when I leave an employer.

Mostly I have been taken to lunch.

I am getting the guy I am taking over for, he is retiring, a ream of lined paper, a set of BIC's, and a notebook for his retirement. Well more for his wife so she has somewhere to write down his HoneyDo list.

I don't know either!

Oh wait, he has a top but it's really really tiny.

A cactus as a reminder of previous workplace. Usually gets laughs at the luncheon.

I know that's not what you meant but it would be funny.

know what he likes....

I think a wee gift, and a card signed by everyone, is nice.

If you work at a place that is neat/cool and makes a good photograph (like the famous one of the Pentagon in the rear view mirror that was a common farewell gift) it's fun to frame those and have all the co-workers sign the border of the print.

He does like to run out for coffee so maybe a coffee gift card would be good.

I worked for a law firm when I got divorced. In the divorce judgment, I got the house, but my ex-husband got a lien on the house which had to be paid in 18 months. The judge thought I would have to sell the house to pay it. I didn't make enough to take out a loan for the amount and I didn't have enough in my 401k to borrow to pay the lien but if I quit my job and cashed out the 401k, I could save the house. So, I looked for another job, quit the law firm, cashed out, paid the lien and I still live in the house. The law firms was very sympathetic to my situation and gave me a big going-away party and the gift was a book on home maintenance and repair (how appropriate!).

I retired from the legal department of an engineering company and when I left, the attorney (not on staff, but retained) gave me a book. Unfortunately, he didn't know me very well and didn't know I am an atheist -- the book was a guide to spiritual journey or some such thing. I started to read it and quickly discovered it was a mish-mash of religious theory from many different religious presented as if it was all new thinking. But it was the thought that counted -- he and I always got along and he was very good to work with.

hadn't considered a book. I might be able to find something funny. Probably not anything spiritual!

Books with good office humor.

We always have some kind of special lunch and there's a collection and a gift. Sometimes it's a gift card if no one's sure what to get.

He's not leaving on bad terms and I just think we should do something even if small.

Wonder what they would do if you left on BAD terms!

...2 out of the 5 involved a going-away lunch and a gift from my boss and co-workers.

The other 3 times, nothing.

Thinking back, the 2 times I did receive a gift, I was really close with my immediate co-workers. The other 3 places, I basically worked with people I never "fit in" with. (One place, I quit in quite a huff and would have been happy to see the place slip into the river.)

However it was seasonal and the job ended.