It can be sad to say goodbye to a co-worker, especially if they’ve worked with you for years. However, their retirement is the perfect opportunity to spoil them and show your appreciation for everything they’ve done for you.
There are lots of great ways to celebrate a co-worker’s retirement, both monetary and non-monetary. The way you celebrate this important milestone in your colleague’s life depends on their personal preferences and your budget.
Below, we’ve covered some thoughtful retirement gifts and non-gift options for celebrating a co-worker’s retirement.
Talent Show
Go the extra mile and host a talent show as a farewell event for your colleague. Ask a selection of your other colleagues to participate with their unique talents to provide an evening of entertainment in the workplace before they join the local retirement community.
Talent shows are the perfect opportunity to wind down and enjoy your colleague’s final days in the workplace. You can let your hair down, have a laugh, and embarrass yourselves without judgment. If it’s close to a certain holiday, such as Halloween or Christmas, consider hosting a themed talent show to make things extra special.
Memory Book
If you and your co-worker have lots of memories together and a plethora of photos to represent them, consider buying them a memory book.
You have two options when it comes to buying a memory book. You can purchase a plain book and print off lots of photos for your colleagues to personalize the book themselves. Alternatively, you buy a printed memory book, where you submit the photos to the company as part of your order, and they print the images directly onto the paper.
Neither option is better than the other – both are great! If your co-worker is creative, they might prefer the former option. However, the latter option may be seen as more thoughtful and timeless.
A Goodbye Lunch
On your colleague’s last day in the workplace, consider hosting a farewell lunch. Ask the rest of your team to bring a unique dish or snack to the luncheon to create a delicious buffet.
As you and your colleagues tuck into the various dishes available, you can share a toast for your retiring colleague. Each person can contribute a special memory they share with this colleague and reminisce on the good times they’ve shared.
Gift Card
Gift cards are a safe choice for colleague retirement presents. You can purchase a gift card that covers multiple brands, so your colleague has lots of choices when spending it. If there’s a particular store that your colleague adores, consider getting them a brand-specific gift voucher.
Ask a couple of your other colleagues to chip in so you can purchase a gift card of $100 or even more. A higher gift card value gives your retiring colleague more choice when choosing what to spend it on. Place the gift card in a retirement card so each worker can write a personalized farewell message inside it.
