Celebrating work anniversaries is a popular way for companies to express appreciation and gratitude to their employees.
However, we are living in a climate where short work tenures are the norm.
According to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median number of years that salaried employees have been with their current employer has dropped dramatically in the past couple of years. The median tenure was 3.9 years as of January 2024, down from 4.1 years in January 2022 and the lowest since January 2002.
Why Anniversaries Matter In Today’s Workplace
Acknowledging work anniversaries validates employee commitment. In other words, it ensures loyalty is recognized and not taken for granted.
Milestone recognition also enhances team members’ sense of belonging and motivation. Research from BetterUp revealed that belonging is more than a nice feeling – it’s good for business. High levels of belonging are correlated with a 56% increase in job performance, a 50% drop in turnover risk and a 75% reduction in sick days.
Organizations with robust employee recognition practices tend to have highly engaged employees. And the benefits of employee engagement are well-studied and documented, from 18% higher productivity and 23% increased profitability to a 21% decrease in turnover (per Gallup data).
If you’re still not convinced about the value of work anniversary celebrations specifically, consider this: Over half of employees surveyed by Glassdoor revealed that they would stay longer at their company if they felt more appreciation from their boss.
Work anniversaries provide a great opportunity to show people that you value them. And they contribute to a positive work environment – it’s hard to be in a bad mood after eating cake in the break room (or receiving a treat as a remote employee).
Employee Anniversary Recognition: Two Ways Businesses Can Celebrate
There are two main ways businesses can celebrate employee loyalty:
First, businesses can put in place an official Service Awards Program.
Companies such as Applauz provide companies with employee reward programs services for businesses. Employees receive access to the Applauz Rewards Marketplace, where they can redeem a reward of their choice. Employees even receive easy at-home delivery.
If you don't have an official program in place, don't worry!
However, many growing companies choose to celebrate employee anniversaries without a formal rewards program. In short, managers can honour employee anniversaries by creating affordable and unique celebrations.
Remember, even if you have a third-party rewards program, implementing these ideas is an excellent way to support your existing program.
In other words, your company's goal should be to personalize the anniversary experience. Ensure it is memorable and unique for your employees.
Let's get started and jump into the ideas!
Work Anniversary Ideas for Employees
Throw a team party
Who doesn't like a party? A great way to celebrate an employee's anniversary is to organize a gathering of the employee's team or department.
This type of celebration is affordable — all it takes is a small budget for snacks and drinks. This idea is perfect for groups that already show strong bonds and friendships. If the team is already close, they'll love an opportunity to get together and celebrate.
On the other hand, if your team is not particularly close, offering to throw a party can put pressure on the team to socialize. Perhaps consider a private or personalized celebration instead. Whatever you do, don’t forget to include remote workers with fun virtual activities and games (and scroll down for more work anniversary ideas tailored to distributed workforces).
Take the employee out for lunch
Who doesn't like a paid lunch? Everyone does! A paid lunch is the type of company "perk" people boast about to their family and friends. If your office is in the vicinity of local restaurants or cafes, consider taking the employee celebrating out for a lunch.
This can be a great opportunity for a manager to connect on a more casual level with an employee. If your budget allows, invite their entire team! The employee celebrating their anniversary will genuinely appreciate this generous gesture.
Offer public or private recognition
Employee recognition is one of the most important actions a business can take to celebrate employee work anniversaries. Public recognition might change depending on the size of the company.
For small businesses, it's worthwhile to give public recognition in front of everyone. For larger companies, a meeting with only the specific team or the department might be more viable.
Some managers will shout out over email or chat channels. Whichever way you decide to offer public or private recognition; it's is an essential component of a memorable anniversary celebration.
Make a video or slideshow
For an extra memorable anniversary, consider making a short video or slideshow. Compile photos from over the years and include employees' key achievements.
This will create an exceptional and fun celebration. A slide show is an excellent celebration idea for teams that are already very close and friendly with each other.
As this project requires more effort, consider taking the time to create a slideshow for employees celebrating significant milestones, like 5 or 10 years. Add testimonials from colleagues – research by Gartner shows that peer feedback can boost performance by 14%.
Give a handwritten 'thank you'
A handwritten recognition letter never goes out of style. A note or letter from a manager is a meaningful gesture because it's so uncommon. The best part is it requires little money and time. You can buy a quality card and also get the team to sign it as well.
Taking the time to craft a personalized work anniversary message is a small but essential gesture in making the employee feel appreciated and recognized for their loyalty to your company.
Special gift unique to them
Gallup data shows that the most effective recognition is “honest, authentic and individualized to how each employee wants to be recognized.” So, find employees gifts that reflect their interests and personality.
If you're having a hard time visualizing something, think of creative reward or gift ideas that reflect your employee's passions and hobbies.
Buy a small gift you know will resonate with them on a personal level — for example, a book or a plant for their desk. You can even donate to a charity or cause they support. It's a valuable feeling when an employee feels like their employer deeply understands them as a person. Over half of employees feel more loyal to an employer who donates to charity, while 47% say that it increases their willingness to go the extra mile at work, according to a Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) survey.
Decorate their workspace
A common and easy way to honour an anniversary is to decorate an employee's desk. Get the entire team on it too! The effort will show that you and the team care about each other. It doesn't need to be elaborate or expensive.
Small, creative, and personalized touches are all it takes to make the experience memorable. Employees might share the image on social media — spreading a positive message about your company's culture.
Create a novelty trophy
In traditional programs, employees were given generic trophies or plaques for work anniversaries. Everyone got the same trophy. It's not surprising to find these celebrations are now outdated. So, if you're working with a younger workforce, you can consider creating a novelty trophy.
Inject a little fun and humour into the celebration! For example, create a custom trophy that highlights something great about the employee's personality like "biggest joker" or "best attitude." A work anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate everything the employee brings to the table — not only their hard skills.
Give a speech
A short yet casual speech is a perfect way to acknowledge your employee's contributions. Managers can gather their department or team to let everyone know why the employee deserves to be celebrated.
During a speech, it's crucial to highlight specific accomplishments. Also, mention unique traits and qualities that make the employee so great to work with.
Again, this isn't a time to be too serious — inject some humour! The speech should be lighthearted and focus on highlighting employee strengths. Bonus points if you share it on company communication channels (Applauz’s newsfeed can help you do just that).
Offer gift certificates
If you're on a tight budget, buying a gift certificate is a great idea. Think of a store, restaurant, or cafe your employees will enjoy. If your employees are working remotely from home (or anywhere else), offering a gift card for a work anniversary is ideal.
Gift cards are an easy and quick way to show your appreciation. Many companies offer gift cards that are sent and redeemed online.
A bottle of alcohol they will enjoy
Of course, this only applies to employees who enjoy a good drink and are legal drinking age. A nice bottle of wine or specialty alcohol such as whiskey is a great gift to give for an anniversary. The team can crack it open for a celebratory happy hour, or the employee can save it to enjoy at home with family and friends.
Social media shout out on company page
A shout-out is an ideal way to recognize employees. Public recognition is particularly impactful for employees occupying public-facing roles. It's an opportunity for your clients to engage as well! Think about it: your clients have probably interacted with the employee. And now, the customer can also share their positive experiences and appreciation.
This applies to staff in retail spaces, gyms, bars, restaurants, hotels, resorts, etc. Sharing employee celebrations on social media demonstrates that your organization prioritizes its employees. This will help to bolster the public perception of your organizational culture.
Buy an indulgent treat
A low-maintenance way to celebrate a work anniversary is to buy a team a tasty treat. For example, you can buy a cake, pastries, or cupcakes. If your team leans towards savoury flavours, you can opt for a pizza, empanadas, or any other savoury and easy-to-eat snack. A delicious surprise is the most affordable and straightforward way to say 'thank you.'
Remote/Hybrid Work Anniversary Ideas
Create a digital memory book
Remote workers are unfortunately at a higher risk of disengagement, as they miss out on the camaraderie that in-person teams experience. Genuine connection is the antidote to this common struggle.
Celebrate a remote work anniversary with a digital memory book. Fill it with photos and messages from colleagues and watch the recipient beam. It’s thoughtful and makes for a great keepsake.
Surprise them with a home delivery
Sending a curated gift box or meal delivery as a surprise is always a good idea. It’s simple yet impactful. Just make sure that you get intel about their favourite restaurant or their go-to snacks for maximum personalization. It will make the employee feel extra valued, even from afar.
Put together a work anniversary playlist
Here’s a more unique idea: Put together a work anniversary playlist inspired by the employee’s journey with the company. Ask colleagues to pitch in with suggestions.
Music has a way of bringing people together and setting the mood – and this celebration idea is particularly well-suited to music buffs. It shows that you know and understand them and adds a personal touch to the celebration.
Offer a home office upgrade
Since remote employees spend a significant amount of time working from home, it’s important to support their comfort. Offer a stipend for office gadgets, ergonomic chairs and desks or high-end headphones.
A home office upgrade is more than a practical gift: It sends the message that you want to invest in their long-term experience. This matters because remote and hybrid workers often get overlooked for promotion and advancement opportunities.
Give them a day off
A no-strings-attached paid day off to relax and celebrate? Sounds like a dream for most employees – nearly 80% of employees say paid time off is a must-have benefit, according to MetLife.
Not only is this type of reward nearly universally appreciated, but it shows that you value work-life balance and believe that remote/hybrid workers need rest just as much as in-office people.
Budget-Friendly Work Anniversary Ideas
Provide access to skill development
Investing in employees’ growth doesn’t have to break the bank. Providing access to a paid online course related to a team member’s professional interests can make their day, especially with younger workers.
A Udemy study revealed that almost all Gen Zers (94%) are eager to learn and dedicate at least an hour weekly to learning. And they particularly favour online courses as a learning method.
Delight them with personalized artwork
A custom illustration or framed artwork is a great work anniversary idea for people in creative roles and art lovers.
Make it unique and thoughtful by including a quote or an image that reflects both their personality and career journey. Etsy is filled with budget-friendly, personalizable art pieces that are perfect for gifting.
Provide a mentorship opportunity
Recognition isn’t always about gifts. Sometimes, career advancement is the best reward. According to Forbes, 76% of professionals believe mentors are important, but only 37% have one – and people with mentors tend to be happier in their jobs than those without.
Pairing an employee with a mentor can be an excellent choice to mark a work anniversary (and it shouldn’t require much budget).
Show their family appreciation
Work anniversaries aren’t just a milestone for employees. Careers are often propelled by the support that people receive at home from their loved ones. Giving a handwritten card or a small gift for the whole family is a meaningful gesture that doesn’t need to cost a lot of money.
Allow a customized work schedule
Did you know that workers consider flexibility to be the most important workplace benefit after compensation? Hopefully, you already offer your team flexible work arrangements in a way that works for your business.
But taking things a step further for a work anniversary celebration can be a cost-effective and much-appreciated perk. Give employees the opportunity to adjust their work hours for the week, whether they’re night owls or enjoy splitting the day in two work chunks.
Nominate them for industry recognition
This work anniversary idea delivers a high impact on a low budget. Nominating outstanding employees for industry awards or features shows them that you notice their efforts and expertise – and it takes the concept of public recognition to the next level. It’s also a boost in confidence and professional credibility, which works wonders for employee engagement.
Work Anniversary Ideas by Milestone Year
1-Year Work Anniversary Ideas
The first work anniversary is all about making employees feel welcome and appreciated for their efforts to integrate the team and drive results. Small, thoughtful gestures set the foundation for longer-term engagement.
A handwritten note from a manager or senior leader is appropriate ( and it’s one of the most memorable forms of recognition, according to Gallup). A team shout-out and some company swag can round out the celebration and reinforce the employee’s sense of belonging.
5-Year Work Anniversary Ideas
A five-year work anniversary is a significant achievement. At this stage, team members appreciate recognition that acknowledges their dedication.
Consider giving them a personalized gift, extra paid time off or an exciting professional development opportunity like leadership training. When writing your work anniversary message, mention specific contributions and fun anecdotes for a personal touch.
10-Year Work Anniversary Ideas
A 10-year work anniversary calls for a major gift – think, a high-end gadget or cash bonus. An experience like a trip or a perk like a sabbatical can also be memorable ways to highlight a decade of service and show your team how much you appreciate their loyalty. Combine the gift (and a thoughtful, personalized card) with a team celebration like a lunch out or an office party.
Tips for an Ongoing Work Anniversary Program
Celebrating work anniversaries effectively requires more than good intentions, especially if you have a large team. Consistency, personalization and employment from both leaders and peers are important to make milestone celebrations feel special. The tips below will help you build a well-structured work anniversary program with those factors in mind.
Automate Reminders
Don’t waste time manually tracking work anniversaries. A tool like Applauz can help automate reminders and sync them with the calendars of relevant stakeholders.
Define Tiers of Recognition
A one-year work anniversary requires a different level of celebration than a five-year one. Define tiers of tenure and recognition to take the guesswork out of planning events and keep things fair.
Encourage Team Involvement
Group work anniversary celebrations are more meaningful. Recruit team members to sign cards, pick group gifts, record video messages and attend festivities.
Make It Personal
One-size-fits-all-recognition lacks impact. Take the time to get to know your employees and find out what each individual values, from public recognition to experiential gifts. Tailor your celebrations accordingly.
Solicit Employee Feedback
Conduct regular surveys or informal check-ins to get feedback on your efforts and learn more about what your team finds meaningful. Your work anniversary program should evolve over time.
Final Thoughts: Anniversaries are a Great Time to Connect
A work anniversary is often an opportunity for employees to evaluate their careers by asking themselves, does this job make me truly happy? Or, is this job helping me with my long-term goals?
Studies show that over 70% of "high-turnover-risk" employees state that they want to leave their employers because they aren't given a chance to grow in their current position.
In other words: one of the most reliable drivers of loyalty is ensuring employees are continuously challenged, learning, and growing.
A work anniversary is, therefore, a great time for managers to sit down and have a transparent one-on-one conversation.
An open and candid dialogue will ensure that you're on the same page. Most importantly, it tells your employees you care about their happiness in their role.
Once you’ve checked in, it’s time to have fun with one of the work anniversary ideas above. Remember that recognizing work anniversaries doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive—it’s about making employees feel valued. From a heartfelt video tribute to a career planning session with a coach, personalization is key.
For best results, you’ll need to build a structured work anniversary program to ensure that celebrations are impactful and inclusive. Applauz can help take the guesswork out of the process with features like automated reminders, customized rewards, a company newsfeed and more.
About the author
Michelle Cadieux
Michelle is a content writer for Applauz. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Concordia University, and she has been writing about work and employee happiness for over five years.
