Work anniversary gift guide: 10 ideas based on our research

By Zach Links|5 min read|Updated Aug 1, 2024

Gift cards and money representing work anniversary incentives.

Recognizing employees on their work anniversaries is a great way to show appreciation and boost morale. A thoughtful work anniversary gift can make team members feel valued and reinforce their commitment to the company.

However, it's crucial to choose the right gift. Common employee gifts — like company swag — are poorly received. In fact, only 2% of surveyed workers say company swag is their favorite gift to receive.

Utilitarian gifts like umbrellas and cheap, meaningless gifts also tend to miss the mark.

“I once got a $5 grocery card,” said one disappointed employee. “Excuse me?? What the hell am I supposed to buy with $5?”

The wrong gift can make employees feel unappreciated. But the right work anniversary gift can significantly boost job satisfaction for months or even years.

In this article, we’ll run through 10 ideas for memorable employee gifts to celebrate work milestones.

It doesn’t take much to make employees feel seen and appreciated. In most instances, words of acknowledgement along with a gift will make employees feel valued by your organization.

HR teams typically don’t need to send gifts for every anniversary – the big milestones matter most. Specifically, the 1-year, 5-year, and 10-year anniversaries are significant achievements that warrant special recognition.

Employee recognition is more than a nice gesture. When done right, it can reduce employee turnover by 43%.

And reducing turnover has a material impact on your bottom line. It costs between 90%-200% of the original employee’s salary to replace them.

Recognizing employee milestones like work anniversaries can also boost employee engagement and productivity.

Sending employees a gift, an experience, or kind words of acknowledgement for achieving a milestone like a 5-year work anniversary shows that your company appreciates their loyalty and commitment.

There are dozens of ways to recognize employees. However, here we’ve only outlined the 10 that are most likely to be met with appreciation rather than disappointment.

For example: company swag is a common employee anniversary gift. But our own research shows a whopping 98% of employees rank swag low on their list of top gifts. While it may thematically make sense to gift longterm employees a branded hat or sweatshirt, it’s unlikely to go over well.

Cash is king when it comes to employee gifts. Our recent survey found that 65% of employees prefer money as a gift over other options.

A monetary bonus allows employees to choose how to treat themselves, making it a highly flexible and appreciated work anniversary gift.

For work anniversaries, you can consider a tiered system based on years of service. For example, $100 for each year they’ve been with your company.

Pro tip: Tremendous makes monetary transfers easy for you and your employees. Whether recipients opt for ACH, PayPal, or Venmo transfers, we collect all the account info so you don’t have to. And we protect it with multi-layered security.

Give the gift of time by offering additional paid days off. This work anniversary gift shows you value work-life balance and allows employees to recharge or pursue personal interests.

Be specific and generous. For a personalized touch, you can tie PTO to their tenure at the company (i.e. one extra day for every two years of service). Encourage employees to use this time for personal growth or relaxation, reinforcing your commitment to work-life balance.

Invest in your employees' growth by providing a budget for courses, conferences, or workshops related to their field. This employee gift shows a commitment to their long-term success within the company.

According to a LinkedIn study, roughly 94% of employees say they would stay longer with their employer if their company invested in their career progression. Work anniversaries are the perfect time to show that you want your employees to stay for years to come.

Create a custom award or plaque commemorating the employee's years of service and specific achievements. This tangible recognition can be displayed proudly in their workspace.

Create custom awards that highlight specific achievements or qualities unique to each employee. To make them more meaningful, include quotes from colleagues or clients. You could even partner with a local artist for a truly one-of-a-kind piece.

Offer tickets to a local event, a spa day, or a unique experience in your area. These memorable gifts create positive associations with the work anniversary and the company.

Other options might include cooking classes, outdoor adventures, or cultural events. Still, it’s tough to pick the right one for every employee. Typically, experience-based gifts work best for coworkers you've known for a while.

While small gift cards feel impersonal, high-quality gift cards can be an excellent work anniversary gift.

The key is to provide choice and flexibility. Whether they prefer to treat themselves to a nice dinner or buy a new gadget, the choice can be theirs.

With Tremendous, you can offer employees access to a catalog of 2,000+ great options, including Amazon and Uber, plus prepaid Visa cards that can be used almost anywhere.

This approach combines the benefits of monetary rewards with the personal touch of allowing employees to choose something meaningful to them. Gift cards can be sent and redeemed instantly, providing immediate gratification to fit the positive vibes of the work anniversary.

This flexibility also eliminates the risk of choosing a specific brand that the employee doesn’t like, a common pitfall with traditional gift card programs.

Highlight the employee's anniversary and contributions in a company-wide email, newsletter, or meeting.

You can even create a structured recognition program for work anniversaries. This could include a feature in the company newsletter, a dedicated Slack channel for anniversary shoutouts, or a spotlight presentation during all-hands meetings. Encourage colleagues to share stories or messages of appreciation for that special touch.

Enhance the employee's work environment with a standing desk, ergonomic chair, or the latest tech gadget. This practical gift shows you care about their comfort and productivity.

Noise-canceling headphones and wireless keyboards can also be useful for employees who work in shared spaces.

If you go with office equipment, let employees choose what will best enhance their work environment and productivity.

You could put together a curated selection of items tailored to the employee's hobbies or interests. The personal touch demonstrates that you know and appreciate them as individuals.

While personalized gift baskets can be meaningful, they require significant time and effort. Shopping for each employee's unique interests can be challenging, especially in larger orgs. There's also the risk of misinterpreting preferences (a vegan employee doesn’t want a meat mallet).

Gift baskets can work in some cases, but this level of customization gets tricky as headcount grows.

This simple gesture resonates with employees and shows that you've taken the time to craft a personalized message.

You can express appreciation for their contributions to your team as well as the office culture. Share memorable moments, highlight their growth over the years, and have some fun with a couple of inside jokes.

Consider having multiple team members sign the note for major milestone anniversaries. This collaborative approach can create a powerful keepsake that the employee will treasure for years to come.

While a handwritten note can be a standalone gift, it's also an excellent complement to other forms of recognition. Pair it with a monetary reward or gift card to combine the personal touch with practical value.

According to our research, it doesn’t cost much to give employees a gift they’ll love.

A monetary gift between $50-$100 will satisfy 67% of employees. In some instances, a good employee anniversary gift can be free. In our survey, employees ranked additional paid time off (PTO) as their second-favorite gift behind money.

Kind words of praise – either in a public Slack channel, or in the form of a handwritten note – are both cost-effective and impactful. One study found letters of appreciation can have a measurable positive impact on employees’ sense of subject wellbeing, belonging, and intrinsic motivation for months.

When selecting a work anniversary gift, consider the employee's preferences, company culture, and the significance of the milestone. Remember that while monetary rewards are often preferred, combining them with personalized recognition can create a truly impactful employee gift.

Our research shows that effective employee recognition can significantly boost job satisfaction and retention. In fact, 75% of employees report increased job satisfaction after receiving an excellent gift.

By thoughtfully recognizing work anniversaries, you're not just celebrating a date — you're reinforcing the value of loyalty, hard work, and the individual contributions that drive your company's success.

Want to give the perfect work anniversary gift every time? Chat with our team to find out more, or sign up today and send your first incentive in minutes.