If you are ready to retire, you will need to first submit a retirement letter to your employer.
This will inform them of your plans and give them the time to prepare for your leaving the company. Below, we will look into the best practices for writing a retirement letter.
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What is a retirement letter?
A retirement letter is a written document that tells your employer that you plan to retire. It’s quite similar to a letter of resignation the purpose of which is to inform your employer that you will be leaving your job.
Learn how to write a resignation letter.
The main difference between the two is that a retirement notice letter lets your employer know that you are not only leaving the company but also seeking to receive your retirement benefits.
Note that your retirement letter will also go into your employer file together with other important documentation like your job contract, performance reviews and more.
What benefits does retirement give you?
If you are ready for retirement, there are quite a few benefits you can be looking forward to.
First, you will have a lot more free time. And this means you can finally go on that hike to the Appalachian Mountains or take that Mediterranean cruise.
Second, you will have your retirement pay-outs that will support your lifestyle after you’ve stopped working. Now, how much you receive in retirement benefits depends on a number of factors. If you have a thought-through retirement plan in place, you will be able to enjoy sufficient disposable income to allow you to have a relaxed and comfortable life.
In the United States, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) covers two primary retirement plans: the defined benefit plan and the defined contribution plan.
A defined benefit plan ensures a specified monthly benefit at retirement. For example, this may be the exact dollar amount per month that the retiree will receive.
A defined contribution plan is not focused on the specific amount of benefits. With these types of plans, the employee, employer or both agree to make regular contributions to the retirement fund at a set rate — for instance, 5% of your annual salary. An example of such a plan is the 401(k). According to BenefitsPro, over 52% of employee currently offer 401(k) plans to their full-time employees.
Whichever retirement plan you choose to go with, it’s important to not delay planning your retirement. A well organized retirement plan will ensure a safe and stable future for you and your family when you quit work.
How to write a retirement letter?
Here are several essential steps to composing a retirement notice letter:
Direct it to the right person
Your retirement notice letter should be addressed to your supervisor. You should also send a copy of the letter to Human Resources as they will be the ones responsible for managing your health care coverage and pension.
Include the date of your planned retirement
Your retirement letter should be specific — and your employer should be instantly informed of the state of your planned retirement. Make sure to give your employer at least a two weeks’ notice.
If you are not sure about the exact date of your retirement, you can include an approximate date or period of time and then discuss the specifics of your retirement in person with your supervisor.
Thank the employer for your experience in the workplace
Leave some space in your retirement notice to thank your employer and team for the opportunity to work with them, learn and improve your skills. You can use concrete examples, mention specific people and projects that you are especially proud of.
Offer to help with the transition process
It’s a good idea to mention that you would like to assist your employer and team with the transition process. This is especially important if you work in a senior position that requires a lot of planning and organizing. You may offer to complete all outstanding projects that you are currently working on, help train your replacement or even recommend one of your coworkers for the role.
Suggest other forms of employment (if interested)
If you want to stop working full time but would like to still be part of the company, you may suggest remaining with your employer in a consulting role. If this is something that interests you, make sure to mention this to your employer. In the future, if such an opportunity comes up, they will know who to consider for the role.
Talk about your retirement needs
A retirement letter is also the right place to talk about what benefits you would like to receive upon retirement. This includes healthcare, retirement plans, pension and more. You can also include information about your unused vacation or sick days for which you should be compensated.
Examples of a retirement letter
Example # 1
Mary Lewis
Fort Smith, Arkansas, 72908
479-597-6866
marylewis1964@mail.com
Dear Roberta,
I am writing to inform you of my upcoming retirement. My last day at XYZ Holdings will be November 5th, 2022.
I would like to use this opportunity to thank you for my ten years with the company. I’ve learnt a great deal from my team and have particularly benefited from your attentive mentorship and guidance.
Please let me know what I can do to make the transition process as easy as possible. I would also be happy to assist with the replacement process and have several recommendations from our own team.
Thank you again for the opportunity to work with you for all these years and I wish you and the company all the best in the years to come.
Sincerely yours,
Mary
Example #2
Serena Jameson
Honolulu, Hawaii, 96813
808-550-6867
serenajameson012@mail.com
Dear Mr. Johnson,
I am sending you this letter as a format notice of my upcoming retirement. My final day at ABC Consulting will be December 20th, 2022.
I am sincerely thankful for all the opportunities that you’ve provided me with over my years with the company. It’s been a true privilege being part of such an ambitious and competent team. I’ve learnt a lot about customer service and have really been able to hone my people skills under your guidance.
I have particularly appreciated the opportunity to work with some of our loyal clients such as Thomson Legal, River Financing and others.
Please let me know how I can be of assistance throughout this transition process. I will make sure to complete all my outstanding assignments before my last day and would also be happy to help hire and train my replacement.
As for my retirement benefits, I plan to take out my pension as a one-time payment and I would also like to be reimbursed for the ten vacation days that I haven’t used.
Thank you once again for the opportunity to work with ABC Consulting. I wish you and the company all the best in all your future projects.
Sincerely,
Serena
Learn more about how to write a professional email.
Suggestions for after retirement
As we’ve mentioned earlier, a retirement letter is also a chance to suggest options for your future work with the company. If you are available for part time work or if you would like to volunteer for some projects that are of special interest to you, don’t hesitate to discuss this with your employer.
You may also offer to keep working with the company until your replacement is found.
Note, however, that you should only make these suggestions if you are truly interested in continuing some employment activity after retirement. Plan your time carefully and make sure you are not pressured into schedules that you won’t be able to keep.
Writing a retirement letter: Conclusion
Let’s sum things up.
- A retirement letter is a document that tells your employer that you want to retire.
- Your retirement letter should include: the date of planned retirement, suggestions to help with the transition process, details on your retirement benefits and, perhaps, an offer to work on a different capacity following retirement.
Learn more about how to quit a job the right way.