I had my last day at work recently before going on maternity leave. Nobody said anything to me except for one colleague who nicely had lunch out with me. I had to actually ask another colleague I was kinda close to have a coffee and she suggested an afternoon tea with me and another colleague whom we talk to quite often.
During the afternoon tea they gave me a present and card from one of our bosses.
The previous lady who went on maternity leave had a very big present, card signed by everyone, and a grand send off. Another two had a nice send off where everyone gathered and the boss said their well wishes.
It is not about present or cards but the whole experience and the different treatments left me feeling weird and overlooked.
I am a quiet and keep my head down at work type. But I always help out and am polite.
I wonder if there is a thing where people just assume you don't want some big send off or want to be included so they just don't even ask? Its the same with group coffees etc too. People round each other up and leave me out. I always had to join but I honestly feel not wanted there.
People – if you are organising something would you reach out to the quiet one and ask if they want to be included? Or just assume they don't and don't even ask? I do like to keep things low-key but it is the feeling of exclusion here that nobody even bothers to include or ask me that hurts.