Not about the situation. Leaving jokes such as "good riddance" or "free at last" belong to departures people chose.

When a colleague leaves without choosing to: the team's gesture

Redundancy, a layoff, a contract that isn't renewed: no jokes, no big show. A keepsake from the team and a note from everyone. Postcards $26.00, frame from $55.00, shipping included.

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Ansichtkaarten vanaf $26.00 incl. verzending

Verder lezen

The short answerWhen a colleague leaves without having chosen to, ask them first what they would like: drinks, a simple coffee, or nothing at all. The kindest gesture is a quiet one: a note from each person, handwritten on postcards with the team photo (ten cards, $26.00), and if you like, a frame with a good shared memory (from $55.00). No humour about the situation. Shipping included.

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First, ask them

Some people want to leave surrounded by the team; others would rather slip away quietly. Ask simply, one to one: "We'd like to mark your leaving — what would you like?" And respect the answer, even if it is "nothing".

No "good riddance", no joke t-shirt, no hint at the reasons for leaving: what gets a laugh when someone chose to go hurts here.
No speech about what comes next if they don't know yet what they will do. A sincere thank-you is enough.
No comment about the company in the gift: they take it with them, and other people will see it.

A note from everyone

The gift that matters most is the words. The ten postcards ($26.00) carry a photo of the team or of a good moment together on the front; on the back, each colleague writes what they valued about working with them. It doesn't need to be long: one true sentence beats a paragraph of platitudes.

The photoPick a photo from a happy moment — a team lunch, a project that went well — where they look at ease. Avoid a photo taken in the last few days.

A keepsake to hold on to

The A4 frame, from $55.00: the team photo, simply, with first names or "Thank you for these years".
The mug, $23.00: an everyday object, with no heavy message.
The canvas, $35.00: light, no glass, for a good photo of a moment you shared.

Between eight colleagues, the ten postcards come to $3.25 each, the A4 frame to $6.87, both together to $10.12. Nobody has to take part: this is not a gesture anyone should be asked to pay into.

The moment

Hand over the cards and the gift in a small group, or over a coffee, rather than in front of the whole company if that isn't what they want. Printing and delivery take 5 to 10 working days in the UK, Europe and the US and up to 15 elsewhere: if their last day is close, the cards can also be sent to their home after they have left — a note received a week later means just as much.

Prices shown include shipping, no minimum order. Printed one at a time to order near the delivery address, delivered in 5 to 10 working days in the UK, Europe and the US, up to 15 elsewhere.

Questions we get asked

Should we give a gift to a colleague who has been made redundant? There is no obligation. Ask them first what they would like; many appreciate a note from everyone and a keepsake from the team, without a party.

What gift suits a colleague who was laid off or whose contract was not renewed? Something understated: ten postcards with the team photo, each with a note from a colleague ($26.00), or a frame with a photo of a good moment together (from $55.00), shipping included.

Can we use humour? Not about the situation. Leaving jokes ("good riddance", "free at last") belong to departures people chose.

What if they have already left? Send the cards to their home: they arrive in 5 to 10 working days in the UK, Europe and the US, up to 15 elsewhere, and a note that arrives afterwards does just as much good.

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