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What gift should I give my coworker who is leaving?
Whether a professional colleague or a full-on work bestie, a coworker’s departure definitely deserves some recognition.
Ali Y.
Editor-in-chief
A close coworker leaving can feel like Batman breaking up with Robin—bittersweet, with a sprinkle of “what happens now?”
Whether your departing colleague is jumping ship for a new job, retiring, or just venturing into the unknown, this list has everything you need to help them mark this occasion. We’ll dive into ideas ranging from funny to practical and sentimental, so you can make sure your coworker gets a send-off as unique as their Starbucks order.
Is it customary to give a gift to a coworker who is leaving?
If life were a sitcom, coworkers would be the quirky supporting characters we didn’t audition for but somehow ended up starring alongside. We may not have handpicked them, but navigating the daily drama of office life has a way of forging bonds.
So when they decide to jump ship, it can feel like everything is coming to a screeching halt and it can be hard to know how to recognize their leaving. So should you give gifts to coworkers when leaving the job? Here are some practical tips:
- Retiring: Yes.
- Changing jobs: Not always, but definitely if you’ve worked together for a number of years and spent time together on the job.
- Moving away: The farther your coworker is moving, the less you’ll see them, so a leaving gift becomes more important and meaningful.
- Changing positions within the company: You should write a card, but a farewell gift is probably not necessary unless they’re moving to a different branch.
In all cases, you should consider a ‘leaving gift’ if the coworker in question has had a direct impact on your career (e.g., they hired you, mentored you, advocated for you, etc.).
3 steps to ace your coworker’s going away gift
- Come up with a budget. (See our blog on picking the perfect gift amount for coworkers).
- Decide on the right tone: Funny, sentimental, or practical.
- Choose a gift and remember to write in a card.
Best coworker 'leaving gifts' for a sentimental goodbye
Want a gift that will remind them of the good times? The best sentimental gifts are personal and unique to the recipient. Pick something that could hang in their new office versus collect dust in a memory box.
Option 1: Create a DIY farewell gift
Twice I’ve been blessed with amazing DIY gifts when I changed jobs. In one case, we had worked on the design of a bottle and my team gave me a 3D printing of the bottle with my face engraved on it. 18 years and three jobs later, it still occupies a prime spot in my office.
After leaving a different job, my wonderful graphic designer—someone I hired years ago—gave me a framed collage of all the design projects we worked on together. Hundreds of hours of work, captured in one frame.
Gifts like these have a lot of staying power. Here are some DIY gift ideas for a coworker who has decided to jump ship:
- Collage of pictures taken in the office (best if they’ve never seen them before)
- Artifacts from a project you worked on like a miniature model or some scrap pieces
- A memory book with everybody’s favorite memory of them
- A frame of phrases they say a lot, like “touch base” or “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere”
Option 2: Custom order a personalized gift
If you don’t have the skill (or the time) to pull off a sentimental DIY gift, you can still create the same effect thanks to a range of customizable farewell gifts. These feel incredibly personal without getting you stuck in an arts and crafts rabbit hole.
1. Bobblehead of your coworker
As they get ready to leave, give your coworker a custom bobblehead—because everybody needs a tiny, perpetually nodding version of themselves to agree with their brilliant ideas. A personalized gift like this beats a generic gift card every time.
2. Digital photo frame preloaded with office memories
Not only are these digital frames a well-liked gift in general, but the digital synching feature allows you to upload pictures from your phone at any time so you can surprise them with memorable pictures from your glory days long after they’ve left.
Frameo 10.1 Inch WiFi Touch Screen Picture Frame, Share Photos and Videos Instantly
Buy on Amazon
$69.99
11/21/2024 01:06 am GMT
3. Personalized comic book cover featuring your coworker
Let’s talk about a gift that’s worth framing! Artists all over the internet offer their services to create personalized comic book covers, and you can purchase these through Etsy or Amazon. Working with them is easier than you may think. Just supply a few good quality photos of your colleague and a brief description of what you want done.
4. Personalized coffee mug
Take a picture of your team and have it printed on a mug to celebrate the great moments you had together. You can add a simple “we’ll miss you” or “good luck.” Or if your people are anything like mine, you can unleash the sarcasm with a “hope they have better coffee” or “take us with you.”
5. Custom sweatshirt
This is an awesome way you can transform a picture of your colleague into a memorable gift. This artist converts photos you supply into line art, which reduces the cheese-factor. Go for a caption that says something like ‘Company Legend’ or ‘Accounting Aficionado.’
6. Company gear
Yours might not say Dunder Mifflin, but unless they’re leaving to work at a competitor, your soon to be former colleague might appreciate a sweatshirt, mug, or other tchotchke bearing the company name.
Funny coworker leaving gifts
Nothing says ‘I’ll miss you’ like a laugh and a snort. So let’s break out some funny leaving gifts for that traitor, ahem, I mean, coworker.
'Smells like traitor' (and other funny) candles
Mask the scent of betrayal and burnt bridges with a candle.
B.S. button
Because you know they’ll need it at their next job.
'I used to work with legends' mug
Forever cloud their memory of the dysfunction in your office with an ‘I used to work with absolute legends’ mug.
'I Used To Work With Absolute Legends' Coworker Goodbye Mug
Buy on Amazon
$16.99
11/21/2024 04:40 am GMT
Knitted wool encouragement potato
Maybe the best way to say ‘I believe in you. You’ve got this.’ is to have a potato say it on your behalf—even better if it’s made of wool.
A bottle of their favorite spirit with a 'congrats' wine bag
If you’re gifting your colleague their favorite poison, be sure to wrap it in a wine bag that will outlast what’s in the bottle.
'I dream of not working here' beer glass
Does surviving a day at the office feel like an Olympic sport? Raise your glass to the one who came up with the escape plan.
‘You are dead to us’ tumbler
Nothing says ‘we’ll miss you’ like a sarcasm-filled farewell gift containing the word “death,” etched in stainless steel.
F***ing quitter retirement whiskey glass
If you are members of the pottymouth worker’s union, this may just be what you need to toast to your retiring coworker who somehow managed to get out before somebody could fire them.
F*cking Quitter Happy Retirement! Engraved Whiskey Glass
Buy on Amazon
$14.99
11/21/2024 04:41 am GMT
Dumpster fire desk organizer
A cross between a funny gift and a useful one, this Desk Dumpster Pencil Holder makes the perfect farewell gift for that coworker who is glad to escape the dumpster fire that is your office. Complete with flame shaped note cards for all the future fires they’ll need to put out.
Practical gifts for your coworker who is leaving for another job or retiring
Funny and tear-filled gifts are nice, but they’re not right for everyone. Just want to send them off on a positive note? Gift them something that will come in handy in the next stage of their life, whether that’s starting another job, retiring, or opening a medical marijuana dispensary.
Custom engraved ballpoint pen
Give your coworker a parting gift they can use to sign their future million-dollar contracts, because guess what…they won’t be sitting next to you in boring meetings anymore.
Personalized name plate
A personalized name plate is a useful parting gift for a colleague to ensure they never forget their own name when they fill out their new W-4 form. Joking aside, it is a really nice way to celebrate a new title or promotion, which is often the reason for someone leaving.
Reusable smart notebook
How about a gift that will set your colleague up for success in their next gig? This reusable smart notebook is designed to easily convert handwriting and drawings to digital documents. Jot, scan, and wipe pages clear for a fully reusable notebook that will help them say goodbye to paper.
Gifts that will keep them warm in the office
A parting gift doesn’t have to be custom engraved to feel personal—it just needs to be specific to the receiver. Gifting warming items for someone who always runs cold is the perfect example. Research published in Nature found office temperatures are less comfortable for women in particular due to overcooling. If this sounds like your colleague, hand them a farewell gift that will keep them warm in their next adventure.
Office door sign showing work status
For people who are always on the move, a great gift option is an office door sign that shows their current status. Easily switch between pre-built messages like ‘Do Not Disturb,’ ‘Working Remotely,’ or ‘Out of Office’.
What about a gift basket for a coworker who is leaving?
Sometimes you just don’t know a colleague well enough to get them a personal gift. Or your officemates want to go in on a group gift instead of a hodgepodge of items. Whatever the reason, a gift basket might be a practical way to celebrate the coworker who is leaving.
Gift baskets that work for both men and women
For gender-neutral gift baskets, edible is the way to go. If you’re lucky, they’ll open the package then and there, and share some of the sugar boost to help everyone get through the daily grind.
Gift baskets for female coworkers
Let’s be real, your colleague is getting ready to leave the stress of work behind—and what better way to escape than a lavender-scented personal oasis in a basket?
Gift baskets for male coworkers
No doubt grilling isn’t exclusively a men’s hobby, but with its hard case and rugged design, this set is definitely targeted to men who like to be in charge of the meat department.
A well-groomed beard is the ultimate power move in office negotiations—who needs a tie when you’ve got a perfectly sculpted chin mane?
Beard Grooming Kit with Beard Oil, Beard Balm, Conditioner, Brush, Comb, Scissors
Buy on Amazon
$14.31
11/21/2024 03:31 am GMT
That wraps it up! As you bid farewell to your coworker leaving to start their next chapter, remember that the perfect gift is a reflection of the shared moments and camaraderie you’ve enjoyed together, whether it’s a witty token of laughter, a heartfelt DIY creation, or a practical gift that will remind them of you every time they use it.
