25 Funny Leaving Rhymes for a Colleague's Card

September 9, 2026

The leaving card comes round the office and everyone writes "good luck!" A rhyme takes ninety seconds and is the one people read twice.

Twenty-five below, split by reason for leaving. Every one aims at the job, never the person, so they're all safe to sign.

New job

These lighthearted verses are perfect for a close teammate embarking on a fresh career step. Use them to bring a smile to their final week without crossing any professional boundaries. A practical tip is to choose a rhyme that reflects their daily habits, like their legendary biscuit consumption, to make the sentiment feel truly personal and memorable.

You're off to somewhere new and bright, With better coffee, so we've heard. Don't fix everything week one - It sets a precedent. Just a word.
Good luck in the brand new role, New pin badge, new desk, new set of rules. They've no idea what they've just got - We do. We had you first, the fools.
New job, new chair, new nobody Who knows which meetings you can skip. Learn that first, learn it fast - That's the whole apprenticeship.
We'd say the place won't be the same, And honestly, that's rather true. The printer will still be broken though - Some things survive. Good luck. From you-know-who.
You're leaving, and you've left a gap, Mostly in the biscuit budget. And partly in the bit of work That no one else can even nudge it.

Retirement

These warm, gentle rhymes are perfect for long-serving team members who are finally hanging up their lanyards. Use them to celebrate a lifetime of hard work and toast their well-earned freedom. To make your sign-off extra special, try mentioning their specific post-work plans, whether that involves gardening or simply sleeping in, to show you really listened over the years.

No more alarms, no more commute, No more emails marked 'urgent - read'. Just mornings that begin at ten, And afternoons you'll fill with weeds.
You've done your years, you've done them well, You've trained up half of everyone here. Go and do absolutely nothing - You've earned it. Every single year.
Retirement's not the end of work, It's just work that you actually chose. Sheds, and grandkids, and long lunches - Good luck. And well done. Cheers. Off you go.
They'll ask you how you fill the days, And you'll say 'I'm busier than before'. And it'll be true, and that's the trick - Enjoy it. Properly. And more.
Forty years of turning up, Of sorting out what others broke. Go and put your feet up now - And don't answer if we call. No joke.

Maternity and moving away

Designed for colleagues embarking on major life transitions, these verses suit those heading off on parental leave or relocating to a new town. They are best used to offer a reassuring, supportive send-off during an emotional week. A helpful tip is to focus on the exciting adventure ahead, reminding them that they will be missed but are fully supported in their next chapter.

You're off to do a harder job, With worse hours and no lunch break. Good luck, congratulations too - Come back for cake. Do come for cake.
Enjoy the leave, ignore your phone, We'll cope, we always somehow do. Send photos when you feel like it, And not before. We're here for you.
New baby, new schedule, new world, And no handover doc for that. You'll be brilliant, obviously - You organised our Christmas. Fact.
You're moving miles and miles away, Which frankly feels a bit extreme, When all we did was ask you once To run the Monday morning scheme.
New city, new office, new start, Same you, which is the useful bit. Stay in touch, or don't, that's fine - We'll message you regardless of it.

Short ones for a crowded card

These punchy, brief verses are ideal for busy offices where a single card is circulating rapidly among dozens of people. Use them when space is at an absolute premium but you still want to stand out from the sea of standard signatures. A practical tip is to use a fine-tipped pen so your neat rhyme remains perfectly legible in the crowded margins.

Good luck, don't fix it all week one - Save something for the second one.
You're leaving, we're bereft, it's true. Also: can we have your chair? Thanks. Do.
New job, new you, same terrible jokes. Good luck from all your favourite folks.
They've got the better end of this. We've got your mug. We'll take the hit.
Off you go, and do it well. Ring us if it's awful. Tell.
Thanks for covering when I said I was 'on a call'. I was in bed.

Rules for a leaving card

This handy guide is brilliant for anyone tasked with organising the office farewell or those simply worried about office etiquette. Use these guidelines before you put pen to paper to ensure the card remains a warm, positive keepsake. A practical tip is to pass the card around secretly to keep the surprise intact until the final presentation day.

Aim at the job, never the person. Cards get passed round and screenshotted.
Two lines is plenty when forty people are signing. Long verses eat the card.
Write in the middle if you can - the edges get covered by later signatures.
Add one specific thank you. "Thanks for the handover doc" beats "good luck" every time.
If you're the manager, be the punchline. It always reads better from above.

Key things to remember

Write your rhyme before the card reaches you - the good space goes fast.
One joke, one genuine thank you, your name. That's the whole leaving card.
For retirement, drop the workload jokes and go warmer. It's a bigger moment than a job change.

Frequently asked questions

What can I write in a leaving card that isn't 'good luck'?

A two-line rhyme plus one specific thank you. Naming the thing they actually did is what makes a leaving card worth keeping.

Is it safe to be funny in a work leaving card?

Yes, if you aim at the job rather than the person - meetings, the printer, the biscuit budget. Never performance, pay or personal habits.

How long should a leaving card message be?

Two to four lines. Forty colleagues are signing the same card, so brevity is a kindness.

What is a good example of funny leaving rhymes?

"You're off to somewhere new and bright, With better coffee, so we've heard. Don't fix everything week one - It sets a precedent. Just a word." is one of 26 examples on this page. Pick the one closest to the tone you want, then add a specific detail of your own - a shared memory, a date, a name - so it reads as yours rather than copied.

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Choose a leaving card

Pair your rhyme with one of our funny leaving cards for colleagues, choosing a joke that suits the recipient. For a friend relocating or travelling, see our wider leaving and moving-away cards.