If you’re closing a chapter in your life and want to prepare a speech that will stand out at your retirement ceremony, we’ve put together a collection of different types of corporate retirement speeches. These inspiring and relatable examples will help you reflect on your time at work and express your gratitude. They’ll help you prepare your own retirement speech so that you can end your journey on a high note.
Retiring Labor Union President
Thank you. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for organizing such a grand retirement ceremony for me, and I would like to thank the many people who have worked behind the scenes to bring me to this glorious retirement. I would like to dedicate all this honor today to my wife, who has always supported me, telling me that I shouldn’t worry about my family life and children’s education, and that I should stick to my work.
Dear members, I would like to share a few words with you on the occasion of the retirement ceremony. When we benefit from many things, we call it good fortune, and when we are not so fortunate, we call it misfortune. Confucius, a great thinker in the late Spring and Autumn period in China and the founder of Confucius Institute, said that whether we are fortunate or disadvantaged depends on the time, and we cannot control it. However, if you think about this quote a little deeper, it’s like saying that luck and misfortune in life depend on effort, so there’s no need to be pessimistic when you’re in a bad time, and there’s no need to show off when you’re in a good time, and I’d like to say that it’s important to have an attitude of constant effort. In either case, it’s important to have an attitude.
Members, yes, misfortune is temporary. Confucius himself didn’t have a lucky life by any means; he nurtured many disciples, but was never given the treatment or status he deserved. But his teachings have lived on to this day.
Our proverb says that time is medicine, meaning that everything is solved by the passage of time. In other words, time is the best medicine in life. When you are tired of life, when you are in extreme despair, grit your teeth and endure, what awaits you at the end of it? Is it despair or death? No, it will be years of glorious rebirth that you never expected, because that’s what time does to you.
That’s what the years before you, dear members of the union, will do: they will nurse your wounds and nourish them with the buds of revival; they will make you stand still in the face of despair, and let the painful things that come your way pass as if they were no one else’s business; and when you have succeeded in rebounding, you will think: “One defeat is not the defeat of life.”
If I were to write about the hardships and difficulties of my 22 years and six months in the company, I would not be able to finish it in one year. But I will forget all the hardships and difficulties and only think about the rewarding things. I must return to a natural person. However, I promise that I will fulfill my duties and responsibilities as a member of the company even after retirement. Finally, I would like to conclude my remarks by wishing all of you who have attended my retirement ceremony today, may happiness and good fortune always be with you and your families.
Farewell Address to Company Employees
Dear colleagues, I would like to thank you for your support during my tenure with the company. It seems like only a short time ago that I joined the company, but 30 years have already passed. We have worked together, struggled together, and shared joys and difficulties together. I think I would not be in this honorable position without the guidance of my seniors and the support and help of my fellow juniors.
Looking back on the long years that have passed, I have many regrets, but looking back at them today, I can only think of more regrets. I wish I could have been more proactive in my work, contributed to the development of the company by generating ideas, and taken care of my seniors and juniors.
Just as everything has a beginning and an end, I believe that a person’s life also has a beginning and an end, and that there is another beginning. Looking back now, I have met and parted ways with countless people and built countless relationships, from joining the company as a new employee and undergoing induction training, to moving departments and changing positions. It has been a time of folding and managing myself whenever I encountered difficulties, and running forward as if it were my destiny. I will keep all of these as fond memories.
Even though I am leaving the company now, my heart will always be with you, and even though I am leaving, my heart will always be with you. I also have a major task of designing and preparing for my second life, and I am worried about it, but I will work hard to live my life based on the knowledge I have gained in the company so far. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the vice chairman and my fellow seniors who are here to congratulate me on my retirement. Goodbye.
Public Service Retirement Remarks
Dear colleagues in the civil service, I am leaving you today as I reach retirement age. Thanks to you, my public service life has been more fulfilling and full of learning. I am grateful and happy today. I remember when I was a rookie officer, I used to cry to the director. I was convinced that I was right, but I later realized that I was wrong: the quantity and quality of information available to me was not comparable to your level.
I’ll never forget the smile on his face when I realized that there were important factors I hadn’t yet considered, and I was arguing with limited knowledge and information. Then there was the time I heard him say the exact same thing I had said. As a clerk, he once told me, “If it’s too hard, don’t do it.” The implication was that the output might be less valuable than the time and effort you put in. I said, “It’s not too hard, so I’ll do it.” Fast forward 20 years. Fast forward 20 years or so, and I’m telling a subordinate, “If it’s too hard, you don’t have to do it,” and we can look for another way to do it, and he’s saying the same thing I said 20 years ago. I remember encouraging him with a warm smile on my face.
It reminded me of a quote from a book I read not long ago. “I intended to stay in this world for a short time, but unexpectedly I stayed for a long time.” I never thought I would have such longevity in public service. They say that the talented person is the best, but the talented person can’t beat the person with ‘background and connections,’ and the person with ‘background and connections’ can’t beat the lucky person, but the lucky person can’t beat the person with longevity. I guess I am the person with longevity. Public life has taught me many lessons.
You work together and eventually you part ways, and the people you leave behind fall into three categories. They fall into one of three categories: people you want to see again, people you don’t want to see again, and people you don’t care if you do or don’t. I used to say that I would at least try not to be one of those people that I never want to see again, and I’m sure I’m one of those people. Thank you so much for being a part of my long career in public service. I will never forget that my public service has been enriched and filled with learning because of you. Thank you.
Retirement speech
Dear company family, I would like to say goodbye to those of us who will retire at the end of June. The old saying, “The years are like a stream of water,” is true. I think we all feel the same way.
Looking back on the past, I joined the company at the age when others were studying, because I could not afford it. After 30 years of uninterrupted time, I am standing here with gray hair and the glorious word retirement.
All this time, I’ve been living on a small salary to support my family. My wife has taken care of my health, raised our children, taken care of the house with dedication, and been filial to my parents. I love my wife dearly.
At this moment, I feel regretful for so many things in the past: my children’s entrance ceremonies, picnics, sports events, my parents’ birthdays, and funerals. I didn’t know it then. I thought my loyalty was only to my job, and I thought I could do it next time. In doing so, I missed out on so many important things in life that a person should do. Even though they are all in the past, I feel regretful.
I’m also sure that even though I did my best to fulfill the tasks assigned to me at work, there were many times when I didn’t get along with my colleagues, and I would like to thank them for their deep affection and encouragement. I hope you will remember the good times we had together, and understand that the painful and frustrating times were all due to differences of opinion about the workplace.
As I leave a job I loved, my advice to you as a senior in life is to love yourself, which means doing your hobbies and serving your family and coworkers. Be filial to your parents, attend your children’s school events, and foster a sense of pride in your children so that they can be proud of you.
Dear colleagues, I will never forget the good times and bad times I shared with you when I left this place, so please know that even though I am physically away, I am always with you. I look forward to seeing you, and thank you all.
Remarks from the employee representative at the retirement ceremony
Hello, members of the Mountain Club. I will be retiring from the company on the 11th of this month. After 30 years of working for the company, I will be looking for a new job. During my career at the company, I have been active in the sales, planning, general affairs, and overseas business fields as a department head, general manager, branch manager, and branch manager without any regrets. In particular, I have been studying at the University of Tokyo’s CEO course. Through my studies in the fields of venture technology management and negotiation, I have been trying to acquire new knowledge and the latest management techniques and apply them to the front-line workplace. Perhaps I was preparing for a day like today.
Everyone says that once you retire from the company, it’s over, but we are still the head of the family, and if the person who used to work is not working, it can lead to lethargy and even depression. I didn’t want to be a lethargic family man or a lethargic person, at least not just because I was leaving the company, so I’ve been constantly developing and striving for self-improvement even while I was in the company. That’s why, at this point in my career, I have nothing to fear. Until now, I’ve been living for the company’s development rather than my own, but from now on, in the company that I’ve dedicated my passion to, my own opinion will become the company’s philosophy.
I have been indebted to many people over the years, but I can never forget your support, and I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you for your unwavering support and warm gaze.
Everyone, don’t be satisfied with your life in the company now. Be more greedy, study more, and strive to improve. It is said that opportunity comes to those who strive. I hope you will also be a person who prepares for the future. In conclusion, I wish you all the best in your endeavors in this springtime, when everything leaps like a spring and marches anew, and I wish you all good health and good fortune at home.
Example of a final greeting at a company retirement ceremony
Dear Company Family, I have truly appreciated our time together. Whenever I hear the word retirement, I have always thought of it as someone else’s job, not mine. But now that I am here to say goodbye to you just one day before my retirement, I am filled with mixed feelings. I still remember the sweaty days in the sweltering weather, cooling off with ice, and preparing for the inauguration ceremony. Until this moment, all of these events are still running through my mind like a movie panorama. I tried to do my best in the position I was given, but looking back, I realize that I fell short and have many regrets that I should have done more. However, I can only say that I am able to say goodbye like this because of the affection and love of my colleagues, and each and every one of my family members who have supported and encouraged me in hard times, difficult times, and joyful times. If any of you have unknowingly suffered hardship or been hurt by my actions during my tenure, I ask you to understand that it was part of the process of fulfilling the duties entrusted to me and to take this opportunity to forgive me generously.
As I leave the public service, I would like to share with my colleagues and juniors a few things that I have always felt and regretted: First, approach and handle tasks positively, because even if you are a new employee, your attitude can make the difference between saving an individual or a company or closing its doors. Second, when tasks involve two or more departments, I would like to create an atmosphere of consideration for the other party’s position. To all of my family, who have given me more love and encouragement than I could ever ask for, thank you so much, and especially to you and my company circle, who have stood by me in faith for so many years in the workplace. To my company family, may you be in good health and may the Lord’s help be with you at home, at work, and in all that you do. Thank you very much.
Farewell message to a company employee
It’s a chilly winter day outside, so thank you for hosting this warm and cozy gathering. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the president, the general manager, the executives in charge, the department heads, and the guests for their willingness to be here to encourage us as we retire.
It seems like just yesterday that I came to Tokyo from the countryside 30 years ago, knowing nothing, and settled down in the company. It’s been 30 years since I joined the company with nothing, and I learned and mastered the skills and methods that I lacked and was clumsy at. I worked hard in my respective positions and met my current wife with the blessings of my colleagues. This place has truly become my second home, thanks to my coworkers who helped me raise my sons and daughters and put them through college and into the workforce.
They say life starts at 60, but I think it’s not the end, it’s the beginning, and I will start a new beginning with pride and dignity.
I’ve been living for the company, and now I’m going to live for my wife, my children, and myself. I’m going to start by having the same hobbies that my wife has always wanted. My wife’s hobby is mountain climbing, but we didn’t get to enjoy it together because I was always working hard at the company and wanted to stay at home on weekends. Now, my wife and I are going to spend a lot of time out in nature together.
The only regret I have is that this thought came at the end of my career. We work hard, but we can still take time to relax. No matter how important the work of the company is, I hope we never skimp on investing in ourselves. That way, when it’s time to leave, I know I won’t have any regrets.
I would like to thank the President, the General Manager, other executives, department heads, and my fellow wives for their time and support, and wish you all good health and happiness in the coming year. Yours sincerely
Sample retirement greeting for an employee
Dear Colleagues, The warm spring is leaving and the sultry heat and scorching sun are coming. First of all, I would like to thank my company seniors and colleagues for making this occasion for me today.
It’s been a long time since I joined the company, and just as humans can’t defy the passage of time, I’ve grown old with our company, which makes me feel like we are one body, or even old friends.
As I stand in front of you today at my retirement ceremony, I am filled with a new sense of emotion, and memories of working with my colleagues, of putting our heads together and accomplishing tasks one by one, of sharing the joys and difficulties, and of my time at the company are flashing through my mind. I’m leaving the company where I’ve spent half my life, and I’m feeling sad. However, I also feel fortunate that I was able to finish my time here without any incidents and have a safe retirement ceremony. I would like to thank all of my colleagues and the juniors here for their support, without which I would not have had this honor. From this honorable position, I look back on my past life once again, and although there were many good things, I keep thinking about the things that I regret. I wanted to work harder and make more efforts to contribute to the company, serve my seniors better, and get to know my colleagues better. I wish I could have encouraged each other more when we were in trouble, and I wish I could have taken care of my juniors more carefully.
Although my body may be gone, my heart is still with you, so please feel free to call me whenever you need me, and I will do my best to help you. In closing, I would like to thank you all for this opportunity to speak to you today, and I wish you all good health and all the best in your future endeavors.
Department of Justice Bureau of Prisons Retirement Greetings
Good morning, dear prison family, today I am leaving the Department of Justice Bureau of Prisons, where I have served for the past 25 years. I would like to thank my colleagues for making this retirement ceremony so special, and the many dignitaries who traveled so far to be here on the hottest day of the year.
Looking back, it has been a happy and rewarding time in my life, and I remember the unfamiliarity and awkwardness of my first assignment to Osaka Detention Center. After 25 years of service at various locations around the country, I have now reached the point of retirement. I have always complained about the difficulty of my work, and I have often made life difficult for many of my senior colleagues because of my stubbornness and stubbornness.
Thanks to the loving dedication of the prison family to the prison administration, we have overcome many difficulties and trials to get to where we are today. Your tireless efforts for a better future will be a cornerstone and will remain with us forever.
To my beloved Tokyo Prison family, I bow my head in deep respect and honor. It has been an infinite honor for me to have been able to share the highs and lows with you as a colleague. I have nothing to show for it, but I feel honored to have walked only one path, and I will remember only the beautiful memories. The road back is not always the same as today, and it can be desolate and lonely, like a stage with the lights off at the end of a play. But I will live harder to make sure that tomorrow is never as uncertain and that the new life itself is beautiful and worth living.
I will reflect on my regrets and regrets, and I will do my best to set an example for my juniors, so that I can move forward with my new life. I am overwhelmed by your support and consideration so far, and I long for your continued interest and encouragement. Thank you, everyone. I love you.
Retirement message
Hello, this is ○○○ from the Quality Management team, who will be retiring at the end of June this year. I would like to congratulate all of you on my retirement. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all of you for dedicating your precious time to me and for organizing such a precious occasion for me.
I’ve always thought of retirement age as something far away, but now that I’m standing here today, I’m overwhelmed with emotion. As I look back on my memories of my time at the company, I realize that I too have a retirement age. They say that where there is a beginning, there is an end, and now I’m standing at the end. I never thought that I would reach my retirement age, but after spending two-thirds of my life with the company, I’ve come to this moment, and it’s a meaningful one.
I’ve been looking back over the years that I’ve been with the company. We had a glorious heyday in the early 1990s, and then a humiliating period of market share reversal and decline amidst a fierce challenge from a competitor. But what about now? It seems that the day is not far off when we will regain our former glory.
My dear fellow employees, meeting you has become my most cherished memory. I’m glad you were there for me when I was struggling, and I’m glad you laughed with me when I was happy. But human work can’t be all fun and games, so if anyone’s feelings have been unintentionally hurt by working with me, please forgive me. I hope you will continue to build on the glory days of our company. Thank you.