Years of Service Awards for Employee Recognition
Having loyal employees who stay with the same company for more than 5 years is a rare thing these days. Although it depends on many factors, everyone knows that if you want to get employee loyalty and retention, you have to fight for it. One way to reward employees to stay loyal and keep their best performances for a long time is to offer years of service rewards. Let's check what years of service means, what its effects are for employees, and how to prepare good rewards along with time spent.
What are years of service awards?
Awards that are given for anything ranging from employee anniversaries, service anniversaries, long service awards, service milestones, and length of service awards. Engaging and retaining employees with years of service rewards is an effective way to show the company's gratitude for their hard work and dedication, to give them more reason to stay. The awards are often given after 1, 5 and 10 years of service within the organization.
What is the long years of service award?
More than 5 years is considered as long years of service award, and should be given to employees who stay in the company for a significant amount of time of 5, 10, 15, 20 years and so on. The awards are prepared to honor employees for their loyal service and for their journey to get to this point, plus remembering their work when it gives a positive effect to the company's progress.
How to make years of service award matters?
Employees needs and expectations will continue to change over time, and we can't just think of a few ideas to make years of service awards. Companies must always adapt to each individual and reward them for specific actions plus pay attention to how long they have dedicated their time. Some of the things below are ways to make years of service award matters:
- Leaders show how much they care about their employees
Leaders are figures who become role models or sources of inspiration for the team. Receiving a letter of recognition from higher-ups is an honor for each individual, and shows that leaders understand what employees have done for the team and company. Ensure leaders present at meetings, ceremonies, and convey team achievements verbally. Leaders also need to use tools that serve as reminders when employees' anniversaries or achieving a milestone.
- Tailor the award based on the person and the occasion
Personalization should be a top priority when designing awards. Tailoring the award to the recipient and tailoring appropriate rewards based on milestones or years of service, their position, and other accomplishments. Make the congratulation note more engaging with a collection of photos, videos, or messages from friends, old bosses, clients, or vendors dedicated to the award recipient. Involving peers and other people that employees have worked with can make an anniversary more festive and highlight that person's influence on the company.
- Include incentives
Include either physical or monetary rewards when creating or revamping your years of service program. Brainstorm the program with employees to ensure they will agree with the company's decision and be a reference for their enthusiasm to stay. There are many forms of incentives that you can use as references and we will discuss below.
Ideas for years of service awards
Years of service awards can be anything from monetary incentives to physical gifts, depending on how you adapt to employees' needs and wants. Here are some of the best ideas that you can use to award loyal employees with their years of service.
- Wine trophy
Loyal employees should be given something special to commemorate their long journey in the company with a wine trophy, a hand engraved portrait/text on a wine bottle as a timeless trophy keepsake. You can choose from a variety of famous imported wines such as Moët & Chandon Impérial, Macallan 12, Perrier-Jouët, Dom Pérignon Vintage, and many more.
What makes this wine trophy interesting? DesignYourOwnWine can customize your chosen wine bottle with the trophy and text design you want such as "5 years of service", "dedicated employees", "top talent in the company" or write the time span from their hire date until now. Whatever your choice of wine, DesignYourOwnWine will make your corporate gift memorable and unique, let the recipient enjoy the luxury drink and keep the trophy for as long as they want.
- Offer company stock
Stock options can be the best benefits a company can give to dedicated employees. You can share the company's equity, and employees can see some dividends relative and become motivation builders for other employees. By having something valuable from the office, employees will always actively participate in doing their best to get bigger profits.
- Vacation package
A vacation or trip with their family is the best reward after several years of their service to the office. Although this is not a cheap idea, but it is worth to give to employees who have given their years to the company. Although material things are great, but experiences are also needed for some individuals. Plus by allowing their families on the same trip, employees will feel grateful about what they have achieved.
- Throw a party
Throwing a good party for several people with the same service time is an interesting thing, plus you can save the budget so that it becomes a one-time expense. Prepare the theme, beverages, and ideas from several other employees to give a surprise to the recipient. You can decide to hold the party outside or inside the office, but still focus on the recipient and highlight their accomplishment throughout the years.
Effective Employee Incentive Programs To Boost Morale
Giving proper awards and rewards to employees who have stayed long at the company can reinforce workplace culture, create stronger connections, and improve retention. Show your gratitude to top talents, and let them earn what they have fought for while in the office. When employers can successfully express their gratitude, it sets the tone for every team member, and brings a lot of positivity to the company.
