Retirement is a career milestone that deserves a celebration. However, if you work remotely, it can be a bit trickier to find ways to mark your team member’s achievements. Continue reading to explore some fun ideas for a virtual retirement party.
Create a Bucket List
A fun way to get everyone involved during a virtual retirement party is to help your coworker come up with exciting ways to spend their free time. Many people find it difficult to fill their time once they stop working, so everyone can propose one or more ideas for the retiree’s bucket list. To make the game even more fun, the guest of honor can guess who made each suggestion.
Send a Gift
Sending a gift to the retiree is a nice way to acknowledge their hard work and contributions to your company. There are several easy-to-ship retirement gifts for remote workers, so you can choose the option that best suits the retiree’s interests. Common examples include a custom calendar, books, or a gift card for a special experience, such as a cooking class or wine tasting.
During the virtual party, set aside some time for the retiree to open their gift on camera. Your coworkers will enjoy being able to see the gift and share in the retiree’s excitement. It’s also a nice touch to include a handwritten note expressing your well wishes and thanking your team member for their loyal years of service.
Compile Virtual Tributes
Another fun idea for a virtual retirement party is to have coworkers contribute photos, memories, or video montages. You can put the contributions together to create a tribute reel or share them individually.
Whichever option you choose, be sure you share your screen during the party so that everyone can watch the tributes at the same time. The retiree will truly love receiving everyone’s thoughtful messages. Heartfelt tributes are a great way to say goodbye to a valued team member.
Schedule a Reunion
Coworkers always plan to stay in touch once someone retires, but life gets busy, and it’s easy to postpone reaching out. To ensure the retirement party isn’t a final farewell, proactively schedule a reunion.
Coordinate with the retiree to find a time approximately one month after their last day of work to reconnect. Once you’ve decided on a date and time, send the meeting link to your entire team. On the day of the call, the retiree can catch up with everyone and share how they’ve been spending their time out of the office. This activity preserves the relationship between colleagues.
A virtual retirement party is a great way to express your gratitude and appreciation for the retiree. With these fun ideas in mind, you can create a memorable send-off for your coworker that they’re sure to love.
