Odd Retirement Gift

And the last building I worked in was a Norman (Lord )Foster design. Sadly not one of his better efforts and I would not have been impressed with a painting of it!

Oh well at least they won't know that you haven't proudly displayed it!

I wanted to just slip out of the door when I took early retirement, but my immediate colleagues had organised some lovely thoughtful gifts - flowers, chocolates and a gift card, and a speech with some nice bits of humour in it.
However, the only acknowledgement from management was in a monthly newsletter, just stating "GrowingoldDisgracefully is leaving". No thanks, or acknowledgement of over 40 years of service or mention of any achievements. No doubt because the person writing the inclusion was the reason for my leaving earlier than I had planned.....

The final 'icing on the cake' was a letter from her, long after I had left, stating she had taken out a grievance against me and I was required to attend for a meeting. A control freak if ever there was one. The gist of my response I should think you can guess!

When I retired from the place where I’d worked for 19 years, 7 months and 10 daysI got lots of cards and gifts. If I had received a picture of the building ( or hell hole as I called it) I would probably have thrown it at them !

Not a retirement gift, but a leaving gift. I was presented with a print of various historic buildings which were to be found within the area supported by the company. I was moving to a similar business less than a mile away.

The following week I was contacted and asked if I could return the print as they had a suprise VIP visitor and had no suitable gift available to present to them. They would replace my print as soon as they could. I was happy to help - but after more than 15 years have passed I don't think I'll be seeing it anytime soon!

When I took a voluntary redundancy deal a few years ago, my colleagues, there were over 100 in the department over two sites, clubbed together and bought me a bouquet and £50 in cash. Disappointed, you bet I was. I been there for well over 30 years as had some of those colleagues.
I would have pleased with a picture of one of the old C19-20 buildings I'd worked in, but the not the last one. A seven storey glass and concrete monstrosity. Brutalist doesn't even cover it.

I think gifts should never be personal unless they are from someone you know. I think a retirement gift should be vouchers and then you can buy something that you want or need. It’s a shame to waste money, given by colleagues, on something you don’t want or like x

I would have thought that was a very fitting gift to receive, and would have been delighted with it.

If it's any consolation I took retirement on 5th April 2020 (and actually "left" almost three weeks earlier due to having accrued holiday to use) and my retirement "do" is now booked (for the 6th or 7th time) on 30th May 2022 - half the people I worked with have left themselves so the turnout should be interesting - no corporate gift despite working there for almost 30 years! I'm ordering the most expensive things on the menu - I'm worth it!!

When I retired a number of years ago, my daughters commissioned a painting of the building I had worked in for many years. I love it! But then it is the beautiful Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast.

When I retired from a very small Oxford college I was presented with theatre tokens from the staff and the students clubbed together and bought me a set of table mats with drawings of Oxford. The day before I left I attended the weekly formal dinner. The Principal made a speech and so did one of the students. On my final day the Principal took my photo and put it on Facebook with a bit of blurb. I was invited back to a special dinner the next term and given a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

Well I work for a very small outfit and will be happy to get card maybe small piece of jewellery and flowers. They’ve got three years to save up!

When I retired from Nursing after many years I received a porcelain chicken filled with quite a lot of money ( I love chickens and we used to keep them) , brass plaque for the chicken house, a huge gluten free cake made , tea party , flowers and we went on a trip to the local zoo as several staff had young children so I thought it would mean taking them too instead of an expensive trip to the theatre in London . My chicken still sits in pride of place on my mantle piece and I still see some of the girls ( a lot younger than me by far) and many are face book friends so I feel blessed . ??

As it is an abstract painting, would it look more interesting if you hung it upside down or sideways? May look like something else completely!
Or get something painted on the back, and turn it round when ex colleagues visit ?

An engraved sundial, minus a plinth. Not very safe with young grandchildren running around

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...!

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

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.

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.

Is the frame any good ?

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!

My father received a tie when he retired.