Anyone who knows me personally or via work will know that I have a long held policy of not signing those large novelty cards that are sent around every time someone leaves the employ of an employer.
To say that, at times, I have copped some serious stick for this stance would be an understatement. Indeed, on one occasion at a previous employer, my views on the “farewell” card led to a fireside chat with the CEO.
My objection though is pretty simple and, in my view, entirely uncontroversial: I do not wish to celebrate the leaving of a work colleague and thus will not sign a document that does so.
Of course there are different types of departures of a work place but that central principle holds true in all of those cases in my view. If the person is leaving to work for a competitor then what is there to celebrate about? If the person is leaving to do something different why would I want them to leave? If the person is leaving in bad terms then why would I wish them luck? AND if I have never spoken more than 3 words to the person isn’t it all a bit disingenuous?
What is it about us socially that makes it a requirement of working life to lionise the departure of a work colleague and, indeed, put in for a collection and gift when they do so? In no other social construct does one get a card when they leave: think about your last relationship break up or the last time you changed sporting teams as examples. Does the person “leaving” get a card and a present then? I think not.
I have been told that taking the position I do is unfriendly but I reject that because if I am the persons friend I will still see them out of work.
I just don’t get, I guess, how it became an unwritten law of the workplace jungle that one receives a card and a present when they leave and probably I will never get it.
One last thought for the bosses out there: assume that you have a work force of 100 staff and it takes 10 minutes per person to read the card, compose a message and put money in the envelope for the collection. By my count, excluding the time of the person it is who organises the card, the effort of getting a departure card signed accounts for some 16 hours of lost productivity. That is an interesting stat isn’t it?
I have no doubt that many of you will think I am just being a cranky old bastard with this but I am genuinely interested in your views on this so please feel free to leave your comments.
PostScript: Before someone jumps on me about this I concede that I have made an exception to this rule on the odd occasion but those exceptions were made in very specific circumstances.
Shumpty Speaks 
To me, it’s nothing at all to do with why they are leaving or where they are going. It’s simply a personal message from you to them, wishing them the best and (if you are close to them) saying you’ll miss them.
I keep all of mine, coz I’ve had many an amusing comment put in my cards. It reminds me of the great people i worked with.
Take the corporation out of it, and it’s simply a longlasting personal message of goodwill.
So I have to respectfully disagree with you here B-Bear.
I take your point but to me, if you wish to give the person leaving a personal message, you should do so by way of a personal note rather than a giant public novelty card. I have done so recently where I wrote a letter to a staff member who was leaving.
I do concede though that the keepsake value is there.
I love a good keepsake.
I tend to do a coffee catch up and sign the card for people. Great thought provoker topic
I think if you are consistent in this and you says personal goodbye to those who matter, I don’t see a problem. Personally I like to sign the cards and leave a personal note, but each to their own.