A "Workiversary": The Chance to Celebrate an Employee, Coworker, or Boss

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Plus, is it spelled "workiversary" or "workaversary"?
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Whether a team member at work is celebrating their first year or twentieth, it’s important to acknowledge their contribution. Commonly called a “workiversary” (yes, "workiversary" is the correct spelling, not "workaversary"), a work anniversary is the perfect opportunity to celebrate a coworker or reflect on your own career. This article gives you an overview of how to celebrate a workiversary, how to congratulate a coworker, and how to set goals for your own professional development.

What's a “Workiversary”? Quick Overview

A “workiversary” is the anniversary of your start date at a job. It’s a combination of the words “work” and “anniversary.” The term is often used to describe a celebration planned by an employer to mark the work anniversary of a team member.

Section 1 of 5:

What is a workiversary?

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  1. It’s an annual event that marks how long a person has been with an organization. Many companies acknowledge an employee’s workiversary in some way, whether it’s with an individual party or an event that celebrates all of the employees with a work anniversary in a given month. [1]
    • Some companies have a customized name for the work anniversaries of their employees. For example, at Facebook, work anniversaries are called Faceversaries. [2]
    • Most people use the spelling “workiversary” instead of “workaversary.” Some feel that the latter spelling looks too much like the negative words “averse” and “adversity.”
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Section 2 of 5:

How to Celebrate a Workiversary

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  1. A greeting card signed by everyone on the team is one of the easiest ways to show a colleague you appreciate their hard work. Or, give them a card that’s just from you with a personal message offering congratulations and expressing how much you appreciate all they do.
  2. A gratitude board is a place where colleagues can express appreciation for each other. [3] Making a dedicated board for someone with an upcoming workiversary helps to celebrate them and remind them how important they are to the team.
    • If you don’t have space in your location or have a remote staff, create a digital memory book . This is a collection of memories that may include photos or text that’s centered around the person celebrating their workiversary. Colleagues contribute messages that are collected and posted to a website or saved as a file and then shared.
  3. Everyone enjoys the occasional break from work. And it’s even better when that break celebrates a colleague. Make it a true celebration by decorating with streamers and balloons. Get a cake, some really good pizza, or other treats. Plan a few games to stoke a little friendly competition. [4]
    • Don’t forget your remote workers! There are plenty of games and activities that can be played online. Or send them some game supplies before the party and play over a teleconference call.
  4. Awards can come in different forms, including trophies, plaques, or certificates. Whatever you choose, make it personal and special. Don’t just hand them a generic paper certificate. Put their name on it, frame it, and give it to them without mixing the presentation in with other business. [5]
  5. This gift can be anything from a gift box sent to their home or an extra vacation day. For an even more personalized gift, give them a list of special workiversary gifts to choose from. [6]
    • A gift certificate is another great way to show appreciation.
  6. Take them out to eat at their favorite lunch spot, or schedule a dinner with the team. Whichever option you choose, try to find out where they would like to go. If you aren’t able to go off-site for a meal, have a nice meal catered at the office.
    • Use meal delivery services to have a nice lunch delivered to remote workers.
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Section 3 of 5:

Importance of Celebrating Workiversaries

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  1. Employees want to feel like their company and the people they work with appreciate all their hard work. Doing something to mark their contribution and the amount of time they’ve spent with a company makes them feel more satisfied with their work.
    • 57% of people who left a job in 2021 gave “feeling disrespected” as a reason for quitting. [7] Celebrating a workiversary is a great way to show employees how valuable they really are.
  2. Workiversary celebrations are a good way to promote team building. They allow colleagues to socialize and bond in a more casual atmosphere. This can lead to more camaraderie and greater collaboration in the workplace. Social relationships at work can also improve employee well-being. [8]
    • Good relationships with work colleagues also helps them deal with workplace stress.
  3. Better morale also helps promote a more positive work environment. However, boosting morale has benefits that go beyond a positive work environment. Employees with high morale are healthier and less likely to suffer from depression. [9]
    • Workiversary celebrations are even more important during busy times when employees may need a break from the daily grind of their work.
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Section 4 of 5:

Example Workiversary Messages

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  1. It can be difficult to know what to say to a colleague celebrating a workiversary. Offer workiversary messages that sincerely express your congratulations and appreciation. [10] If you have a specific example of how your co-worker has gone above and beyond to help you, go ahead and mention it. If you’re still having trouble thinking of something, here are a few suggestions to help you out:
    • “Happy workiversary, boss! Thank you so much for all of your guidance and support.”
    • “Congrats on your workiversary! You’re such an amazing, helpful, and upbeat person to work with.”
    • “Congratulations on another great year! You are so much fun to work with. And it doesn’t hurt that you’re so good at what you do!
    • “On your workiversary, I just wanted to let you know how much I look forward to working with you on projects.
    • “Cheers to another wonderful year! Thank you for being such an inspiration for our team. We appreciate you!”
    • “Happy workiversary! Here’s to many more years of us working together!”
    • “Wishing you a fantastic workiversary! Work wouldn’t be the same without your positive attitude and commitment to teamwork!”
    • “Congratulations on your workiversary! Thank you for being such a valuable asset to our team.”
    • “Cheers to another successful year! Here's to even more achievements in the year ahead.”
    • “Happy workiversary! Your dedication and passion shine through in everything you do. Thank you for everything you do!”
    • “Congrats on another wonderful year! I truly enjoy learning from such a great colleague. Here's to many more years of collaboration and success.”
    • “Congratulations on your workiversary! Your dedication, creativity, and friendship have made coming to work so much fun!”
    • “Wishing you the happiest of workiversaries! Thank you for being such a fantastic colleague and friend."
    • “Happy workiversary! Here's to a future filled with continued growth and accomplishments.”
    • “Cheers to your workiversary! Thank you for supporting an guiding me as a colleague.”
Section 5 of 5:

Reflecting on Your Own Workiversary

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  1. The best way to go about it is to set aside time to reflect on what you’ve achieved in the past years and how you want to move forward. If you can’t think of anything, try freewriting . Just set a timer for 10 minutes (or more if you want) and write whatever comes to you about your career. Getting started can be difficult, so here are a few helpful questions to ask yourself: [11]
    • “What work accomplishments am I most proud of from the past year?”
    • “How have my strengths contributed to my success this year?”
    • “In what situations have I learned the most?”
    • “Who has helped me to be the best I can be?
    • “Is there anything I wish I had done differently?”
  2. Setting goals helps you achieve more in your career, because they make you more focused and accountable. Goal setting can also help big goals – like earning an advanced degree – seem more attainable and less overwhelming. [12]
    • Set SMART goals that are S pecific, M easurable, A ttainable, R elevant, and T imely.
    • Write down the steps you need to take to attain those goals.
    • Give yourself deadlines to complete the steps.
    • When you’ve taken an important step toward your goal, reward yourself for your hard work.
    • Find a friend or co-worker to help keep you accountable. [13]
  3. A workiversary is the perfect time to set goals connected to your personal and professional development. It’s the perfect time to reflect on your career and decide if you’re happy where you are and what you can do to move forward. [14]
    • Many people only think about where their careers are going when they’re stressed or unhappy. By choosing a specific date every year, like your workiversary, you’re able to evaluate your career when emotions are less likely to cloud your judgment.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.thefutureworldofwork.org/job/happy-work-anniversary-messages/
      2. ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-facebook-faceversary-2018-2
      3. ↑ https://www.emexmag.com/best-gratitude-wall-ideas/
      4. ↑ https://www.chooseust.org/blog/the-do-s-and-don-ts-of-throwing-a-successful-holiday-office-party/
      5. ↑ https://hr.fas.harvard.edu/recognition
      6. ↑ https://hr.fas.harvard.edu/recognition
      7. ↑ https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/03/09/majority-of-workers-who-quit-a-job-in-2021-cite-low-pay-no-opportunities-for-advancement-feeling-disrespected/
      8. ↑ https://workwellbeinginitiative.org/module-4-moderating-work-demands
      9. ↑ https://www.apa.org/monitor/2010/12/morale
      1. ↑ https://www.scienceofpeople.com/work-anniversary-messages/
      2. ↑ https://hbr.org/2023/12/how-to-create-your-own-year-in-review
      3. ↑ https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/explore-careers/get-started/setting-different-types-career-goals
      4. ↑ https://www.careeronestop.org/ExploreCareers/Plan/set-goals.aspx
      5. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/careers-and-beyond/202406/add-new-event-repeat-every-year-career-reflection-day

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