Seven out of twelve people who work with me are being laid off. How can I surprise them with something nice?

I just wanted to say thank you for being the wonderful person that you are! Your question just made my day : )

I would say 5 are happy and 7 are sad, but they added, all together, 12, and 12 were the disciples of Jesus.

This remark may lift the 'aroma' on your spirits ...

Without a doubt faith helps when people close to each other must, for intercourses in their lives, fall appart.

That means your idea of calling a party is excelent, because the joy and sadness will end up on many wishes of goodwill and indeed those will spread fairly among you all.

I'd never been to a party like that, and indeed uncountable times I had to say goodbye to close coworkers and ... I still miss them.

Please take pictures... and add e-mail adresses (of course)... they are important to you as well as you are important to them.

What could you do?

Well... cake... twelve candles... beer, party!

A surprise in the party?

Well... I have, honestly, no idea.

...

Thinking...

....

Well... nothing came to my mind... but ... how about a date for the next party, with invitations and reservations already made, for the 12 names, for another party one exactly year (or five) from ... the day of the good-bye party?

Maybe two years...

One year would add hope to those being laid off, because they would add expectations of ... if anything bad happens... they'll meet you brothers again...

It might be worthy.

Not a good surprise... nothing sparkling... but... good intentioned.

That means... you surprise them all giving them an invitation with the promise of a new meeting a year from now.

They'll be ... flattered and honnoured, I think.

Maybe you could find people who are remaining and willing to share the cost of a restaurant meal for the ones being laid off, and everyone go out to dinner.

Get them each a beggar's cup and a big cardboard box to live in under some bridge. Oh, while you're shopping, stock up on extras of those, because this is happening all over and will continue to happen.

Everybody gets a card, and everybody signs every card.

You choose what you think the card should be.

I would likely choose "Get Well Soon" or "Congratulations on Your New Baby!"

Anybody else would likely choose "Bon Voyage" or something equally tasteless.

É uma situação muito delicada, infelismente nada tens a fazer. Trate-os bem sem discriminação,esteja junto deles, aproxime-se, mas nada que lembre tal fatalidade.

Seja a mais natural possivel.

That's really nice of you. That's a really difficult situation. Not sure what would be appropriate for everyone except buying everybody lunch or something.

Cake

bake cookies and tie the packaging with a nice bow. write words of encouragement and good will on an index card and go through the newspaper adds and find job openings to print and attach as a card.

You have a spirit of loving kindness. God bless you.

A note to each one on their admired strength, or some good turn they did, or said, etc. along with muffins, donuts, Panara bread, cookie, bla bla.

Personal note mean it comes from the heart.