Top 10 Employee Anniversary Gift Ideas

Celebrating an employee’s anniversary is an important way of letting him or her know that you appreciate the commitment that they show to your company.

If the employee has been with the company for an extended length of time, (such as 25 years) a fantastic idea would be to have a dinner or party in the employee’s honor. At the party, the guest of honor can be presented with their anniversary gift. In addition to a gift, it’s always smart to circulate an anniversary card through the office so the entire staff can sign it and pass along their good wishes.

Anniversary

Of course, anniversaries can be celebrated for shorter milestones, such as 5, 10, 15 or 20 years. Many companies present employees with a catalog of gifts they can choose from. This may be less personal, but it ensures that each employee is getting a gift that will prove to be useful.

However, if you’ve decided to make a choice without the help of a catalog, here is a helpful list of employee anniversary gift ideas

  1. Tickets to a sporting or music event—A great choice for someone who has a devotion to a specific team or band. This will provide your employee with wonderful memories for years to come.
  2. A personalized or engraved plaque or trophy—This could be something the employee displays at home or in their office.
  3. Jewelry—Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but any nice piece of jewelry will make an employee feel appreciated.
  4. A watch—Although a watch is technically a piece of jewelry, it deserves a category of its own because it’s one of the most well known, classic corporate gifts.  The reason? It serves as an important symbol of the years of connection between the company and the employee. Often, the watch can be engraved or have the company name on the face.
  5. Small Kitchen Appliance—A coffeemaker, blender or toaster. Any of the everyday kitchen conveniences can be given as an anniversary gift. While it may not be what someone thinks of when they think of a special gift, it is practical!
  6. A golf club or set of clubs—Golf enthusiasts are always looking to improve their game, and nothing makes them happier than a specially selected club. This could also be personalized to make it more special.
  7. A “Foodie” gift—This could be anything related to food. A basket of gourmet chocolates, a gift certificate to a restaurant, an expensive bottle of wine, or a subscription to a fruit of the month club. Foodie gifts are usually a great choice because almost everyone loves to eat. They also have the benefit of being appealing to either gender.
  8. A “Techie” gift—There are so many different computer gadgets out today, there could be a top ten list of technology related gifts of their own. We all know someone who has to have the newest model of everything.  A techie gift would be the perfect choice for them.  Some ideas are: the latest tablet, e-book reader, video game console, or Smartphone.
  9. A contribution to a charity or a cause your employee supports—You really have to know your employee with this one.  Not everyone welcomes a gift to someone else with open arms.  A charitable employee who is always giving of their time might find this to be the perfect gift.
  10. A gift card to a store that the employee is known to frequent—Although some people may not think a gift card is as personal as an actual gift, if you know your employee loves basketball, a gift card to a sporting goods store is a great idea.

What Should I Write In Employee Happy Anniversary Cards?

As a senior HR manager, I highly recommend acknowledging each employee’s anniversary with a simple gesture. In fact boosting employee loyalty and strengthening morale can often be obtained with a personal card, letter or phone call. I prefer to send cards, and one of the most common questions I get from my colleagues is “What should I write on employee Happy Anniversary cards?” The answer will vary, of course, from company to company, and from employee to employee. But my experience has shown me that a few sincere words from management will often do the trick.

Corporate Happy Anniversary Card

In these modern times, employees generally need more than their paycheck. The feeling of being appreciated is extremely crucial to job success and commitment. Some organizations choose to acknowledge every anniversary, while others prefer to recognize “significant anniversaries” like 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, etc. Personal recognition can be obtained with sending an elegant card and some words of appreciation. Choose your cards thoughtfully, keeping professionalism in mind. Then, including phrases like “Thank you for your hard work and dedication” and “We appreciate your being part of our success” or any genuine expression of thanks can be worth more to an employee than an expensive gift.

Employee Anniversary Cards Add That Personal Touch

I work for a relatively small company and the other day I got a very pleasant surprise. I’d been working for the same manager for about a year when he called me in and handed me an envelope. My heart sank and then he told me to open the envelope. As I was opening it, he thanked me for a great year and told me how much they appreciated having me in the department. To my amazement, the envelope contained an anniversary card. Never in all my years of employment have I received employee anniversary cards from my employer.

I think I actually felt tears welling up in my eyes. Even though I’ve only been with my current employer a little over a year, I really felt like part of the team and I had hoped they felt the same way. You know, when you think about it, considering there are only 24 hours in a day and you sleep for about 8 of them, you are with your “work family” half of every day. To get anniversary cards seemed to cement that relationship.

I proudly displayed that card on my desk for the week and then brought it home to show my family. I found out from other employees that the company recognizes every year’s anniversary with a card. I guess I didn’t think companies took the time to add that personal touch, but I was wrong. Getting that card meant the world to me.

The Saving Grace of Employee Anniversary Cards

An impeccably dressed woman sits alone in a dimly lit restaurant alternately staring at a slowly dwindling candle and a quickly ticking watch. An hour devoid of food or companionship has passed, and as she gets up to leave her table, she sighs with unmistakable disappointment. She pulls her car into the driveway, walks to the front door, and opens it to see her loving yet absentminded husband engrossed in watching the latest get rich quick infomercial while ingesting copious amounts of tortilla chips and nacho cheese. He forgot her on their anniversary. Nobody wants to be this guy. No company wants to treat their employees this way on their anniversaries either. A great way to show your employees you care is to give them employee anniversary cards to mark their commitment to your organization.

The success of any company ultimately rests on the strength of its employees, and anniversary cards present a simple, tasteful way to show appreciation for their years of dedication and service to your organization. Certainly, gifts are a thoughtful, generous gesture to extend to employees when they reach important milestones. However, anniversary cards have that incomparable power of heartfelt language that can truly tell individuals how you feel. So, if you are unsure about how to thank your arduous employees or accidently overlooked them altogether, you may just find your saving grace in the kind words nestled inside a beautifully designed anniversary card.

When to Give Employee Anniversary Cards

When it’s your wedding anniversary you’d better give anniversary cards, this is a lesson I learned years ago. I could get all the jewelry money could buy, but if I don’t get that card it’s as if I hadn’t done a thing, which means no sleep for a week. I buy flowers, jewelry, etc. and here’s the reaction, “What,  no card?! What kind of husband are you?”

With that said, let’s talk about employee anniversary cards. You know, the ones your company, if you are lucky enough, give you every year. The business anniversary card that tells you how much they appreciate you and the many years of loyal and dedicated service you have given them. That makes such a big impact on an employee who is dedicated to his company. Personally, I like that acknowledgement. At my company everyone receives a card every year to mark the length of their employment. Not only do you receive a card, it’s given to you directly from the CEO or President of the company.

In a week I will be receiving corporate greeting cards from either the president or the CEO of the company I work for. It will be my 5 year anniversary. Having my hard work recognized gives me a good feeling. Sending anniversary cards to employees and co-workers is good for everyone.

Employee Anniversary Cards For My Happy 2nd Year At Work

When I arrived in the office on April 3rd I noticed some envelopes on my desk with my name on them. Inside were employee anniversary cards that read, “Happy Anniversary!” Before opening the cards I taxed my brain in an attempt to recall what anniversary I should be celebrating. After giving this much thought, to no avail, I decided to solve my dilemma by finally opening the card that read, “Happy 2nd Anniversary! Thank you. We appreciate your being a part of our success.” The card was signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President of the company, and my managers.

A very fast two years had passed since I accepted my position, and this acknowledgement from my company in the form of corporate greeting cards was a unique and pleasant surprise. Having told a few of my friends about this gesture, some of whom have their own companies, several decided to do the same for their employees. It’s nice to know that many others will experience the same pleasant surprise and show of appreciation that I did on my 2nd anniversary with my company.

Employee Anniversary Cards and Universal Truths

Some may be inclined to cut their business budget by eliminating unnecessary expenses, such as employee anniversary cards. I’ve heard the reasoning on this: “In this economy…,” “They should be happy they still have a job…,” “They get paid so what more do they expect?”

Fair enough. Just as fair as the employee who does only what he or she must do, and not a lick more.

You see, it’s all in the attitude, and attitude is contagious. It’s like Karma. What goes around comes around. If you accentuate the positive, you can eliminate the negative. You’ve got to give, to get. Give gratitude and you’ll get gratitude. Give enthusiasm and you’ll get enthusiasm. Give appreciation and you’ll be appreciated. And, not just you; your clients, customers and vendors will feel the effects of that good vibe and react in a like manner.

If you walk through your workplace with a smile and cheerful greeting for each person you see, you’ll find service with a smile spreading throughout your ranks. If you honor workers with employee anniversary cards, you’ll see their pride and confidence flourish. And that will lead to more energy, greater cooperation and bigger efforts, where going above and beyond becomes your company’s form of business as usual.

Do you think I’m using a lot of clichés? Try substituting “truth” for “cliché” because clichés came into being because they are, pretty much, universal truths.

Employee anniversary cards are small, simple, low-cost gestures. But think of their value in helping to retain your skilled, knowledgeable, and dependable staff members. And think of the money you save by not having to solicit, train, and gamble on new replacement personnel. That, and optimum productivity, is money in your pocket. I’d say those cards are worth their weight in gold now, aren’t they?

Employee Anniversary Cards Make for Happy Employees

Every year I receive employee anniversary cards to acknowledge yet another 365 days with my company. When I hit my first year anniversary and I received my first anniversary card, I was presently surprised. Along with a personalized imprint, it was hand signed by my managers and more impressively, by the Executive Team. Why is that impressive? When you think about how busy the company leaders are one can then appreciate that they took the time out of their hectic schedules to let you know that they indeed feel that you are important to the success of the company. Our company leaders acknowledge every single employee’s anniversary for each year completed. Oh yeah, they acknowledge birthdays, as well.

The Gallery Collection is indeed successful. Smart too! This company is 80 years strong. This doesn’t happen without a solid team. From the executive members on down, each person is an important component to the success of the company. It is not only important to let your customers know that they are special, but to let your employees know that they are, too! Now I know that receiving personalized anniversary cards might not seem like a big deal to some, but I for one appreciate the attention given to these “little” details. Employee anniversary cards are just one simple way to boost morale.

I have worked for companies in the past that for the most part didn’t even know that I existed. I consider myself a good, loyal, and dependable worker, but even I found it hard to accept that not many people in the company knew who I was. After over six years on that job, other than my direct supervisors, management didn’t even know my name, let alone what I did. Sad, don’t you think?

Appreciated employees are happy employees! Happy employees are productive employees! Productive employees make happy customers! This sounds like a win-win-win situation to me.

The Great Anniversary Cards Caper

How can I incorporate my love of reality television with my love of cards? This question has been on my mind as of late. I’ve decided to come up with a pitch for a new show called The Great Anniversary Cards Caper. The premise will have a group of contestants who will give out business anniversary cards to employees of a chosen company.

We will keep the number of contestants to ten. The contestants will be given an assignment at a different company every week where they will have to discover who is having an anniversary with the company that week. They cannot say who they are or what they are looking for. They will need the gift of gab to get people talking about their time with the company and incorporate that into the business anniversary cards they will design. The cards will be in the form of a sandwich board and used to celebrate the anniversaries of employees for that week.

The companies will also be happy to participate as they will get an employee to help out for a week, they will get free anniversary cards for their employees, and they will be on television. Can we say free advertising?

The contestants will be judged on their ability to get along with others, the amount of information they acquire, and their imaginative anniversary cards presentation. I love this idea. The second season can be birthday cards for employees. I am sending this idea to Mark Burnett as we speak. Wish me luck.

Wedding Anniversary Cards – Not Just Counting Time

Merriam Webster tells us that the word anniversary is made up of two parts. The first part is the Latin, “anniversarius,” meaning returning annually. It is the second half of the word, “versus,” that gives the word its depth.

Versus adds dimension because it means, “to turn.” Whichever wedding anniversary one is celebrating, it is the turning to look back at what has happened during the year or years that makes the anniversary important and special.

It is always wise to consider the recipients of the anniversary cards you are sending. For instance, if you are unsure about the “state of the union” yet you want to acknowledge it, keep your selection on the light side. Perhaps a little humor will remind the couple of what made them laugh and enjoy each other’s company.

Of course, if the anniversary couple is obviously blissful, you can feel free to send an anniversary card that extols the virtues of love and marriage. There again, you will find a range. You know how much schmaltz the traffic will bear. Symbols such as flowers, wedding bells, and doves will epitomize the serenity and beauty that long lives together make possible. The greeting you choose can take these themes further or just cut to the chase by saying Happy Anniversary.

Even if the couple celebrating their 50th anniversary is known to be slightly quarrelsome, they will hopefully think, “All in all we have had a good life together.” What is important is that you don’t just count the years, but you acknowledge the years with wedding anniversary cards.