Question regarding showing appreciation to a boss

[amznprincess]

I will be moving to a new position at the beginning of the year.  The 'split' is comepletely amicable, since my current boss' laboratory will be moving to the other side of the country in the fall when the new academic year begins and he recognizes he can't expect me to wait until then to secure continued employment.

I've thought about getting him a 5 or 10 dollar gift certificate to the coffee shop in our building - which he patronizes regularly - partly as a Christmas gift and partly as a thank you for what he's taught me during my time in his lab.  Gift-giving by a subordinate can come off wrong though and a verbal thank you would certainly be safer. I'm relatively new to the working world, so this is a bit of a dilemma for me.  Am I being overly cautious on this, or  not?

[Chocolate Cake]

I would skip the gift card.  As the wife of "the boss", I know that my husband inwardly grimaces when any of his staff give him gifts.  He doesn't feel comfortable with it at all.

However, words of appreciation and thanks makes a wonderful, lasting impression.   He'll remember forever when someone explains how he has been a great boss and what they've learned from working with him.... which is the best gift of all

[MineralDiva]

I have to agree with Chocolate.  It would probably be a good idea to skip the gift card.  Your heart is in the right place.  But it may create an awkward situation for both of you.  Your sincere thanks should be sufficient...particularly if you intend to keep in touch later, or expect to use this boss for a reference.

If you gave him a parting gift, he may feel like you're trying to obligate him to say something good about you later, to another employer.

[Clara Bow]

A Christmas card with a nice thank you in it will mean a lot more than gift card, and will be kept longer. Or a verbal thank you and a handshake. It's not good policy to gift your bosses, it looks like sycophantism even when it's not.

[Suze]

are there very many people in your lab? If not you could bring in a tray of goodies and say that they are a thank you to everybody that you have worked with and what they have taught you.

You could indirectly say thank you to the boss,and he won't feel uncomfortable, (or shouldn't) if everyone else is getting a thank you as well.

My two pence
Suze