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Going away gifts

Going away gifts for a coworker who's leaving

A good going away gift is small, easy to carry and from the whole team, with a card everyone signs. Below: real gifts from $22, ideas by where they're headed and a two-week plan.

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Going away gifts by budget

Real gifts and prices, before shipping and branding. Most coworker send-offs stay in the first two tiers.

Under $40: a quick gift from you

For a desk neighbor or a work friend. Small and light enough to carry out with the rest of their things.

$40 to $100: from the team

The usual going-away gift: one box from everyone, with the card everyone signed.

$100 to $200: a long-time teammate or a whole department

When someone leaves after many years, or a big department wants one gift from all of them.

Every gift opens our partner store, where you can order online. Sending to a long list or adding your logo? Get a free quote with volume pricing instead.

Going away gift ideas by where they're headed

Add one of these to the box or the card. Buy them wherever you like.

Leaving for a new job

  • A LinkedIn recommendation from each teammate, posted before the last day
  • Lunch delivery credit for their first day at the new company
  • A box of chocolates to share with their new team on day one
  • A good notebook for the onboarding week

Moving to a new city

  • Pre-stamped postcards addressed to the team, for news from the new place
  • A moving-day box: tape, a box cutter, snacks and takeout credit for night one
  • A guidebook to the new city with the team's notes inside the cover
  • A bag of beans from the cafe near the office, so the routine moves too

A remote coworker

  • A gift shipped to their home, with the signed card inside
  • A paper card in the mail, even if everyone also signed online
  • A hosted game online so the whole team can say goodbye together

A going-away gift on two weeks' notice

Two weeks goes fast. This plan gets the card, the gift and a send-off done in time.

Need help splitting the cost? Our group gift guide has a calculator for what each person puts in.

  1. Day 1 of notice: start the card and the collection. One person organizes. Any amount is welcome, and nobody sees who gave what.

  2. By day 3: pick and order the gift. Smaller unbranded orders take 2 to 3 weeks, so ship it to their home. It may land after the last day, and that's fine.

  3. In week 1: book the send-off. Hosted games book about 2 weeks ahead, so a last-day game only works if you book in the first days of notice.

  4. Last day: hand over the card. If the gift is still on its way, the card says so. People remember the words longer than the box.

A send-off for a remote coworker

When the team is spread out, an hour with a live host gives everyone one last thing to do together.

Each game runs about 60 minutes on Zoom by default (Teams, Meet or Webex on request), and books about 2 weeks ahead. For the whole goodbye, from the last lunch to the speeches, see our farewell party ideas.

More hosted options: virtual trivia and team games for remote teams.

What to write in a going-away card

One or two honest lines each. The card is often the part they keep.

  • Recall one moment you shared.

    The bug they caught, the client they calmed down, the onboarding they gave you.

  • Wish them well where they're going.

    Name the new role or city if they've shared it publicly.

  • Keep work out of it.

    No handover requests or reminders in the card.

Want lines to copy? Our farewell party guide has heartfelt, funny and short goodbye messages for a coworker.

Going-away gift etiquette

Fair to everyone, light to carry and kind about why they're leaving.

  • Do the same for everyone who leaves.

    A big send-off for one person and nothing for the next gets noticed. Agree on a team standard.

  • Leaving for a competitor is still leaving well.

    Give the card and the gift as usual, and keep the new company out of the speeches.

  • Keep it portable.

    They may be packing a desk or a whole home. Pick something small, or ship it.

  • Ask before a big goodbye.

    Some people would rather slip out quietly. A card and a gift on the desk can be enough.

  • If they were laid off, skip the party tone.

    Send a sincere card and a quiet gift, offer a reference, and ask before planning any send-off.

  • The manager can add a note.

    A personal note from the manager on top of the team gift is kind; a separate big gift isn't expected.

Going away gift questions

What is a good going away gift for a coworker?

Something small and easy to carry, from the whole team, with a card where each person writes one specific thank-you. A chocolate gift box, a LinkedIn recommendation from each teammate, or something for the new city all work. Ship it to their home if they're moving.

How much should you spend on a going away gift for a coworker?

From one person, under $40 is plenty. A team gift usually lands between $40 and $100, pooled from optional, private contributions. For a long-time teammate or a whole department, $100 to $200. Our gifts start at $22.

Do you have to give a gift when a coworker leaves?

No. A sincere card signed by the team is enough on its own. If the team wants to give something, make it one shared gift and do the same for everyone who leaves, so nobody feels left out.

What is a parting gift?

A parting gift, also called a going away or farewell gift, is a present you give someone when they leave: a coworker moving to a new job, a new city or a new team. At work it's usually one gift from the team plus a signed card.

Can a going away gift arrive before their last day?

Smaller unbranded gift orders take about 2 to 3 weeks, so on two weeks' notice it may not. Order in the first days of notice, ship it to their home, and give the card on the last day with a note that the gift is on its way.

How do you send off a remote coworker?

Ship the gift to their home with the card inside, and book a short hosted game online so the whole team can say goodbye together. Hosted games book about 2 weeks ahead, so book in the first days of their notice.

What if the coworker was laid off?

Skip the celebration tone. Send a sincere card and a quiet gift, offer to be a reference, and ask before planning any send-off.

What do you write in a going away card?

Recall one moment you shared, wish them well in the new role or city, and keep work requests out of it. Our farewell party guide has heartfelt, funny and short goodbye messages to copy.

Give them a proper goodbye

Tell us who is leaving, your budget and their last day, and we will come back with a gift and send-off plan and a quote.

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