Write a farewell message for a colleague with 20 original examples: short, heartfelt, funny, for a manager, a remote teammate or someone starting a new job.
To write a farewell message for a colleague, thank them for something you know firsthand, name one memory or quality you will miss and wish them well. Use a short note for someone you barely know and a more personal story for a close teammate.
These 20 original, fictional examples are starting points for a leaving card or farewell book. Adapt any detail to fit your actual relationship; a shared message should be comfortable for the recipient to read with other people.
Short farewell messages for a colleague
Thank you for being someone I could always ask. Wishing you a good start to whatever comes next.
I’ve enjoyed working with you and will miss our daily catch-ups. All the best for the next chapter.
Your help made a difference to my time here. Thank you, and good luck with the move.
It was a pleasure sharing this project with you. I hope your next team gets to see the same thoughtful approach.
Heartfelt goodbye messages for a work friend
You noticed when I was having a difficult week and made time for a walk at lunch. I’ll miss having a friend like that nearby. I hope we keep making time for those conversations.
Our conversations often began with a work question and ended with a much better afternoon. Thank you for the help, the perspective and the company.
You were one of the first people who made this place feel familiar to me. I’m grateful our desks ended up next to each other.
I’ll remember the relief of finishing that project, but also the small jokes that got us through it. I’m glad we got to work together.
Farewell messages for a manager leaving the team
Thank you for listening carefully when I brought you a problem. Your questions helped me see a way forward.
I appreciated knowing where I stood and being able to ask for clear feedback. Wishing you well in your next role.
You made space for the quieter voices in the room, including mine. That is something I will try to carry into my own work.
Thank you for trusting the team to find an answer and staying available when we needed support. I’ve learned a lot working with you.
Lighthearted leaving messages for a coworker
Your next team is getting a great colleague and a surprisingly strong opinion on meeting snacks. We’ll miss both.
I wish your new workplace excellent coffee and at least one person who appreciates your spreadsheet shortcuts.
Please take our best wishes with you. The borrowed stapler can stay here.
We finally agreed on a lunch spot, and now this. I hope the next chapter gives you plenty of good places to explore.
Goodbye messages for a remote colleague or a new job
Even across time zones, I knew I could count on a thoughtful reply from you. Thank you for making remote work feel less remote.
I’ll miss seeing your name appear in our project chat. Thank you for the explanations that made a complicated task manageable.
Your new role sounds like a chance to do work you care about. I’m excited for you and grateful for the time we spent on this team.
We did not share an office, but we shared plenty of problem-solving. I hope the next team is just as glad to work with you as I was.
Begin with something you remember
Think of a moment you can still picture: a calm conversation before a deadline, a helpful note in a document or a joke that rescued a long afternoon. Name the moment first. “I still use the checklist you gave me on my first day” gives you more to work with than searching for a grand opening.
Say why it mattered
Tell them what their help meant to you. You might have felt more welcome, learned a better way to work or found the confidence to ask a question. For example: “You always made time for my questions, even when you had plenty of your own work. I noticed, and I’m grateful.” Keep it true to your experience.
Use your own words
Read the message aloud. If a phrase sounds unlike you, simplify it. “I’ll miss our Friday catch-ups” may say more than a formal tribute. You can write a few sentences or a longer story; there is no need to match everyone else’s message.
Keep private details private
Avoid sharing another person’s health, family or work difficulties without their permission. An affectionate joke may look different outside the conversation where it started. Imagine the recipient reading the book with someone who does not know the team.
End with a wish that fits
If they have told you about their next role or plans, mention what you hope goes well. If you do not know, a simple “I’ve loved working with you, and I wish you well” is enough. Avoid assumptions about travel, family or why they are leaving.
Check names and dates
Check their name, any dates and the details of your story. Keep a copy of your words. After submitting through Team Memory Book, save your private edit link so you can make a correction before contributions close. Keep that link to yourself; anyone who has it can edit your message.