50+ Meaningful Work Anniversary Messages

You probably celebrate events such as your wedding anniversary or your best friend's birthday. Professional milestones like work anniversaries matter just as much.

Writing a thoughtful message to acknowledge a team member's job tenure is a small gesture that can have a big impact in terms of employee engagement.

“Celebrating work anniversaries is a simple yet powerful way to let employees know how much we value their hard work and dedication. It's all about making them feel appreciated, and that positivity can do wonders for their motivation and engagement,” says Zianya Escamilla, Senior People and Culture Business Partner at Unito.

“Considering that lack of recognition is a major reason people leave their jobs, why not seize this chance to make our team feel special?”

Enter work anniversary messages. What exactly do they consist of? A work anniversary message can take various forms, from a handwritten card to an acknowledgment on LinkedIn or a speech at a work event. The idea is to share work anniversary wishes in a thoughtful, genuine way.

A good employee anniversary message shouldn't stop at wishing someone a very happy work anniversary. It should also include mentions of their contributions in the workplace, from their positive attitude to their unique skills and strengths. Specific examples of the impact of their contributions on their team and organization are key.

You can also include personal anecdotes or mention the way a person has impacted you as a work friend if your relationship warrants it. Ending with wishes for continued success is a good idea. The core purpose of the message is recognition, so keep that in mind while writing work anniversary wishes.

The Importance of Work Anniversary Wishes

Employee recognition increases employee engagement, boosts job satisfaction and promotes a healthy work environment.

However, less than a quarter of employees strongly agree that their organization has a system in place to recognize professional milestones such as work anniversaries, according to Gallup research.

This means that there is an opportunity to seize to create a positive company culture and increase engagement through employee recognition.

According to Escamilla, work anniversaries are more than fun celebrations – they can be leveraged as a tool to strengthen the bond between employees and their organization.

Acknowledging the dedication of your employees creates positive feelings and makes them feel valued, which, in turn, boosts loyalty, productivity and employee retention.

“Knowing we appreciate their contributions motivates them to keep giving their best. Plus, work anniversaries bring teams together, fostering a strong sense of belonging and promoting a collaborative, positive culture. It's a win-win for everyone,” she adds.

Karyn Martin, leadership expert and President and CEO of Interprise/Southwest Interior & Space Design, agrees.

She wishes more leaders understood how important work anniversaries are to people, and how easy it is to acknowledge them:

“Recognizing work anniversaries is important because it shows the employee – and the world around them – that their time stands for something. People want to stay in companies where they are ‘seen', especially by senior management, so recognizing work anniversaries is critical to keeping your best talent. It's only human to feel happier and do better work when your contributions are recognized.”

While wishing a team member a happy anniversary can have a long-lasting impact on morale, the opposite is also true: forgetting a milestone can be detrimental to employee engagement.

“Looking at it from the employees' point of view, they know that it's simple to put things in annual calendars, so if their milestone – whether it is a birthday or a work anniversary – slips by unmentioned, they know that leadership just didn't care enough to input the dates and acknowledge the employee's service milestones,” says Martin.

In other words, celebrate work anniversaries and make each person feel like a valuable team member who plays a key role in your team's success.

Happy Work Anniversary Messages to Increase Employee Engagement

Crafting an appropriate and impactful work anniversary message can be tricky. You want it to feel personal yet be workplace-friendly. Maybe you're questioning whether a funny work anniversary message would work well or is best avoided.

To strike the right balance between personal and professional and lighthearted and serious, get inspiration from the examples below.

1-year work anniversary messages

An Entelo study revealed that people are most likely to leave after their first year, making it a critical work anniversary to celebrate.

A one-year work anniversary message should highlight the employee's successful integration into their team and company and recognize any wins from the past year.

• Happy one-year work anniversary! It's only been a year and it's hard to imagine our team without you now. I appreciate your hard work and contributions and can't wait to see what the future holds!
• Congratulations on your one-year work anniversary! I am thrilled that you have joined our team. Thank you for your hard work and dedication and the positive attitude you bring to the table.
• Happy work anniversary! Seeing how much you've evolved in the past year has been amazing. It's a pleasure to work with you and I'm excited to get to know you more in the next year. Thank you for all the great work.
• Congratulations on wrapping up your first year at [name of company]. I love how effortlessly you fit right into our team and brought so much value to [project examples]. I am excited about what else we can do together!
• Happy one-year work anniversary! Thank you for making a positive impact on our team from the get-go. We are grateful to work with you and can't wait to keep collaborating in the year to come.

5-year work anniversary messages

If someone has been with a company for five years, they're either going to end up staying for much longer or start looking for other challenges.

Make sure they feel special with a five-year work anniversary message, which should be more personalized than one-year work anniversary wishes and include several mentions of the employee's contributions through the years.

• Wow, five years already! I still remember the time you [example of contribution or anecdote]. You've kept crushing it since then, especially [mention other examples of contributions]. Thank you for being such a rockstar and a valuable member of our team. I hope to share many more wins with you in the future.
• Congratulations on reaching your five-year work anniversary. Thank you for your [list of strengths and skills]. Our team is lucky to have you as both a coworker and a friend. It's been a pleasure to watch you grow and I can't wait to see what the future holds.
• Happy five-year work anniversary! Your skills and contributions have been instrumental to our success, from [example of contribution] to [example of contribution]. Thank you for your relentless commitment and positive energy. We are lucky to have you!
• Congratulations on your five-year work anniversary! It's been a pleasure to share this journey with you as both a coworker and a friend. I am inspired by your [list of strengths and skills] and am looking forward to continuing to work together. Thank you for all your contributions to our team's success!
• Happy anniversary! Thank you for five years of dedication, hard work and lots of laughter. You make the workplace brighter and have helped us achieve so many goals, from [example of contribution] to [example of contribution]. We are grateful to celebrate this milestone with you.

10-year work anniversary messages

A 10-year anniversary is no small feat. If someone has been with your company for a decade, a significant celebration is in order, complete with meaningful work anniversary wishes and bigger gestures such as organizing a catered lunch for the entire team or giving a unique gift.

• Congratulations on your 10-year work anniversary. You've helped make this company what it is today through your contributions in the past decade. From taking [department/project] to the next level to always showing up with a smile, you bring so much value to the table. Thank you for your passion and commitment. Celebrate well!
• Wow, 10 years! Congratulations on reaching this huge milestone. You've experienced so many changes here in the past decade and you've navigated them all with grace and skill. Thank you for your invaluable contributions to our company's success. You are an inspiration!
• Thank you for an amazing decade of service. It has been such a pleasure to work with you over the last few years and witness your [skills and strengths] in action. I especially admire the way you've [example of contribution or anecdote]. It's an honor to celebrate this milestone with you!
• Congratulations on your 10-year work anniversary. Time flies by when you're well-surrounded and we are lucky to have you. Thank you for everything you've done and continue to do, from [example of contribution] to [example of contribution]. You've helped make this workplace what it is today. Cheers to your accomplishments!

20-year work anniversary messages

Being with a company for 20 years is huge. 20-year work anniversary messages should focus on the impact that the employee has had on the organization over the years and be accompanied by a gift.

• Happy 20-year work anniversary! Thank you for your unwavering loyalty to this organization. From [example of contribution] to [example of contribution], you've made so many impactful contributions over the past two decades that it would be impossible to list them all. You are an inspiration to anyone who has had the pleasure of working with you.
• Congratulations on your 20-year work anniversary! I feel so lucky to have had the chance to work with you over the years. I've learned so much from you, from [example of contribution] to [example of contribution]. You've helped make this company successful while positively impacting your colleagues. Thank you for everything you've done and continue to do.
• Congratulations on this impressive career milestone – you make 20 years of tenure look easy but I know you've put in countless hours of effort to become the professional you are today. You inspire our team with your [skills and strengths] and we feel so fortunate to work with you.
• Thank you for giving your 100% over the past two decades. Your [skills and strengths] have been essential to the growth and success of this organization. We are proud to call you a coworker and honored that you've chosen to work with us!
• Happy 20-year work anniversary! Thank you for reminding us all that hard work and dedication pay off. From [example of contribution] to [example of contribution], you have shown time and time again that you are an outstanding team player. You embody the values of this company and lead by example. We are so grateful for all you have done here!

25-year work anniversary messages

Bust out the balloons because 25-year work anniversaries are a rare occurrence these days. This is a time to celebrate an employee's professional journey and their continued success throughout the years.

Dig into their accomplishments and promotions and look for personal anecdotes to make your work anniversary wishes feel extra special.

• Congratulations on your 25th work anniversary! This is a huge accomplishment and we are lucky that you have chosen to grow with us over the years. From starting as a [role] to successfully evolving into a [role] and a [role], your career here is truly an inspiration. Your hard work and contributions have been invaluable to our success, from [example of contribution] to [example of contribution]. And you've done it all with a smile on your face. Thank you!
• Happy 25-year work anniversary! Thank you for your unwavering commitment to greatness – you continue to inspire us with your [skills and strengths] and positively impact everyone around you. There are no words to express the immense impact you've had on this organization, such as the time you [anecdote or example of contribution]. Celebrate well – you deserve it!
• It's hard to believe it's been 25 years since you joined the company. From [anecdote] to [anecdote], anyone who has been lucky enough to work with you can speak to your [skills and strengths]. It's a pleasure to work with you and I admire your dedication and loyalty. Thank you for everything you've done and continue to do!
• Happy 25-year work anniversary and congratulations on reaching such an impressive career milestone! From working as a [role] to [role], your professional journey is an inspiration and you embody the qualities required to succeed in the workplace and in life. We are so lucky to have you and grateful for your contributions throughout the years – this company wouldn't be what it is today without you!
• Wow, 25 years! Thank you for being an example of commitment and perseverance and for your invaluable contributions to the success of this company. From [example of contribution] as a [role] to [example of contribution] as a [role], you show up with [skills and strengths] and keep crushing it regardless of the challenge. Thank you for being you and for inspiring us all in the process. Congratulations!

Work anniversary messages for your boss

Bosses deserve appreciation too. When crafting a work anniversary message for anyone in a leadership position, it's always nice to mention their impact as a leader.

• Congratulations on reaching another big milestone! Your leadership is a daily source of inspiration and it's truly a pleasure to learn from you. Happy work anniversary!
• Thank you for leading by example and setting such a high standard for our team. Wishing you a wonderful work anniversary and looking forward to many more years of success together!
• Celebrating another year of your inspiring leadership! Your vision and support help our team thrive. Here's to another year of crushing goals. Happy work anniversary!
• On your work anniversary, we want to express our appreciation for your leadership and guidance. Your passion and commitment inspire us to give our best every day. Cheers to another year of working together towards greatness. Happy anniversary!
• Congratulations on another year of leading with excellence! We are so grateful for your mentorship and support. Here's to another year of achievements and collaboration. Happy work anniversary!

Work anniversary messages for close work friends

Forming close friendships at work is common. When celebrating the work anniversary of your office bestie, it's OK – and encouraged – to get a little more personal. 

• Happy work anniversary to my dear friend! It's been awesome to witness your growth and successes over the years. Here's to many more years of chasing dreams and evolving alongside each other!
• Celebrating another year of collaborating with you and learning from you, my friend! Your hard work and passion inspire me daily. Here's to another year of shared wins and memorable career highlights. Happy work anniversary!
• Congratulations on reaching another career milestone! Your friendship and support have enriched my life at work in countless ways. Wishing you continued success and growth in your career. Cheers to many more years of friendship and collaboration!
• Happy work anniversary, buddy! Time does indeed fly when you're having fun – and it's a blast to work with you. Here's to another year of learning, laughing, and crushing goals together!
• Cheers to another year of growing and celebrating wins together! I am so grateful for your friendship – it makes every day at work that much more fulfilling. Wishing you a happy work anniversary!

Funny work anniversary messages

When someone is a good friend and also happens to have a great sense of humor, you can keep things light-hearted with a funny work anniversary message. Stay appropriate, of course, but don't be afraid to crack a joke or two. 

• Happy work anniversary! Can you believe it's been [X] years of pretending to know what we're talking about? Here's to many more years of meme-sharing and goal-crushing!
• Congratulations on surviving another year of office shenanigans! Your ability to tolerate my barrage of Slack messages deserves a medal. Here's to another year of strategically dodging meetings so we can get actual work done. Cheers!
• Happy work anniversary! I don't know what I would do without our daily coffee breaks and inside jokes. Thanks for making the mundane moments more enjoyable and the big work milestones easier to achieve!
• Can you believe it's been [X] years of perfectly balancing procrastination with productivity? So grateful for my work BFF. Happy work anniversary!
• Can't believe it's already been [X] years of coming up with the best acronyms together! It's always a pleasure to work with you. Keep crushing it, you office rockstar!

Simple work anniversary messages

Sometimes less is more. If you're not sure what to say or how to say it, you can't go wrong with a simple yet thoughtful work anniversary message.

• Happy work anniversary! Your hard work is truly appreciated.
• Congratulations on another year with us! Thank you for your ongoing commitment to growth and success.
• Grateful for your valuable contributions this year and every year. Happy work anniversary!
• Congratulations on your work anniversary! Wishing you continued joy and success in your career.
• Congrats on reaching another milestone. Your hard work and positive attitude do not go unnoticed.

Work anniversary messages for remote workers

Remote workers are more at risk of feeling disengaged, so it's crucial to celebrate their work anniversaries with enthusiasm.

When sending a hybrid or remote team member work anniversary wishes, make sure to acknowledge that their contributions are felt from a distance – your words can help make them feel included and valued. 

• Congratulations on your work anniversary! Even though we're collaborating remotely, your contributions are felt every day in our team. Here's to another year of success!
• Happy work anniversary! Your dedication to your role, even from miles away, is truly admirable. Here's to many more years of asynchronous teamwork and Slack banter!
• Celebrating another year of outstanding virtual collaboration! Your commitment to excellence is felt and appreciated, even through a screen. Happy work anniversary!
• Happy work anniversary! Despite the distance, your impact on our team is immeasurable. Here's to another year of teamwork and wins!
• Wishing you a happy work anniversary! Your ability to excel in your role, even from a distance, is inspiring. Thanks for making remote collaboration such a pleasure!

Work anniversary captions for a social media post

Maybe your organization uses LinkedIn to spotlight employee anniversaries while giving the world a glimpse into your culture.

Perhaps you have an internal social media platform – like Applauz’s news feed feature – that allows you to post employee recognition messages and work anniversary wishes. When crafting the perfect caption for a work anniversary post, be concise and warm.

• Cheers to [Employee's Name] for [X] amazing years with [Company Name]! Your dedication and hard work inspire us all to stay on top of our game. Thank you for everything you do. 
• Happy [X] year work anniversary to [Employee's Name]! Your journey with us has been filled with so many achievements and wins. Thank you for your commitment to excellence (and for making us laugh with your jokes). 
• Today marks [Employee's Name] [X]-year work anniversary with us! Your passion and contagious positive energy have left their mark over the years. We are grateful to have you on our team. 
• We are thrilled to celebrate [Employee's Name]'s [X] years with [Company Name]. Your hard work, stellar communication skills and emotional intelligence have been a driving force in our success. Here’s to celebrating many more milestones together. 
• Congratulations to [Employee's Name] on [X] years with [Company Name]! You have certainly left your mark here over the years, from [example of achievement] to [example of achievement]. Can’t wait to see what the future holds. Happy work anniversary!

Short happy work anniversary wishes

Some occasions call for a short-and-sweet work anniversary message, such as sending a DM to a peer or signing a collective card. Keep in mind that short doesn’t have to mean impersonal.

• Happy work anniversary! Thank you for all your hard work and dedication over the past year. 
• Congrats on [X] successful and memorable years with us, [Employee's Name]! Here's to many more!
• It’s your work anniversary! Your contributions and uplifting attitude mean the world to us.
• Celebrating the fact that you’ve been with us for [X] years. We’re so grateful to have you on our team. 
• Happy work anniversary, [Employee's Name]! Keep crushing it!

Tips for Writing a Thoughtful Work Anniversary Message

Writing a meaningful anniversary message is all about striking the right balance of sincerity, appreciation and professionalism. Here are some tips to help you craft a stellar one.  

Reflect on the recipient's accomplishments

Highlighting specific achievements or anecdotes is one of the best ways to amp up the meaningfulness factor of a work anniversary message.

It shows that you've been paying attention. Before writing a single word, take the time to reflect on the recipient's accomplishments and their contributions to your team's success.

Express gratitude

Remember that the main intent of a work anniversary message is to express gratitude, so make that the core of your message.

Thank the recipient for their dedication, hard work, and commitment to the team. Be clear about the impact of their efforts. 

Keep it positive

A work anniversary message is not the time to give constructive feedback. Always focus on the positive and use the occasion as an opportunity to celebrate what has gone and is going well. 

Be mindful of tone

Consider your relationship with the recipient when choosing the tone of your message. Are you going for friendly and informal, polished and formal, or somewhere in between? What's more appropriate given the context?

Be mindful and always keep things professional and aligned with company culture, even with more casual work anniversary wishes.

Keep it concise 

While it's important to do enough to celebrate work anniversaries, there is such a thing as a work anniversary message that's too long. Rambling or including unnecessary details can dilute the impact of your words. Happy work anniversary wishes can be concise.

Express your excitement for the future 

Not sure how to wrap up? Always end your message with a note about the future and your confidence in the recipient's continued success within the company.  

Proofread carefully 

Finally, read through your message one last time with fresh eyes before sending it. Errors and typos can turn a great attempt at showing appreciation into one that appears half-hearted. 

Tips to Deliver Work Anniversary Wishes

The messages above can be used as a starting point to craft your own personalized note. Don't be afraid to add your individual touch based on your unique relationship with the employee and the context of your team and organization.

As far as delivering your message and wishing an employee a very happy work anniversary, there are many ways to go about it. Let the tips below guide you.

Do it during an all-hands meeting

Do you hold regular all-hands meetings? Use them as an opportunity to recognize work anniversaries and you'll have a simple system to celebrate every milestone.

Have all attendees cheer and celebrate each milestone and watch your team members beam with pride. Public recognition is powerful because it makes people feel valued for their contributions. 

Integrate work anniversaries into your onboarding process

You can also integrate work anniversaries into your onboarding process by asking employees about their preferences.

For instance, when new employees join Escamilla's organization, they are offered a choice between a gift card or company swag for their anniversary.

This step in the process kicks things off on a positive note and lets people choose how they would prefer to be acknowledged. 

PTO and a personal note are always appreciated

If you're looking for universally appreciated gift ideas, PTO is always well-received. First, it sends the message that hard work should be balanced out by a fulfilling personal life. Treating people like human beings with other priorities outside of work is a pillar of a healthy culture.

There's also the fact that it's hard to miss the mark when offering extra time off – almost all workers would be enthusiastic about this perk. Just make sure to accompany the gesture with a thoughtful message. 

Allocate a budget for personalized surprises

Personalized work anniversary gifts are always better than generic corporate ones. Allocate a budget for work anniversary celebrations so you can come up with interesting ideas year-round as milestones come up.

Get to know each team member and their interests so that you can pick something that genuinely fits their taste and personality – they'll be touched and truly feel that they are part of a caring team.

An Employee recognition platform like Applauz has an integrated service awards management program that simplifies the process of recognizing milestones and ensures that employees get meaningful gifts and the recognition they deserve.

Gifts aren't the only option. Depending on your budget, a lunch outing can be a nice way to celebrate too. If you're on a tight budget, you can still do something small yet impactful, like leaving their favorite Starbucks drink with a note on their desk. 

Go the extra mile for the big milestones

That said, if someone has been with the company for a decade or more, it's important to allocate resources to mark the occasion in a significant way.

Getting upper management involved is a nice touch. For example, a senior leader can present the guests of honor with a gift and thank them for their contributions over the years.

Make it fun

Don't forget to have fun. It's a key piece of the puzzle when delivering a work anniversary message, after all.

This is a happy occasion, especially in a time when employee retention is harder to achieve. Now that you have a wealth of insights to help craft the perfect note, it's time to celebrate. 

Celebration Ideas to Complement Work Anniversary Messages

In some teams, it makes sense to throw a little celebration to go with work anniversary wishes. You have to have the budget for it, and it also has to make sense in terms of the size of your team. It has to be sustainable to do it for every single employee in order to keep things fair.

If it sounds like something that would make sense for you, consider the following work anniversary celebration ideas.

Offer a custom plaque 

Offer a custom-designed plaque with your team member’s name and years of service on it. This highlights the occasion in a more formal way – and it’s a memorable keepsake for the recipient.

Surprise them with a personalized video 

Want to be extra thoughtful and maybe make your team member shed a tear or two? Ask coworkers to share what they appreciate the most about them on camera. Create a video montage of everyone’s answers (and don’t forget to include cheesy music).

Decorate their workspace 

If you have an in-office team, come in early to decorate your team member’s workspace with balloons and a banner. It will start the day on the right foot.

Order a cake 

Cakes aren’t just for birthdays – and who doesn’t love cake at the office? Order a custom cake with Happy Work Anniversary written on it. Include remote employees by calling them in virtually and sending them a cupcake.

Book a unique team outing 

While you can bring your team to lunch to celebrate a work anniversary, you can also get creative and book an activity like ax throwing to sneak in extra team-building time.

There are plenty of ways to make work anniversary celebrations feel special while adapting them to the unique needs of your team. For more resources and tools that will help you celebrate anniversaries and appreciate employees, dive into the Applauz blog.