What You Shouldn’t Say in a Retirement Letter to Your Employer
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More that 4.1 million Americans turn 65 in this year and many of them will decide to retire. It is common courtesy to inform your employer that you are retiring. This is different from resigning, quitting or resigning. There are some rules of etiquette to follow when preparing a retirement letter for your employer. You should not include these things in your letter. Negative Comments
In the letter you send to your employer announcing your retirement, it is best not to include any negative remarks about your company, your boss or your tenure at the company. Keep your tone professional and focus instead on gratitude. It’s important to avoid burning bridges as you leave. Legal Threats
Disputes or legal threats should be handled separately. It is not appropriate to use a retirement letter as a way to resolve grievances. Consult your lawyer if you are involved in a lawsuit with your employer before sending the letter. Complaints
Saying “I cannot wait to leave this place” will not win you any friends. A retirement letter is intended to inform your employer of your willingness to assist in the transition of your job and to provide a formal notification. You should not include complaints or comments that are unprofessional.
4. Vague Details
Be sure to give your employer a clear date of retirement so they can prepare. It’s not enough to say, “I intend to retire soon.” You should wait to send a letter of retirement until you know the exact date you plan to retire. Some experts recommend giving three to six months’ notice. You may say that you plan to retire on a certain date, but are available for 4 more weeks to help train your replacement.
5. Overly Personal Information
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Keep your letter professional. A letter that is too emotional is not necessary. Separate from your retirement letter, you can thank your coworkers or boss individually. This letter will most likely be sent to the HR department, so it is best not to include any personal information.
6. Close the Door
If your intention is to return to your company, whether as a consultant or in another capacity, then you should include this in your letter of retirement. If you still want to be involved in your company, make sure you leave with a positive note and help find a replacement. A poorly formatted letter
What you write in your retirement letter is important but so is how you present it. You’ll also want to date your letter. It is important to note that retirement benefits may be based not only on the date of your retirement, but also on when you gave notice.
8. Does your HR department follow a protocol for how to give notice? Be sure to follow all company policies. You may submit your retirement letter electronically to your employer if there are no guidelines. You will receive an electronic copy of your notice. How will you notify your employer? How do you plan on notifying your employer?
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