Leaving speeches come up far more often than retirement speeches. People move to new jobs, relocate for a partner's work, go on parental leave or head off travelling. The gathering might be drinks after work or ten minutes round the desks with a cake from the supermarket. The speech is usually short and informal, and it is worth a bit of preparation.
This page covers both sides: a speech for a colleague who is leaving, and your own leaving speech. If someone is retiring after a long career, the retirement speech guide has more on that, and there are longer retirement speech examples too.
A speech for a colleague who is leaving
It's usually given by their manager or by the colleague who knows them best. A good leaving speech covers roughly the following, in this order:
- Get everyone's attention and say who you are, if people don't all know you.
- Say how long they've been there and what they do, in plain words.
- Tell one or two short stories that show what they're like.
- Say what the team will miss about them.
- Wish them well for what's next, and hand over the card or gift if there is one.
- Raise a glass or a mug.
Aim for one to three minutes. At leaving drinks in a pub, people are standing up and the bar is busy, so two minutes is often ideal.
Different reasons for leaving
If they're going to a new job, it's fine to mention where, as long as they've told people. Wish them well and avoid jokes about the new place being better or worse. If they're moving away, say where to and why if it's happy news, such as following a partner's new job or moving closer to family. If they're going on parental leave, keep it light and warm, and say you're looking forward to seeing them back if they plan to return.
If you don't know why they're leaving, or it's private, simply say you'll miss them and wish them well. Never hint at a reason they haven't shared, and don't make jokes about the organisation. Their new employer may hear about it, and your own bosses are probably in the room.
Example: a leaving speech for a colleague (about 2 minutes)
Becca works at a small design agency in Colchester. Her colleague Yusuf is leaving after five years because he's moving to Stirling, where his husband Finlay has a new job at the university. The team is having drinks in a pub near the office.
Can I have everyone's attention for a couple of minutes? Thanks. For anyone from upstairs who doesn't know me, I'm Becca, and I've sat next to Yusuf for the whole five years he's been here.
Yusuf joined us as a junior designer, and now he runs most of our biggest projects. If you've ever seen the posters for the Mercury Theatre around town, that was him. He did them in a week while he had a stinking cold, and they still came out better than anything the rest of us could manage.
What most people don't know about Yusuf is that he's the reason this office has survived five winters. Every Monday he brings in a tin of his mum's date flapjack, and every Monday it's gone by ten o'clock. We've asked for the recipe many times, and his mum has politely said no every time.
He's also the person you go to when you're stuck. He'll look at your screen for about ten seconds and move one thing slightly to the left, and suddenly it works. I still don't know how he does it.
As most of you know, Yusuf and Finlay are moving to Stirling next month, because Finlay has got a lecturing job at the university. We're really pleased for you both, even if we're a bit sad for ourselves.
We've got you a card, which everyone has signed, and a very large coat, because we've heard Scotland is cold.
So please raise your glasses, everyone. To Yusuf and Finlay, and their new life in Stirling.
What makes it work: it's short and easy to follow for anyone in the pub. The story about the posters shows he's good at his job, and the flapjack shows why people like him. Becca mentions the reason for the move because it's happy news Yusuf has shared, and she includes Finlay in the toast.
Your own leaving speech
If someone gives a speech about you, it's polite to say a few words back. Keep yours shorter than theirs. One to two minutes is plenty. Most of it should be thank-yous, with a memory or two and a line about what's next.
- Thank the person who spoke and anyone who organised the card or gift.
- Thank the team as a group, then pick out a few people who really helped you.
- Share one good memory that everyone can follow.
- Say what you're going to do next, briefly.
- Raise a glass to the people staying.
There's more on thanking people without leaving anyone out in your own retirement speech. The same advice works for any leaving do.
Leaving on good terms
Your leaving speech is the last thing many colleagues will hear from you, and you may well work with some of them again. Keep it generous. Leave out complaints and comparisons with your new job. If you're leaving because you weren't happy, you don't need to pretend otherwise. Thank the people you enjoyed working with and wish the team well. Your manager may be writing your reference next year.
Example: your own leaving speech (about 2 minutes)
Gemma is leaving an estate agent's in Shrewsbury after six years to become a lettings manager at a housing association. Her manager, Rob, has just given a short speech and handed over a card and some flowers.
Thank you, Rob, and thank you all for the flowers and the card. I'll read it properly when I get home, because I know if I read it now I'll be in bits.
When I started here six years ago, I'd never shown anyone round a house in my life. My first viewing was a terrace on Castle Foregate, and I got so nervous that I couldn't open the front door. The buyers had to help me with the key. They bought the house anyway, so I've always counted that as a win. Rob still tells that story to every new starter, usually with a few extra details I don't remember.
I've learnt so much here. Rob, you gave me a chance when I had no experience, and you've always been fair and patient with me, even on the day I locked us both out of that flat in Frankwell. Tasha and Mo, you've been the best people to share an office with, and I'm going to miss our Friday cake runs to the bakery on Wyle Cop. And thank you to everyone else, in the office and out on the road, for making it such a good place to work.
I'm starting at the housing association in two weeks, and I'm really excited about it. I'm only down the road, so I'll still be about, and I'll definitely still be coming for Friday cake if you'll have me.
So could you all raise your glasses, please. To all of you, and to many more sales.
What makes it work: Gemma thanks Rob first and mentions the gift. The door story is funny at her own expense and easy for anyone to picture. She names only a couple of people, then thanks everyone else, and the toast is to the team she's leaving.
Other speeches
If you're speaking at a wedding instead, the wedding speeches guide covers who speaks and in what order.
Common questions
How long should a leaving speech be?
One to three minutes is plenty for most leaving dos. That is roughly 130 to 400 words. Leaving drinks are often after work in a pub or round the desks, so shorter tends to go down better.
Should I say why they are leaving?
Only if it's happy news they have shared openly, such as a new job, a move or a baby on the way. If you don't know, or it's private, just wish them well for what comes next.
What should I say in my own leaving speech if I did not enjoy the job?
Keep it short and thank the people you liked working with. Pick one or two good memories, say what you're going to do next and raise a glass. There's no need to pretend, and no need to say anything negative either.
Do I need to give a speech when I leave?
It isn't compulsory, but if someone gives a speech about you it is polite to say a few words back. A minute of thank-yous is enough. If there's no gathering, a friendly goodbye email does the same job.
Can I use AI to help write a leaving speech?
Yes. Speechmade writes a first draft with AI from your answers, whether the speech is about a colleague or about yourself. You read the opening free, and you can change anything so it sounds like you.