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Updated September 12, 2023

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A retirement letter is an official notice stating an individual’s resignation from their position and to request any retirement benefits. Due to retirement commonly being a well-thought-out process, it’s best to give the employer six (6) to twelve (12) months’ notice. An individual that is seeking retirement is probably a highly skilled worker within the organization. Therefore, it’s best to allow the employer a proper time-period to prepare for the individual’s departure.

What to Include

Though not strictly necessary, it may be helpful to suggest modifications to work duties, or other provisions to make the transition period more comfortable. Since this letter announces a resignation that will close out a career, the author has license to be more expressive than might otherwise be standard – especially if the tenure has been long at the company.

As a formal written notification, the resignation letter should include:

• The intended final date of work
• Any provisions for the transition, if relevant

How to Use a Retirement Resignation Letter (4 steps)

1. Offer Thanks
2. Detail History
3. Write Plans
4. Last Day

1. Offer Thanks

Try to be gracious and let colleagues know that you value the time that you’ve spent together. Don’t be saccharine or insincere, but share honest feelings.

2. Detail History

If you’ve been at the company for long enough, you could probably write a book on your experiences. That’s not the purpose of this resignation letter, of course,

but providing a basic chronology can help to frame the significance of your time there.

3. Write Plans

What will you be doing in the next chapter? Traveling? Spending time with family? Pursuing hobbies or volunteer work? It’s not necessary to lay out a detailed plan – just give some basics so that colleagues will know what’s next in store.

4. Last Day

Many companies organize sendoffs for their employees, especially for those with tenure who are capping off their careers. Anticipate some celebration, and do not be surprised if your letter is shared with the broader workplace.

How to Write (Format)

Your retirement resignation letter should begin with a header that states the contact information of the sender and addressee as well as the date. Following that, the body of the letter is where you’ll mention your plans to retire and on what specific date. Within the letter body, you can also express gratitude for the employment opportunity, assuming that your work experience was positive. Finally, you’ll want to write a short conclusion to summarize your thoughts.

Header

The header used for this letter will be standard; it should simply state your contact details, the date, and the contact details of your boss (or whoever the letter is addressed to). See our example below for a detailed look at how the header should be formatted.

Example Header

Eliza Frank
1001 Parkway St.
New Hamville, CA 90211
(123) 123-1234

July 1, 2017

Ronald D. Daniels
Chief Executive Officer
Daniels Paving Co.
2001 Yellow Pl.
New Hamville, CA 90221

Dear Mr. Daniels,

Body

When looking at our example below, you will notice that the first paragraph of the body mentions right away the intent of the letter. It states that the individual is retiring and includes their final day of work. Following that, the rest of the body can be customized to your particular circumstance. If you’ve had a great employment experience, feel free to express gratitude or share some personal experiences that come to mind which reflect your appreciation of your time spent at your occupation.

Example Body

After much deliberation, I have decided to throw in the towel and officially retire from my position as Vice President of Daniels Paving Co. My last day will be September 1, 2017.

It has certainly been an amazing ride throughout these past ten years. We have achieved such great heights and become one of the most successful paving companies in New Hamville. When my last day finally arrives and I walk out the office doors, I will be able to look back with pride on what we have accomplished.

I would like to thank you for the mentorship you’ve given me during my tenure with the company. It was an honor to work alongside you and learn how to become a true professional. You took a chance when hiring me and I will always be grateful for the amazing opportunity.

Conclusion

The final portion of the letter is the conclusion. Nothing here needs to be overly expressive, just a simple final thought followed by a valediction will be sufficient.

Example Conclusion

Like all good things, my time at Daniels Paving Co. must come to an end. I look forward to hearing of what new achievements the future has in store for this amazing organization.

Your Friend,

Eliza Frank

Delivering the Letter

When delivering the letter, you might find it best to personally hand it to your employer as opposed to writing an email or sending it by mail. A hand-delivered retirement letter has more of an impact on the individual and it’s certainly the most professional way to resign. You should also be sure to send a copy of the letter to Human Resources so that they can begin the process of implementing your benefits (if applicable).

Sample 1

Sample 2

Sample 3