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Employees of our College community frequently experience social functions ranging from employee separations/retirements, birthdays/showers, and other celebrations. To help the College and departments meet its goals while maintaining consistency in our practices and recognizing the limitations on our resources, we have adopted the following guidelines for these events.
Celebratory Events:
- Reception – reception is held in the employee’s department. Employees can drop by the department during a designated timeframe or throughout the day to provide well wishes.
- Open-house style event – this event is planned by the employee’s department and is usually held during a specified timeframe (e.g., 1 – 2:30 p.m.) in areas such as the employee lounge, unoccupied classroom, or a conference room. The open-house style event should be limited to 90 minutes. Employees can drop by any time within the timeframe to provide well wishes.
College funds must not be used for these events. Departments cannot arrange an open-house style event and solicit voluntary (monetary) donations from employees outside their department to pay for a luncheon. However, departments can arrange for a volunteer potluck luncheon or dessert event and solicit volunteer contributions from employees outside their department. All employees are invited to attend. Such events should not result in a reduction in customer service in any department or function.
Employee Separations
Departments who are losing an employee due to a voluntary separation under favorable circumstances, but who do not qualify for official retirement may, with the department supervisor and vice president’s approval, provide a department farewell reception or open-house style event. The type of event is determined as follows by the departing employee’s length of service with the College:
- Less than one year of service – department farewell reception
- More than one year of service – department farewell reception or open-house style event
Note: Always check with the departing employee to find out how they would prefer to handle their departure. Some employees like to leave quietly while others are comfortable with everyone knowing that they are leaving. Take into account the employee’s wishes when planning. Some employees may prefer to decline the event.
Retirements
Official retirements are recognized by Laurel Ridge Community College. Depending upon the date of retirement, the event may be held during:
- Employee Recognition Luncheon (Spring Semester)
- Holiday Brunch/Luncheon (Fall Semester)
- Open-house style event – event planned by retiree’s department
Retirees, with ten (10) or more years of service, are recognized with a college gift appropriated through local funds for College Retirements. The gift ranges from a personalized Boston Rocker or Standard Chair from Gardner Company - $400 value; $400 payable to the retiree minus taxes; or a retirement gift booklet - $400 value. Supervisors may reach out to HR and request a certificate indicating the availability of the gifts above for a personalized presentation. Additional gifts (such as retirement plaques) may not be purchased using college funds.
Birthday or Shower Celebrations
These events should be held within the department’s area or off company grounds during lunch and should be brief, to avoid continuous disruption of work. Such events should not result in a reduction in customer service in any department or function.
College funds are not available for use for such events. Donations for monthly employee birthday cake celebrations at Laurel Ridge locations are permissible, if such donations are voluntary and all employees are invited to attend the event.
Other Celebrations
A college-wide special project team, under the CHASE committee, identifies and conveys acts of support and kindness for employees during times of need and celebrates successes and events. Examples of activities include ice cream socials, Valentine’s (chocolate lovers) day, observing the loss of family members, hospitalizations, marriages, and births. The project team is completely supported by volunteer contributions and monetary donations.
The above guidelines are intended to provide consistency and fairness in Laurel Ridge’s best practices with regard to social functions. Any deviation from these guidelines requires approval from the president.