Saying goodbye to a colleague
When a colleague leaves, you’ll want to find exactly the right words…
Organizing a leaving do
Sam: It’s not long until Sophie’s last day. We should start thinking about her leaving do.
Sam: Yes, but if we start the collection this week, people might be more generous as it’s pay day on Wednesday! I’ll go out and buy a card at lunchtime so that everyone can sign it in time. Have you got any idea what she wants as a leaving present?
Sam: Weil, I’ve been having a think. As she’s leaving to go travelling, how about a state-of-the-art backpack? And we could also buy a whole load of little travel accessories to go in the pockets. I think she’d like that. Is Kevin going to make a speech for her?
Kath: I suppose so, he is her boss, after all. He never goes out after work, though, so we’ll have to make the presentation in the office.
Sam: OK. If we do it about five we could have some wine and nibbles. I’ll ask Kevin if we can have some petty cash to buy them and if we can use the boardroom - it’s so much more glamorous than gathering around the fax machine! That will give us about an hour before the evening do.
Kath: Evening do? Are you planning on us all going on somewhere afterwards, then?
Sam: Oh yes, and I’ve found the ideal venue. There’s a new bar called Kir Royale - it does great cocktails and it has intimate little candlelit booths with red velvet seats. I thought, as it will be just before Valentine’s Day; we could get some heart-shaped balloons for the tables.
Kath: Sounds more like a place for a hot date than a leaving do!
Sam: Look everyone’s really going to miss Sophie, so I don’t think we should feel embarrassed about showing our appreciation. She is a wonderful colleague.
Kath: Well let’s hope she appreciates you as an ardent admirer, too!
Words and phrases used in the passage
leaving do = fête de depart
make a presentation = remettre qch à qn
wine and nibbles = du vin et des amuse-gueules
petty cash = petite caisse
gather around the fax machine = se rassembler autour du télécopieur
evening do = soirée
candelit booth = box éclairé à la bougie
red velvet seats = chaises en velours rouge
heart-shaped ballons = ballons en forme de cœur
Other leaving words and phrases
Good luck in your new job = Bonne chance pour ton nouveau boulot
He was given a nice send-off = On lui a fait des adieux chaleureux
shall be sad to leave the company = Je serai désolé de quitter l’entreprise
They were sad to see him go = Ils étaient tristes de le voir partir
We’re really sorry you’re leaving = Nous regrettons beaucoup que tu nous quittes
You’ve been a great member of the team = Tu as été un collègue formidable
wonder who will be next to leave = Je me demande qui sera le prochain à partir
Sarah is leaving to pursue other exciting opportunities = Sarah nous quitte pour réaliser d’autres projets intéressants
James is leaving to spend more time with his family = James nous quitte pour consacrer plus de temps à sa famille
Is your new company looking for anyone in accounts?= Est-ce que ta nouvelle entreprise cherche un comptable ?
Nobody knew you were job-hunting - you managed to hide it very well!= Personne ne s’est rendu compte que tu cherchais un autre emploi - tu l’as très bien caché !