I happen to have always worked in large teams.
Having had many jobs, some short, some very long, I have experienced many leaving ceremonies - or do's as they are called in Northern England. Leaving Do's.
I'm currently part of a large organisation going through a great deal of change. As a result many people from many different teams, including the one I'm in, are leaving for pastures new. I am staying put this time round.
I've been to two leaving do's in the past month and witnessed many smaller present-givings in the office as well.
Its a strange thing a leaving do. Emotion, usually held in check in the work setting, overflows and people hug each other with tears in their eyes. Speeches are made and cards filled with countless well wishes are handed over, together with a bottle of this or a box of that. Sometimes the gaffer even makes an appearance.
I personally dread leaving a job because I know I'll blub like a baby during the obligatory speech you have to give, especially after a few years service. Consequently I've stopped leaving jobs so often and tend to stick around nowadays, putting off the inevitable ordeal!
Work colleagues are an unusual thing too. Neither friends in the normal sense nor family either, they become a bit of both and as such are difficult to tear yourself away from. We probably see more of them than our own kith and kin!
With more gift presentations and hugging sessions looming this week I am already steeling myself for the coming waterworks as I say goodbye to workmates I've had for nearly 10 years.
It is a wind of change and one day I shall be also in the wind.
What's your experience of leaving work, do's presentations and leaving speeches readers?
Left a lot of jobs, never had to make a speech though. It probably speaks volumes that there was never a going away do for me, which suited me fine as I wouldn't have gone anyway. (Hate these kind of things.)
ReplyDeleteLeaving do's are over-rated Kid. I want to slip away out the back door when I leave my current job, which I hope will be my last!
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ReplyDeleteLeft my last job after 25 years, hopefully won't do another one. Refused to do a speech, had a leaving do just in the department (rather than with the whole staff). They were great people and whilst I don't miss the job at all, I do miss them.
ReplyDeleteSmall Leaving do's are better I agree Kev. I'm looking forward to retirement in a few years but also feel apprehensive about it!
DeleteI don't know why, but my comments keep repeating themselves. Thing is, there's only one when I check after leaving it, then another one pops up about a minute later. Let's see if it happens with this one. Feel free to delete any repeats, Woodsy.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I've noticed that Kid. Can't think of a reason at this end. I will delete duplicates unless it also deletes the original too. I'll have a look.
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