Leaving presentation tradition

12 Jan

The other day, one of the folks from my work was leaving the company. While I’ve been with the UK organization for over two years, I get tickled by the leaving presentation tradition. It turns out from chatting with folks, that most places tend to follow such a tradition.

In short the tradition is a card and an envelope is passed around the office. Most everyone signs it and adds a bit of a monetary donation. The manager of the leaver, collects the card and cash a couple of days before the leaver’s last day and goes and gets the leaver a gift (with the monetary donation).

On the leaver’s last day, s/he will invite folks to the pub and buy a round of drinks for everyone. The more popular the leaver, the more expensive the round. Depending on the leaver, the number of rounds can increase too. Everyone has a grand time and rejoins at the office around mid-afternoon. At which point, the manager presents the leaver with the signed card and, hopefully, a nice meaningful gift.

I’m perplexed as to how such a warm tradition exists in an environment which is often withdrawn and lacking in emotion. I guess its the love of lager.

Guy Lipof

Accomplished Engineering Executive with deep consulting and sales expertise in healthcare and life sciences, particularly in oncology, driving business strategy, delivering innovative solutions, and improving patient outcomes. Care partner and advocate for raising awareness about and investment towards Brain Cancer Research, such as Glioblastoma Multiforme and IDH mutant gliomas.