Farewell gifts for a coworker: 8 picks that don't make it weird
They're leaving the team. You sat near them, you didn't marry them. Picks that travel in a backpack, work at the next desk, and don't pretend to be deeper than the relationship was. $14 to $55.
Find their farewell giftQuick answer
If you have 30 seconds: LoLite 3-pack of succulents ($35) for the new desk, Bokksu Japanese snack box ($45) for someone fun, or Leuchtturm dotted notebook ($25) if they're heading somewhere they'll need to take notes. Sign the card with two specific lines. Don't write eight.
The 8 picks
Useful at the next desk. Easy to carry on the last day.
What to skip
The "thanks for putting up with us" mug. Anything with the company logo on it, because they're literally leaving the company. Anything inside-jokey from the team Slack unless it's actually their joke and not yours. Photo collages. Group cards with a paragraph from each person, where person seven runs out of room and writes "you're the best!! good luck!!" in tiny letters.
Skip alcohol unless you've seen them drink it at a work event. Skip anything that signals you've imagined their personal life ("for the new puppy you'll get!"). Skip gift cards over $50 because the only correct gift card amount is "covers a meal" or "covers a real thing they wanted."
How to actually pick
Match the gift to the closeness. Sat-near-them: $20, the snack box or the preserves, sign with two lines. Worked-with-them-daily: $40, the succulents or the notebook, write three lines. Were-actually-friends: $50 to $80, the Yeti or the Bokksu, write a real card.
The card is the gift. The thing is the wrapper. Two specific lines beat a paragraph of generic.
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Common questions
What is the best farewell gift for a coworker?
The 3-pack of succulents for someone moving to a new desk. The Bokksu snack box for someone with a sense of humor about food. The Leuchtturm notebook if they're heading somewhere they'll need to take notes. The Yeti tumbler if you can't decide.
How much should the team chip in for a group farewell gift?
$5 to $10 per person, collected by whoever volunteers. Total budget $50 to $150 depending on team size. Don't make people Venmo more than $10 unless they explicitly offer.
Should I get a card or a gift?
Both, if budget allows, with the card doing more emotional work than the gift. A $25 gift plus a real card beats a $75 gift plus a signature-only group card every time.
What do you say to a coworker who is leaving?
Pick one specific thing you'll actually miss. "You were the only person who replied to my standup updates." "The snack drawer is going to be sad without you." That's better than "good luck on your next adventure."
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