Employee of 27 years receives Oreos and a Snickers bar as a thank-you gift after retiring from Home Depot: 'Management has become less welcoming and empathetic over the last 10-15 years.'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Nov 13, 2025 8:00 AM EST

You would think he'd get a little more than that as a "thank you."

If you've been with a company for a long time, it's customary to receive some send-off to thank you for your years of service. This could take the form of a retirement party, or simply a cake and some drinks to commemorate your hard work and the value you brought to the company. If you were the most valuable employee at the company but only stayed for a year, it would be kind of silly to expect a ceremonious send-off. But if you were with a company for 20 years and were a competent, consistent employee, you bet your bottom dollar you should get a party to honor you, even if it's for loyalty alone.

Not all companies are great about showing their employees appreciation throughout their careers, let alone when they retire. If your job never gives you a raise, expects the world of you, and never gives you any perks or benefits, you're probably not going to get a nice cake and a party upon your retirement. If you want to work for a company that will give you nice things, you should leave before you reach the going-away party levels of tenure.

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  • My dad just retired from Home Depot after 27 years and his parting gift was a Snickers bar and a bag of Oreo cookies.

    A king sized pack of 8 Oreo cookies and a Snickers bar laying on top of a brown wooden surface
    via u/BR0N1N

  • The man in this story has worked for Home Depot longer than I've been alive, and all he has to show for it are a couple of snacks that could be eaten in one afternoon.

  • For context, my dad worked two jobs (hardest working person I know or will ever know) and is currently in the process of retiring from both of them: Home Depot was this morning and his other job is in January 2026.
    via u/BR0N1N
  • Faucet Repair Vent Pipe Drain Accessori Floor & Celling Vents us Willo
    via Oxana Melis

    A Home Depot filled with lots of items

  • He would go from different departments until finally settling in Tool Rental, which he worked there for a good portion of his time there.
    via u/BR0N1N
  • My dad would receive some rewards here and there from Home Depot (nothing crazy but not necessarily a big deal).
    via u/BR0N1N
  • His tenure there was put at risk multiple times when management tried to reduce his hours or let him go (presumably to cut costs).
    via u/BR0N1N
  • Young latin woman working in hardware store
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • However, he knew people in higher places than management and they would stop their advances. This morning was his final shift.
    via u/BR0N1N
  • Was planning on going to the store to send him off with his colleagues as a little celebration for him.
    via u/BR0N1N
  • However, they let him go home early and told me why his parting gift was: a Snickers bar and a bag of Oreo cookies.
    via u/BR0N1N
  • Planning on grabbing a couple beers with him and having a proper little retirement celebration over whatever this "parting gift" was supposed to be.
    via u/BR0N1N
  • I get this is a corporation, but this was below the bare minimum for someone who has worked there a very long time.
    via u/BR0N1N
  • A red car parked in front of a home depot
    via Julia A. Keirns

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • mastervega_82 Congrats to your pops for making it that long. He's earned his retirement for sure! Fuck hd though. That's just further proof that management really doesn't care if you stay or go.
    via u/mastervega_82
  • OP BRON1N Thank you. Management has become less welcoming and empathetic over the last 10-15 years. It has most likely been longer than that, but they've definitely lost that personable touch to customers and/or employees they once had.
    via u/BR0N1N
  • noelle-silva Unsurprising. HD does not care about you. People need to realize this.
    via u/noelle-silva
  • OP BRON1N My post specifically states that. Was expecting the bare minimum, but that is too much to ask for nowadays.
    via u/BR0N1N
  • cheersthesebeers Did he do his Our Safety before he retired?
    via u/cheersthesebeers
  • DizzyStaff2744 They probably marked it down as store use
    via u/DizzyStaff2744
  • AggravatingMuffin 132 No company does, ESPECIALLY in retail. BUT at least he got king sized. Lol
    via u/AggravatingMuffin132
  • INeedAUserName89 His 401k must be juicy though!
    via u/INeedAUserName89
  • cleaner 70001 Another 3 years and he would have got a Coke too
    via u/cleaner70001
  • Slow_Elk8803 Don't put this on Home Depot - this is a lack of respect by his ASM and Store Manager. I've been in plenty of stores and at the SSC where the person retiring had very nice sendoff (ex. Lunch, recognition crystal, decorated apron, etc.). Sounds like store management had no love for your pops even after 27-years so his last day was no different. Shame but wish him well in retirement.
    via u/Slow_Elk8803
  • Tamsworld22 What bullshit. There was a time, when an employee retiring had a party hosted by his/her employer and given a gold watch and other gifts. A friend of my ex's worked as a Superintendent at a city but overall worked there for over 30 years. When he retired, they did NOTHING for him on his last day - no party, no goodbyes, no cards, nothing. The reason is, I think, he was involved in a nasty divorce years earlier where his ex wife accused him of physical assault as well as molesting his
    via u/Tamsworld22
  • Wizard_of_Rozz Remember this next time you are asked to make personal sacrifices for HD
    via u/Wizard_of_Rozz

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Tags

candy workplace-stories toxic-workplace home depot Oreos reddit story oreo dad workplace retired reddit thread retirement Reddit snickers in the workplace gift
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