A member of your team is leaving to
pastures new or retiring. You want to send them off with a bang, right? After
all, you’ve worked closely with them for a while now, so it’s only fitting. Yet
no one likes the tea in styrofoam cups and the sad cake, while someone makes an
awkward speech. You want to organise a leaving party that everyone will
remember. Well, we have just the list to help you do it.
Choose the Date
The key to choosing the best date for a
leaving party is to not have it too early, but not have it too late either.
Sometime in their last week works perfectly, but probably not their last day. This
is particularly important if it is going to be a surprise party – they might
have other plans for their last day of work, as well as a final handover to colleagues.
You don’t want a party to get in the way of this.
Decide on the Guest List
Who is going to be invited? If your company
is a large one, then it’s not going to be everyone, but who from each team
should get an invite? If they know about the party, ask the person leaving directly.
They might work really closely with someone that you’re not even aware of. Are
you still in contact with other past colleagues? If it is a retirement party, they
might appreciate a surprise blast from the past by inviting some old faces to
join in and reminisce.
Pick a Venue
Are you keeping it in the office? Or going
out for lunch? Perhaps the party is going to take place after working hours so
that everyone can let their hair down. Whatever your thoughts, having a venue
that fits everyone comfortably is a must for any type of party. Leaving party
venues for hire in London range from a cosy pub, to a fine dining experience,
so be sure to know the type of atmosphere that you’re trying to create before
searching.
Order Food
No party is complete without some food.
Whether this is pizza ordered on to the office, or a meal out, a party equals
food, and so everyone attending will expect some. This is a chance to show how
well you really know your departing colleague by choosing something that you know
they love to eat. They’ll really appreciate the sentiment, so ask around for hints
about their favourite dish. Make sure that there is plenty of it, and if you
are having a meal out, the person leaving shouldn’t be asked to pay for their
own.
Get Others to Contribute
You shouldn’t do this all by yourself, so
ask others to organise some parts of it and delegate tasks out. While one
person sorts the decorations, another can be sending out the invites. It’s important
that everyone attending chips into the cost as well – leaving parties don’t
always come out of the company budget. The more contributions that you have,
the more that you can do. Make sure you ask people early for their donations
and lay out your plans for the party, so they know exactly what they are paying
for.
Organise a Leaving Gift
A leaving gift is essential at this type of
event, but it can be really difficult to know what to buy for someone. The type
of gift will depend on how long they’ve been with the company, and whether they
are retiring or moving on – as well as their personality. If in doubt, a gift
card is always well received, but a joke present can be included as well so that
there’s something for you all to have a laugh about. Again, everyone should be
making a contribution to this, even those who can’t attend the actual party.
Make Time for Speeches
Is it even a leaving party if there aren’t
speeches? Maybe even a few tears? Make sure hen that you pick a time for these
to happen. Whether it’s before dinner or after you present the gift, make sure
that the person who is thanking your colleague knows when to expect it. Schedule it in and stick to it. While you
might all be having a great time, you’ll regret it if you miss out the
speeches!
Take a Group Photo
It’s a great idea to get a picture taken of
the whole group so you can have a memento of the night. This is something that
you can send on to the colleague who’s leaving, as they might not have another
picture of themselves with their work colleagues. If someone amongst you has a
good camera, this is even better. Don’t forget to take some more snaps
throughout the night as well!
Keep it Fun
While it’s a leaving party, it’s still a
party, and no one wants it to be gloomy. Keep the talk centred around funny
moments, and even organise an activity like karaoke if your venue permits it.
You want to ensure that the only tears at this leaving party are tears of
laughter.
No more sad office parties! If someone is leaving
your company, they are going to know that all of their hard work has been
appreciated, because you are all going to show them. No matter what venue you
decide on, the atmosphere is what counts the most, so keep it upbeat.
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