There are several reasons why someone might leave their job, such as needing more of a challenge, wanting a different work environment, and needing a better work-life balance. Any person leaving the organization should be treated like a family member. To be more precise, it’s necessary to celebrate their efforts, both professionally and personally. A party is a fantastic opportunity to let that someone know just how much you appreciate them. So, get out there and throw a great party. Get people out of their desks and talk.
The farewell party will go smoothly if you plan ahead of time, but the amount of work involved is more than you signed up for. It’s best to make a list of things to do because you’re likely to forget about something. Here are a few things that make a good office farewell party. Read carefully.
The shorter, the better
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Oftentimes you get carried away with the details that you don’t even think about how long the party should last. This isn’t your regular birthday party or nighttime event, so it’s recommended to keep it short. You can book a full hour or even 30 minutes. Shorter is better, especially if you aim for a memorable, exciting event. Keep in mind that you don’t have all the time in the world. There’s still work to be done. The party will allow you and others to unwind and relax. It’ll be the lazy time of the day.
If people feel obligated to stay longer, they’ll automatically stop enjoying it. And that’s not what you want. Attention will start to fade away, not to mention that awkwardness will set in. Including an end time on the invitation is a great idea, especially if the event is hosted outside the office. The good news is that there are plenty of opportune times to host the farewell party. Just don’t wait until the weekend. If you have a date in mind, act immediately. The venue can be a meeting room at work or a restaurant.
Think about the person when choosing an event team
The theme of the office farewell party sets the mood and helps make other choices regarding the organization. It’s essential to focus on the person when deciding on one theme or the other. For instance, you can host a party around the theme of “this has been your life with our team”. You can look back at their accomplishments and demonstrate how important they’ve been for the team. If you like cheesy stuff, you can organize an awards ceremony. This way, they’ll feel properly recognized for their work.
If the person is moving far away, you can choose a theme about travel and draw attention to some of the interesting things about the new place. No matter what theme you settle for, make sure to use ribbons, which are the ultimate party decorations. Organza ribbon can make a plain space extra special. The theme should be present in all aspects of the farewell party, whether decorations, food, or invitations. The main focus is to ensure that the day is stress-free and manageable.
Prepare the guest list and send the invitations
The invitations should be sent discreetly by email. As you can imagine, you must invite all the team members and some of the senior managers. The invitations for the former should be more formal. Sending online invitations is easier and faster, so there’s no need to use old-school paper. Take into account all members of the executive leadership. The last thing you want is to leave someone out. If you have some spots to fill in, invite people who you’ll know will add a vibe to the event.
Don’t waste any more time and create a spreadsheet. Create the initial list, note who has RSVPed, and continually make updates. Getting the hang of things can turn out to be fun. Just think about it. You’ll be in a room full of individuals with whom you’ve spent so much time of your life. It’s a chance to open up and enjoy yourselves. Work is family and there’s nothing wrong with calling it that. You can be your true and authentic self.
You don’t have to pay for it all
Just because you’re in charge of the office farewell party, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you should pay for it all. Everyone should contribute. Understand that money is pretty tight and people can’t afford to spend too much. Therefore, don’t expect contributions based on pay grade. Go around the office and let people know that you need financial support. If you’re uncomfortable asking them for money, there’s one thing you can do. Have people bring food and drinks. Contributions can take many shapes. Ultimately, they’re voluntary, so you can’t force anyone.
If you want to send the person off with a farewell cake, you should make it yourself even if you’re not culinary talented, there are helpful guides on the Internet. Baking a cake is hard, but the level of difficulty depends on the resources available. Don’t panic if you have to make a themed cake. You can make a generic cake and pick up decorations from the store. It’s as simple as that. Do something nice, even if it’s not expected from you. Get really creative with your bakery message. Most importantly, don’t try to be sarcastic.
Plan for the speech
Finally, yet importantly, you should have some kind of speech prepared. Congratulate the person on their new position and wish them the best. It can be difficult, if not impossible to find the right words to say, but you need to make an effort. It’s not every day that someone leaves the company. The office staff should say a couple of words about how important the person was. Nothing fancy, but the words should be from the heart.
Rehearse the speech ahead of time and put your skills to the test. If you practice enough, you’ll be prepared and confident in what you’re doing. The separation is going to be a bitter-sweet affair, no matter what happens.
