The Great Resignation has drastically increased as well as eliminating the need for office farewell parties. Since organizations don’t want to lose their employees, they don’t throw or plan a farewell to not acknowledge the leaving employee. On the other hand, with many employees quitting jobs due to low wages and lack of benefits, they don’t expect a farewell party when leaving either.
However, it can be greatly beneficial for organizations to plan office farewell parties for employees who want to leave in the changing employment landscape. Firstly, it allows the organization to stand its ground by letting the employee leave with dignity. Secondly, it lets the organization give and earn the respect of employees. Lastly, it allows the organization to keep its door open for rehiring, which can be especially beneficial during the Great Resignation.
Besides these benefits, organizing office farewell parties allows businesses and organizations to show that they genuinely care about their employees. So without further ado, let’s take a detailed look at how office farewell parties can be planned during the Great Resignation:
Involve Other Team Members
Managers and HR professionals often know little about employees. But colleagues and team members interact more with each other and therefore know more about each other.
Involving the employee’s team members can greatly help personalize their farewell party. From the employee’s interests and hobbies to their preferred foods and dietary restrictions can be found so that the party can be tailored accordingly.
Remember the Good Times
While employees can be disheartened for not being retained, the organization can remind them of the good times the employee had before the disagreements. Remembering fond memories with employees helps them realize how the organization played a role in their professional growth, which can ultimately reduce the disheartening feelings.
It also allows the organization to show that they tried their best to keep the employees happy with their job. This can help transform the quitting of employees into a realistic scenario from an idealized scenario and might help retain the remaining employees.
Give Thoughtful Gifts
Thoughtful gifts can significantly help end office farewell parties on a positive note. However, it is best to find out the employee’s plan before buying a gift. For example, if the employee leaves the job to work as a freelancer or takes up a job that allows work from home, a comfortable home office chair can make an exciting yet practical gift.
It is also important to go over the company’s gift policy before buying the gift, as the gift value limit may become an issue. Moreover, instead of asking the team members to get separate gifts, it could be beneficial and cost-effective for all team members to pitch in for one high-valued gift.
Last but not least, ensure that office farewell parties don’t surprise the employees. Instead, they should be planned a couple of weeks ahead so that all team members can receive and RSVP their invites.
Organizations must remember that employees are not solely quitting due to the Great Resignation and that all employees deserve their hard work to be acknowledged when leaving any organization.
