid of the kids living in the house, the husband decides to retire. Have fun!”
2. “Goodbye to the coats and ties, and hello to floral shirts and Bermuda shorts. You are officially retired now. Hawaii is eagerly waiting to embrace the funny you.”
3. “Retirement is great — you can finally do nothing without being worried about getting caught.”
4. “I never agreed that you could retire, pal. Now, who’s going to cover for me and save my back? Anyway, best wishes!”
5. “When you retire you switch bosses; from the one who hired you to the one who married you. Enjoy retirement!”
6. “Congratulations on your retirement! Your perks include taking naps during work hours and staying at home on weekdays. Enjoy your limitless freedom.”
7. “Leave early meetings behind and say welcome to early bird specials! Wish you a very happy retirement to you!”
8. “What do you call someone truly happy and carefree on a Monday morning? Retired. Big congrats!”
9. “Statistically, you’re now more likely to die than if you’d carried on working. All the best!”
10. “No one actually stops working, they just get a new job. I’m sure your wife will have plenty of work for you. Enjoy!”
Final Thoughts
Sharing retirement wishes with someone you cherish is a meaningful way to celebrate their achievement and their long-awaited milestone.
Whether you write them a nice happy retirement message on a card or congratulate them in person, your retirement words will convey feelings of appreciation and best wishes for their future.
Until next time!