17 Meaningful Ideas & Tips to Wish Employees a Happy Work Anniversary

In a strong company culture, we want employees to feel like they belong. We want them to stay engaged, contribute to company goals, and work well as a unit. This is why so many companies make the controversial decision to call their teams a family. 

Even if we rolled that back to a more accurate, appropriate word like community, it begs a question. How would you feel if your community forgot your birthday? What sort of culture doesn’t celebrate its loyal members?

Recognizing milestones like work anniversaries commemorates a relationship that’s vital to the workplace environment. It lets employees know that you’re grateful to have them and glad they stuck around. Everyone wants that! Let’s look at how to ensure everyone has a happy work anniversary.

Tips for celebrating a work anniversary

Before you go picking a present or wondering what to say, here are a few considerations that make acknowledging work anniversaries extra-effective. 

Bring the whole team in on it

Encouraging everyone to say congrats on a work anniversary is a fantastic start. If you want to do any sort of celebration, event, or special gift, run it by their coworkers, too. 

They may be able to provide really helpful insight and even enjoy taking over some planning. This makes milestone acknowledgments part of our peer recognition efforts, not just top-down.

Let the celebration reflect their tenure

If someone who has been an asset to their employer for 10 years receives a potted succulent or company-branded clipboard, they will start to reflect. And it may not feel great. 

A splashy celebration or robust cash bonus isn’t always in the budget, we know. In these instances, heartfelt gratitude must take center stage, not trinkets or impersonal gestures. 

Personalize it as much as possible

Having a carton of work anniversary gifts ready to be deployed sounds convenient. Someone’s milestone appears on the calendar, you fish one out, and voila. Unless this is something really cool everyone waits their turn to receive, it won’t be meaningful.

Gifts and gestures tailored to someone’s preferences are more memorable. They make employees feel seen and known by their workplace community. 

It has nothing to do with money, either. A $50 exotic fruit basket can have far less impact than a $15 leatherbound journal in the right hands. 

Invite feedback and use it to improve celebrations

Effective recognition isn’t mind-reading or guessing games. If there’s uncertainty, clear it up by asking. Try anonymous pulse surveys, as most employees don’t want to seem ungrateful. 

Surveys where employees share what type of recognition matters most to them are invaluable as well. It tells the company who wants a low-key gesture, and who wants to be praised where everyone can hear it.

How much should you spend on work anniversary gifts?

A lot of corporate guidance says work anniversary gifts should start at $25 for the first milestone. Down the line, people who have been with the company for multiple years should be allotted $50-$75 on their work anniversary. 

Truthfully, you don’t have to heed that advice. Authentic recognition costs next to nothing. The gift doesn’t have to cost a certain amount to be the correct choice.

The conventional advice you should follow applies to those larger service milestones. Make a bigger deal out of five, 10, 15, and 20+ years of service. Sometimes that means upping the budget. 

Gift and celebration ideas for a happy work anniversary

You don’t have to choose just one! Mixing authentic expressions of appreciation with little perks and gifts maximizes the boosted morale and engagement we get from honoring a milestone. Now let’s dive into some work anniversary recognition ideas. 

1. Roll out an updated piece of company swag

Company swag is a popular way to say happy anniversary at work. Make it feel more exclusive and special by giving them a premium, branded item no one else has yet. 

2. Create a digital highlights reel

Create a slide presentation or video commemorating all of the noteworthy contributions, events, and other memories of the employee’s year. 

3. Handwrite a message in a card

Get that happy work anniversary card and write a message inside expressing genuine appreciation for the employee’s service. Point out what it is that makes them a great team member.

4. Have the whole team shower them in memes

Remote teams can have a meme-off in the chat to celebrate the big day. Get a head start by stocking up on some of our favorite work anniversary memes. 

5. Make a donation

You can donate to a cause the employee cares about. However, everyone can also contribute to a fund for the employee, such as a trip they’re saving for. 

6. Let them sleep in

Start a tradition every employee will look forward to! Let honorees take the morning of their work anniversary off. 

7. Leadership lunch

Employees who place high value on growth and development opportunities can appreciate bending a leader’s ear during their milestone lunch.

8. Office upgrades

Employee milestones are a great time to roll out any pending device or equipment upgrades. Alternatively, you could gift them device accessories such as headphones, chargers, cases, or keyboards.

9. Let them pick a gift

Companies that value autonomy or are newer to celebrating milestones can always offer a choice of gifts. They can pick their preference from a gifting catalog or a range of gift cards. 

10. Have a virtual taco party

HeyTaco’s Milestones feature can automatically drop virtual tacos of recognition on employee milestones like work anniversaries and birthdays. Customize a message and invite the whole team to recognize their coworker’s milestone with messages of gratitude.

Service award ideas for tried-and-true company veterans

Employees celebrating many years at their job often get a physical service award. But celebrating a work anniversary of a larger magnitude can be a great opportunity to truly honor someone’s longstanding commitment to a company.

Host a gathering they’d love

Plan a real celebration in a setting or doing an activity the employee appreciates. This is worth the expense in team building as well as making a person’s loyalty feel appreciated.  

Surprise them with a special experience

Footing the bill for a little travel, continuing education, or an event they’d love to attend can bring real joy to the honoree. 

Give them a monetary reward

Monetary rewards like cash bonuses, raises, stocks, and profit sharing have their time and place. Doling them out to dependable employees who help carry the company is arguably the best.

HeyTaco: For every milestone, work anniversary, positive action, and more

Would saying “Happy Work Anniversary!” sound out of place at your company? If so, what you need is more daily recognition. Celebrating milestones is just one pillar holding up a positive workplace culture. 

HeyTaco is an industry leader in fun, lighthearted peer recognition that catches on quickly. That way, when companies do make more of an effort to celebrate milestones, it seems genuine and perfectly aligned. Not to mention, it makes planning a lot easier.

Start honoring every good deed (including job loyalty) this month with a free trial.