Please stop buying plaques as gifts for retirees/farewells

[Anonymous]

In the past two weeks, I've attended retirement parties for two former colleagues. At both events, they received large, plain, wooden plaques with challenge coins and a generic inscription from their coworkers, which neither recipient seemed particularly excited about receiving. From my own experience, having received numerous plaques throughout my career, I can confirm that they have usually ended up in my attic collecting dust. Plaques are overdone, take up too much space, feel outdated--reminiscent of corporate culture from the 80s and uninspired.

What are more meaningful alternatives?

[Anonymous]

Nobody knows what to do anymore.

People miss significant gifts like watches.

Most retirement presents aren't useful - except for gift cards.

My team did give an Apple Watch to a guy that was retiring after 35-40 years. They had collected a lot of cash.

Sometimes the party is the best present. A lot of people get no recognition.

[Anonymous]

Are they military?

[Anonymous]

PP #1: I had to look up challenge coin. Not a term I've seen before. It's a commemorative medallion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nobody knows what to do anymore.

People miss significant gifts like watches.

Most retirement presents aren't useful - except for gift cards.

My team did give an Apple Watch to a guy that was retiring after 35-40 years. They had collected a lot of cash.

Sometimes the party is the best present. A lot of people get no recognition.

I just retire from the govt. and got a plaque. I appreciate the sentiment but what the heck? Am I supposed to hang it in my home? Nope. It is hiding in my
Closet along with the other plaques I received. Just give me a card with some thoughtful notes and a nice coffee gathering in the morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nobody knows what to do anymore.

People miss significant gifts like watches.

Most retirement presents aren't useful - except for gift cards.

My team did give an Apple Watch to a guy that was retiring after 35-40 years. They had collected a lot of cash.

Sometimes the party is the best present. A lot of people get no recognition.

An Apple Watch is a terrific gift that would totally bring a smile to my face. It feels like your team put thought into it and what he would like/use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody knows what to do anymore.

People miss significant gifts like watches.

Most retirement presents aren't useful - except for gift cards.

My team did give an Apple Watch to a guy that was retiring after 35-40 years. They had collected a lot of cash.

Sometimes the party is the best present. A lot of people get no recognition.

I just retire from the govt. and got a plaque. I appreciate the sentiment but what the heck? Am I supposed to hang it in my home? Nope. It is hiding in my
Closet along with the other plaques I received. Just give me a card with some thoughtful notes and a nice coffee gathering in the morning.

That's the thing, there is no thought/ sentiment behind it because everyone receives a plaque. At this point, it screams box checking.

[Anonymous]

I've found that people are really resistant to forgoing a gift altogether, for example to have a nice party instead.
I agree that nobody knows what to do with plaques, but better gifts are significantly more expensive - e.g., a nice little clock is $200 while the plaque was $65 and since we are paying for it out of pocket ...

[Anonymous]

I've seen some horrible plaques or similar. One was a huge wood thing where they inscribed the names of his crew with one of those burning pens. Presented at a huge party with speeches, full lunch, etc.

I got a really generous gift card to a store I like. It was a perfect choice for me and my boss was the kind of person who would remember that. Did not want a party, anyone making speeches, a scrapbook, a plaque, etc. We had some cookies and talked at a regular meeting.

They did give me a framed photo. I didn't keep it or the plaque I had gotten for an earlier department award. No one needs or wants these at home.

[Anonymous]

Flowers? A card? A bottle of wine that everyone signs with well wishes?

At retirement age everyone is decluttering and downsizing. Gifts are hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've found that people are really resistant to forgoing a gift altogether, for example to have a nice party instead.
I agree that nobody knows what to do with plaques, but better gifts are significantly more expensive - e.g., a nice little clock is $200 while the plaque was $65 and since we are paying for it out of pocket ...

Just donate a bit more and get a gift card for $100.at least. It's not worth spending $60 for a plaque.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody knows what to do anymore.

People miss significant gifts like watches.

Most retirement presents aren't useful - except for gift cards.

My team did give an Apple Watch to a guy that was retiring after 35-40 years. They had collected a lot of cash.

Sometimes the party is the best present. A lot of people get no recognition.

I just retire from the govt. and got a plaque. I appreciate the sentiment but what the heck? Am I supposed to hang it in my home? Nope. It is hiding in my
Closet along with the other plaques I received. Just give me a card with some thoughtful notes and a nice coffee gathering in the morning.

That's the thing, there is no thought/ sentiment behind it because everyone receives a plaque. At this point, it screams box checking.

So, as somebody who has had to organize dozens of farewell parties/gifts for employees over the years - sorry, but the exercise is not for you, it's for the office. People want to "do something" and feel that something will be done for them when they leave. That's why you get a plaque.

I realize you'd probably like a gift card, but your colleagues and my boss think that's too impersonal (too easy) so we don't do that.

You're not getting a thoughtful personal gift even if we have a lot of money collected because (a) I am organizing this on top of my real job and I'm busy, and (b) I have to think about the expectations being set / already set in past years, in the sense that one employee can't be seen to get a significantly nicer or more thoughtful gift than another employee. If we collect more than the plaque costs, you get nicer food at the party. If we collect less, I make up the difference out of my own pocket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've found that people are really resistant to forgoing a gift altogether, for example to have a nice party instead.
I agree that nobody knows what to do with plaques, but better gifts are significantly more expensive - e.g., a nice little clock is $200 while the plaque was $65 and since we are paying for it out of pocket ...

I don't think a clock is good either...it's not really something people need.

I would do a card and then a gift card commensurate with your budget. $65 isn't really enough for a dinner out, but would be a nice amount for a bakery or bookstore. There are lots of places that represent "take some time for yourself". Or maybe after a long career someone in the office actually knows the person and what hobbies they have. At my old place of employment we got our boss a gift card to a golf/sporting goods store, and our secretary a gift card to a craft store.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've found that people are really resistant to forgoing a gift altogether, for example to have a nice party instead.
I agree that nobody knows what to do with plaques, but better gifts are significantly more expensive - e.g., a nice little clock is $200 while the plaque was $65 and since we are paying for it out of pocket ...

Just donate a bit more and get a gift card for $100.at least. It's not worth spending $60 for a plaque.

Plaques are not $65. At least not the ones with wording. They run about $200 if they are custom made.

[Anonymous]

Decorated paper plates.