Retirement Letter Sample

Use this sample retirement letter to notify your employer of your expected date of retirement. Even if you tell your manager and your Human Resources staff verbally about your retirement plans, months or even years in advance, your employer will still want an official, written notification.

Your employer likes to keep employee file documentation that includes your initial job offer or contract, social security information, performance appraisals, and everything else related to your employment for a period of years. This documentation includes any notification that you are quitting your job or retiring.

Employers keep this information to have a record of events. In any instance of a potential lawsuit, the employer needs to have on hand all documentation related to each employee. The employer needs to have proof that the event of your retirement was your personal choice and decision.

You may address the retirement letter to your manager and copy HR. You want your HR staff in the loop so that you experience no problems with health care coverage, pensions, 40l(k) availability, and all of the other benefits and plans you'll need to get going for retirement.

Here is a sample retirement letter to notify your employer. It will serve as your official resignation letter in your employment file.

Sample Retirement Letter

This is a retirement letter example. Download the retirement letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples.

Potential Proposals Following Retirement

This retirement letter is also an opportunity to propose options other than complete retirement to your boss and HR. If you are available for occasional work or if you'd like to phase yourself into retirement by working part-time, this is an opportunity to document your willingness.

Of course, you will have discussed options other than total retirement with both of these parties prior to suggesting them in a retirement letter. If you've reached an agreement, for example, that you will work part-time until they can replace you for a period of six months until such and such date, document this fact in your retirement letter.

When you are seriously ready to retire, you don't want to volunteer for anything that will draw you back into working full time. Further, don't commit to any work schedule that will keep you from following all of your hopes and dreams. Retirement is the hard-earned time that belongs to you. Whether that means spending winters in Florida or traveling to Europe in the summer, your retirement should be just that—retirement.