Gift for a colleague who is leaving

There is a lot involved when saying goodbye to a colleague. Above all, you mainly want someone to feel seen and to leave with a good feeling, whether it is to a next employer, retirement, or something else.

So, something needs to be arranged. Perhaps someone takes the lead, emails are sent around for contributions, and eventually, everyone stands ready at the farewell drinks, hopefully with a nice gift. But what you should give remains tricky, because everyone is different.

And because of that, the result varies. Sometimes striking, sometimes a bunch of flowers and a gift card that everyone knows was a last resort. The difference is not in the budget - it lies in whether you have thought about who is leaving and how you can best approach such a farewell.

How to choose the right farewell gift

Every farewell is different. Someone who retires after thirty years is a completely different story than a colleague who moves on to a new job after a year. One calls for a grander gesture, the other for something lighter but just as thoughtful.

A few questions that help: How long was someone there? What are they going to do next? And what fits the relationship you had? The answers will naturally point to the right gift - and otherwise, you can always let your colleague choose for themselves, but we will get back to that later.

A cookbook that invites you to start

For example, nice for someone who is retiring and has always wanted to cook more: the Ottolenghi Flavours cookbook. More than a hundred recipes, beautifully designed, and exactly the kind of gift that says: you have the time now, enjoy it.

An apron for those who take it seriously

The Artisanal Apron by Brüt Homeware is handmade from canvas and buffalo leather in the Netherlands. It is the kind of product you do not buy for yourself but are very happy to receive. Especially for someone who loves to be in the kitchen, is busy at a workbench, and loves beautiful materials.

Coffee as a daily ritual

This percolator from Bialetti works on all heat sources, including induction. For a colleague who starts every morning with coffee, this is a gift that will last for years. Timeless design, solidly made, and the kind of object that becomes part of someone's routine.

Wellness in a box

This classic is a complete wellness set. Smells like lotus and white tea for a year-round summer feeling. Lovely, right? Works well as a farewell gift for someone who deserves some rest after a busy period - or simply for a luxurious moment of indulgence to celebrate a new phase.

Silence on command

These noise-cancelling headphones filter out what is happening around you. For a colleague who is leaving for a new job and likes to listen to podcasts on the go, or simply loves silence. A gift that goes with them to the next place - with a great battery life of about 65 hours.

An escape room in a bottle

Wijnkrakers combines wine with an escape room. The bottle is locked and you have to solve puzzles to get to it - with stories about the region and the grape. Suitable for 2 to 8 people, and also available as an alcohol-free version. Great as a gift from the team, as you could play it together at the farewell drinks - but the recipient can of course also just take it home.

A book of choice

The Boek & Bladkado gift card lets the recipient choose a book or magazine themselves. A gift card that does not feel like a gift card, because the choosing itself is already fun. Combine it with a handwritten card from the team and you have a personal farewell without having to guess what someone would like to read.

A day out

The cycling tour and picnic in Zandvoort from Nature's Gift is an experience instead of a physical object. A route through the dunes, picnic on the beach. For a colleague who prefers doing things over receiving items. Nature's Gift has all kinds of activities and experiences you can give as a gift!

A scented candle that stays with you

This scented candle from Very Goods Studio comes in a handmade ceramic cup, smells delicious, and has a serene look. It is a small gift with a refined appearance. Fits well with a farewell where you want to give something that does not feel like an afterthought.

Sport as a gift

The Sportsgiftcard can be spent at dozens of sports stores and activity centers throughout the Netherlands - from Run2Day and Adidas to yoga studios and climbing walls. For the colleague who always cycles to the office in sportswear or could never stop talking about marathons, Hyrox, or other sports.

The budget

With a farewell gift from the team, it is customary for colleagues to contribute. Keep it low-barrier - a few euros per person is fine. Do not force anyone to participate, and do not make it awkward for people who do not want to or cannot contribute.

If the gift comes from the organization (in case of retirement or long service), the budget may be higher. The work-related expenses scheme (WKR) offers room for this - a farewell gift falls under the free space.

What always makes the difference

Regardless of what you give and how much you spend: make sure to include a personal card. Not the standard card that the entire department signs, but a personal message. Three sentences about what that colleague has meant to the team. That is what people remember. This can be a physical card, but with Cadeo, you can also add it digitally.

Or let your colleague choose for themselves

All these gifts are meant as inspiration. But are you not sure, or do you just want to get it right? Then a choice gift via Cadeo is the best, most effective route. Your colleague receives a personal link to a selection portal in your corporate design, browses through the assortment, and chooses something themselves.

No hassle with asking around what someone wants, no risk of the gift ending up in a drawer. The products in this article are all in the Cadeo assortment - along with more than 1,200 other options. This way, you offer freedom of choice without it feeling like a generic voucher.

Schedule an introduction and we will show you how it works.