Top Ways To Show A Retiring Employee How Much They Are Valued & Will Be Missed When They Leave

Sometimes, as a successful business manager, it can be incredibly hard to see a valued and dedicated employee leave for retirement.

Furthermore, contrary to popular belief, people outside of the world of office work and possibly even business in general are unaware that it is not always the length of time an employee has worked there that decrees their value, but what they give to the business for the time they work there. 

With that in mind, here are the top ways to show a retiring employee how much they are valued and will be missed when they leave. 

Throw A Surprise Retirement Party In The Office

One of the best ways to celebrate your employee’s time in the office is to, well, celebrate with a surprise party for them in the office. 

Let your other employees know in plenty of time the date of the party and, at the end of the working day, ask one of them to take the guest of honor out for a couple of drinks whilst you and the rest of the workforce decorate the party space.

Arrange A Collection

Depending on the size of your office or moreover the department you oversee, you would probably describe your team as close-knit and (as happens with most office-based careers) colleagues have become firm friends over time. You will, therefore, not be the only one there who wants to celebrate the retiring employee and show them how much you care.

Ask a member of your staff who is particularly connected to most others, including the guest of honor, to pass around a collection tin and a giant card, so people can donate what they can and sign the card at the same time. 

When you have collected all the donations, you could either buy a physical gift to present them at the party, or maybe use the collection to buy a red-letter day for them and their partner to go away for the weekend. Alternatively, you could also use the cash that has been collected to prepare a humorous yet also incredibly practical ‘survival kit’ for when they retire. Fill a box with a cozy set of slippers and crochet kit, but also some discounted Target gift vouchers, some mint imperials and other things ‘that they need‘ now that they no longer work.    

Make Their Last Week About Them

Although it would obviously be entirely unpractical and frankly unfeasible to essentially halt work for the last week of the employee’s working life before retirement, you could at least make the last week more entertaining, slightly more relaxed and perhaps even with several surprises along the way. 

Less Michael Scott from The Office (US) and more normal office manager with a sense of fun, you could hold mock award in the break room at lunchtime, prepare a special Mexican lunch paid for by yourself and generally have fun.