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)

This.

Coffee mugs and a trip to the pub

My dh also retired after 25 years just after me. Nowt from the company(which took over the business about 11 years ago , not even a thank you. Yet for ten years of them taking over, everyone got a bunch of m&s sunflowers and prosecco delivered with a "isnt it a wonderful company!" Card.

15 years with company, never took sick leave, covered weekends etc when contractors needed access. Due to circumstances out of my control I no longer could do the role, so had to resign, no card, flowers, contact, nothing. Yes you are just a number.

I didn’t know goodbye presents were s thing. Everywhere I ever worked had a lunch or very occasional drinks, but never a gift! Why would you want a gift from a place you are leaving?

I had a similar thing! Worked for a hotel for over 30 years, when I left I got absolutely nothing. The general manager was on duty during my last shift, walked past me and just gave me a nod and a grin, not even a handshake. The department colleagues I was on my last shift with did say good luck but that was it.
I left on good terms, I got on well with everyone, one of them I’d even helped to get a job there. I didn’t want the red carpet rolled out but at least an acknowledgement of 30 years of service would have been appreciated.

Same here for us. People are far less generous now. We actually stopped doing most of the usual collections because so many people had stopped contributing. With most of us working from home now, it’s no longer a case of someone walking around the office with an envelope and everyone chipping in a pound or two. If it’s a bank transfer, it feels like it has to be at least £5–£10, and with the cost of living being what it is, most people just won’t do that unless it’s for a very close friend / colleague.

I think these things are often down to how good your colleagues are at organising gifts and who is in charge of the collection. We have had well liked people leave or have significant birthdays but their managers are crappy and unorganised so the collection and card etc is never well done. Then at other times there will be random non events that get a big fuss mainly due to the person spearheading it.

Similar here!

And only one bothered to turn up in Court for the sentencing.

And no bunch of flowers, not even a cake with a file in it. 🙁

To add: I’m sorry that you’re feeling sad, OP. The flowers are still a lovely gesture, though times have changed a lot and so many people - even high earners - are struggling these days.

Same happened to me.

And only one bothered to turn up in Court for the sentencing.

And no bunch of flowers, not even a cake with a file in it. 🙁

Me too!

Were you the person that did the collections normally?
Three of us left in the same week. All 3 done 20 years.

I was the person the Director always asked to sort gifts and collections. He came to me three weeks before we left and said "can you do the three collections... oh actually you can't do your own.... can you do Mary and Maggie's and I'll get someone else to do yours. I'll organise cakes for the last day so don't worry about that". He gave me the company contribution to their leaving presents and his own contribution to them.

He forgot to ask someone else. So on the last day the other two leaving got the standard flowers, chocolates and gift vouchers for somewhere they'd like. He'd run out on arriving that lunchtime so I got a bunch of flowers from the petrol station and cash from the cash machine, and the cakes (which normally came form a lovely bakery) were ice creams from Burger King 😂

Some people get nothing .. especially men, they surely wouldnt get flowers, we,ve all been there where we give the job blood , sepweat and tears and the management dont give a damn, tis life unfortunately

It's not pleasant, but you are just a number, a bum on a seat and entirely replaceable.

That's the workplace for you.

I'm sorry 💐(more flowers, I know, but I feel like I should put something)

All the best in your new job!

I left a job after 7 years and got a compliments slip from the manager with the word "cheers" on it.

It's really random where i work. Sometimes a collection is organised, sometimes not. I don't think it bears any relation to how people feel about you. Just more about how organised they are at the time.

Some places I've worked have been really generous. One was memorable for no card, no present, not even a word of thanks after nearly 8 years. Then they tried to get out of paying minimum statutory redundancy. Really appalling.

My brother was a milkman for 40 years. In latter years, he managed the loading of the floats, and had to cover when milkman didn't turn up - a regular occurance. If he hadn't retired when he did, it would have killed him. When he retired, his manager presented his leaving gift from the company, a large national corporation. It was a beautiful presentation box, so he thought some nice engraved glasses or similar. In the box, was an empty milk bottle, with a message printed on it, like they do with adverts, thanking him. He was not impressed, but we have had plenty of laughs about it since.

I left my job last year (admittedly after only 6 years) because I have cancer and could no longer work.

Normally, there is a collection for a gift and a card and a party. I got absolutely fuck all. Not even a card. 😂 It was like I had cancer and they assumed maybe I’d be dead soon and they were like okay, see ya!

That said, my mum worked for a big corporation for 35 years. When she retired, she got a commerative lamp. 🤣

The place I worked the longest was the only place I got nothing. My boss wasn't even there when I finished for the day, I just left my laptop in his office and walked out. Sorry, I mean skipped out. I skipped out.

Let it be a lesson for next time. It's an employer....they rarely care so don't invest yourself emotionally in work or make it your personality. Do your job and have a rich life outside it with friends and/or family.

Shes not wrong though

My place seems to make a fuss of managers-there's a collection and leaving do for them, but not for anyone else these days, which seems unfair if someone who has been there ten times longer (and arguably, been a much better employee in terms of actually getting the work done) doesn't get that. It used to be different, as in if I had left 5 years ago, I know for sure I'd have got a better present and leaving party than if I resigned tomorrow, Think work culture has changed in a lot of places, and maybe yours is the same.

This