Odd Retirement Gift

I retired just over a year ago; slap bang in the middle of COVID lockdown, so I had no retirement leaving party etc, but, a couple of weeks after retiring, I received a large cheque from the office staff collection very nice, thank you very much and a cardboard box with my keyboard, mouse mat, coffee mug, desk calendar from 2020 (the last time I'd been physically in the office) and a random selection of lunch box Tupperware- none of which was mine! The cheque was sufficient to buy a complete set of garden furniture so I was more than happy!

Oh dear - that’s really a ‘corporate’ gift, and in my view not appropriate for an employee who’s retiring LibbyR.

I’ve also recently retired and slipped away with no fuss at my request. The people and organisations who really valued me got in touch privately. My favourite was from the local police who have deemed me ‘a legend’. That’ll do for me. ☺️

I don't think it odd at all to give a commissioned piece of art - in fact it's quite generous even if not to your taste! Especially as it's in addition to the usual flowers, chocolates & Champagne.

Oh dear I think that was a bit of a 'man gift'. I would leave it by the bin if someone had given me a picture of the building I last worked in

I retired as a school governor for a secondary school many years ago - I had not done it for very long. The gift to me was a print of a painting of the school, which was in no way an interesting building. I never put it on the wall.

It’s not odd to give a piece of commissioned art as a gift, but it is odd to give a pice of art which is of the building you worked in- I can’t think of anybody being thrilled to get that when they retired - the point at which we put work behind us?

I think so much depends on how your team in general was and how your boss thought of you. I think that in some workplaces where the team was good (sounds as if yours was) and folk were proud of their work, then it could be seen as a thoughtful gift, even if it slightly misses the mark.

I would tuck it away, as you have, but cherish the thought that you were a valued member of the team, they miss you (and thought you might miss the building!)

And a lot of these gifts depend on who has the responsibility and budget for them. A collection among colleagues will depend not only on how much they thought of you, but their disposable budget. This sounds more like a gift from 'management'. But, as ex-NHS, I would have been thrilled with anything from my employers! I deeply appreciated the small gifts, and buffet from my colleagues, but knew how tight their budgets were.

It’s very corporate but it’s a gift nonetheless. It’s from the bosses nothing to get excited about I have to agree.

The year my husband retired, several other staff also left for various reasons, though he was by far the most senior both in longevity and position. The powers that be decided to cut back, so his gift was a silver plated tray, worth about £25 in my estimation. It is up in the loft . They also decided there were to be no speeches, which my husband was pleased about, but I was disappointed as he deserved to receive tributes.

Huh! I left smallish local law firm after 30 years. Received lovely card from colleagues; nothing from partners!

No, it's not an odd gift to get a painting. When I had to make a big move years ago my friends bought me a painting of a local landmark. You don't have to hang it.

Perhaps you could use the painting as a dart board!

When I retired my boss gave me a pair of slippers! It came as no surprise as her birthday and Christmas presents to me were equally bizarre

My last leaving gift was a fleece, woolly hat and scarf - I was moving to north Scotland.

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Thanks Icanhandthback

I would treat that as the gift of a nicely stretched canvas, suitable for my own artistic efforts :D

All a matter of taste.

Definitely a man thing !
I have been in several offices that are inhabited by male members of staff and many of those have had either a portrait of themselves and/ or a large photo or painting of the company building that ,like you said, are not usually the nicest looking building to look at!
I can understand it if the building is old or there is a historical connection with the place but so many should be stuck in the darkest corner of the house before finding their way to either a charity shop or a skip!

You might not have appreciated it but no doubt someone was pleased with their idea of a gift for you.

I got a fancy silver plate plaque engraved with name, dates etc. Not my taste at all, also more suited to a bloke, I think.