When you need them
Farewell is not always associated with the end of work. The larger the corporation or the wider the industry, the more often its employees change their work team. This may be due to a transfer to another department or branch, promotion, or leaving for a competing organization.
So, what could be the reasons for saying farewell words?
- retirement;
- change of place of work;
- transfer to another department, branch or division of the enterprise;
- promotion, taking on a new position;
- going on maternity leave;
- etc.
When is it customary to write farewell letters?
The tradition of writing farewell letters is widespread in European countries. In large organizations, each employee performs specific functions and interacts with employees from many other departments. In such cases, the letter will allow you to express respect, notify other employees of your departure and transfer business contacts so that there is no downtime in work.
Letter of farewell
A corporate farewell letter will be required if an employee leaves the company or department in which he worked for a long period or permanently. An official farewell letter is written in the following cases:
- dismissal from the company
- promotion to a management position
- transfer to another department
- moving to a branch in another city
- retirement
- going on maternity leave
The longer an employee has worked in a team, the more established connections remain at the old place of work and, of course, simply and quietly leaving in this case is simply impolite. A farewell letter is the best format for saying goodbye and notifying employees that a particular employee is leaving and a new specialist will take his place.
Why are farewell words needed?
Proper farewell to all former colleagues is an integral requirement of corporate ethics, the purpose of which is to maintain a comfortable atmosphere in the team.
- farewell words or a letter upon dismissal are an element of business etiquette. This is a demonstration of respect for employees, recognition of their importance;
- calm words indicating the reason for dismissal are a simple way to avoid heated discussions, ambiguous gossip and panic in the team;
- a farewell letter is a good opportunity to maintain relationships with colleagues and leave your new contacts for business communication;
- an honest and respectful letter to the boss will help smooth out the conflict, understand the situation that led to the dismissal, and, possibly, express interesting ideas for organizing work, which in the future will have a positive impact on the reputation in professional circles;
- Finally, thinking about farewell words is an effective psychological remedy against stress: you can analyze your previous activities, noting their pros and cons, relationships with colleagues, your own behavior at the place of work, find the reasons for past failures in order to start work more successfully in a new place.
Farewell letters and words to colleagues when leaving work as a requirement of corporate ethics
In addition, the letter quite often indicates a new place of work to maintain business contacts in the future, as well as information about the successor. Warm, friendly words addressed to former colleagues allow you to maintain good relations with them, which, in turn, can be of great importance for the future career of the departing employee. To whom to address The recipient can be both the sender’s colleagues within the employing company, regardless of their official rank, and representatives of other organizations with which the resigning employee had to work closely in resolving professional issues. Also, a farewell letter can be addressed to clients and customers with whom you want to maintain good business relationships
An important clarification: if the letter is addressed to a group of employees, then it should be indicated in the address, without listing specific names, and if the recipient is a manager, then he must be addressed by his first name and patronymic. What style to use In fact, the style of a farewell letter can be very different - here the imagination and capabilities of the resigning employee are not limited in any way
Among other things, the form in which the letter is submitted may largely depend on the reason for dismissal. For example, if a dismissal occurred due to inadequacy of the position held, you can compose a humorous message, with an emphasis on thanking colleagues for their help in understanding that this job is not suitable for the author of the message. The only requirement: do not descend into irony towards colleagues, much less into evil satire. Another option is to express in a letter all the dissatisfaction that has accumulated over many years of working in a team.
How to say goodbye to colleagues correctly
If the company is small and the team is small, farewell words can be said verbally one-on-one or at the last meeting. The best way to express hope for maintaining friendly relations is during a banquet. If you have access to the personal phone numbers of co-workers, it is appropriate to send SMS messages.
In large enterprises, all employees do not always know each other. But this is not a reason to simply disappear. In this case, it is better to resort to email services and send farewell letters to internal addresses.
If the reason for dismissal is unpleasant, you need to cope with emotions and avoid negative phrases. A tactful farewell will confirm the status of a professional, strengthen the respect of former colleagues and bring moral satisfaction from a worthy deed.
Official farewell letter
If the farewell is official, its text should be drawn up in accordance with the rules of business etiquette.
- the subject indicates that this is a farewell letter, and also adds the sender’s first, last name and position. If the corporation is large, you can specify the department, workshop or office number;
- the reason for dismissal is explained. If the situation is conflictual, this paragraph can be omitted;
- The period of work at this place is briefly described, the advantages of the team, the advantages of communication with colleagues are listed;
- What follows are wishes to the remaining employees;
- at the end - date, signature and new contacts.
The business nature of the letter does not at all deprive it of warmth and sincerity. The main requirements of the message are brevity and a respectful tone.
Rules and example of writing a farewell letter to colleagues upon dismissal
It is clear that there is not and cannot be a single sample letter. It is always compiled according to widely used templates or in free form, but it is still advisable to adhere to some rules and regulations in any case.
- First of all, it is necessary to use a polite and fairly standard form of address, for example, such as “dear colleagues”, “dear colleagues”, etc.
- Then you should inform about the fact that happened and name a successor.
- You can also indicate the reasons for dismissal, but if you do not want to advertise them, then this is not at all necessary.
- Also, if desired, you can include a new place of work and position in the letter.
- It is good form to thank your colleagues and convey to them any positive, good wishes related to their professional activities.
- If you feel the need to make constructive suggestions, recommendations for optimization, improvement of the work of the former team and the employing organization, this can also be done in a farewell letter, but without excessive fanaticism.
- In conclusion, the message must be signed.
The tone of the message should be friendly, calm, and restrained. When writing, you should carefully adhere to the rules and norms of the Russian language, especially in terms of vocabulary, grammar and punctuation.
The letter can be written either by hand or printed on a computer, and the first option will make it clear to former colleagues about the special, even somewhat personal nature of the message.
Words of gratitude to colleagues at work
Oral version
I, Sidorov Pavel Viktorovich, head of the innovative technologies department of Motor-plus JSC, am leaving my previous place of work due to my retirement.
It seems that just recently I was hired as a laboratory assistant, but 35 years have already flown by. This time was eventful: sensational discoveries were replaced by unsuccessful experiments, ups and downs, each of which provided invaluable professional and personal experience.
I was lucky enough to share the joy of victories and the bitterness of defeats with wonderful people - members of our close-knit team. They generously shared their skills and abilities with me, did not hesitate to point out mistakes, and supported me in moments of despair. It was with their help that I became a world-class specialist.
With great respect, I wish my employees more new creative ideas, boundless faith in the development of our common cause and personal well-being. I hope that our developments with you will contribute to the growth of the enterprise and its prosperity for a long time to come.
Written version
I, Dobrokhotova Marina Petrovna, chief accountant of Firebird LLC, have been promoted and will continue to work as head of the sales department of our enterprise.
I thank all the accounting staff for the trust they have placed in me. In your friendly team, I grew as a specialist and gained invaluable leadership experience. The comfortable atmosphere helped me believe in myself and awakened creative energy.
Let me wish you health, good luck, prosperity and mutual understanding with your new boss.
You can still count on my support and professional assistance.
Marina Dobrokhotova, [email protected]
Farewell letter examples
With humor
Here it is, the long-awaited day of promotion!
You have to jump for joy, but I, now the senior dispatcher of the loading compartment, cry burning tears. After all, now there won’t be those next to me who for three long years invigorated me with coffee in the morning, amused me with killer jokes and supported me in all my endeavors. It was with your help that I won the “Best Specialist” competition, not without your participation I successfully got married and became the happiest husband on earth! I hope you're proud of it!
My dear colleagues, I express my great hope that our friendship will withstand the test of distance, because now we are separated by three whole buildings and we will not meet in the smoking room...
Don’t forget to call me and remember that the doors of my house are always warmly open for you.
Solomonov Peter.
When changing jobs
I, Zhukov Stanislav Sergeevich, senior manager of the purchasing department of the Zenit retail chain, please give me a few minutes of your attention.
An hour ago, my boss signed my resignation letter, and I hasten to inform you that I will continue my work in the purchasing department of the Rassvet retail chain. The position is the same, but they promise a promotion by spring.
I am glad to have been a member of your wonderful team. I will remember our joint projects and friendly corporate events for a long time. And your advice and recommendations, without a doubt, will become a compass for me when conquering new professional spaces.
I hope to maintain business and friendly relations and share my new contacts:
[email protected] , phone
Your Zhukov Stas.
When going on maternity leave
My dear friends!
The joy of approaching the day when my baby will be born is overshadowed by only one circumstance - parting with you.
I will miss our coordinated tapping on keyboards and coffee breaks in our cozy office. I will miss your cheerful laughter.
All the years of my work in the company, I could lean on the shoulder of each of you. Your support has been especially noticeable in recent months. Thank you for that!
I wish you good luck and prosperity. May all adversity pass you by!
I promise to promptly inform you about all the events of my life. Don't forget about me!
Future mother Masha Sorokina.
A letter from an employee who is leaving work to his colleague, not to the group.
- Sitting next to you over the past few years has been a pleasure. I will miss your stories and working on projects together. You are very good at your job. If you ever decide to join me at [company name in a new position], I would be happy to recommend you. I'll let you know how I'm doing in a couple of weeks.
- Thank you for your support while we worked together. I appreciate all the time you spent on me when I was new. I feel like I've learned more from you than anyone else on our team. Your knowledge of [topic] is superior to most others. I'd like to stay in touch. Here is my contact information [insert your contact information].
- I will miss working with you! My last day is Friday. Thank you for your help and support over the past year. I hope our friendship will continue when I move to a new company. My contact information: [insert your contact information]. Thank you!
- Thanks for being a reliable source of information on [topic]. As you may know, you have become my trusted source over the past year. I appreciate you always staying up to date with the latest information. I will miss your knowledge and experience. I hope that we will continue to be friends. My email address is [your email address].
- I enjoyed working with you. Please know that I will miss you and look forward to seeing you for lunch soon. Thank you for being a great friend and colleague!
Conclusion
When you or someone else leaves the company, it is important to leave a positive mark on your boss and your colleagues. Don't neglect this rule, as good connections make your own network reliable for future professional relationships. We hope the above examples will help you write goodbye messages.
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Wishes for a good employee when leaving work
If the relationship in the team is warm and friendly, the company is small, then farewell words require a response. Of course, you should abandon this rule if the dismissal was caused by a conflict situation.
Nuances of congratulating a colleague on his retirement from work
Retirement is an important event that evokes mixed emotions. On the one hand, it is pride in years of work, satisfaction from a successfully completed duty, respect from colleagues and recognition from superiors.
On the other hand, it is sadness from parting with what you love, your usual team and, of course, a reminder of your advanced age and the inexorably ticking physiological clock.
Therefore, when preparing a response to the farewell words of a former colleague, you need to be extremely sensitive and attentive. We cannot once again remind you of lost youth, of the impossibility of turning back time.
The following points should be mandatory:
- employee regalia: honorary titles, awards;
- services to an enterprise or company;
- personal qualities that influenced successful activities;
- wishes for health, family well-being, continued energetic activity in the country, in the garage, in the home workshop, love and respect from numerous grandchildren, etc.
- promise of any support and assistance from the team.
An example of wishes for a colleague retiring
Today is a solemn and at the same time sad day! Our respected Semyon Konstantinovich Pereverzev is retiring.
He, like no one else, deserves honor from the working collective. Semyon Konstantinovich devoted a whole 42 years to our enterprise: he went through a difficult path from an assistant electrician to a deputy director, became a mentor for several generations of employees, and brought the company to the same level as European enterprises. We are proud of every award received under his strict leadership!
Honesty, responsibility, a serious approach to business and caring - these are the golden qualities thanks to which Semyon Konstantinovich was able to make a dizzying career and become the standard of an ideal employee for each of us.
Our dear deputy director has fully realized himself in his professional activities. Now new horizons are opening up before him: he will have to pass on his principles, knowledge and skills to the next generations of the Pereverzevs. Seven grandchildren are already proud of their grandfather, and I want to believe that this wonderful dynasty will only grow.
We wish Semyon Konstantinovich health, peace and family happiness!
Our doors and hearts are always open for you!
The team of LLC "Bright Future".
