Retirement party checklist
Done well, a leaving do is organised by more than one person and paid for from a collection nobody had to be chased for twice.
16 items
Makes your own editable copy. No account needed.
The items
- Date agreed that works around the person's actual last dayNot always the same afternoon — some people would rather celebrate the week before.
- Venue booked, away from the office if the budget allows it
- Collection organised for a giftOne person running it, one deadline, so it doesn't drag on for a fortnight of reminders.
- Gift decided on, ideally something specific to them rather than a generic voucher
- Guest list agreed — current team, and anyone from years back they'd want there
- Invitations sent with enough notice for people to actually clear their diary
- Speeches arranged, with a running order agreed beforehand
- Photos or memories collected from colleagues in advanceA slideshow put together the morning of never turns out as good as one built over a week.
- Food and drink sorted for the numbers expected
- Card signed by as many people as possible, not just the immediate team
- Leaving gift wrapped and kept somewhere it won't be seen early
- Music or background noise sorted, so silence doesn't sit between speeches
- Someone deciding when photos happen, before people start drifting off
- Transport thought about for anyone travelling in, or drinking more than planned
- A quiet word with the person about what they'd actually likeSome people want the big send-off; plenty would rather it stayed small. Ask rather than assume.
- Thank you said publicly to whoever organised itIt's usually one or two people doing the actual work behind a party that looks effortless.
Makes your own editable copy. No account needed.
Questions people ask
- Should it be held in the office or somewhere else?
- Somewhere else, if you can manage it. An office party still feels like work; a booked room or a pub with a private area actually feels like an occasion.
- How do we collect for a gift without it being awkward?
- One person, one link or envelope, one clear deadline. Chasing contributions individually is what makes it feel like a chore instead of a gesture.
- Who should speak, and how many speeches is too many?
- Two or three short ones beats five long ones. Agree a running order in advance so nobody covers the same story the last speaker already told.