Need gift suggestions for a leaving gift in unusual circumstances.

[WhyUniverseWhy]

I have a lovely colleague, a young woman, who moved to the UK to study and is now on a sponsored visa. Unfortunately her fixed term contract is ending at a time when the company is downsizing and there are no other roles which meet the requirements for a visa which allows her primary aged child to be here with her. With the changes to the salary required and her lack of experience she won’t find a job with another firm which meets the requirements. We’re all heartbroken.

We usually have collections when people leave, and I’m sure people will be generous with their donations. But I’m struggling to think of what to buy when she will (almost certainly) have to leave the country in a matter of weeks. Any of the usual gifts seem so inappropriate as this is no celebration.

Has anyone got any ideas? Collection could reach any amount so a number of things at different values would be helpful.

Give her some lovely flowers and cash.

a solicitor to sort this shit show out??

poor woman.

Tea pot and tea cups

Not expensive, but I bought a friend who also left in difficult circumstances a waving Chinese cat to bring her good luck. Maybe something in this vein? Or maybe a framed photo of the whole team (with her in it as well)?

We don’t have one and with hybrid working and her unable to enter the building after Weds we won’t be able to get one. :(

She has taken advice and there is nothing can be done, sadly.

She just hopes she can stay to see the school year out.

Seems very impersonal (and I always think there is a sadness about cut flowers dying). Obviously a pot plant isn’t a good alternative. :(

I don’t understand.

Something small in size, and think of it as 'something to remember you by' rather than a celebration.

What about a really nice pen? You can spend as much as you like on a luxury brand should you collect a lot. Any odd amount left over could be spent on refills.

A wavy Chinese, plastic cat! What a shite gift- 'You can F off back to your country and here is a wave goodbye!'. I've heard it all now.🙄

OP- Teapot and cups were suggested by someone as a nod to the UK and something for her to remember from her time here. Are you from the UK OP? I'd get a cash collection together and a token bunch of flowers/chocs. IF she has to return to her home country, I'm sure the money exchange would help her more than pen or a clock- or a waving cat!

😢

I think cash in this circumstance is probably a good bet. Yes it does seem impersonal, but she is presumably about to travel a long way and set up a new life elsewhere. Given that you don't know where this will be and what she will need, and also she will probably have to travel with a strict luggage allowance, anything else you buy that she may not be able to take or may not really need where she is going, seems a waste.

A nice piece of jewellery. It’s small so she can take it back to her home country, and she can have it for years and remember you all everytime she wears it.

The money you get in donations! She’s gonna be without a job she needs the money not photos and waving cats!

She will have to return to her family. She has been living a very basic life here and sending the rest of her salary home to support them.

I like the pen idea, and agree money is probably the most practical “gift”. She comes from a country that has tea as one of its biggest exports so I’m not sure a tea pot is going to have the same nostalgia.

A nice bracelet or necklace is a lovely idea, and easy to pack.

I like this idea but she wears a headscarf and u have no idea if she wears any jewellery. She doesn’t wear any bracelets or rings.

How about vouchers for experiences that she can enjoy with her child before she leaves.

Not as sad as being made redundant and losing your visa though. She’s got more to worry about than the sadness of some wilted flowers.

I don’t usually like cash or vouchers for gifts but in this circumstance it seems like the best thing as she will have unexpected outgoings and she won’t want extra things to take back with her.

A nice picture or framed photo of somewhere picturesque in your area. It will be easy to pack and give her a nice memory to look back on when she’s home.

If you like the idea of a pen then go for it. I love pens. Maybe a very British novel, then the rest in cash.

The money, just give her the money. This is absolutely one of thoes circumstances where the gift should be entirely about the person receiving it and not at all about the feelings of the givers. Absolutely include a lovely card and something to open but just give her the money. If you want you could frame it as 'for you to spend on something special once back home' so it doesn't feel like you did a charity collection if you think her pride or culture might see it as a hand out.

We’re spread all over the country unfortunately. We don’t have one place that binds us.

I think cash for the majority and a token gift are the way to go. Thanks everyone. You’ve really helped me at a difficult (impossible) time.

A lovely silk scarf or a nice purse (which will be a real treat if she’s been sending money home). And then money and a small gift for her child maybe?