New chapter messagesLeaving a job
Farewell messages for a coworker · what to say when someone is leaving the company
In a farewell message, the recipient is the one leaving. Whether they've already lined up a new job, are taking a break, or are starting their own thing, the message comes down to how much weight you put on "thanks for everything" versus "it's all going to work out."
You won't find the departing person's own goodbye speech here — these are lines from the people who are staying. They're sized to be read aloud at a farewell dinner, put on a cake, or written in a rolling paper.
For a coworker
Don't pretend to know why they're leaving. "Finally escaped" is a line only they get to say.
- Thank you for everything you've done here. Congratulations on the fresh start.
- I can't picture the office without [name], but I can easily picture what's ahead for you. Congratulations.
- It's been a pleasure working with you. You'll do well wherever you go, so I'm not worried.
- Congratulations on the new chapter. Let's just be friends now, not coworkers.
- Watching you hand things off responsibly right up to your last day — that was so you. Congratulations.
- We'll keep using the system [name] built. Congratulations on the fresh start.
- I'll miss you, but I trust this was your call to make. Congratulations.
- Thank you for all your hard work. You'll be just as loved wherever you land next.
- Congrats on leaving! Next round's on me when we meet up outside the office.
- I've known you a long time, so this congratulations is extra sincere. It's all going to work out.
For a friend
Asking a friend who's taking a break "what's next" isn't a congratulations. Don't ask about the plan — celebrate the moment instead.
- Congrats on quitting! So we can hang out on weekday afternoons now, right?
- You worked so hard. Rest with no plans for a while.
- You made the call, so it's the right one. Congrats.
- Dinner's on me to celebrate — no work talk required.
- That company just lost you. Congrats, you made the right move.
- Guess I won't hear you complain about work every day anymore. Congrats!
- Congrats on the fresh start. Whatever you do next, I'll be your first customer.
- Let's take a trip to celebrate — you pick the dates.
- Congrats. I'll hear about what's next whenever you're ready to talk about it.
Funny and clever
Only joke about things they'd actually laugh at. Remember that people who are staying can hear jokes about pay or the boss too.
- Congrats on quitting! Welcome to a life where Mondays don't scare you.
- Wave when you walk past the building. The rest of us are still in here.
- You have to tell me how your first Monday off feels.
- Congratulations on quitting. Welcome to a life without alarms.
- Our team just lost its best talent. But congrats is still congrats.
- Congrats on leaving. Don't forget to hand in your badge.
- Feel free to leave the work group chat. Just don't leave ours.
- Congrats! Thanks for all the coffee runs — I've got the next one.
Short lines for a cake or topper
A cake writes best in a handful of words. Adding a name means trimming the rest.
- Congrats on leaving
- Congrats, [name]
- Well done, [name]
- Cheers to the fresh start
- Thanks for the hard work
- Thanks for everything
- [name]'s new chapter
- Congrats on leaving 🎉
Only for messages to someone leaving their job
"Escaped" is their word to use, not yours
It's a joke when the person leaving says "finally escaped," but it turns into griping about the company when someone staying says it. Remember that coworkers who are staying will read this too.
Don't ask about the next step
"Where are you headed next?" is a question, not a congratulations. If they've decided, they'll bring it up themselves; if not, the question is just pressure. Say "I'm rooting for you, whatever you do" instead.
Write it to be read out loud
Farewell rolling papers are often opened together on the last day, with everyone in the room. Keep any inside joke to one line, and choose sentences for the rest that are fine to read out loud.
For tips that work for anyone, visit the New chapter message collection .
Found your words? Give them a place to gather.
Chuka's New Chapter party is an online farewell rolling paper where coworkers each show up as a pixel character and leave a line. Messages stay hidden from each other in the waiting room and unfold one by one when the guest of honor opens the reveal link on their last day. No paper to pass around, and no chance to peek at what anyone else wrote.