25+ Retirement Plaque Wording Examples and Phrases

Do you want to honor one’s lifetime career and achievements? A retirement plaque or award is the best way to show your gratitude, love, and respect for that person, especially if you were colleagues for quite a while. But choosing the best retirement plaque wording to put on that crystal plaque is not an easy feat. After all, how do you sum up a person’s work achievements with a retirement plaque message containing just a few words?

Luckily, for you, we have here 25 retirement plaque sayings that work very well with the retirement party and honoring you are about to organize, no matter the line of work or industry you and the retiree are in. But before we begin with the retirement plaque quotes and wishes, let’s discuss a few things first!

What Type of Retirement Plaque Wording Should You Choose?

Should it be funny and include some work/life-related pun? Should it be serious and dry? It all depends on the type of job that person did, the type of business/industry you both are in, and the level of allowed humor within the walls of the company/office. As you can easily figure out, a military retirement plaque wording is – or should be – different from firefighter retirement plaques or the retirement plaque for an actor, artist, or even doctor.

People who have stayed with a company/industry long enough to earn a retirement are likely to be familiar with every type of social commentary and pun associated with this very important stage of life and career. It’s highly likely that for years, a retiree has juggled the concept of retirement with what it implies.

It’s especially true for retirees leaving a place of work where they have a venerable reputation, to have thought about what leaving means. A person who has given the better part of their working life to a company has undoubtedly earned the respect of authority figures and coworkers. In most cases, retirees are more concerned with how they will spend their earned free time, instead of becoming overly reminiscent about time spent on the job.

The Retirement Party Gift

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An important part of planning a retirement party is coming-up with suitable gifts that contain. These gifts must convey a sense of connection between the retiree and the remaining work crew, but must also carry a message of importance. Coworkers will have had ample time to get to know the personality and preferences of a person who is about to retire. This interaction is vitally helpful when choosing corporate gifts for a retirement party. If you want more ideas on the gifts that work for co-workers, friends, and employees who are retiring, check out our guides on the best 70th birthday party gifts and themes ideas, the best 80th birthday party and gift ideas, or even our top housewarming gifts to buy this year. These guides also include menus, party decorations, and gift suggestions, so feel free to check them out for inspiration!

How to Choose a Retirement Party Gift

Retirement party and celebration gifts should combine the guest of honor’s favorite things with a bit of humor, lighthearted affinity, and class. The artwork is a great choice for giving at a retirement party. Memorabilia pertaining to the history and achievement of the company is also appropriate. Along with traditional parting gifts, things like photographic displays are a brilliant way to highlight a person’s career and contribution.

Retirement Plaques

Plaques with sentimental messages are also a perennial favorite gift for coworkers to bestow upon retirees. These items are simple, yet can provide a summation of the thoughts and feelings of coworker groups in simple, straightforward statements. Retirement plaque wording can be creative and fashioned from a wide range of materials that also speak to the retiree’s importance.

How to Choose the Best Retirement Plaque

  • If a retiree was mainly employed in a managerial position, wooden plaques with traditional golden engraved lettering are highly appropriate.
  • Other plaques can be made using trophy-like motifs.
  • Wooden, hanging plaques are exceptionally meaningful, and can be engraved with long, noteworthy messages. The gift of a hanging plaque is always a thoughtful gift, and something a retiree will treasure at home.
  • Glass and crystal award-looking personalized plaques are a thing of beauty and elegance, echoing style, respect, and class. You cannot go wrong with them, no matter if you are looking for retirement plaque wording for police/military personnel, teachers, firefighters, corporate executives, or journalists.

Other retirement plaques can reflect the nature of the business that a person is leaving.

  • Sculpted concrete plaques for contracting and municipal retirees are wonderful.
  • Brass and metal plaques for teachers and government workers have special meaning.
  • Wooden plaques for people with careers in the arts and public service can be stunning and enjoyable when paired with a private celebration.

The Retirement Plaque Wording and Message

The most important part of a retirement plaque wording is the message permanently engraved on its face. The message must have special meaning to the recipient and the group giving the plaque. The range of messages is as broad as the language itself. It should always combine an appreciation for the retiree’s service, elements of the nature of his or her job, and a great deal of personality. Every retiree has the idea that his or her service is unique, so a retirement plaque should have words reflecting the recipient’s notion of self-worth and love for the job. The following are examples of appropriate plaque messages with retirement wording.

Take time off. It’s on us!

[Number of years of service] that are greatly appreciated.

In recognition for [number of years of service].

Loyal, Trustworthy, and Professional.

Always the employee with a vision for the future.

Thank you for generations of support and commitment.

Exemplary veteran achievement at [company name].

Here’s to earned permanent vacation time.

We remember when…[first year of employment].

Your years of expertise helped grow this company.

Mr./Ms. [name] corporate emeritus.

Happy retirement! Never stop the commitment!

Our company can never replace your efforts. We can only learn from your example.

New horizons through solid examples!

Employee, contributor, teacher, mentor.

Through times of trial, and times of plenty. Thank you!

[number of years] at the same office…deserves at least two weeks on an island!

We remember [first employment year].

You are loved, appreciated, and have our respect.

Happy retirement. Visit any time, but remember to check-in with the receptionist.

In honor of company service and [list the most important achievement].

An exceptional life and commitment to service in [subject].

The venerable [name, plus corporate title].

Here’s to seeing us [corporate name] through [number] of years.

For [number of years of excellence] as [job title].

We are still family.

You can finally enjoy the view.

Retirement Plaques, Quotes, and Gifts: FAQs

Before we wrap up this guide, let’s answer some of the most frequently asked questions we received from our readers and people looking for the best retirement plaque wording examples!

What are some of the best retirement gifts?

From golf clubs to electronic readers and from gift certificates to event tickets, you can think of anything when it comes to a good retirement gift. Check out our curated list of best gifts for men and the best gifts for women, respectively, to get your inspiration going! Since retirement is some sort of endless vacation, make sure you pick a retirement gift that speaks to the receivers’ hobbies and passions in particular.

What are some funny retirement quotes to put on a retirement plaque?

If you are going the funny quotes’ way, here are some of our favorite retirement quotes you can inscribe on a wooden or even glass award-like plaque!

  • Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter. (Mark Twain)
  • The trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off. (Abe Lemons)
  • To me, retirement means doing what you have fun doing. (Dick Van Dyke)
  • You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. (C. S. Lewis)
  • Don’t act your age in retirement. Act like the inner young person you have always been. (J. A. West)

What is a sensible way to say goodbye to your co-workers when you retire?

If you retire soon and you know it is going to be a party – no matter how small or big – for you, it is worth it to give your goodbye some thought. You can always prepare a speech to tell your colleagues how much they meant and always mean for you. If you want to travel the fun route, a Comedy Central-inspired roast would work, but only if everyone has a developed sense of humor and take no offense in your mean jokes.

Preparing some departure small gifts for them as memorabilia is also a good idea. If the theme of your retirement party involves gift exchange, turn the whole shebang into a gift exchange game!

Write a letter to send them or pick personalized cards to offer them on your last day, bring some cookies at the office for an impromptu treat, you name it!

Retirement Plaque Wording: Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed our selection of retirement plaque wording examples and messages. In case you want more ideas and inspirational phrases, feel free to leave us a comment in the dedicated section and we will update this guide accordingly. Even more so, if you have some retirement plaque wording that you already received and are proud of, share it with our community! We are always thrilled to hear from you!

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