Overview
A positive off-boarding experience is an integral part of the employee journey. At Taubman College, we believe that goodbyes are just as important as hellos. The purpose of saying goodbye is to honor the individual and their time with us, mark and acknowledge the ending, get closure for both the person leaving and those staying, and help remaining team members shift their mindset to a new beginning. It’s important to recognize a departing colleague’s contributions and ensure they leave feeling valued and appreciated. When an employee looks back on their time at Taubman College, we want them to know they mattered and that they contributed in meaningful ways.
From an HR perspective, ending on a high note is crucial to maintaining a positive organizational culture. A proper farewell helps foster goodwill and positivity not only among a departing team member but also among those staying behind. Additionally, acknowledging employee exits with grace and gratitude helps create an environment where all employees feel valued and respected, even when they choose to move on. It demonstrates our commitment to treating everyone with dignity. We want former employees to be advocates for working at Taubman College and people who remember their time with us fondly.
We understand that some employees occasionally leave because they are unhappy working here or may have not gotten along well with their supervisor. However, regardless of circumstances, all employees who resign deserve a proper send off, and it is the supervisor’s responsibility to ensure this occurs. Cases of terminations or reduction-in-force departures will be handled on a case-by-case basis and will likely not align with the parameters suggested below.
Farewell Announcement
A farewell announcement is required for all employees who resign and should be sent out by the manager at least a week before an employee’s last day, if not earlier. A meaningful farewell announcement will first include a thank you for the individual’s years of service at the college, a brief description of their contributions and accomplishments that are specific to them and the work they have completed (please avoid generic platitudes), where the individual is going next (if applicable and/or they are willing to have the information shared), and lastly, some well wishes. You could also use this message to inform staff members about a farewell gathering for the employee, if it applies to them.
Suggested Parameters
While we recognize that different teams across the college operate in different ways, having varying departure experiences can create discord among the staff and work against the goals we are collectively trying to achieve. Please use the parameters identified below, and talk with HR if you want to do something that deviates from these norms.
Additionally, it is important to check with the individual leaving and craft an exit experience that aligns with their level of comfort. For long-serving employees who request not to have anything done, this should be noted in the farewell announcement so everyone is aware and can find individual ways to wish them well.
| Length of Appointment | Acknowledgement | Farewell Gathering |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year of service or less | Supervisor sends a farewell announcement to staff (and faculty, if applicable) | A farewell gathering within the team of the employee only |
| 2-3 years of service | Supervisor sends a farewell announcement to staff (and faculty, if applicable) | A farewell gathering within the team of the employee with the option for other staff members to stop by and wish them well |
| 3-5 years of service | Supervisor sends a farewell announcement to staff and faculty | A small staff farewell gathering with light refreshments (bagels, donuts, cookies, etc.) |
| 5-10 years of service | Supervisor sends a farewell announcement to staff and faculty | A staff farewell gathering with a continental breakfast or heartier afternoon snack and a gift in the $50-$100 price range, in alignment with length of service* |
| 10 years of service or more | Supervisor sends a farewell announcement to staff, faculty, and students | A staff farewell gathering with a simple catered breakfast or lunch and a nice gift in the $100-$200 price range, in alignment with length of service* |
| Retirement | Supervisor sends a farewell announcement to staff, faculty, and students | A staff farewell gathering with a nice catered lunch and a gift up to $390, in alignment with length of service* |
*When planning gifts, please refer to SPG 501.12 to avoid gifts that will tax the employee. For example, gift cards over $50 will result in FICA taxation to the employee as well as any gifts over $400. Additionally, a great sendoff is not always about receiving a tangible gift; it is the level of thought and consideration that goes into the exit experience. Personalizing your goodbye for each individual demonstrates that you know them on an individual level and can be far more meaningful to the person.
If any questions arise, please reach out to taubmancollegehr@umich.edu for clarification, and we would be happy to help!