How to Send Flowers to a Colleague Who Is Leaving the Company
Sending flowers to a colleague who is leaving the company is appropriate when the gesture reflects your working relationship: choose a manageable bouquet, keep the message professional and arrange a handover that suits their last day. A shared team gift usually works well; a personal bouquet is also reasonable if you worked closely together. If the departure is sensitive or involuntary, ask privately whether flowers would be welcome before arranging a public presentation.
At Pyat Tsvetov (5 Flowers), the useful starting point is the colleague’s situation: a cheerful move to a new role calls for a different approach from an unexpected departure. Think about who is giving the flowers, how the recipient will carry them home and whether they enjoy being the centre of attention. Those details matter more than an elaborate bouquet. Our experience as Saint Petersburg flower shops since 2011 informs the practical advice below.
Decide whether flowers fit the departure
For a colleague moving to a new job, flowers can mark your appreciation without making the occasion overly personal. Retirement may suit a warmer message, especially when the recipient has spent years supporting the team. A transfer within the company can warrant a smaller gesture, depending on your workplace customs. Match the scale to the relationship and occasion, rather than treating every departure as a formal celebration.
Redundancy, dismissal or departure after a difficult period needs more discretion. Avoid congratulatory wording unless the colleague has described the change positively, and do not use a card to discuss the reasons they are leaving. A private message such as “Thank you for your support and the care you brought to our work” leaves room for their feelings. If you are unsure whether a presentation would embarrass them, check privately with the recipient or someone organising their farewell.
Choose a bouquet that is easy to receive and carry
For an office farewell, a moderate bouquet is often more considerate than a large arrangement that takes both hands to carry. The recipient may already have a laptop, personal belongings and other gifts to take home. Choose flowers with their journey in mind, especially if they use public transport. Browse the bouquets catalogue with size and handling in mind as well as colour; a photograph alone can make scale difficult to judge.
Start with known preferences, then use colour to set the tone. A mixed palette can feel cheerful, while restrained whites, greens or soft shades can suit a quieter farewell; these are styling choices rather than fixed messages. Strongly scented flowers may be unwelcome in a shared office, particularly if someone has mentioned a sensitivity. If you know the recipient has pets, check the suitability of the flowers for their household before choosing; lilies are particularly dangerous to cats.
In Russia, an odd number is customary when giving a small, countable bunch for a happy occasion; even numbers are traditionally associated with mourning. Flower symbolism otherwise varies between people, so avoid assuming that everyone reads a colour the same way. Red roses can suggest romance and deserve particular care in a personal gift between colleagues. Our guide to flowers for a Russian colleague at work offers a related starting point for choosing an appropriate style.
Bouquets we can deliver
Make the sender and the card message clear
A team bouquet is useful when several colleagues want to contribute, but participation should be voluntary. Let one person coordinate the choice and collect the wording so that the gift has a clear message. Sign with the team’s name or the names of those giving it, without implying that every employee contributed. For an individual gift, use your own name and keep the scale comfortable for your working relationship.
Write two or three specific lines: thank the colleague, mention something you valued and wish them well. For example: “Thank you for your patient advice and for making our busiest days easier. Wishing you every success in your next role. From the accounts team.” Avoid private jokes that might be awkward when read aloud, references to salary or promises to stay in touch that you do not intend to keep.
Our deliveries are anonymous by default: the courier does not name the sender. A card with your text is free, so include your name or the team’s name in that text if you want the colleague to know who sent the flowers. This is especially useful when you are ordering from abroad and cannot explain the gift in person. Check names, spelling and the message’s tone before completing the order.
Time the handover around the colleague’s actual plans
Confirm the last day the colleague will physically attend the workplace, rather than relying only on their employment end date. Annual leave, remote working or an early finish can make those dates different. A handover near the end of their working day often reduces the time flowers spend waiting at a desk, provided it allows time before they leave. Check any farewell gathering with its organiser so the delivery supports the occasion.
For delivery in Russia, we offer time windows of 09–12, 12–15, 15–18 and 18–21, or delivery at an exact time with a tolerance of plus or minus 30 minutes. Leave a sensible margin before a speech, meeting or departure rather than making the courier’s arrival the event’s starting signal. Express delivery in large cities is available 1–2 hours after the order is confirmed, and orders can be placed 1–30 days ahead. Around-the-clock delivery is available in Saint Petersburg.
Our courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arrival, so account for that call when planning a surprise. If the recipient is absent, we agree a second delivery the same day or a handover to a neighbour or concierge with the sender’s consent. For an office farewell, confirming attendance beforehand helps avoid that complication. Home delivery can suit a private goodbye, but first establish that the colleague is comfortable receiving a work-related gift there.
Order from abroad with the essential details ready
When sending flowers to a colleague in Russia, prepare the delivery city, full address, recipient’s name and a phone number they can answer. Add useful office details, such as the company name and entrance information, and check whether the workplace has restrictions on receiving deliveries. Choose a date based on the recipient’s plans and prepare the signed card text. These details help make the intended handover clear when the order is confirmed.
We deliver flowers across Russia, and city delivery costs 500 RUB. For remote districts and suburbs, the operator confirms the delivery price when confirming the order. Read the delivery and payment information when planning the order, particularly if the workplace is outside the city. Questions can be discussed by phone on 8 (812) 507-67-05.
Online checkout uses CloudPayments; check the payment options displayed there before relying on a particular card. Acceptance of every foreign-issued card cannot be guaranteed, so allow time to check payment before the farewell date. Review the address, date and card signature carefully before submitting the order. If you are coordinating across time zones, make sure everyone discussing the handover means the recipient’s local time.
Help the flowers make the journey home
If you are organising the farewell in person, arrange access to a clean vase so the flowers can stand in water while the colleague finishes work. Keep the bouquet away from radiators, direct sunlight and equipment that gives off heat. Avoid leaving it on a crowded desk where stems or flower heads can be crushed. For a long gap between presentation and departure, a little practical preparation matters more than extra wrapping.
At home, the recipient should use a clean vase, remove leaves that would sit below the waterline and recut the stems with a clean, sharp tool. If flower food is supplied, follow its instructions rather than guessing the dose. Refresh the water regularly and remove fading material; different flowers have different vase lives, so avoid promising a fixed duration. A short care note is helpful, while the farewell itself should stay focused on thanking the colleague.
Frequently asked questions
Is it appropriate to send farewell flowers from just one colleague?
Yes, particularly if you worked closely together or became friends. Choose a modest bouquet and a clearly signed, professional message so the gesture feels comfortable.
Should farewell flowers be presented publicly?
A public handover suits someone who enjoys a team farewell and is comfortable with the circumstances of their departure. For a sensitive exit or a colleague who dislikes attention, arrange a private handover with their agreement.
What should I write if my colleague was made redundant?
Thank them for a specific contribution and offer a sincere wish for the future. Avoid congratulations, speculation about the decision or comments that minimise what they may be feeling.
Can I send flowers to a colleague in Russia from abroad?
We deliver flowers across Russia, and online checkout uses CloudPayments. Check the options displayed at checkout, since acceptance of every foreign-issued card is not guaranteed.
Will the courier tell my colleague who sent the flowers?
Delivery is anonymous by default, and the courier does not name the sender. Include your name or your team’s name in the free card text if you want the gift to be identified.
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