It acknowledges the employee
When someone has worked with you for a year or longer, they have often contributed a lot to the business. Recognizing an employee and their unique contributions to the team can give them the recognition they deserve. If you decide to include your team in the employee acknowledgment, it might also provide the opportunity for other employees to recognize and understand the efforts and accomplishments of the employee.
It is proper etiquette
An employee may see a work anniversary as an important milestone. Sending congratulations displays gratitude and professionalism that could be appreciated by the employee.
It shows sincere appreciation
When you mention specific examples of tasks and projects that the employee completed successfully, it demonstrates a sincerity that goes further than a nondescript message. Letting an employee know what you appreciate about their time at the company shows that you recognize and care about their long-term efforts.
It inspires other employees
If you plan to send your congratulations publicly, other employees may feel inspired to put more effort into their work. Appreciating the work of an employee can motivate others to work harder to develop their career further.
Ways to say congratulations on a work anniversary
There are many methods of saying congratulations on an employee anniversary. Here are a few examples of how to say happy work anniversary:
Leave a card or note on their desk
Deciding to print or write a personal anniversary note or card can show an employee a great deal of sincerity. A handwritten message indicates that you spent time and effort in displaying your gratitude, which can help promote positive thinking at work.
Give them a gift
Even a small contribution can feel rewarding to an employee on their work anniversary. Giving a token of your appreciation might provide an unexpected feeling of gratitude that makes the employee happy to be there and continue their employment. A gift card is a good option for an anniversary gift.
How to write a congratulations message
There are many ways to write a congratulations message that can acknowledge an employee's anniversary professionally and sincerely. Follow these steps to help deliver a work anniversary message that best shows your employee that you appreciate them:
Choose your method of contact.
Choose your recipient.
Address the recipient appropriately.
Start with congratulations.
Use a positive tone and kind words.
Mention specific acknowledgments.
Conclude the message.
Send the message.
Choose your recipient.
Sending a private message to the employee allows you to speak candidly about their achievements. You might also consider adding the rest of the team into the memo, which can publicly celebrate the employee and allow for further appreciation and acknowledgment from other employees.
Address the recipient appropriately.
Depending on the size, formality and culture of the work environment of the company, you could choose to use their first name to make the note more personal. Otherwise, use "Dear Mr." or "Ms." followed by the employee’s last name to show professionalism and respect.
Start with congratulations.
After you address the recipient, begin your message with congratulations on their work anniversary. This introduction states the purpose of your writing from the beginning.
Example: "Dear Ms. Arnold, Congratulations on your 1st work anniversary!" or "Dear Mr. Green, Happy 10th work anniversary!"
Use a positive tone and kind words.
A work anniversary is commonly a happy time for an employee. Using a positive tone and kind words establishes a sense of joy in the employee. You may use a professional tone, but keeping your message upbeat can make the employee feel rewarded while they read the remainder of the letter.
Example: "I want to personally thank you for everything you’ve done for this company over the last year." Or,"I want to convey my gratitude for the efforts and progress you’ve made over the past five years."*
Mention specific acknowledgments.
Being acknowledged for your efforts can be a rewarding feeling. When sending congratulations on a work anniversary message, mentioning specific acknowledgments can lead to an employee feeling that you sincerely appreciate the work that they do. Think about the particular achievements and progress that the employee has made over the past year or longer. Tell them how much you appreciate and recognize their hard work.
Example: "The progress you’ve made with customer acquisition over the past year has been outstanding, and everyone at the company recognizes the consistent effort you put into your work." Or, "From where you started, you have developed into one of our top salespeople. I still remember the first day of training when you said how hard you would work to understand our process. Today you are managing the process from top to bottom."
Conclude the message.
After you have acknowledged the employee, congratulate them one more time on their anniversary before concluding the letter. Consider thanking them for being a part of your company and follow this last item with a proper closing. Type or sign your name where appropriate.
Example: "Again, congratulations on your work anniversary. I am so happy to have you on the team. Sincerely, Joseph Brenton." Or, "Congratulations on five years. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that we are glad you are with us. Gratefully, Joseph Brenton."
Send the message.
Sample congratulations messages
Use the following examples to help guide you when writing a work anniversary message.
Example 1: 1st work anniversary
Dear Ms. Arnold,
Congratulations on your 1st work anniversary!
I feel like it was just yesterday when you were making your first introductions to the team. How far you have come since then is inspiring to me and undoubtedly the entire company.
*I’ve noticed every achievement that you have made thus far and appreciate all of the hard work you have accomplished with Hortman’s Company. Not only have your sales increased steadily throughout the year, but you have also been a large part of the development of our sales process.
Our clients have only great things to say about you, and we are very happy to have you at our company.*
Keep up the great work, and have a happy work anniversary!
Sincerely,
Joseph Brenton
Example 2: 5th work anniversary
Dear Mr. Johnson,
Congratulations on your 5th work anniversary!
You have done so much for our company over the years. I think I can speak for the whole team when I say that we are incredibly grateful that you are here.
The way you have progressed from an associate to the team leader to the training manager is inspiring. It goes to show what can happen when you dedicate yourself to continuous learning and achievement. You have made so many improvements over the years, and it truly has made the company better as a whole. We are glad you are here, Mr. Johnson.
From everyone at Hortman’s Company, have a happy work anniversary.
Gratefully,
Joseph Brenton
Example 3: 10th work anniversary
Dear Ava,
It’s your 10th work anniversary! Congratulations!
I feel so grateful to be able to call you a fellow employee of Hortman’s Company, but even more so a friend. How much you have accomplished over the years is truly inspiring, and I am delighted that you are a part of our team.
Remember when you were so adamant about changing our workflow processes? I believe you called me stubborn, and looking back, I am glad you did. I cannot imagine where our company would be without you and your logical persuasion skills. What some might call headstrong is your version of complete sincerity, and I am glad I recognized it. You expanded my way of thinking, and it has brought our company to where it is today. I hope you know how grateful we are to have you with us.
Enjoy your anniversary!
Best wishes,
Joseph Brenton
P.S. – There is a cake in the break room with your name on it.
Work anniversaries are occasions of joy and appreciation for employees who have put in their valuable time, energy, and skills towards the organization.
And it's an opportunity to recognize dedicated service with awesome work anniversary wishes. As employers or co-workers, it's our duty to shower them with corporate love on this special day.
Work anniversaries are also a great way to celebrate the growth of your business. It’s an opportunity for you to show your employees how much you care about them, and it can be a chance for them to reflect on their own work anniversary.
Employees also get to reflect on what they have done so far in their career, their positive attitude towards their professional life, and where they see themselves going in the future.
A happy work anniversary is more than just congratulations you made it to ten years of service; it’s a time to celebrate hard work, dedication, loyalty, and friendship.
Work anniversaries are appropriate at any point during someone's tenure with your company; not just when celebrating their yearly anniversary.
Work Anniversary Wishes Make Employees Feel Like They Have a Brand New Lease in Their Work Career.
Employee work anniversaries are a chance for your company to show how much you values your employees.
A day-one spark of enthusiasm should be rekindled, and you can do that by getting creative with what's important in the workplace; like celebrating.
Employees Take a Trip Down Memory Lane
Employee memories are a treasure, and employees share sweet reminisces with their team members to help them recall their first time and how far they have come.
In those early days of being an intern or even just starting out as someone in your company’s mailroom, it's these little stories between coworkers which make up for all those long hours spent together during crunch times at work.
Reinforce the Strength Amongst Teams
If you're an organization that's looking to recognize your dedicated employees, then it might be time for some employee recognition service awards. And that means a work anniversary celebration!
Work anniversary parties and events can help build camaraderie, good work ethics and strengthen teams by giving credit where credit is due.
After all, these are the team of workers who give their all each day so we don't have these long commutes or stressful jobs all to ourselves.
Many employees deserve our thanks and employee appreciation just as much if not more than those of us at home with desks filled by machines.
A Great Way to Remind People Why They Love Their Job
Work anniversaries are an important time to take stock of what you love about your job. The organization’s culture and values are also something that helps keep people on the job, so it can be fitting to commemorate this with kind words or actions at their annual celebration.
An employee's anniversary gift also helps show how great things can get and resonates through time in all the upcoming years. After all employers/employees come together in more than just dollars signs: they share mutual care towards each other which means their relationship goes beyond business transactions.
What Do You Say During a Work Anniversary Event?
When you have a person who is loyal to his or her profession, they can really make life better for other people. An employee's work anniversary is a perfect opportunity to show how much you care and appreciate this fact.
Your message should be tailored to the one employee and their interests, not something general so that they feel enthusiastic upon reading or receiving their recognition.
Here are some of the heartiest work anniversary wishes and messages we could find;
Professional Work Anniversary Messages
• Happy anniversary! It wouldn’t be possible without your hard work and positive attitude. Thank you for making this place everything it is.
• Another incredible anniversary! Another year of exceeding all my expectations. I don't know how you do it, but thank goodness for you who makes everything seem possible.
• You're the best. I can't imagine what this place would be like without your incredible work ethic and sense of humor.
• It is always a pleasure working with you. Thank you for inspiring us every year and making this company so great!
• We want to thank you for showing dedication and hard work in our organization. We hope that this will be a long-lasting anniversary of many happy years with us!
• Happy Work Anniversary, pal! I'm so proud to call you my friend. You're an inspiration and model for work ethic in this industry. Thank you again for another year of hard-working dedication that has led us here today.
• You have been a great help to us, and we want you to know that. To show our gratitude for all of your hard work these past few years with this sweet treat! Happy anniversary from the entire team. We hope you enjoy the gift card.
• I never expected it to be this amazing. You have come such a long way in the last year and I’m so proud of everything that you've accomplished! Congratulations on your one year anniversary today–much continued success! You deserve all those rewards and more.
• It's been an interesting and whirlwind year together. I can’t believe how much you have done for our organization in such a short time and what an essential part of the team you are! From following me around at work to cracking that signature deal – we really are grateful for people who enjoy working with good partners like yourself. Thankful as always- Kudos!!
• We are so proud of your dedication and loyalty. You have shown everyone the true meaning of what it means to be a member for life! Congratulations on your first anniversary on behalf of our organization, we hope you enjoy this special award because it goes out from us with love for your years of service – congratulations.
• Very happy work anniversary! I am so thankful for all your efforts and the way you've helped me on my work journey. Your invaluable contribution means a lot to us and it's been an honor having your support these past few years, wishing you all of the success in this new year ahead.
• It’s been an honor to watch you try and fail, learn from your mistakes (and successes), grow into such a dependable employee. Thank goodness we get the privilege of having someone like that on our team! I hope all these years working together hasn't gone unnoticed; it means everything because without people who give their very best every day – there would be no success at all. Best wishes for many more successful eras ahead:)
• You are the ultimate skilled professional, always showing your utmost dedication at work even when there is no one watching. We appreciate it and wish you a happy anniversary.
Encouraging Work Anniversary Wishes
• Your hard work and dedication to this company has made you a precious gem in our crown over these past eight years. And I take the opportunity now, on your special day of celebration-to offer my congratulations for all that's been accomplished together thus far with us!
• Happy Work Anniversary! We all just wanted to say how much we enjoy having you with us. They say the best way to know people is by working side-by-side, and I think that says a lot about your character as an employee for this company – congratulations on X wonderful years of service alongside us.
• Finding a co-worker like you is an honor. To this very date, I am inspired by your dedication and hard work even though it’s been some time since we started working together! Congratulations on your anniversary. I hope to see many more happy ones with all the best from one colleague to another.
• You are a workhorse, and your hard-earned respect has not gone unnoticed. Today is an anniversary for you! Thankful to have someone as dedicated in our company with morals like yours on this day – Happy Work Anniversary!!
Every year, it is a joy and an opportunity for employee appreciation in your company.
Work anniversaries should not only provide them with employee recognition but also convey feelings of love from employers or co-workers on this special occasion.
Celebrating work anniversaries maintains a good work environment, reminisce on company history, maintain company culture, and helps people feel like a valued employee.
Since you might have to deal with a few work anniversaries in your professional career, always ensure to observe work etiquette.
Either way, remember to curate a personal note for your esteemed employees or boss, include warm greetings from you and your colleagues, and maintain a positive vibe. Good Luck!
How have you celebrated work anniversaries in the past? Did you feel appreciated? Did your boss or manager spoil you with company swag?