How to Make a Retirement Video Coworkers Will Actually Watch

Most retirement send-offs are a card that circulates the office and a cake in the break room. Neither survives past the week. A retirement video — built from short messages across an entire career — is the rare gift that actually gets watched again.

1. Go further back than the current team

The current team knows the last few years. The people who worked alongside the retiree a decade ago often have the best stories — and the most surprising ones. Loop in the company alumni group chat or LinkedIn, not just the org chart.

2. Prompt for impact, not just fondness

"They were great to work with" is nice but forgettable. A sharper prompt gets specifics that actually land:

• What did working with them teach you?
• Share a story that sums them up.
• What do you want to thank them for?
• What are you wishing them for retirement?

3. Give busy people a real week

This is one gift where rushing shows. A week of lead time lets colleagues actually sit down and think about what they want to say, rather than dashing off something generic between meetings.

4. Keep it warm, not just professional

It’s a workplace video, but it doesn’t have to sound like one. Tell contributors it’s fine to be personal — the messages people remember are rarely the polished ones.

5. Hand it over, then keep a copy

Play it at the farewell lunch or send-off, then give the retiree a downloaded copy of their own. Keep one for the team’s records too — it’s the kind of thing people ask for again years later.