Anyone else not like leaving presentations at work?

[Mog]

I'm shortly starting maternity leave and there is usually a collection around all our offices for a gift. While I think this is lovely I get a bit embarassed at the presentation bit as I never know what else to say apart from thank you. Anyone else feel like this about these sort of things?

Oh yes, hideously embarrassing!! Mine was made worse because I was taking voluntary redundancy and therefore not coming back.

On the plus side though, they simply left the gifts and card on my desk - they clearly knew me well! I sent round a thank you email to all those who'd signed the card saying what had been bought with the collection and saying goodbye too.

Could you have a word with someone you're friendly with to ask that something similar be done with no ceremony? It's tricky because this means you are assuming that there will be a collection I think I merely dropped heavy hints everytime there was this sort of thing that I found it awful. Most people agreed with me.

I hate them too. The day before I went on maternity leave I had a dizzy spell, so I called in sick on my last day and missed my own presentation - phew! Everybody means well & is thoughtful, but it is a bit embarassing, especially if there are people in the office you don't know very well or like. Bah humbug!
I'm sure you'll be far more gracious than me, Mog!

Must admit, I read it has 'giving presentations' which I deeply deeply hate!!! Urgh, can feel the nerve rash coming on just thinking about them!

But leaving presentations are pretty bad as well. Could you just not sneak off to the pub about 1/2 hour before the agreed time?

Mog - It's even worse when you get the speech bit, but they tell you that they hadn't got around to having a collection or getting a card because it's usually you who organises it and no-one else had thought to do it until the morning of the day you were leaving. Then the options for what to say in response don't even realistically run to "thank you" ;(

Don't worry ks I had exactly teh same thought. Probably something to do with teh fact I am currently switching betwen Mumsnet and a presentation on "Liquidity process flows" for a 9am meeting!

Hi Mog, know exactly what you mean, in my last pregnancy I got myself so worked up about the presentation that I cleared my desk (sneakily) on my second to last day and rang in sick on my last day saying my feet were too swollen to get any shoes on and that I couldn't drive - well it was nearly true!

Oh - this is so sad ! I absolutely loved my leaving do and presentation - two of my staff had knitted little outfits for the bump, they'd also had a collection and bought a beautiful soft teddy bear, loads of flowers and a set of gorgeous silver photo-frames - I felt so spoilt and happy !!

It always used to be me who made the presentations so maybe it was just nice for me to be on the receiving end - but I'm sure no-one's boss wants to make them feel uncomfortable or embarassed. I used to just get the presentation over with as quick as possible and get onto opeing the pressies and the wine !

I agree - I hate those presentations...so embarrassing. I have also had a few for quitting jobs and they are as bad, if not worse. I was dreading my maternity one as I had also quit so wasn't coming back. There is NO WAY I would get away without the big presentation thing as everyone has to go through it ! I think the best tip is to write down a few short lines the day before and rehearse / memorise. I was in the loo 20 mins before the presentation practising. It was only basically 'thanks...have loved working here.....life will be different now....everyone welcome to join me in the pub where i'll be having 10 mineral waters (rubs the bump and everyone laughs !). Then when you are all flushed and embarrassed after their speech you can easily remember your few lines and at least you're saying something. Good luck with it !!!!

But I'm sure the presenter doesn't expect a speech per se ! I just said "Thank you" lots of times and got on with opening the pressies and then cooed over them for ten minutes ! Then that was it really - back to discussing Corrie etc...

Don't get stressed girls - I'm sure that's the last thing your bosses or colleagues want.

Scatterbrain, depends on the company. Where I worked everyone expected a little speech. If you just said Thanks and nothing else people would shout 'speech - speech' etc !! Better off having rehearsed than trying to adlib if you're nervous !

Thanks to all who replied - it helps to know I'm not the only one who feels like this about these situations. In the end it worked out quite well as far as these things go as we all went down the pub and it was fairly informal. I can relax now and wait excitedly for the birth.

What's a leaving presentation? - when I went on maternity leave everyone just said "bye" or "good luck" as they passed me on their way out - they did send flowers though once ds was born and left it a couple of weeks before calling to discuss a problem on one of my projects

I think my bosses post rationalized it by saying that not making a big deal over the whole maternity thing, and keeping me involved in the office whilst I was off, was the best way of bolstering my position and authority the in firm (which is, by deduction, much damaged by having a child).

Sorry - shouldn't moan on your parade - glad everything was fun for you. Good luck with the birth and enjoy your new bundle.