Personal, Practical, and Funny Going Away Gifts for Coworkers

Make your coworker feel special as they begin their next adventure

Co-authored by Natasha Miller and Savannah Vold

Last Updated: January 23, 2023 References

Having good people to work with can transform a job from exasperating to enjoyable. That’s why when they leave for another opportunity, it can be hard to know the perfect gift to give them as recognition for the good times you’ve shared. Lucky for you, in this article, we’ll provide you with 23 great gift options ranging from personal, funny, and practical, so no matter what, you can feel confident in selecting an appropriate gift your coworker will love.

Things You Should Know

Get your coworker a meaningful, personalized gift like a customized tumbler, guestbook, or customed framed photo.
For laughs, go for a humorous goodbye card, funny going-away balloons, or a personalized bobblehead!
Practical gifts like a notebook, planner, or Amazon gift card are great options that will surely be used and appreciated.

1

Customized Tumbler

Tumblers are a great option for the on-the-go coworker in your life. customized tumbler is a personal and practical gift for your departing coworker. Great for exercising, keeping at the office, or storing in the car for on-the-go moments, nothing’s better than giving a gift you know will actually get used!
- Basic Yeti tumblers and Stanley tumblers are very popular options to consider.

2

Humorous Goodbye Card

Let your work bestie know you’ll miss them with a funny card. Nothing could be easier than sending your coworker off with a humorous goodbye card. This affordable option will make your coworker laugh and let them know you appreciate your time together. Who knows, they might even hang it on their bulletin board at their next job for years to come!
- Funny card options include messages like, “Rude that you’re leaving, but ok” and “Thank you for tolerating my behavior. Your sacrifice does not go unnoticed.”

3

Succulent Gift Box

A succulent gift box says, “Work will succ without you!” This gift is an especially great choice for plant lovers. A sweet succulent box is the perfect desk plant that couldn’t be easier to care for.
- This gift is an awesome middle ground between funny and sentimental. “Work will succ without you!” will surely get a chuckle, and the succulent will remind your coworker of you whether they place it in their home or office.

4

Scented Candle

Gift a candle to add a little light to your coworker’s day. If you know what kind of smells your coworker is into, check out classic candlemakers like Yankee candle or Bath and Body Works, who offer a plethora of popular and weirdly specific scents. Ah, the sweet smell of rain– I remember when Jeremy and I got all our files soaked coming in from the office parking lot… I know– I’ll get him a rain-scented candle!
- If your coworker is moving states or countries, another great option is to gift them a more personal area-specific Homesick candle.

5

Desk Calender

Help your coworker keep things in order with a desk calendar. With many new meetings and assignments on their way, a desk calendar is a wonderful way to stay organized when you have a lot going on. There are tons of calendar theme options to choose from, so you can hone in on what your coworker might like best.

6

Guestbook

Get the whole team involved with a thoughtful guestbook. A guestbook (like the ones they use at weddings) is a classic gift option that the whole team can pitch in on. Rather than you all scrambling for the perfect individual gifts, pass the book around on your coworker’s last day to ensure a personal message from the whole gang.
- A simple message like “Congratulations on your new job. Wishing you all the best!” is all it takes to show you care.^{[1]
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7

Gift Card

Let them pick their own present with a gift card to their favorite place. Gift cards are great because you don’t have to worry about whether your recipient will actually like them or not. An Amazon gift card for any amount you’re comfortable with is the perfect way to let your coworker choose something they really want or need for their next position.
- If your coworker is a foodie, go for a gift card to their favorite restaurant!
- The female or makeup-loving coworker who always comes to work with a perfectly done face might love a gift card to places like Sephora or Ulta.
- Lest we forget the glorious gift that is a massage! Consider giving your coworker a gift card to a spa local to their area so they can relax in preparation for their job transition.

8

Candy Basket

You can’t go wrong with candy. Whether your coworker likes gummies or chocolates, creating a personal candy basket is an excellent way to send them off sweetly. You can tailor-make a candy basket for the treat-loving girl in your office yourself by buying a bunch of their favorites from the store and getting a container to present them in.
- A box of Sees candy for the chocolate lover in your office is sure to be a hit!

9

Lottery Tickets

Lottery tickets are a winning gift. Lottery tickets are super fun to give your coworker as they prepare to begin their next adventure– thanks to you, they might never have to work again! Whether they’re leaving for a higher-paying job or a position with more authority, keep their lucky streak going by gifting some lottery tickets or scratchers.

10

Sentimental Going-Away Card

Tell your coworker how much you value them with a touching card. Choose a card with a thoughtful message and take the opportunity to write a message that your coworker will cherish and look back on. If you’re not sure of what to say, write about all the good times you shared and note why they made your job more fun.

11

Best Coworker Award

Make your coworker feel recognized with this thoughtful award. Think “Oscars,” but office edition. A “Best Coworker” award is sure to make your coworker smile and looks great on desks or displayed in their home.
- If your coworker is familiar with the tv show, The Office, you could get them a Dundie Award for added laughs!

12

Buisness Card Holder

Buisness cardholders will display their new position proudly. A business card holder for their pocket or desk is a solid gift option for male and female coworkers alike. Everyone needs a nice place to keep their cards, and having them handy in a nice container will make them look very professional at their new job.

13

Leatherbound Notebook

Practical and classy, a notebook is a wonderful gift for your coworker. Notebooks, leather-bound or otherwise, are considered an office staple! Whether it’s for meeting notes or planning their day, a notebook is an excellent choice when it comes to gifting something useful for your classy coworker.^{[2]
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14

Framed Photo

Remind your coworker of good times with a framed photo. Remember the photo you got together at your first conference? Be sure they won’t forget it with a sweet and sentimental photo frame to display it in.
- Any photo frame will do, but you can get more personal by choosing custom frames that say things like “We’re going to miss you like crazy!” and more.

15

Personalized Wine Tumbler

Get the party started with a personalized wine tumbler. If your coworker loves a good vino, get them a personalized wine tumbler to bring to picnics, sunset strolls, or simply for a wonderful glass of white at home! That way, they’ll think of you warmly the next time they’re relaxing.
- If you’re feeling extra generous, throw in a bottle of wine to complement your gift.

16

Under the Desk Footrest

Give the gift of comfort at your coworkers new desk. Everyone who works at a desk knows that things can get seriously uncomfortable quickly.^{[3]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} An under-the-desk footrest is an awesome way to say, “Put your feet up and relax!” while making sure your coworker stays comfy at their next job.

17

Humorous Mug

Get your coworker giggling with a humorous mug. Whatever your coworker enjoys, be it tea or coffee, a mug is a great way to keep them thinking of you whenever they reach for a cup. Go for a humorous mug with funny lines like “Good luck finding better colleagues than us” to add some laughs.
- Throw in a bag of coffee or tea to take your gift to the next level.

18

Planner

A planner is a great gift to help your coworker get organized. Changing jobs can be super stressful! A planner is a great way to keep track of all the moving parts that are easy to forget about.^{[4]
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- For an added touch, try getting them a planner in their favorite color.

19

Last Day in the Office Balloons

Add some humor to your coworker’s last day with joke balloons! Whether your coworker’s retiring or just moving jobs, these funny going-away balloons are a hilarious touch to bring to their last day of work. Quite the hit, these balloons with messages like “See ya later, Alli-traitor!” will have your coworkers asking, “Where did you find these!?”
- Suprise them by tying the balloons to their chair, desk, etc.

20

Engraved Pen

Show your coworker how special they are to you with an engraved pen. Retirements, going away parties, you name it, often require a meaningful gift that acknowledges your coworker’s accomplishments.Engraved pens or a pen gifted in personalized box is a sentimental, practical gift that will be treasured by the pen-loving guy in your office for years to come.
- If you don’t want to get fancy, a card and a pack of your favorite pens are a more affordable option that’s just as great!

21

Bottle of Wine

A bottle of wine is a classy gift for your wine-loving coworker. A simple bottle of wine is a wonderful parting gift to send your coworker off with. Depending on your budget, you could splurge a little or ask someone at the shop you frequent if they have any budget-friendly wine recommendations that would do the trick.
- Throw in a card or even place your wine bottle in a cute wine gift bag to make it extra fancy.

22

Personalized Bobblehead

A personalized bobblehead is a hilarious gift perfect for desk display. Talk about a conversation starter! This personalized bobblehead is on the more expensive end, but it’s so unique that it might be worth it just to see the look on your coworker’s face.
- Office mates, friends, and family will get a kick out of this uncanny bobblehead.

23

Work Bestie Jewelry

Show your close coworker you’ll miss them with jewelry. If you’ve got a particularly special female or jewelry-wearing coworker flying the coop, a jewelry piece like a colleague necklace is a thoughtful, sweet option. They’re sure to think of you every time they put their new piece on.
- This gift might not be appropriate depending on the relationship you and your coworker share. If you’re very close, this could be a great option, but a casual gift like a card might be best if you’re more like acquaintances.

24

Potted Plant

Brighten their new office space with a beautiful plant. Plants are a fabulous option to gift your coworker on their last day of work. Better still, plants have the incredible ability to clean up the air around us, so you’ll be making sure your office bestie has a good work environment at their future job or home.^{[5]
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- Lucky bamboo sends a prosperous, hopeful message and is super easy to care for.

25

Iced Coffee Marker

Delight your coffee-crazed coworker with an iced coffee maker! If you feel like going all out, a desk-friendly iced coffee maker will certainly be a hit. Not to mention, all their happy coffee breaks will remind them of you.
- Throw in a bag of coffee beans to top your gift off.

26

Homemade Cookies

Your coworker is sure to love some homemade cookies. Talk about sweet! Show them you care by taking the time to make homemade cookies. Cookies are a great budget-friendly option that your coworker will love- and maybe the rest of the office, too, if they’re lucky!
- Ask your office mates if anyone knows your coworker’s favorite cookie, and check if they have any food allergies you should avoid.

27

Custom Framed Art

Help to decorate their new office space with custom framed art. Office spaces like cubicles can be boring and grey, so bring some beauty into their new space by choosing a cute framed picture or quote! Framed quotes like “Grow Positive Thoughts” are a great way to remind your coworker to stay on the sunny side.

28

Favorite Coworker Keychain

Simple and affordable, a keychain keeps you on their mind. As they say, “It’s the thought that counts!” Keychains are a fun memento to remind your coworker of the happy moments you’ve shared.
- For a laugh, go for keychains with messages like “You are the reason I don’t punch people at work.”

29

Fresh Flowers

Celebrate your coworker with a gorgeous bouquet. Vibrant, happy flower bouquets are a fabulous way to send off your coworker in style. If they have a favorite flower you know of, opt for those. Otherwise, an orchid is an excellent, lasting flower they can keep at their desk.
- Avoid awkwardness by staying away from red roses. Too romantic!

30

Money

When in doubt, give money. Select a card, write a sweet note, and insert whatever amount of money works best for your budget or what you’re comfortable with.^{[6]
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Trustworthy Source
Consumer Reports
Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing
Go to source} Giving the gift of money allows your coworker to use it for whatever they want or need. It’s nice having freedom over your own gift!
- Fear not– it’s not tacky to give money; it’s classy! Just make sure you put it in a nice card first. Money cards are fantastic because they have a specific space for you to insert your bills.