So Long, Farewell, and Adieu: How to Bid Goodbye to a Favorite Colleague

Last September, I overheard some bad news. One of my coworkers had mentioned something about one of our bosses leaving and what we would do when she was gone. When I tried to ask about this further, my coworker wouldn't provide the information to me. Unfortunately his comments were true and sure enough, one of our other supervisors confirmed this when I asked her.

While I felt upset at first, especially since our departing boss was popular among student employees, I decided that I would do whatever it took to give her a good sendoff and make sure she wouldn't forget us.

If a popular person at your workplace has decided to move on, you can make sure they leave on a good note. Here's how to go about it:

Don't let your emotions get in the way. Some workplaces are especially close knit and there may be mixed feelings when a coworker resigns. Although it is OK for you to be emotional in private, get back to the heart of your intentions as soon as possible.

Get other employees involved. Explain to your coworkers that you will be buying a card or some other gift for the person leaving. This doesn't have to be elaborate. You can pick a card that is easy for everyone to sign or ask everyone to contribute a few dollars towards a gift basket or a bakery made cake.

Make their last few days (or weeks) on the job as easy as possible. When my boss was close to leaving and wanted me to take extra hours one day, I did without hesitation. They may still be an employee and trying to finish any extra projects, but they don't deserve added stress while they are still on the job.

When planning a surprise, make sure not to let the secret slip. If you must do farewell party planning while the employee is on the clock, try to have someone distract him or her. Talk as quietly as possible. If you are planning when the employee is off, make sure everyone is sworn to secrecy.

On their last day:

Make sure that you and anyone who wants to has a chance to visit the departing employee. Ask him or her what a good time is to stop over and say hello, but don't explain why. Get a time and leave it at that.

Let them know how much they've been appreciated. Designate one person to give them their farewell gift, but explain the token of appreciation is from everyone. Keep the celebration upbeat and invite everyone to enjoy a piece of cake or other refreshments brought in.

Get the employee's contact information. If you had a friendly relationship with them, you will want to stay in touch. Whether you want to keep each other updated on your personal lives or a business connection for down the road, get their e-mail address, snail mail address, and phone number. As always, keep your promise to stay in touch.

It can be heartbreaking to see a popular employee move on to another job, but it doesn't have to be difficult to appreciate them. Involve everyone at work and use every resource you can to make their time on the job memorable.