(Newswire.net — June 15, 2022) — If we want to build our companies and boost profits, we must ensure we have the best team possible. We need our workers to be productive, knowledgeable, loyal, committed, engaged, and positive in the workplace. Paying people fairly and treating them nicely is vital, of course, but we should go beyond just offering the bare minimum to our staff members.
These days, people are more and more focused on whether they enjoy not only their jobs but also their working environments. Employees want to feel seen and valued and a crucial part of the team.
As such, we must look for ways to help improve company culture and keep our teams motivated and inspired. The longer people work for us, the more important this becomes. It pays to consider utilizing employee anniversary awards to thank and reward our long-standing staff members for their commitment over the years. Here’s what you need to know about employee anniversary awards.
Employee Anniversary Awards Explained
Also called a milestone, years-of-service, or length-of-service awards, among other things, employee anniversary awards are designed to recognize and reward team members when they reach a certain work anniversary. This milestone could be ten, 15, 20, or more years of continuous employment or any other number a firm feels appropriate to celebrate.
The goal and use of service awards have changed over the years to reflect societal changes. Years ago, companies typically positioned the awards as a benefit, where long-standing employees received an award or reward of some type as part of their total package when hitting “tenure,” so to speak. In the past, the awards were more transactional, impersonal, standardized, and about acknowledging that a worker had hit an expected number of years with a business rather than celebrating their commitment and loyalty.
Today, though, it’s more the norm for people to move from job to job and company to company every few years, making longer-serving team members more of an exception than the rule. As such, many leaders realize the value of keeping staff members for many years and know it’s wise to thank and reward people for their service and show how much they’re appreciated.
Plus, employees these days expect to feel valued for what they bring to a firm and will often leave a business if they don’t feel that their efforts are appreciated. Thus, employee anniversary awards can be used today to celebrate people properly, bring everyone in an organization together, and show that employees are respected and highly valued.
Reasons to Use These Awards in Your Company
There are many reasons why it’s worth investing in employee anniversary recognition programs in your organization. As mentioned above, these initiatives help workers feel part of the team and properly acknowledged and respected. They can foster a sense of belonging and create fun moments for people to look back on fondly.
These awards also honor friendships within teams and generally improve company morale and culture. By recognizing the long-term commitment of staff members, you show that you take such efforts seriously and appreciate what employees bring to the business. Plus, service awards contribute to building trust between workers and leaders.
All of this means employees are much more likely to stay working for a firm and to feel more reinvigorated and become more productive as a result. There’s also an extra benefit when it comes to customers. When you publicly share photos, videos, or other collateral from service award celebrations so that your clientele can see it, they get more insight into your company and its operations. Seeing you treat your workers well will likely generate more respect from shoppers and help them feel more interested in and connected to your firm.
Tips for Using Awards in 2022
To get the most out of service milestone awards, give yourself plenty of time to plan the celebrations, so they are as effective as possible. Plus, invest a decent amount into the party and the award itself, and look for ways to give celebrated workers something that’s at least somewhat personalized to them. People feel more chuffed when they receive something that shows they know who they are, what they v
alue, their hobbies or family status, etc.
It’s often worth getting input from a cross-functional team of staff within your business to help you put awards together and pick gifts. Those who work with long-term employees are sure to understand what they might like and what the team, in general, might appreciate for the celebrations.
Furthermore, it’s wise to have the most senior business person attend the event to present awards and gifts and say a few words, such as the CEO, founder, location, or department manager. This again helps to impart the seriousness with which the organization takes the milestone and the value placed on the team member.
Utilize service awards to create memorable experiences for your people and help showcase why your business is one that top talent should want to work for. The investment of time and money should pay off handsomely.