Farewell card for a coworker: what to write and how to make it memorable
By the Cheerly team · Updated · 7 min read
When a coworker leaves, someone usually ends up in charge of the card. Then comes the hard part: getting thirty people to write something better than "Good luck!". This guide gives you real message ideas for farewells and retirements, and a simple way to collect them, even when the team is remote.
What to write when a coworker is leaving
The best farewell messages are short and specific. Mention one thing they did, one thing you'll miss, and one wish for what's next. You don't need to be a poet. You just need to sound like yourself.
- "Thanks for always saving me in Monday meetings. The new team has no idea how lucky they are."
- "I learned more from you in a year than from any training. Go and smash it."
- "The office playlist is going to be terrible without you. Keep in touch!"
- "You made hard projects feel lighter. Wishing you the best in the new role."
What to write in a retirement card
Retirement is a bigger moment, so it's fine to be a little more sentimental. Thank them for the years, share a memory, and point at the fun part ahead.
- "Thirty years of wisdom, patience and good jokes. Enjoy every slow morning, you've earned them."
- "You trained half this team, including me. Thank you. Now go and book that trip."
- "The place won't be the same, but your fingerprints are on everything we do."
Why a voice card beats a written one
Written cards get read once and put in a drawer. Hearing thirty colleagues say goodbye in their own voices hits differently. People laugh, some get emotional, and the person leaving can play it again years later.
Voice also helps the people who freeze in front of a blank card. Talking for twenty seconds is easier than writing something clever.
How to run it with Cheerly
Pick the "farewell" or "retirement" occasion, add their name and a photo, and share the link in the team chat. Everyone records a short voice note from their phone or laptop. If the team wants to chip in for a gift, people can pay by card in their own currency, and the money goes to your coworker, not to you.
Start about a week before their last day, ask two or three people to record first so others follow, and play a few messages out loud at the leaving drinks.
Common questions
How long should a farewell message be?
One to three sentences is plenty. Specific beats long. A voice note of 15 to 30 seconds works well.
Can remote coworkers sign the same card?
Yes. Everyone opens the same link from anywhere, so remote and office staff end up on one page.
Is it okay to collect money for a leaving gift?
Yes, as long as it's optional. Say so in the welcome message and never show who gave what.