Am I Obligated?

[supertrooper1]

Fake doctor's note coworker's last day is Friday. It's a half day and then she has to spend the other half signing out. Do I need to do something for her like bring in a cake, cookies, buy pizza or bagels? Not too many people are sad to see her go, but usually when someone leaves or retires, something is done. I feel like this is my job since we've shared an office since May. Maybe on Thursday instead? WWWPD?

[akafred]

NO.

[ECB]

No, you aren't obligated to do anything. I don't see what sharing an office has to do with this, TBH. You aren't her boss, right? I woudln't worry about it.

[supertrooper1]

No, not her boss, thank goodness.

[2chatter]

Not her boss or closest teammate/work friend? Nothing.

[campermom]

Maybe throw a party for the rest of your department the day after she leaves.

ETA: this is the coworker who lied and stuff right?

[supertrooper1]

Oct 17, 2017 19:24:40 GMT -5 campermom said:

Maybe throw a party for the rest of your department the day after she leaves.

ETA: this is the coworker who lied and stuff right?

A few of us have joked about the day after party. 

Yes, she faked a doctor's note and ultimately received one day of suspension after getting a termination letter. She also certified her cats as service animals to get a break on her rent. 
 

[k3am]

Yeah, no. Not obligated. I mean, unless you want to throw an adios MF'er party? She probably wouldn't like that, so you're better off skipping it. For her feelings, of course.

[ECB]

Look - I”ve left jobs where I had a great relationship with the people I worked with and left on good terms and I didn’t get a goodbye party. Someone who lied and shows poor judgement? AND everyone seems to be looking forward to her leaving? Um, yeah. Why fake a party?

[sweetptater]

Definitely not obligated. I wouldn't do a damn thing for her. I do however like the idea of an after party.

[HeartofCheese]

I'm not sure it would even have occurred to me to do anything at all except eyeball her desk to see what looked good.

[supertrooper1]

I feel better knowing that I'm not out of line for not doing anything. I go back and forth, thinking that she already has a bad opinion about my location and don't want her to add no going away party to her list. But on the other hand, I want to say, "don't let the door hit you on the way out."

[mommyatty]

If you do something, instead of saying "they didn't even throw a party," she will say "And the people there didn't want me to leave because I was the best thing that ever happened to them. They know how much it sucks there too." I'm a no party vote. But I'm petty enough that I've declined going to parties for disliked departing coworkers if I could find any plausible reason to do so. I'm not good at faking it.

[k3am]

At the old job, we had a smudging party after a coworker left. The woman who took over his office is very... hippie-ish and loves an excuse to drink. So we had a happy hour before she moved into his office, we all had shots of Fireball (obviously, dated) and she smudged the office with sage.

I'd rather do that.

[erinshelley21]

I was going to suggest a party after she left like what k3am's place did. That sounds better to me!

[mustardseed2007]

Oct 18, 2017 11:57:37 GMT -5 k3am said:

At the old job, we had a smudging party after a coworker left. The woman who took over his office is very... hippie-ish and loves an excuse to drink. So we had a happy hour before she moved into his office, we all had shots of Fireball (obviously, dated) and she smudged the office with sage.

I'd rather do that.

legit lol! I have been to one of those for a new home but never for an office!

[pengy86]

If you insist on a party, here are some cake ideas: www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3988450/amp/The-hilarious-harsh-farewell-cakes-employees-given-leaving-colleagues.html

Otherwise I say no. Just have one Monday after she is gone at her desk to celebrate she is gone.

[mellym]

Absolutely not. She is a bad employee and you're not her boss.

[judyblume14]

So? How is today going, supertrooper1?

[supertrooper1]

judyblume14, it's going awesome!
We had 3 hours scheduled together, but I was out of the office for over half of that. Someone from another agency was in our office talking to me when it was time for her to leave and sign out. No hugs (thank goodness) and just a short goodbye.