To not do a retirement collection

[tattoonewbie]

A colleague retires at Easter. She has worked at the company for over 25 years. I've known her for three. In the whole time we've worked together she has been very vocal about not believing in collections especially not retirement ones because they get a pension! So. What about when she goes, token card ? My instinct is still to collect but then I think it's unfair. Or are collections always inherently unfair for someone ?!

I'd respect her wishes and not collect for her, but perhaps get a nice card? I hated collections at work, but did contribute, however I did feel slightly guilty when presented with nice leaving gifts.

If she is against them then respect her wishes. You can always gets a bouquet and some choccies and a big card to sign and that's it.

Buy a present, everyone loves a present.

So does she refuse to put any money into other people's collections? Is it just retirement ones, or is she the same for birthday and new baby collections as well?

I would take her at her word and just buy a nice card.

A nice card and modest bunch of really pretty flowers chosen personally at a florist.

I don't know how such presentations are made where you work, @tattoonewbie but if it's a full staff meeting, as it was at every place (schools) I've ever worked, then tip off management so they know this is their wish.

I would not collect for such a person but I'd bet good money that in her heart she'll expect it.

A card will be fitting as no-one would have anything but good wishes for someone retiring. I hope.

If you’ve only worked with her for 3 years, isn’t there someone else who should be taking responsibility for this decision?

Who is usually responsible for collections? The person’s manager? The secretary? That person should just ask her!

I usually get in quickly to say I don’t want a gift but people can donate to x charity if they like. If someone wasn’t explicitly saying no collection, I’d assume they were happy to have one.

Get her a goat from oxfam?

Charity donation instead?

Ok to clarify - she has never put into one. So will she not expect one to be done for her as she's been vehemently against them ?
I'll do a card - if nobody else does But nominal gift ?

I would stick with a card. She's made it quite clear how she feels about collections already.

If she has never put money into a collection and doesn't "believe in" them then OF COURSE do not do a collection

Card and box of maltesers purchased from petty cash

Card only. And tbh I kind of agree about collections- especially in the current COL crisis and most people have many and varied demands on their finances. But that does depend on office culture. Most of my colleagues are on min wage.

Just get a card - it’s as simple as that. She’s made her views very clear in word and deed.

It would be wrong, bizarre even, to place an expectation on others in the team to hand over their hard earned money to buy something for someone who has expressly said they don’t want it!

What’s the point of that? Obviously good for the charity, but why when she hasn’t even suggested that she’d want or expect that!

If you feel it would usually be your responsibility to do the collection, I'd ask her directly what she wants. "I'm assuming you don't want a collection for your retirement as you've always been against them. Is that right?" Don't do this if you're no usually in charge of collections.
Yes, collections are always horribly unfair. Some people are forgotten, some leave at the same time as a few other colleagues and people can't stretch to giving what they usually would, some people leave due to ill health/redundancy and aren't acknowledged at all, and people have completely different ideas around who should give and how much.

She doesn't contribute to collections and has been very vocal about not agreeing with them. It's going to bite her on the bum but I think just a card with nice messages would do.

Aren't the company going to get her something? I'd ask HR or her manager if flowers or similar can be expensed.

I assumed she contributed to others collections and just didn't like the idea of one for herself.

Now I see she doesn't contribute at all then I would just stick to a card

Oh right. Card it is then

A card, and if it's within policy where you work, flowers on expenses 'from all at Company X'.

At my last workplace you could opt in or out for collections. If you opted out, you got a card when you left. It worked very well, presumably that’s what she would prefer.

Discuss it with her! "You've always been against collections so does a card from the staff sit better with your views?"

Though if she says no to that and she's never donated to others, I imagine people might make their own choices about donating to hers.

She won't be expecting anything then. I'd do flowers, bottle of something she likes if appropriate, and a card signed by the team