Planning together
Compare eight farewell gift ideas for a coworker, including a group memory book, signed card, photo, shared meal and practical gifts for a new chapter.
Choose a farewell gift around what your colleague will enjoy, the time you have and how the team wants to take part. A good choice can be small: a useful object or shared experience with a few specific words from the people they worked with.
Check any workplace gift policy, decide who will organize it and keep any contribution of money voluntary. Confirm whether the colleague is moving, working remotely or leaving quietly. A gift should fit their circumstances without asking them to explain private plans.
Best when several people want to share more than a signature. Invite stories and optional photographs, then bring them into one digital keepsake. A book works across offices and gives former colleagues a way to join in. It needs someone to collect, review and arrange the contributions.
Team Memory Book offers a free draft and a finished digital book with a printable PDF for USD 19, paid once. It supports up to 50 contributors and 80 pages. Save the PDF during the access period; organize any physical printing yourself. It does not collect gift money or include video messages.
Best for a short turnaround or a team whose messages will be brief. Choose a physical card if people share an office, or an online group card if they do not. Before selecting an online service, check how signing works, whether you can download a copy and when access ends.
Best when there is a photograph the colleague already loves. Ask permission from the people pictured and add a short note about the occasion. Consider luggage space if they are relocating. A digital copy may suit someone who does not want another object to carry.
Best for a colleague who enjoys spending time with the team. Ask what would feel comfortable and include people who work different shifts where possible. For a remote colleague, a short optional coffee call can work without requiring a large party or a speech.
Best when you know a subject or hobby they enjoy. Write a brief note explaining why you chose it. Avoid gifts that feel like assigned professional reading for someone trying to leave work behind.
Best when you know a specific need, such as a notebook they like or something useful for a commute. Check before buying specialized equipment: their preferences, available space or new employer’s setup may differ from yours.
Best when the team wants to contribute but is unsure what the colleague needs. Check where it can be used, its currency, any restrictions and the recipient’s location before buying. Pair it with personal messages so the handover includes more than a transaction.
Best when they have mentioned something they would like to try. Choose an option with flexible booking and check any restrictions directly with the provider. Do not choose a fixed date that assumes how they will spend their time after leaving.
Choose something that does not depend on shipping: a written thank-you, an online group card or a digital memory book. Keep the request small and the deadline explicit. If there is no time to collect contributions carefully, give a sincere note now rather than promising a larger gift you cannot finish.
Add one real detail from working together. A specific memory can accompany any of these gifts. Let colleagues choose how much to write, and keep shared messages free of private information about why the person is leaving.