Retirement Gag Gift Ideas
When a co-worker retires, it is customary to throw a party honoring a colleague who has devoted years to the company. Since retirement is widely considered to be a desirable goal in society, the occasion is typically marked by happiness, although the retiring co-worker may feel ambivalent and uncertain about a new life outside the workplace. This is where the opportunity to amuse can make the difference in a successful party. Light-hearted gag gifts show appreciation for a colleague while gently poking good-natured fun.
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Choose Gifts to Reflect the Retiree
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If you are buying gag gifts for a retiring co-worker, chances are you've gotten to know this person through the years. Gag gifts that poke fun of hobbies and obsessions are good for a laugh because almost everyone in the office is probably well aware of them.
Most people have hobbies and passions that will suggest gift ideas. A man who spends every sunny Saturday on the golf course might be amused by a package of trick golf balls that hook and slice into the woods with every tee shot. You can also buy golf balls in packaging that resembles a prescription medicine bottle. Another option is a putter shaped like a walking cane.
If your retiree has certain quirks in the workplace, such as a compulsion for neatness, you could give a self-help book on organizational and cleaning skills to wink gently at your outgoing co-worker.
Avoid Gifts that Comment on Aging, Other Delicate Topics
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A retirement party is no place to hurt someone's feelings. Since you know the person being honored, consider whether your co-worker would be offended or embarrassed by any gift you are considering. Party stores and online retailers are stocked with gag gifts for "over-the-hill" seniors. Whether a particular gift is appropriate is something only you and your party organizers can decide. When in doubt, ask someone else whether a gift is appropriate for the guest of honor. One retiree might enjoy the humor in an inflatable walker with safety reflective tape; another might see it as a sign of his own mortality--especially if he has not given a lot of thought to his retirement years and doesn't yet have plans beyond sitting in a recliner watching TV.
Think about gifts that have fun with the idea of leisure time--lots of leisure time. Examples include a daily "to-do" list that consists of napping, channel surfing and eating, or a wall clock marked with activities for different times of day, such as naps, golf, goofing off and more naps.
Consider playful items like an "officially retired" sleep mask that fits over the eyes, an IRA piggy bank the size of a peanut and "retirement survival kits" that contain a box of chocolates.
Remember Business Etiquette
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Whether the retirement party is in the workplace or at a bar after hours, you will still be with co-workers and maybe a boss or supervisor. Any gift that has a sexual or lewd connotation might garner a giggle, but ultimately it will be a reflection on the person giving the gift.
Instead, choose a mix of gag gifts and retirement presents that genuinely honor the retiree for contributions to the company.
Give the retiree a yo-yo or rubber-band paddle ball as a "retirement work tool" then follow it up with a nice fountain pen, leather-bound journal or desk clock -- something your outgoing colleague can really use.
A T-shirt with an amusing message such as "You Can't Make Me, I'm Retired" could be followed by the gift of a nice causal shirt for lounging or outdoor recreation. Buy clothes in the retiree's favorite colors or give a gift card.
Phony awards such as a blue ribbon emblazoned with the words "Retired. Let the Games Begin" can be followed up by a genuine corporate award for service to the company.
The gag gifts inject a bit of humor and the honorariums balance out the silliness. The result is a fun yet professional retirement party that your co-worker will long remember.
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