We've all experienced the "Person's Leaving" syndrome, including the associated cost and hassle.
In order to save hassle I propose this: Each month each memeber of staff has an automatic £2 ($3) salary deduction. This goes to pay for leaving presents for the staff who leave. The benefits are:
A) No more being hassled for cash in the office.
B) Spread costs - people tend to leave in groups.
C) Stamp out cheapskates. (Those that only put in 20p or nothing at all.)
D) Usefull Gift-Vouchers issued automatically when Payroll enter the employees leaving date onto the system.
E) Discreet - no more whispers and brown envelopes going around. All above board.-- CasaLoco, Jun 04 2001 I've never encountered this particular tradition. The idea is that you give some commemorative gift to a departing employee?-- egnor, Jun 04 2001 [egnor]: Yes, unless you were the one who fired them.-- angel, Jun 05 2001 Why not simplify this: everyone sets aside a little money each month, and when you leave, you use it to buy a leaving present for yourself.
<personal testimony>I got a gift when I left my last job (although I'm not sure how many people paid for it, because my friend bought it without collecting money first, so I worry she's horribly out of pocket); the person leaving before got a communal gift, and gave a small present to the people still working there; but the 2 people leaving before him didn't. Perhaps a national standard leaving present based on tax paid, to avoid hurt feelings.
Earlier, when I was working at a supermarket part time through uni, there were people leaving all the time. They didn't get nice gifts, but on each person's leaving night piss-up, everyone each bought them a drink (often either tequila, or avocaat and vodka), guaranteeing they were completely wasted; that's a good alternative. My leaving night - well, I won't tell you about that.</personal testimony>-- pottedstu, Oct 16 2001 what about sabbaticals? My housemate is so lovely that when I leave this weekend to go and work in Scotland until Christmas, she's planning some kind of party. Actually, hang on, is that because she's pleased to see me go...?-- lewisgirl, Oct 16 2001 random, halfbakery