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Retirement Celebration Suggestion

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Retirement Celebration Suggestion

My boss is retiring at the end of next month. His schedule is so dynamic so its hard to plan for a specific date to have a luncheon. So I approached him and asked if he would like to have a drop in or off site luncheon. His reply was, "Nah". I asked him twice to be sure. He said he just wanted to leave quietly. He said he wanted to have a meeting with his direct reports to say good bye and to give next steps. Normally, in our employment we have a private celebration or departmental one. Any suggestions on how to handle his request? I can arrange the meeting but how do I break this to his reports and what can we do to show our appreciation? He's a great guy. Has everything. I thought of the team just giving a personal gift outside the meeting and if perhaps going to lunch afterwards as a team. Thoughts? Never done anything like this before.

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  1. Elizabeth Stiles West

    I say respect his wishes.Some introverted people truly hate being the center of attention. If we are in a restaurant and suddenly the whole staff is singing happy birthday and everyone is looking at us, we want to disappear. He may feel the same way; he doesn't want a big production when he retires. Everyone could sign a card for him and perhaps go in together to get him a small gift. One day during his last week at work, order a cake or pizza or get some other kind of treat to have in the break room (a potluck if there's no budget for treats) and simply let everyone know it's there to thank him for his years of service.

  2. Carol Brumer Gliksman

    I am also the no party type of person but I really love the first comment here.

  3. Anonymous

    Have a little celebration at the last meeting with the direct reports. Have a card a cake and a champagne toast. That’s it sweet simple. If you want have everyone chip in for a gift. Perhaps dinner for two at a nice restaurant for he and his partner or whatever. I agree with you something should be done for him and it will be a nice opportunity for his direct reports

  4. Lisa Caraway Oliver, EdD

    If the man does not want an anything PLEASE respect that man’s request.

    Perhaps create a video of people expressing their wishes for him and hand it to him at the end of the meeting.

  5. Anonymous

    Please adhere to his wishes. I just retired two weeks ago and wanted the same. I am not introverted but after 25 years I also didn’t want my last day to end with me in tears (I HATE crying in front of people and figured I would if they did that). They harassed me SO much I finally agreed to a lunch like a month after - I figure by that time I’ll be more able to maintain my composure. I did this with the stipulation there will be no card, no gift, no balloons and no cake. JUST lunch. So they know me well enough that if they do those things I WILL walk out ?. I gave them a list of folks they can invite (there are some I def don’t want to see again) and I figure only those who are really friends will RSVP and then it will be manageable! I still dread it though.

  6. Valerie Rieger

    Honor his wishes. As one poster suggested, have people provide well wishes in video clips that you edit into a nice presentation. You could also ask people to write a nice note to him, collect them, and place them in a nice keepsake box.

  7. Anonymous

    I hope you are able to celebrate or not the way your boss wants. Often higher-up leaders use retirements as an excuse to show how great they or the company is. It is not about the actual celebrant. It's like funerals!

    The person is gone, a funeral makes the living people feel better. I have witnessed so many tears from people who months earlier were using bad words about the now deceased.

    And, congratulations boss on your retirement! I'm envious!!!

  8. Anonymous

    We had the same thing and same situation I ended up making a book for him with hand done drawings and sentiments one per page from each person that worked with him we used crayons and markers and such and let people do whatever they wished and they also signed the bottom of each page. We sent them electronically to a company that bound and printed the book and on the cover I put a photo of him from one of our office events and sprinkled in the book were other photos of him the office and the folks he worked with. He was in tears when he got it. We also gave him a gift certificate to a place near where he lived so he could go to lunch with his family. I used Mixbook and can attest that they did a great job.

  9. Christina Weber

    Oh, that's super meaningful, great suggestion!

  10. Anonymous

    Oh wow! Ill have to keep this one ready.

  11. Christina Weber

    My team compiled a video with personal messages and well-wishes, and gave it to me on a thumb drive so I could keep it private and watch whenever I wanted!

  12. Ruby Rodrigo Ortaliz

    I usually organize surprise retirement celebrations for colleagues, planning everything at least a month in advance and keeping it confidential.

    I collect video messages and handwritten wishes, compile group photos into short video clips, and prepare printed keepsakes with personal notes and photos.

    I also arrange the office food and decorations and make sure the retiring employee is available on the day. To keep the surprise intact, I schedule a mandatory face-to-face meeting at a specific time—everyone knows the real purpose except the retiree.

  13. Anonymous

    There is groupgreetings.com where you can email anyone a link to an online card where they can put their thoughts in and you can schedule the date and time for arrival. It has been a big hit at our company with so many still remote and our business all over the world. If they specifically said NO to any celebration, best to do something small, in my opinion. Can you order time appropriate food for the meeting with this staff? Make it small and intimate as it sounds like what he prefers.

  14. Anonymous

    Why not have a luncheon at the meeting with just his direct reports? Kill 2 birds with one stone.

  15. Ruple Thaker

    He doesn't want one. Or any event. He said no, You ahve to respect that.

  16. Ellen Smith Fagan

    respect his wishes and let the others know of his wishes, so they won't wonder about the no-event.

    I just thought that, in this uncertain world, you might suggest an online luncheon ONE YEAR FROM NOW. Think about it and the possible genius in it. What happens to our retirees? Suggest they make a network. Fun and a possible lifesaver.

  17. Diane Davis

    Just please respect his wishes. He said he does not want to have anything so honor that.

  18. Ruple Thaker

    I agree.

  19. Ruple Thaker

    He wants to leave quietly. So you have to respect that.

    As some of the replies have suggested idea's, gift something quietly. Leave a card signed by all with a gift for him. Not everyone like's a big celebration or attention. What do you mean by handle his request? Is it a request where you have to say he is retiring? If so, ask him how he would like that dealt with.

  20. Anonymous

    yes. Honor his preference for an intimate quiet departure.

  21. Jennifer

    In my opinion and having gone through quite a few retirement celebrations at my company recently I think it is respectful to honor the person's wishes. However nice to be celebrated for their careers and transition into retirementhood some people choose to leave a place of employment quietly for various reasons. They should not be forced to have a public celebration because that is what is expected and if being forced, who is the celebration for really at that point? Is it for the person leaving or for the people who want to celebrate the person?

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