“Congratulations on your new job, we wish you all the best,” You will likely have to utter these words more than once, and this can also be tough to say to an employee who is leaving your organization.  It’s never easy watching someone go, especially long-time employees that have commanded much respect and admiration during the course of their time at your company. Employees resign and move on for many different reasons. Specific long-time employees may be heading for retirement. Or perhaps their husband, wife, or partner has accepted a position in a different city and they must go with them. Some employees are faced with resigning to deal with the illness of a loved one, whether a sick parent or sick partner. Certain employee resignations are due to their own illnesses. While other employee resignations come because they are unhappy with the current state of their career. And then there are employees who simply know it is just time to move onto the next stage of their life – whatever that may be. In any case, you need to be prepared with the proper ways to handle employee resignations and the etiquette behind extending them goodbye wishes, wherever they are headed.

Congratulations on your new job

One of the most common reasons an employee will leave is to take a higher career path. And if you have a good relationship with them, no matter how much you are disappointed that they are leaving, a “congratulations on your new job” is in order. While you may wonder what you could have done to keep them there, don’t, the time has passed, don’t try to renegotiate if they have already accepted the new position because in their mind they have already moved on. What you can do is show them how much they were appreciated.

After you and your employee have documented their resignation with a signed and dated resignation letter, agree upon how you will announce it to the rest of the team. A companywide email or words of congrats at your next office meeting are two good ways to let the rest of the team know. See if the employee who is leaving wants to include personal contact information in an email so others can keep in touch. You may also want to decide if the name of the new company they will be joining will be included. If this is an employee you trust and value you will likely be delighted to have them wrap up loose ends, upon providing their two weeks’ notice. Maybe you will not require the full two weeks, but this time allows them to organize their work into a concise package for their replacement. The time allows you to either locate a proper replacement and train that replacement or for the employee to help train someone internally, it additionally gives you the opportunity to plan a proper ‘congratulations on your new job’ party. First off, pick out the perfect congratulations card and have the entire office sign it. You can customize your congratulations card with personalized text and even include photographs of you and your employees. You can choose to include your own verse in the congratulations card or pick from congratulations card verses that are expertly crafted. Here are some suggestions:

1. Congratulations on your new job. Wishing you all the best.
2. Congratulations on a job well done.
3. Warmest congratulations to you, and best wishes for the future.
4. You deserve nothing but the best.
5. We will remember you with warm thoughts and memories. Best wishes to you in the future!
6. We wish you the best of luck in all your future endeavors.
7. Your years of service to this organization are much appreciated. Congratulations on your new job, they are lucky to have you.
8. Your career takes you down many different paths. We are all thankful that for a time that path was ours. Congratulations on your new job.
9. To your new and exciting career path – congratulations!
10. Any company would be lucky to have you. We sure were. To your new position – may it bring you all the prosperity and happiness that you deserve.

A ‘congratulations on your new job’ party can be organized at the office or an outside venue. You can send another companywide email to notify the guests or create personalized congratulations party invitations. While an event outside the office can sometimes be nice, a catered lunch during the workday and a few kind words can also be a good way for you and your employees to bid farewell. You may even want to give a gift like a personalized plaque, a bottle of wine, an engraved pen, a gift basket filled with candy, snacks, or coffee products, or even something a bit more personal if you are in-tune with what they like.

Congratulations on your retirement

Another common reason a long-time employee will leave your organization is retirement. You can follow a very similar format for those leaving for this reason. A retirement card, a companywide announcement, and a retirement party with corresponding retirement invitations are all classy ways to celebrate an employee’s departure. Retirement gifts are also nice, along with an included message of appreciation. Here are some retirement card messages you can try:

1. Your years of dedication have improved our company in so many ways. You will be greatly missed. Enjoy this exciting new chapter in your life. Congratulations on your retirement!
2. We wish you all the best for your retirement.
3. You have brought many great years to this company. Enjoy your retirement.
4. To the golden years! Congrats on your retirement.
5. Take the time now to enjoy some of life’s most special gifts. (You can even list some of these ‘special gifts’ like their wife or husband, children, and grandchildren, their hobbies, dreams, and aspirations.)

Even the ‘congratulations on your new job’ verses from above can be interchanged with retirement card verbiage.

Congratulations on your new baby

A new baby may be another reason an employee is resigning. For a jovial time like this, you can follow many of the same practices above; using baby congratulations cards, a companywide announcement, and even hosting an office baby shower. You can send out invitations, bring gifts for the upcoming child, have the in or out-of-office event catered, and enjoy the celebration with friendly coworkers. If you are including a card, here are some suggested verses:

1. Congrats on the new baby!
2. Bringing new life into the world is an exciting and miraculous event – congrats!
3. Congrats to you and your family + 1! Sorry to see you go.
4. How exciting – a baby! We are so happy for you. Enjoy this wonderful gift. We will miss you.
5. Congratulations on the newest addition to your family. God bless and good luck.

Sympathetic Farewells

If someone is facing hard times with a family situation or is in some way affected by a long-term illness, this will require a bit more finesse. A sympathy card or ‘get well’ card (depending on the situation) may be appropriate. Your employee may want to keep this situation private, so consult with them before telling other coworkers and see how they would like to handle it. A party will likely not be appropriate in this situation, but a low-key luncheon may be okay. If you are providing a sympathy card or ‘get well’ card here are some suggested verses:

1. In this tough time, we understand why you must go, but know that we are here for you.
2. We wish you brighter days ahead. You will always be in our thoughts.
3. We appreciate your time with us and are sorry for your recent troubles. Let us know if you need anything.
4. As you head away from here, know that the sun shines upon the horizon.
5. We value all that you have done for our company. Let us know if there is anything we can do. If you decide to return, know that there is always an open spot waiting for you.

Farewell, congratulations, & good luck

It’s always tough to watch a good employee leave, but there comes a time where everyone must move on. Listed above are the best ways to handle an employee resignation and the most common reasons for their departure. Bid them farewell properly, wish them congratulations or good luck if the situation calls for it, show your appreciation, and then look towards the future.

Tags: Congrats, Congratulations, Congratulations on your new job, Employee resignation, Get well cards, Greeting card messages, Greeting Cards, Invitations, Retirement, Retirement party, Sympathy cards