What do you think? Is it tough to gift something to someone who is just on the way to enjoying his work freedom for the rest of his life?
Though they will miss years of busy schedules and daily responsibilities, a newly acquired time and work freedom would allow them to relax, think about their hobby, spend time with families, etc. Retirees spend longer, healthier, more active lives than ever. A 60 would be a new 40!
No matter how they would spend their retired life, it is essential to appreciate their effort and respect their responsibilities with a perfect farewell gift for them. Some outstanding gift ideas help them remember their long years of working journey for the rest of their lives.
We’ve collected some best retirement gifts for this year. Check out and see which gift ideas will help make their retirement fabulous!
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What is Gifting?
Planning to provide a gesture of appreciation and respect to a person who is just about to leave his professional life is called gifting. Gifting always has been a tradition. It has been part and parcel of cultural values for time and ages.
This practice is also segregated into the professional world. Now it has become a trend to say goodbye to an employee with loads of gifts on his retirement.
Retirement Gift Ideas Tips for Retires
There is no hard and fast rule to gifting them expensive gifts. You may have a small amount to spend though it is still important to let them know how much they enjoy with them through the years.
Also, you will miss the person in future if you still need clarification about choosing the appropriate gift for valued colleagues on their retirement. Here are some tips for retirement gift ideas;
Think About Their Hobby
When people spend years in one workplace, colleagues can quickly become acquainted with their hobbies and passions. Retirement gifts related to their pursuit at the time of retirement will always be special for them.
Like, For a person who loves gardening but, due hectic office schedule, can’t continue it. Some collective gardening equipment with the addition of handwritten notes must bring a big fat smile to their face.
Some other examples of Hobby related retirement gifts are;
• Offering Travel Packages: This is for those people who love to travel.
• Gifting Books: a set of unread books by his favourite author.
• Musical Instruments: Granting some most desirable musical instruments to the persons who love to play.
• Kitchen Utensils: Giving some efficient kitchen utensils to the person who loves to cook.
Personalization gift creates meaning and honours a relationship. After all, some emotional touch of an ordinary retirement gift, whether an expensive one or a budget product, transforms traditional retirement gifts into something truly memorable.
Be Sensitive to Sudden Retirement
Often the retiree has to decide on retirement forcibly. It is essential to be sensitive at that time with unplanned retirements. Sometimes unexpected retirement appears due to incurable illness, fraudulent activities, project closure, etc.
It is better to avoid such sayings like ‘congratulations’ or ‘condolences, etc. Instead, we can say, ‘ I’m blessed to get a chance to work with you. As with the forcible retirement co-worker, life will take some transition rather than relaxation.
Blessings with positive hand notes can be considered a good retirement gift idea for the retiree.
Be Creative with Retirement Gift Ideas
Some random gift ideas or easy-to-buy products from Amazon often Come up with an expected gift to the retiree. Those don’t make any difference.
As we all know, retirement is the new beginning of phase two in life. Retirees have many more things to experience and would be excited to live happy lives. Avoiding such an age-related gift and making it exciting, too, is essential. So, in the end, it is necessary to consider retirement gifts as the honour of transition.
Evolve with Changing Time
Retirees’ expectation of retirement keeps changing continuously. Before, there was no specific age for retirement. People choose their retirement time on their own. Some people take retirement in their early 50s after reaching their financial independence, and some like to work in mid 60 or 70 as well.
The ideas of retirement gifts have also changed with the evolving period. In earlier 2000, there wasn’t such kind of gifting ideas. People just thought about their gratuity and pension after retirement.
But as per changing times, people appreciate the retiree for their efforts in the company throughout the years. Organizations are arranging retirement ceremonies, gifting things, enjoying retirees etc. But all this list of ideas which is working fine today, might not work in the coming time.
Virtual Working Trend
Moreover, these appreciation trends are evolving with the rise of virtual work. In the pandemic time and beyond in 2022, we are now used to virtual gifting ideas. Some types of wellness-related gifts have been highly beneficial recently.
It is Okay to be Sentimental
It is one of the best options going with retirees’ sentiment. The best retirement gifts are often group photos in a frame, photo albums, scrapbooks, or collections of handwritten remembrance letters will be more effective for a retiree than a random gift.
10 Perfect Retirement Gift Ideas for Retirees
A retirement gift is an appreciation of the retiree for his work and excellence for years. Celebrating retirement day is kind of the start of something new for the employee. It is not so easy taking things for the employee who has been in work for years.
Finding the perfect going-away gifts for those who are retiring isn’t always easy, but it shows that you appreciate their service. The best retirement gifts or meaningful or valuable gifts deliver appreciation and somewhat positive feelings to the retiree for their life.
Let’s explore various options and consider the employee’s personality when choosing.
1. Travel-related Gift
Travel-related gift ideas are the perfect idea to inspire the retiree to travel. Retiring from work means having a stress-less life. Some travel-related gifts filled with excitement must bring happiness to the retiree.
They feel enthusiastic about the exciting and positive notes. Some travel-related items that you can gift the retirees are;
A Travel Discount Voucher
A discount voucher with a minimum discount of 20 % to 30% or more on hotels on food/beverages can be the perfect gift that must excite the retiree to plan for a travel tour. They will get immense joy from the present.
Travel Bags and Other Add-on Accessories
Travel bags or other travel-related accessories like various trekking equipment, and travel scrapbook kits, including travel-themed stickers, scrapbooks, vouchers, etc., must encourage retirees to book travel tickets.
2. Gift for Health and Wellness
When an employee retires, they almost reach to age minimum of 60. Though they become free from all the work-related stress but the sudden loss of work schedule, they start to deal with some physiological issues like physical health problems, depression, obesities or weight loss etc.
So, they need to focus on self-care and keep a healthy lifestyle. Gifting them some self-care element is a perfect idea. It will help them stay healthy and fit and live life positively.
Some thoughtful health and wellness-related items are:
You can gift them the following items.
- Tickets to live laughter events or subscription plans for a health app.
- Yoga elements and giving a live yoga club membership.
- A visit to a relaxing spa treatment
- Exercise equipment or sports accessories
- Self-care package consisting of lotions, soaps, and bath bombs.
- Audiobooks subscription like shoplifting or others.
- Fun puzzle games to keep the mind active.
Gifting them something related to a healthy lifestyle will be adequate to alleviate stress and relax and be physically active. It will not only be a random gift but practical as well.
3. Letters or Cards, Written by Hand
Creating a memory by stating how much the retiree adored the company is a great retirement gift idea. A heartfelt ‘thank you letter can be a part of the retirement gift. You can write down what they contribute throughout the years and your memories.
Or it is also a good idea to make a slide show by taking video clips of their colleagues. This idea must cherish their mind with memories.
In future, they can play videos or take out and read a few messages or photos at a time.
You can also post videos and messages on social media pages.
4. You Can Gift Hobby Equipment
Does the retiree have some hobbies, or is he planning to take on a new hobby or want to experiment with something new?
Then gifting him such kind of hobby equipment is the best idea. But before planning for this kind of idea, be informed about his hobbies first.
In general, people have different kinds of hobbies. If you don’t know what hobbies the person enjoys, try something to fit their personality. Some ideas are following.
For retirees, who love to experiment in the kitchen, you can try to gift them;
- A cookbook of continental recipes
- Kitchen innovative equipment/accessories
- Free admission to cooking/baking class
For retirees who love to paint. You can try to gift them;
- Oil Color Sets
- Synthetic Coloring Brushes
- Paint books and frame
- Subscription to Painting Courses
- Digital Art Courses
For retirees who love to keep fit through sports or diehard sports fans, you can try to gift them;
- Sports equipment, like a tennis racket, cricket bats, golf sticks, etc.
- A specialized pool equipment
- Apparel like baseball caps, sports jerseys
- Tickets to a sporting event or subscription to a sports channel.
Retirement Gift ideas for the music-lover who will love to acknowledge their passion for music;
- Ukuleles, harmonicas, or flutes are exciting gifts.
- Ticket to grand music show or concert.
- Subscription of some new instrument learning
- Offer them for dinner at the musical club
5. Traditional retirement gifts
If you have little or no ideas about the retirees’ hobbies, you can go for some traditional retirement gifts idea. You can go through these ideas.
Hope it will be helpful for you.
- A bouquet of flowers or packets of seeds of exotic plants.
- A lovely perfume or some beautifully scented candles
- Gourmet food or Scratch-off Map
- Home decor and decorative showpieces
You can deliver these gifts with a positive handwritten note, even for remote employee retirement events.
6. Retirement Party and Presentation
Hosting the last office celebration with your retiring employee at the office is the perfect great idea. You can invite the entire company or just the colleague who worked closely with the retiree; often, asking family members can also make them cherish the last day of retirement.
You should keep in mind that the party should not be boring. Some kind words, fun activities or funny memories must be at the party. So, they can also enjoy and share a memory or funny story. This is also an excellent time to present gifts to them or show them video presentations of life journeys.
7. Gift cards or Gift vouchers
Often retirees become happy when they get Gift Cards or vouchers as retirement gifts. Most employees plan for lunch or supper with friends, arrange a day in an amusement park so they can plan to use it, or even they can put it in a new personalized wallet to round out the gift.
If the employees are relocating after retirement, in this case, using the gift card, they can efficiently explore the new city. Or they can plan for a retirement trip also.
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At the End
Employee Retirement in every company is bittersweet. You’ll miss their appearance; their seat will be empty for days, and the company will remind their hard work and dedication. But they’re at the step to experiencing an exciting new chapter in their lives.
It must be one’s to-do list celebrating the last day of every employee with celebration parties and unique retirement gifts that identify the retiree’s contributions to the organization.
