Left job after 25 years, all I got was flowers 🫣

[BruceLeTerror]

i did get a few gifts (chocolate, alcohol) from colleagues, but after 25 years all I got from the company was a box of flowers?!

Previously when people have left, there’s always been a collection of sorts. I know I shouldn’t expect anything- but I realise now how under appreciated I was - it has left a sour taste (and not filled me with confidence to start my new job tomorrow)

I've never worked anywhere where the employing organisation gave a leaver something of monetary value, because they've chosen to leave and the employer didn't want them to.

If your employment relationship was terminated by them, would you give your boss vouchers?

Did you work your full notice period and do the required handover constructively etc? Has your leaving created some bad feeling for some reason?

Retirement or leaving for SAHP is completely different and employer would give something.

Leaving cards, gifts, nights out etc are organised by colleagues and are just a reflection of your work relationships. I've seen everything from company-wide gushing card messages, cash collection and meal out, to absolutely nothing (for someone who had been there 25 years and everyone was glad to see the back of them).

I left one place and from management I got a telling off for not resigning " the right way." Apparently written notice is not a polite way to resign. And there was me going with the correct legal method.
I also got an mdf plaque ( aka firelighter) of their badly drawn logo celebrating 25 years of service. ( I'd done 30) So I could have a permanent reminder to look at daily..this after I left from mismanagement, stress and burn out.

A previous job Someone made a "Thankyou for your service" speech about me at works do. Someone who fancied themselves as a bit of a stand up comedian. I was just embarrassed on their behalf. It was awful and just got increasingly insulting as he got more and more desperate to get a laugh. He just had to sit down in silence at the end. Nobody knew what to do. Hilarious in retrospect.

My company wouldn't even give flowers. Colleagues sometimes club together. I left my last role after 8 years and got some flowers.

But I've known of colleagues leaving or retiring and the manager not even being there to say goodbye.

Agree with this 👆

We’re not able to pay for a leaving gift from the budget due to tax implications. So we organise collections in these circumstances.
If we have a lot going on at the same time then each collection will be less. I’ve also noticed that this is the case in general due to cost of living etc. Nothing to do with how much we appreciate the colleagues.
It also annoyed me when I bought a colleague a lovely bouquet for a significant event on the basis that the whole team said enthusiastically that they’d contribute to the collection. It was time sensitive so I ordered it. They didn’t and I was left footing the bill. I’m not doing that again.

I had been with my company for 10 years and played a big part in the setting up of it. I got on really well with everyone and we socialised and felt like a family.

When I left there was a quite a fuss. We are a small team and we had a special tea break on my last day and I got a voucher and flowers.

However as nice as that was I haven't had one message from anyone ever since. Not one. Lesson learned. Everyone is just is a number.

It's very awkward when there is a difference in how different people are treated. I think it often depends on how visible/charismatic someone is. Also those people tend to make more clear they are expecting something and it gets responded to.

At my old firm there was a pattern of when someone was coming up to a big birthday there would be "surprise" champagne and buffet lunch and collection/presents in the boardroom at lunchtime. I noticed it happening mainly for 40th and 50th birthdays of the partners but then someone the same level as me turned 30 and they did it for her. My birthday was a couple of months later (key people were aware) and I had a feeling I would not get the same, even though I'd been there longer and sure enough I was right.

Same when I left. Some people had their boss or secretary arrange a leaving do. I had to organise my own. I did get a leaving present - a nice necklace and earrings set. Unfortunately despite working there 7 years no one noticed i did not have my ears pierced.

Unsurprisingly I'm quiet not particularly charismatic. I guess sometimes people think I "wouldn't like a fuss" (actually I would!) But more likely i just go under the radar and no one actually thinks of me at all. A bit shit but I don't really care any more.

Well if you're the type of person who expresses dissatisfaction by sending facetious messages like that I'm not surprised they weren't falling over themselves to do a collection.

She’s not wrong though (sadly) 🤷‍♀️

This happened to an old colleague of mine. She worked for the company for over 20 years. She fully expected a party and leaving gifts. But she was a horrible bully and we were all glad to see the back of her. I did start a collection but noone really wanted to give to it. She just couldn't be nice for the last few days. One morning she started on me. So I gave up trying to do anything nice for her. We took that collection money and brought some treats. We had a little tea party with it to celebrate on the first day after she left.

When I left management got me several lovely gifts including jewellery, a handbag and a plaque. I got flowers and balloons from another department. My team took my out for a meal after work.

Absolutely agree

I have found that workplaces that call themselves 'family' are generally the absolute worst when it comes to treatment of staff from those at the top

I have never heard of a company using company money to buy a gift for someone who has chosen not to work there anymore. Retirement is different. But you have decided you don’t want to be there anymore. It’s nice that colleagues have used their own money to buy things for you but I think you’re out of touch if you expect the company to do something. You’ve turned your back on them, they are doing the same to you.

You did also get a salary and pension contributions for 25 years.

on top of alcohol and chocolate from colleagues, what else did you expect from the company?

I find these little leaving ceremonies so cringeworthy that I have always avoided going in on what was supposed to be my "last" day. After all if you are moving on there is nothing your employer can do about it. The only exception was whan I finished my job at the uin because I continued to do contractual work for them.

I’ve just passed my 10 year anniversary at work and all I got was an automated email saying congratulations on 10 years …..then at the bottom it told me how to share it on LinkedIn!!

I was tempted to share it, with an accompanying post saying this was all I got!

I’m not grabby, but this left a sour taste. Friends have money or extra days annual leave for passing 10 years.

Oh and this is in the private sector
, no I am not working for a cash strapped charity or public sector.

This is the reason I work my hours then log off.

What an uplifting microcosm of miserable, cynical twats this thread is.

I'd say most of us were actually realistic and have thankfully woken up to the realities of working to survive.

I don't understand why the flowers mean they didn't do a collection? Maybe they bought the flowers with the collection money? A box of flowers can be anything up to £60 can't it?

I don’t understand, your colleagues had a collection and gave gifts. I retired after 30 years and had gifts off colleagues, my employer ( public sector) doesn’t provide gifts.

Lots of people just don’t have spare cash.

What’s wrong with flowers? Why aren’t they enough?

Maybe it's just me, but I'm not sure why anyone would expect a gift just because they happen to have stayed in the same job for 25 years

A friend was in one job for 30 years and got nothing.

I’ve worked at the same company for a long time and seen lots of people come and go. The leaving gifts have always been a collection from the staff - as far as I know the company has never given anything on top of this. If I left tomorrow I wouldn’t expect any different and personally I would be fine with that as nobody forced me to stay for so long. Perhaps expectations depend on what sector you work in?

it's only ever collections where I work.
NHS, so I wouldn't expect anything tbh. It would cost them a fortune to give all long service staff leaving presents. Money that would be better spent elsewhere.
Your colleagues got you something and that's what matters imo.