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Celebrating employees’ work anniversaries can help boost retention and improve morale. Check out these 10 ways to celebrate them
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Work anniversaries are essential for workers and companies alike. Prof. Judith Rodkin, the former President of the Rockefeller Foundation and the University of Pennsylvania, famously said that it was neglectful not to celebrate anniversaries.
She opines that it is the duty of all companies to take note and give special attention to any anniversaries. In addition, another research shows employee retention is crucial for productivity and a successful business. And one of the critical factors that influence employee retention is recognition.
Employees want to feel special and recognized. They want to know that their companies care about their welfare outside work.
Therefore, companies need to improve employee recognition and retention. And one way is by fostering team spirit with special celebrations and work anniversaries.
It is essential to celebrate employee anniversaries; this small gesture helps boost productivity, workplace morale, and employee retention. When investigating why government positions generally have significantly higher retention rates than the private sector, economists found that it was partially due to the feeling of investment workers felt in government roles.
A company that gives employees the feeling that they are more than just a cog in a machine or a number on a spreadsheet reaps immediate and long-term benefits. Employees are less likely to move to a different company and will work harder, more efficiently, and better in their current roles.
Giving recognition to an employee and wishing them a happy work anniversary is a meaningful action that will positively affect their workflow.
According to a 2016 Gallup analysis, when asked whose recognition employees most value, 28% said their immediate manager’s praise was the best. The other 24% said the CEO, 12% their manager’s manager, 10% a customer, 9% a peer, and 17% responded with other.
A work anniversary is a perfect opportunity to give a valued employee the recognition they desire from someone who can make it meaningful. By recognizing the longevity and impact an employee has had on a company, the company can show the employee their work is appreciated and valued.
Start recognizing employees today with Assembly. Book a demo to learn more.
Failure to recognize your employees can increase turnover, reducing your bottom line. Losing one employee can cost a company 50% to 200% of their annual salary and is estimated to cost the US economy $1 trillion annually. If you have a 100-person company, and your average salary is $50,000, standard employee turnover rates could be costing your company up to $2.6 million a year.
There are many ways to improve employee retention, but something as simple as a work anniversary can be helpful. Many employees report that one of the primary reasons they move companies is a lack of recognition from their superiors. Celebration of work anniversaries can help those wavering employees feel appreciated.
No work anniversary celebration is complete without work anniversary gifts. Employee gifts must be tailored to suit each person; otherwise, the gift may feel impersonal.
When you give the gift, don’t just drop it off on their desk. Give the gift publicly with a bit of fanfare to celebrate the employee’s achievement, so the whole company recognizes their contributions. Have whichever manager, boss, or superior with the closest relationship to the employee present the gift.
Anniversary and birthday celebrations should be set up according to the personality and preferences of each employee. While there are primarily care packages to recognize and reward employees, people are different.
You could decorate their workspace with a banner and balloons or send them lunch on the company using DoorDash or UberEats. You could also create a slideshow detailing their achievements (with a few hilarious slides added to show that you appreciate them, not just for their work ethic.)
Customizing the anniversary or birthday celebration to each employee will show an added level of concern and care, further reinforcing the effect of individualized attention.
Similar to anniversary and birthday celebrations, giving recognition to an individual teammate should be customized to their personality. The more thought and care put into an individualized celebration, the better.
For example, if a more introverted employee always wears sweater vests, have a day when everyone in their area or office wears a sweater vest to show their appreciation. If they are a sports team fan, perhaps decorate the break or lunch room with that team’s paraphernalia.
It is always a good idea to ask the teammate if the celebration is to their liking before doing anything. It might take the element of surprise out of things, but it is better to ensure you don’t put someone in an unwanted spotlight or do something that could be misinterpreted as insulting or mocking.
Learn more about how Assembly can help you celebrate your employees today by booking a demo.
The best way to make employees feel appreciated on their service anniversaries is to give them something thoughtful. It could be a physical gift, a subscription to a service, or a gift certificate. Explore some of the following ideas that may work well for your employees:
For the readers in your office, a subscription to their favorite publication would show you value their curiosity, support their hobby, and understand what they value.
Giving clothes, mugs, bags, and accessories with the company brand can be a great gift. Customize it with a name or a nickname to make it more personal.
Buying a custom trophy for the employee to celebrate some achievement can be a fun gift. Find something great and positive about the employee and put it on a trophy.
If your employee goes to a gym, plays golf, tennis, swims, rock climbs, or does another recreational sports activity, buy them a 1-year membership. This also helps promote retention because it shows you are investing in the next year with the employee.
Help make your employees’ commute more pleasant by giving them a prime parking spot if they drive or a one-month transit pass for those who use public transportation.
Find a bucket list destination or activity and give your employee an all-expenses-paid trip to scratch it off their list.
Many employees have causes outside of work where they donate their time, talent, or money. Find out which your employee supports and make a donation in their name.
Upgrade whatever your employee uses for their job to the latest, functional model. This will make their job easier, help them be more productive, and provide a tangible reminder of your appreciation.
Offer long-term employees the opportunity to take a few months off to study, travel, or seek some other form of enrichment that will make them better, more well-rounded employees.
For employees with a specific tenure like 5 or 10 years, you can give them a stake in the company. This goes to show appreciation for what they helped build and gives them a financial incentive to continue to achieve.
Switch your company to a productivity app with built-in employee anniversary recognition and celebratory functions like Assembly.
This can streamline celebrations, allowing you to quickly and easily send out congratulatory messages and link them back to your company’s goals and core values.
Ready to begin? Check out Assembly’s celebratory functions today.
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