Celebratory Cum Farewell Lunch

It was about one-month after our Annual Staff Function. We had our celebratory cum farewell lunch at Swensen’s.

We were looking to our first gathering as a whole team. Unfortunately, we had just received bad news that one of our team members had tendered. Hence, this became both a celebratory cum farewell lunch for her.

I was again the latest and got scolding from our “QC Director.” She is passionate about her job and often upholds the highest quality. Our mistakes never escape her eyes, so she has been affectionately been crowned the “QC Director”. She deducts our points when we make mistakes. A couple of us who have always made mistakes are in negative point balance. Every time we meet, we will joke about this, and she will graciously play along.

Everyone has his/her reasons for leaving the organization that he/she works for. People leave because of dissatisfaction with job scope, interpersonal relationships with peers and bosses or compensation. I always believe that there is no perfect portfolio or boss. Neither is there a perfect culture or payment package. It is always a matter of fit – fitting the employee into the organization, fitting the pay to the job scope, fitting the personality to the job requirements. Whether it is a good match of all these factors have to be determined before the employee enters the organization. When there is misalignment in perception, understanding or expectation, misfit happens and people leave. Even if it has been a good fit initially, changes can happen to both the employee and organization. The factors may change and cause misfit to happen.

Although there was a slight tinge of sadness, the gathering was still a good one. Since it has been so successful, we have decided to have one monthly. I will certainly look forward to the next one. At the same time, I hope the best for this colleague who will be serving her last day on Monday.