Having a goodbye meeting when leaving a job?

[helpmelolll]

I leave my job soon and at my company we have to have a goodbye meeting on our last day, it tends to be hybrid or on Zoom. The whole department is invited, and it’s an awkward 20 minutes where you’re asked what you’re doing next, and colleagues will go around and say nice things. They are unbearably awkward and uncomfortable and I’m dreading mine.

Do your companies do this too? I’ve never come across it in a job before, and when I started there the horror dawned on me that one day that would be me and now, my time has come 😬

does anyone have any advice on getting through it. I hate attention

No, we don’t do this at my company. Sounds awful! I don’t blame you for dreading it.
Advice for getting through it, apart from heavy drinking. Just accept it’ll be over in 20 minutes and then you will (hopefully) never have to do it again. Just smile and nod.

Never come across one where everyone has to speak. That does sound excruciating. A couple of words from a manager is bad enough. Definitely would want to avoid it. Maybe it's a staff retention initiative!

Sounds dreadful. I wouldn’t join.

Sounds horrific! Very happy to say we don’t do this.

I think my advice to get through it would be to bring cake if there will be people there in person, and just keep talking as much as you can until the time is up. Got any reminiscences? The time you broke the photocopier? The time you all stressed over a big project but it all cane good by the skin of your teeth? Tell them what you will remember fondly about your time there. And if you’ve got friends in the team, get them to share some stories too.

Also, plan another meeting for 15mins in, so it’s an excuse to bring it to a close. 20mins farrr too long!

Even better, tell the boss that you don’t want a meeting specially for you, could it be tagged onto the end of the last team meeting?

Good luck in your new job!

Not quite as formal as that but did become the norm at my old place - awful! When I left I just said to my boss 'can we please not do this' and she cancelled it and just said that I didn't want a fuss.

My place used to do it during covid and I hated attending them! There was awkward silences (zoom) and having to go around the 'room' for all to say something but no one knew who to go next! Good luck in your new job and for the goodbye meeting

I specifically asked not to have one. Too cringe

That’s a novel way of deterring people from ever leaving.

We do 1 2 1 exit interviews with the leaver and their line manager. How excruciating to have to do it with the whole department.

Never heard of it. I just wouldn’t do it - say thanks but no thanks