Odd Retirement Gift

Not all leaving parties are 'tacky' * biglouis* I had a lovely big party with all my friends and colleagues, we had lots of memories of the time we worked together. It was especially memorable as I was retiring to France and was unlikely to see many of my colleagues again. I had some lovely personal gifts, jewellery, theatre tickets etc. My corporate gift was a dishwasher which I asked for as I was going to start a
B & B. Happy memories still.

Annaram - My story is similar to yours. When I left the firm I had been with for 18 yrs to go elsewhere as my husband had retired and I wanted to cut back on my working hours and that would not have worked having "been in charge" for so many years. I really didn't want a "do" but a collection was made by my colleagues and I was taken to a local art shop and picked out a local scene which was dear to me and it has hung on the wall ever since. On the day the staff gathered to present it to me along with an enormous bouquet. I was then called up to the boardroom and presented with a handsome cheque and on the way home I called in at the local travel agents and booked a holiday in Cyprus where we had never been before. DH was very happy and more than a bit surprised!!!!

When i retired i received a Roberts Radio in red, two tickets to visit Highclere , a bag full of cash which enabled me to buy a greenhouse heater, and a new hedge trimmer. In addition i had a huge fushia plant in a lovely pot and so many flowers i had to borrow some vases from my neighbour. Although i wanted to retire it broke my heart leaving my collegues and staff. All the wonderful thoughtful gifts i received, i felt, reflected how they had thought of me.

When I retired from teaching, the PTA organised a lovely party in the parish Hall. Many parents came with flowers and gifts, mainly wine🙂. One parent had organised a book of memories in which, various former pupils, some at Uni or in work wrote their favourite memories of their time with me. No mean feat considering that they were only 6 or 7 when I taught them.
Not sure how much editing went on as all the comments were positive!
The staff and governors bought me theatre vouchers which was perfect and enabled me to see 2 plays at Stratford.
A month after retirement, my former TA came to visit and she gave me the "gift that was stuck in the post."
It was a digital microscope! They knew I enjoyed using the schools from time to time so felt I needed one of my own.
I've had a lot of use from it and now the grandchildren do too.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

joyceb I might be tempted to contact them to ask what has happened 🤔

When I retired in 2012 there was a collection for a present for me. The usual practice in the department was to ask the person what they would like and I had hoped for a mobile phone as I would have to hand back my work one. I did receive a beautiful but impractical pair of pearl earrings as the main present and one or two additional personal gifts. I was astounded, however, to be told by the person who carried out the collection that she had told people not to put as much money as they wanted to in the envelope and that a couple of quid "would do"!! I have carried out many collections for others and arranged leaving do's as well but always hand over the envelope so that I never see who contributed what.... My leaving do was great though. I organised that myself and had a fundraiser for the local Stroke Support Group I'd helped set up as my last gasp, invited all the members and asked colleagues to bring their favourite food to share. I also asked them all to provide the recipe or information about the source of the food for a guide and recipe book fund raiser for the group. I stupidly gave the recipes etc in a folder to the person who'd carried out the collection so the food guide was never published. That's what rankled the most... A previous recipe book had raised a lot of money for a very successful intergenerational tea party group who met in a Very Sheltered Housing Complex. Grrrr!

Personally, I'd put the painting away for a few years, then take it to an auction house to see if its worth selling!

In every workplace I have never gone in on the "last" day in order to escape the embarassment of a tacky "leaving do"

I was given an etymological dictionary when I retired from teaching. No-one had bothered to dedicate it to me, which hurt my feelings.

On my last day at work after 28 years they gave me a party to which everyone came. I received a huge bouquet and the collection. I spent the money at the local art shop on a small still life by a local artist. Its in my dining room now. With the remaining money I bought a breakfast set of Fred and Mabel cartoons on it. I use it daily.

When I left my first job, I was given a necklace which had a small gold charm on it. I thought it was a turnip-actually it was a horn of plenty. Unfortunately I thought it was a turnip, albeit an attractive turnip! I was only 19 so

My father received an expensive leather desk set when he retired from a Government department, with no intention of ever sitting at a desk again! I now use the unused lovely address book. The blotter and revolving calendar are long gone.

My friend sold her pharmacy and all the building above it, not particularly attractive, just ordinary but the painting was not a good one!

My friend was a Headmistress and received the large board that was on the wall outside the school with her name on. I thought that was really nice.

I was absolutely delighted to receive a watercolour of my workplace as a retirement present and it's hanging in pride of place in our living room. I spent 40 hours a week (and then some) there for 20 years of my life - it was a job that gave me tremendous fulfilment, fantastic friends and colleagues and many happy memories, not to mention the money in the bank every month .

My father received a tie when he retired.

As an artist I was asked many times to paint schools for leaving or retiring staff. I only accepted the commission if it was an attractive building and would make a nice painting. I always added a few children, parents and dogs and most people were thrilled to receive one!

Is the frame any good ?

She is a narcissist. At her mid 60's she went to a fancy dress party as Lara Croft! On one occasion I found a body piercing of a butterfly on office floor. It was hers. Also saw thong poking out of top of her trousers. 8 people left that employment during the 4 year period I managed to last.

My newish ex boss was an absolute control freak (been in job for nearly 30 years. My former boss was brilliant and we are still in touch since he retired in 2007) .I'd been off sick for nearly 11 months and was granted early retirement due to the stress she put me through. She sent me an email asking if I'd like to celebrate my retirement. You can guess what my response was. Hope the bully is reading this.

Why not get the painting valued on TV that would be fun?

I worked for a company in Grimsby and left to start my own business after my direct boss had died. I was asked to stay but my plans were too far advanced. I was in a managerial position and had dragged the business into the 20th century. I worked long and hard hours for little pay. So it was no suprise that when I left I got nothing. Not a thank you or good luck. A few weeks later the business was sold to another company. It still exists except for a change of name. I have since retired completely and thoroughly enjoy it.

Well, let’s do everyone a favour? What would you really want as a retirement gift, ignoring your boss’s head on a silver salver?

It sounds as though an abstract image of a not very lovely building could be rather good, so perhaps re framing it in a sympathetic way might make it more appealing to you. A new mount and picture frame can work wonders! Otherwise put it in you picture 'store' and there may come a time when your taste changes and you can hang it and enjoy it. Not an odd present at all, in my view.

I'm a skeptic. Check for a relationship between artist and boss. Perhaps the commission of the painting was a gift to an aspiring artist.

When I took early retirement at 62 for family reasons, I received some lovely cards, very nice gifts - (several of which I had admired in the shops) - and a meal out from colleagues and management, as well as similar acknowledgements from family and friends. It was only retrospect that I realised why a close colleague had taken me a look round the shops and lunch some weeks previously... The same colleague astonished me by telling me later that, when she carried out the collection for my gifts, people wanted to donate "far too much and a fiver would 'do'." I was perfectly happy with what I'd received so it seemed odd to me for her, not so much to restrict the collection, but to tell me that she had done so...!