Should I respond/How to respond?

[TownieTown]

I work in a team of 20 in admin. The Manager is a nightmare and I’ve never really got on with her. In the past she’s ignored me, any emails I’ve sent, work dos I always dreaded because I found her to be trouble. Anyway, she’s been offered a 18 month secondment and this Thursday is her last day. As it turns out I’m on leave for the Easter break.

I need to decline the meeting request to attend her leaving do, should I ignore it? Send a note declining and wish her well? What would you do?

Drop her an email saying ‘All the best for your secondment, I’m on holiday for your leaving do but hope you have a great time!’

Then decline the actual invite.

Job done.

Being on holiday is great as it doesn’t sound like you’d want to attend anyway - perfect reason not to!

If you are already on leave why are you reading your work emails?

If the leave is booked then just wish her well and say that you are away. She knows that you are on leave, but doesn't need to know that you aren't going away.

As @SoScarletItWas says, just send her a note wishing her all the best.

If it’s a secondment, why is there a leaving do? Won’t she be back after eighteen months?

18 months is quite a while, it’s normal to have a leaving do. She sounds insufferable but the leaving do is reasonable.

They called it a leaving do but more a way of wishing her well with colleagues bringing in food and giving her a gift.

I’m on leave the day she’s leaving. If I was on leave, I’ve occasionally read my work emails. I don’t see this as questionable.

Be the bigger person here. A bright and breezy “best of luck with the secondment” whilst apologising you cannot make the do as you are on leave.

You have to assume she will be back so I definitely wouldn't ignore it.
As above just send a quick email saying you are on leave and so are unable to make it and wish her good luck in the secondment.