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The importance of recognizing work anniversaries
Work anniversary message examples to thank employees
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The importance of recognizing work anniversaries
Work anniversary message examples to thank employees
While increasing compensation, bonuses, and benefits are great ways to reward top talent, showing appreciation through words hits different. And what better time to do so than when they achieve a work anniversary?
Be it one year or 10, work anniversaries mark the value and dedication employees bring to their team — and that’s worth appreciating.
Whether you’re a coworker, manager, or team lead, sending thoughtful work anniversary messages celebrates these special days and fosters a positive work environment that encourages loyalty and engagement.
Besides making employees feel good, congratulating them for their hard work directly impacts their behavior and the company’s bottom line. Here are four ways celebrating work anniversaries benefits your team and boosts employee performance.
Employees need to feel valued to stay satisfied. And satisfied employees are more likely to remain in their position for longer.
With job hopping on the rise, it’s increasingly challenging for employers to retain top talent. But a whopping 82% of workers consider recognition central to job satisfaction, so sending simple work anniversary wishes is an excellent way to keep great workers.
According to Deloitte, recognition improves employee engagement, and a 15% increase in engagement can lead to a 2% increase in revenue. So teammates who appreciate the hard work their coworkers provide might just help their employer achieve further success.
One of the reasons sending happy work anniversary wishes improves employee engagement is because it enhances everyone’s mood.
Perhaps surprisingly, 36% of people would give up $5000 of their yearly salary to be happier at work. If you’re the manager of a small business, this is excellent news, as you may not be able to offer your employees their ideal salary, but you can offer their ideal work environment.
How your employees interact with each other and think about you and your organization shapes the company’s culture.
When employees feel acknowledged for their strong work ethic and dedication, they’re more likely to respect and speak positively about their workplace. And this impacts how current employees and individuals outside the organization perceive the company, helping you retain and attract top performers.
No matter how long you’ve known the employee, it’s easy to overthink what you say in your anniversary card. You want it to be professional yet personalized, concise yet expressive. And, most importantly, you hope it makes them feel valued and appreciated.
Use these examples for inspiration when creating a thoughtful work anniversary message.
“Happy [X] year work anniversary to one of our best employees! You inspire us each day with your enthusiasm and dedication to your work. When you started at the company, you were part of a 10-person team and took on additional responsibilities to ensure our success.
We couldn’t have made it to where we have without your hard work and determination. Thank you for being part of our team. We’re wishing you another year of success and happiness.”
“[X] years ago, we came across an incredibly impressive application. And today, we’re celebrating that very employee for being a valuable part of our team. Congratulations, [employee’s name], for another year at [company’s name].
You’ve accomplished so much in your time with us, and we wouldn’t have reached today’s success without your help. Thank you for being part of our company and bringing your A-game daily.”
“Happy work anniversary, [employee’s name]! We wanted to take this moment to thank you for your dedication to [company’s name] over the last [X] years. It’s been a pleasure for me and the rest of the team to work alongside a hard-working employee such as yourself.
You bring enthusiasm and creativity to each of your projects and never accept anything less than exceptional. We wanted to share these moments to celebrate your contribution to our team:
- You developed the [system’s name], making your coworkers feel valued for their input and improving the team’s collaboration skills.
- You led the [project’s name] and guided your teammates to success.
- You exceeded your [quota/success metric] for this year, proving your determination and passion for your role.”
Finding the right balance between professionalism and warmth is tricky, but following these tips will help:
Personalize it: Ready-made greeting cards can feel a bit impersonal. The best cards and appreciation messages include a tidbit of humor or a good memory you shared with the sender.
Adding this personalization makes the reader feel cared for and seen, so try to include details showing your recipient you were thoughtful when writing their message. You might mention a positive attribute they bring to the team or an accomplishment they’ve made.
Employees spend about a third of their time at work. And an easy way to appreciate the hard work and dedication they provide during this time is by sending work anniversary messages. Now that you have several examples, this task is even easier — and just like that, your team feels valued and recognized for their great work.
Discover coaching to boost employee morale and performance through effective recognition strategies.
Discover coaching to boost employee morale and performance through effective recognition strategies.
Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships.
With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.
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