What to Write in a Leaving Card: 96 Messages & Ideas
Short, funny and heartfelt messages for colleagues, managers and friends, with thoughtful words for new jobs, retirement and more sensitive goodbyes.
In this guide
The short answer
What should you write
in a leaving card?
Thank them for something specific, add a good wish that fits their reason for leaving and sign your name. One honest sentence is enough. For someone you know well, include a shared memory or a genuine plan to keep in touch.
The leaving card lands on your desk, the pen is waiting and someone has already written the words you had in mind. Finding something different can feel surprisingly difficult, especially when you want to be warm without sounding over the top.
This guide has 96 leaving card messages for colleagues, managers, friends and whole teams. There are short wishes, gentle jokes, congratulations on a new job and thoughtful words for more complicated departures. Choose the situation first, then adapt a message until it sounds like something you would actually say.
You do not have to turn a goodbye into a speech. A person's name, one thing you appreciated and a clear sign-off can give a small space in a card a very personal meaning.
Find the right words
Who are you writing to?
Before you pick a message
Match the tone to the goodbye
A leaving card might celebrate a chosen move, mark a retirement or acknowledge a departure that feels difficult. Start with what the person has shared, rather than what a generic farewell is supposed to sound like. The same sentence can feel lovely in one situation and out of place in another.
Celebrate their plans
Congratulations and a hopeful wish work well when they are looking forward to a new job or a move. Mention a detail they have told you about.
Name what you will miss
A shared routine or a small memory makes the message recognisable. Keep private details for a separate note if the card will circulate widely.
Keep it kind and open
Express appreciation without telling them how to feel. Leave jokes, predictions and explanations of their circumstances out of the message.
Short & simple / Messages 01–08
Short leaving card messages
A short leaving message works well when space is tight or the card is going around a large team. Choose one clear thought and put your name underneath. If the recipient will recognise you by your first name, that is enough; otherwise add your department or how you worked together. Brief can still feel thoughtful when the words suit the person.
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“Thank you for being such a lovely person to work with. Wishing you well in whatever comes next.”
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“Good luck with your new role, and thank you for all your help along the way.”
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“You will be missed around here. Hope the move brings plenty of good things your way.”
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“All the best for what comes next. It has been a real pleasure working with you.”
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“Thanks for your time, your patience and your good company. Keep in touch.”
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“Wishing you a smooth start and a warm welcome wherever you are heading.”
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“Here is to work you enjoy and people who appreciate you. Good luck!”
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“So glad our paths crossed. Sending you my very best wishes for the future.”
Make it yours: add the person's name, or replace “your new role” with the actual job or destination they have chosen.
Warm & heartfelt / Messages 09–16
Heartfelt leaving card messages
A heartfelt message does not need a dramatic goodbye. It can simply name something you appreciated: the patient explanations, the encouragement before a difficult meeting or the way they included people. Choose an example that belongs to your relationship. If you would feel awkward saying a sentence aloud to them, make it simpler before you write it in their card.
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“You made my first few weeks here feel far less daunting. Thank you for making room for me from the start.”
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“I have always appreciated how carefully you listen. Thank you for making people feel that their ideas matter.”
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“Your kindness has made more of a difference than you probably realise. I am very glad we got to work together.”
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“Thank you for being generous with your knowledge and never making a question feel like a nuisance.”
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“I will remember the way you stayed calm and helped everyone find a way forward. Wishing you the same support wherever you go.”
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“It has meant a lot to have someone so thoughtful on the team. I hope you know how much you are appreciated.”
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“You brought warmth to ordinary working days. Thank you for all the small things that made them better.”
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“I am taking plenty of good memories from our time working together. Thank you for being part of them.”
Make it yours: replace a general compliment with one moment when the person helped you or made you feel welcome.
A little humour / Messages 17–24
Funny leaving card messages
The best joke in a leaving card is one the recipient would enjoy hearing in front of the people signing it. Shared habits, tea rounds and the office stationery cupboard are usually easier territory than pay, relationships or someone's new employer. If their departure is difficult or unexpected, use a warmer message instead. A joke should leave them smiling rather than having to explain it.
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“Good luck in the new job. Please allow a sensible handover period for your excellent biscuit recommendations.”
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“We have checked the rota and nobody else is qualified to remember whose mug is whose.”
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“Please leave instructions for the printer. It only seems to respect you.”
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“Your new colleagues have a lot to look forward to. We would start by warning them about your competitive quiz streak.”
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“Congratulations on the new role. May your passwords be memorable and your meetings unexpectedly short.”
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“We were going to organise a surprise, but you are the person who normally organises the surprises.”
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“Hope your new desk has good lighting, a comfortable chair and colleagues who understand the tea-round rules.”
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“Please visit occasionally. The office plants would like to know someone still believes in them.”
Make it yours: use a recognisable, harmless office detail. Keep private jokes out of a group card if they need a long explanation.
Your work friend / Messages 25–32
What to write for a close colleague or work friend
When someone has become a friend as well as a colleague, the card can acknowledge both. Mention a routine you shared or a memory you would like to keep, then make a realistic plan to stay in touch. This is also a good place for a short personal note of your own, especially if the shared card leaves little room for a longer goodbye.
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“I will miss our lunchtime walks and the way we could put the world to rights in twenty minutes. Let us keep those going.”
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“Working together gave me a brilliant friend. I am very glad that part does not end when you leave.”
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“Thank you for the lifts, the laughs and the honest advice. I will miss seeing you every day.”
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“The desk beside mine is going to feel different without you. Looking forward to hearing all about your new place over coffee.”
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“From the first project to the last-minute fixes, you have been wonderful company through it all. I am cheering you on.”
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“I will especially miss our end-of-week debriefs. Same conversation, different café next time?”
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“Thank you for knowing when to help, when to listen and when to suggest a proper lunch break.”
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“I am excited to see where this takes you, and very grateful for the friendship we found along the way.”
Make it yours: name a real café, walk or regular catch-up you would both enjoy continuing outside work.
Keep it professional / Messages 33–40
Leaving messages for someone you do not know well
You do not have to invent a close connection to write a kind message. A warm wish and an honest reference to the work you shared are enough. This approach suits someone in another department, a recent arrival or a colleague you mainly met online. Avoid promising to stay in touch if that would feel unnatural; a sincere professional sign-off is perfectly appropriate.
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“It has been good to work with you. Wishing you every success in your next role.”
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“Thank you for your help whenever our teams have worked together. All the best for the future.”
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“Wishing you a positive start in your new position and plenty to enjoy along the way.”
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“Best wishes as you move on. I hope your next role is a rewarding one.”
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“It was lovely to meet you through the project. Good luck with your next opportunity.”
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“Thank you for your contribution to the team. Sending you my best wishes for what comes next.”
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“Although we have not worked together for long, I have appreciated your help. Good luck with the move.”
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“All the best from everyone in our department. We hope the transition goes smoothly for you.”
Make it yours: if you shared a project, name it briefly. If you did not, a simple good wish is enough.
A boss or mentor / Messages 41–48
What to write in a leaving card for your boss
For a boss, manager or mentor, focus on the support or example you valued rather than trying to write a performance review. Perhaps they trusted you with a project, gave useful feedback or made it easier to speak up. Keep the tone appropriate to your relationship. You can be warm and specific while still writing something you are comfortable having the whole team read.
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“Thank you for trusting me with new responsibilities and giving me the support to grow into them. Wishing you well in your next role.”
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“I have really valued your clear advice and steady approach. Thank you for everything you have taught me.”
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“You made time for questions even on busy days, and I appreciated that more than I often said. All the best for the future.”
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“Thank you for noticing what people do well and helping them build on it. It has been a pleasure being part of your team.”
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“I will carry your advice with me into plenty of future projects. Thank you for being such a generous mentor.”
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“Your encouragement helped me take a step I might otherwise have avoided. I am very grateful for it.”
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“Thank you for giving our team direction while making space for our ideas. Wishing you a rewarding next move.”
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“It has been good to learn from someone who takes both the work and the people seriously. Best wishes for what comes next.”
Make it yours: name one thing you learnt or one opportunity they helped you take, without including confidential details.
A new job / Messages 49–56
Good luck messages for someone starting a new job
When someone is leaving for a role they have chosen, congratulations can lead the message. Add a wish for the part they are looking forward to, such as learning a skill, working nearer home or joining a different kind of team. You do not need to compare the old and new workplaces. Keep the focus on the person and the opportunity they have told you about.
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“Congratulations on the new job. Hope the first week brings friendly faces, useful introductions and a good place for lunch.”
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“You have put so much thought into this move. Wishing you a confident start and plenty of chances to do the work you enjoy.”
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“So pleased you are getting the opportunity you wanted. I look forward to hearing how you settle in.”
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“Congratulations on taking this next step. Hope the new role gives you room to learn, contribute and feel at home.”
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“Wishing you a smooth first day and a team that soon sees what a thoughtful colleague they have gained.”
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“Hope the new job brings the fresh challenge you were looking for, along with a welcome that puts you at ease.”
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“Good luck as you begin. Take the questions, the ideas and that brilliant curiosity with you.”
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“Congratulations on your appointment. Wishing you satisfaction in the work and good company along the way.”
Make it yours: mention the part of the new role they have actually shared with you, rather than guessing about pay, promotion or responsibilities.
A well-earned goodbye / Messages 57–64
Thoughtful retirement card messages
Retirement means different things to different people. Some have a list of plans; others want time to decide. Thank them for what they brought to the workplace and wish them well without assuming how they will spend their days. References to travel, grandchildren or hobbies work best when the person has mentioned them. Leave out jokes about age unless you know they would welcome them.
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“Thank you for the knowledge and care you have shared with us. Wishing you a retirement shaped around the things you enjoy.”
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“It has been a privilege to work alongside you. Hope the months ahead bring a lovely balance of rest, company and new interests.”
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“Wishing you time to enjoy familiar favourites and discover a few new ones. Thank you for everything you have brought to the team.”
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“You leave us with much to appreciate and plenty to remember. Sending you warm wishes for your retirement.”
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“Thank you for all the patient explanations and practical wisdom. They will stay with us long after your last day.”
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“Hope you enjoy having more room in the week for whatever matters to you. With our warmest thanks.”
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“Your working years here have made a lasting difference to so many people. Wishing you happiness in the time ahead.”
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“Congratulations on your retirement. We hope this next stage gives you freedom to choose your own pace.”
Make it yours: mention a plan they have talked about, or leave the future open with a wish for time spent as they choose.
If you are adding a small retirement present, personalised keyrings can reflect a favourite hobby or the names of people they love. Let the card explain the thought behind it.
From all of us / Messages 65–72
Leaving card messages from the whole team
A message from the whole team should sound like something the group can comfortably stand behind. Acknowledge a shared contribution, offer a warm goodbye and use a clear team name in the sign-off. If everyone will also add individual messages, keep the central wording short enough to leave room. For a remote team, one shared note can sit alongside the personal messages people send separately.
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“From all of us, thank you for the energy, thought and kindness you have brought to the team. We wish you well in what comes next.”
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“You have been part of many good days here. Thank you from the whole team, and all the best for the future.”
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“We have appreciated working alongside you and learning from you. With warm wishes from everyone in the department.”
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“Thank you for helping us through busy weeks and making the quieter ones enjoyable too. You will be missed by us all.”
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“With our thanks for everything you have contributed, and our best wishes as you move on. From all your colleagues.”
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“We are grateful for your work, your patience and the way you have supported those around you. All the best from the team.”
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“Today is a chance for us to say how much we have appreciated you. Wishing you good things in the months ahead.”
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“We hope you take plenty of happy memories with you. Thank you for being part of our team.”
Make it yours: check the sign-off includes the right team or department and that no names have been accidentally left out.
If the team is giving cash towards a plan they have mentioned, these money gifts ideas offer ways to present it with a personal note.
A difficult departure / Messages 73–80
What to write when someone is leaving after redundancy
If the departure was not their choice, congratulations and jokes about escaping can land badly. Acknowledge the value of the person without commenting on private circumstances or promising that everything will work out. Follow what they have chosen to share. A simple expression of appreciation can be more helpful than advice, and a practical offer belongs in the card only if you can genuinely follow through.
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“I have really valued working with you. Thank you for your kindness and all the care you have put into the team.”
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“I am sorry we are saying goodbye in these circumstances. Your contribution has meant a great deal to me.”
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“Thank you for everything you have shared with us. Sending you warm wishes and hoping the coming weeks give you some breathing space.”
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“You have made a real difference here, and I wanted you to know that. I would be glad to keep in touch.”
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“I will remember your thoughtfulness and the way you helped people feel included. Thank you for being such a good colleague.”
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“This goodbye does not change how much I have appreciated working with you. Wishing you support and good company in the time ahead.”
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“I am grateful our paths crossed. If a coffee and a catch-up would be welcome, I would love to arrange one.”
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“With sincere thanks for all you have brought to our working days. You will be warmly remembered.”
Make it yours: keep sensitive details out of a shared card. If you want to offer specific help, ask them privately what would be useful.
A temporary goodbye / Messages 81–88
Messages for maternity, paternity or parental leave
Parental leave is a temporary goodbye rather than a career farewell, so choose wording that fits that difference. Warm wishes and reassurance that work can wait are often enough. Avoid promises about what parenthood will feel like, questions about birth plans or jokes about sleepless nights. Use the language the colleague uses for their family, and do not assume a return date unless it has been shared.
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“Sending you and your family warm wishes as your leave begins. We hope the handover lets you step away with one less thing to think about.”
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“Wishing you care, support and plenty of small good moments in the weeks ahead. With love from your colleagues.”
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“Thank you for everything you have organised before heading off. It is time for us to look after the work for a while.”
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“We will miss having you around, and we are sending our very best wishes to you and your family.”
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“Hope you have the support you need and space to find your own rhythm. Thinking of you warmly as your leave starts.”
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“Wishing you well as you begin this time away from work. There is no need to keep up with our inbox news.”
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“With warm wishes for you and the people closest to you. We hope the weeks ahead bring plenty of care and kindness.”
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“Sending you off with our thanks and a very big team good wish. Take things at the pace that works for your family.”
Make it yours: follow their lead on names and family details. A simple, pressure-free message is suitable even if you know very little.
A move further away / Messages 89–96
Leaving card messages for someone moving away
A move can mean a different branch, another city or a new country. Recognise the change without assuming it is entirely exciting or entirely sad. Mention something you will miss and a way of keeping in touch that suits your relationship. If the person is moving home as well as leaving work, you can add a wish for settling in rather than trying to cover every part of the move.
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“Wishing you a smooth move and a warm welcome in your new surroundings. I will miss having you nearby.”
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“Hope the new place soon brings familiar faces, favourite cafés and a few routes you can walk without checking a map.”
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“Thank you for all the good days we have shared here. Looking forward to hearing about the ones ahead of you.”
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“We may need a different postcode for the catch-ups, but I hope we can keep them going. Good luck with the move.”
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“Sending you warm wishes as you settle into a new place and a new routine. Take the unpacking one box at a time.”
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“I will miss our everyday conversations. Let us find a way to keep a few of them in the diary.”
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“Hope your first weeks there bring helpful neighbours, good company and moments that begin to feel like home.”
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“With thanks for our time working together and every good wish as you make the move. Please keep us posted.”
Make it yours: name the place only if the move has been shared publicly, and offer a visit or call only when you mean it.
For a colleague who is moving home as well as leaving work, the new home wishes guide has messages for that part of the move.
From an idea to your own words
How to make a leaving message personal
Once you have found a line that fits, add one detail that could only come from you. It might be their clear project notes, the welcome they gave you or a conversation that helped you feel more confident. A useful test is to ask whether you could send the same message to almost anyone. If you could, a small specific detail will usually improve it.
“Thank you for making my first few weeks feel so welcoming.”
“I will miss our lunchtime walks and your excellent café suggestions.”
“Hope you settle into the new team quickly. Coffee soon?”
Use only what is true. You do not need to say that someone changed your life when what you really appreciated was how patiently they explained the rota. Ordinary details often feel more convincing because the person can recognise them.
Three complete examples to adapt
For a close colleague
Dear Priya,
Thank you for making the busiest weeks feel manageable and the ordinary ones much more fun. I will miss our lunchtime walks and your running list of cafés to try.
Hope the new role gives you plenty to enjoy. Let us keep one of those lunch dates in the diary.
With lots of good wishes,
Hannah
For a manager
Dear Martin,
Thank you for the support you gave me when I took on my first project. Your feedback helped me grow in confidence, and I have really valued working in your team.
Wishing you a positive start in your new position and every success ahead.
With best wishes,
Aisha
From the whole team
Dear Ben,
Thank you for the care you have put into the work and the people around you. We have all appreciated your patience, your practical ideas and your willingness to help.
Wishing you well as you move on, with our warmest thanks.
From everyone in the
Customer Support team
The details around the message
How to sign a leaving card
Match the sign-off to your usual relationship. “Best wishes” or “All the best” works for a professional message. “With love” can suit a close friend when that is how you would normally sign. If the card is from a large workplace, add your team or surname where needed so the recipient knows which Alex or Sam wrote the message.
Signing a card from a group
Leave room for the next person. A short message in a shared card is not less thoughtful than a long one, and it makes it easier for everyone to add their own words. If you organise the card, decide who will write the central message and make sure people working remotely have a chance to contribute too.
Check names carefully before the card is presented. “From the whole team” is a useful option for a group message, but only use it when that accurately describes who is giving the card. A personal note of your own can be longer and more specific than the shared wording.
When you want to keep in touch
Make the invitation as clear as your relationship allows. “Shall we book a coffee next month?” is easier to act on than “We must catch up sometime.” If you need to swap contact details, do that privately rather than writing a phone number or personal email address in a card that will pass around the office.
A quick check before you write
What to avoid in a leaving card
Do not guess how they feel
“You must be thrilled” may not fit a complicated move. Use a good wish that leaves room for their own feelings, particularly if they have said little about why they are leaving.
Keep the joke on friendly ground
Leave out comments about age, money, pregnancy, relationships or a new employer. Even a joke you share privately can feel different when a whole department reads it.
Leave confidential details out
A group card is not the place to discuss redundancy terms, office disagreements or someone's personal circumstances. Appreciation does not need an explanation of the departure.
Only offer what you can do
A reference, introduction, catch-up or practical favour should be something you are willing and able to arrange. A kind message stands on its own without a promise attached.
Finally, read your message as if you were saying it directly to the recipient. Check their name, remove anything that needs explaining and make sure the sign-off is yours. You are aiming for recognisable kindness, not a perfect line that could belong to anyone.
When the words are part of the present
A small keepsake for the goodbye
A card can be the whole gesture. If your group is also choosing personalised gifts, begin with something the recipient would enjoy keeping and the amount of space they have for it. A thoughtful message does not need a large gift collection behind it.
A few words they can keep on their desk
A wooden leaving card can carry a funny farewell, a new-job congratulations or a warm message from the team. The full front wording can be personalised, including the heading, message and sign-off, and the card comes with a separate wooden display stand.
For a small engraved panel, choose your strongest few lines. Put a longer personal letter in the paper card and let the keepsake carry the short message you want them to see again.
“Thank you for your kindness,
your ideas and all the good days.
From the whole team.”
The photographs show example wording on the same card. Check every name and line before ordering; shorter wording leaves more room for clear lettering.
If you are comparing wooden cards, check each design's format and text fields before choosing. The ordering guide explains spelling, wording and other details to review before placing an order.
A few useful answers
Leaving card questions
What is a good short leaving card message?
“All the best for what comes next. It has been a real pleasure working with you” is a warm, simple option. Add the person's name and your sign-off. If you have room, include one small thing you appreciated about working together.
What do you write in a leaving card for a colleague?
Thank them for something genuine, wish them well in a way that fits their departure and sign your name. A close colleague may appreciate a shared memory, while a professional message is suitable for someone you know less well. You do not need to fill a whole page.
What should you write if you barely know the person?
Keep it friendly and honest. “It has been good to work with you. Wishing you every success in your next role” works without suggesting a close friendship. If you shared a project, mention it briefly. Avoid inventing memories or using an overly familiar sign-off.
How do you write a funny leaving message?
Use humour the recipient already enjoys and keep it easy to understand. A harmless shared detail about the tea round or the office quiz is usually a better choice than a joke about their circumstances. If the departure is sensitive, choose a straightforward kind message.
How do you address a card from the whole team?
Address the recipient by the name they use at work, then sign with the team or department name. Leave space for individual contributions if everyone will add a message. Check that people away from the office have had a chance to contribute before the card is given.
What should you write when someone has been made redundant?
Focus on appreciation and kindness. Thank them for their work or support, and avoid congratulations, office gossip or predictions about what will happen next. Keep private circumstances out of a shared card. A practical offer is best made privately and only if you can follow through.
Is “good luck in your new job” enough?
Yes, when it fits the situation. You can make it warmer with their name or a short thank-you: “Good luck in your new job, Daniel, and thank you for all your help.” A brief message is especially useful when many people are signing the same card.
Should you write “with love” in a colleague's card?
Use it if that reflects your friendship and feels natural to both of you. For a more professional relationship, “Best wishes,” “All the best” or simply your name is enough. There is no need to use the same sign-off as everyone else.
Can you give a leaving card after their last day?
A kind message can still be welcome after someone has left. You might acknowledge that the card is arriving a little late, then offer your good wishes. If you need a forwarding address, ask them privately whether they are comfortable sharing one.
What is the difference between a leaving card and a retirement card?
A leaving card can mark many kinds of departure, including a new job or a move. A retirement card specifically recognises retirement. In either case, thank the person and choose wording that reflects what they have shared about their plans, without making assumptions about age or lifestyle.
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