We're feds and for a recent retirement party folks chipped in $10 to $30 depending on how well they knew the retiree.

I recently gave $20 toward flowers for a coworker that retired; $25 gift card for a young coworker that I liked who got a new job, and $10 toward the going away party that was thrown for her.

$20

$20, but I work in an office of 15 people so we could barely cover lunch for a baby shower or going away party if everyone only contributed $5.

My company only collects for baby showers. I'm often the collector. Here's how it breaks down

About 30% of people never give anything.
Another 30% give $5-10 unless it's someone they like and then it's more like $20-35.
About 35% give the same amount to everyone, usually in the $20 - $50 range.
The last 5% are the managers/higher earners. They give $50-100 unless they don't like the person and then they give $0.

Anonymous wrote:Nothing. We don't do this or solicit anything from employees. Company sends out bereavement and new baby flowers.
We have had employees start a leave bank for another employee with cancer. It has to be started by another employee and approved by corporate and people can donate up to 3 days of leave. The sick person got a lot of paid leave to fill the exclusion period before they qualified for long term disability payments.

we tried to do that at my law firm for a coworker with cancer but HR said we couldn't. had something to do with different people accruing time off at different paces based on their status and how long they'd been here.

Nothing. We don't do this or solicit anything from employees. Company sends out bereavement and new baby flowers.
We have had employees start a leave bank for another employee with cancer. It has to be started by another employee and approved by corporate and people can donate up to 3 days of leave. The sick person got a lot of paid leave to fill the exclusion period before they qualified for long term disability payments.

$20

$10 if I am meh about the co-worker.

$20-50 if I really like and appreciate them.

If it's a serious health issue or emergency, I chip in more and the amount doesn't depend on if I like them.

I always give $5 for people at work I'm not friends with. If I'm close with them I'll do $20.

I'll chip in $5 if they work here. I won't miss that money.

No one is expected to monetarily contribute. The company generally buys things (ie admin does and expenses it), as it's recognition of a business partner.

If I was really close with someone, I'd do something with them on my own. LY one of my coworkers retired, and we are close so I took her out to dinner.

Offices shouldn't be places to beg for money to show appreciation to coworkers.

Thankfully my office does not mark any birthdays, milestone or not.

Retirement gift, it really depends on how close I was to the person. I chipped in 50 for my mentor and the organizer of his retirement party told me it was way above everyone else's and wanted to confirm that it wasn't a mistake. It's what I wanted to give and I normally chip in 10 for everyone else.

Baby, serious health issue, death in family, maybe 10. Mostly we just do cards.

What is the going rate/expectation for flowers, gift card, etc. at work when everyone chips in for a colleague?

Examples:

Retirement gift
Significant birthday
Baby
Death in immediate family
Serious health issue

Does it matter what the event is and where you sit on the org chart?

Does it matter if your office/team is in-person and close knit?

Do you chip in only for your team, or do you feel obligated to chip in whenever asked?

I’m not at the top, but I’m not at the bottom. When I know how many people are chipping in, I adjust accordingly.