July 20, 2019
Organising a Farewell Gift at Work Fairly
Updated September 2026: this 2019 post described my colleague's farewell, and how I ended up paying for her gift myself when no one else sent their share. I have rewritten it into practical advice on organising a farewell collection at work.
When my teammate and friend moved to another team in 2019, I was the one at her location, so organising the gift and e-voucher fell to me. By the last day, nobody had sent their contribution. I did not want to spoil her farewell, so I paid for it myself. Many people who organise office farewells have a story like this.
Who should organise a farewell collection?
Ideally someone with a little time and a close working relationship with the person leaving, and never only the most junior person by default. Agree it with the manager so it is clearly the team's initiative. If you are asked and do not have the time, it is fine to say so.
How do you collect contributions without chasing?
- Announce early: at least a week before the last day, with a clear deadline two days before it.
- Suggest an amount, not a fixed fee: "around ₹200, whatever you are comfortable with" keeps it voluntary.
- Make paying easy: share a UPI ID or payment link in the same message.
- Send one reminder the day before the deadline, then buy with what you have.
What if not enough people contribute?
Buy a gift that fits the money collected. A card signed by the team and a modest gift is better than an expensive one subsidised by the organiser. If you do choose to top it up yourself, make that a deliberate choice, not a last-minute surprise. Nobody should end up quietly out of pocket for a team gesture.
What makes a good farewell gift?
Something personal rather than expensive: a signed card with short notes from each person, a gift voucher for something they actually use, or a book or item connected to what they talked about at work. For remote colleagues, e-vouchers and digital cards work well, as long as someone collects the messages in time.
How do you handle being the one left behind?
The farewell is often harder for the person staying, especially if they are now alone at a location with more work and no replacement planned. It is worth raising the workload with your manager the same week, while the change is fresh, rather than waiting for it to become a problem.
Paying for that gift myself was a small thing, and a farewell done properly matters. A deadline, a payment link and a gift sized to the collection would simply have made it fair.