43 Happy Work Anniversary Messages, Wishes, and Quotes
When a member of a company reaches a milestone of tenure, it’s cause for celebration. Recognizing and acknowledging employees and coworkers on their work anniversaries is important for many reasons.
Your happy work anniversary wishes will boost the employee’s morale, as well as that of their coworkers. This fosters a company culture of support, high employee engagement, and loyalty.
See also: Meaningful Coworker Birthday Wishes
Read on to learn more about the benefits of celebrating work anniversaries at your company. We’ve also included a comprehensive list of happy work anniversary messages to inspire you when crafting your well wishes to an employee or coworker on their anniversary.
Why should you celebrate work anniversaries in the workplace?
Showing appreciation to employees when they reach a milestone period of service at the company is essential. Regardless of whether it’s a one-year or thirty-year anniversary, making your employees feel seen and recognized for their service improves morale and job satisfaction.
This isn’t only true for the employee being recognized but for the rest of the team, too. It lets them know that when their anniversaries come, their service to the company will also be acknowledged and applauded.
In turn, this has a cascading effect on the company’s culture. It breeds positivity and a supportive environment that makes employees want to stay at the company their entire careers. This means lower employee turnover and bodes well for the company’s outlook.
Let's take a closer look at why celebrating employees’ work anniversaries is important to the workplace:
Workplace etiquette
Firstly, celebrating work anniversaries is considered part of proper workplace etiquette. Even if your company’s culture isn’t one that prioritizes recognition, it should at least foster a cordial work environment built on respect.
Additionally, best practices involving work anniversary celebrations include getting a gift for the employee or coworker you’re celebrating. This gift can either be a collective gift from the whole team, or each person can get a gift individually. At Workhuman, we gift employees through points, which they can then use to buy whatever they want, such as Airpods or an Amazon gift card.
Sincere appreciation
Another important aspect of celebrating work anniversaries is showing sincere appreciation for a team member. If the person you’re celebrating feels that their coworkers’ happy work anniversary wishes are merely a formality, this defeats the purpose of the celebration.
Your appreciation message should come from the heart and give your colleague the sense that their presence and service to the company over the years is truly recognized. For example, here's the message I received from my manager for my one year anniversary!
Inspiration for others
Staying for years or even decades at the same company is no easy feat and doesn’t happen often. So, it’s important to celebrate it when it does occur. These celebrations act as inspiration to other team members who’ll strive to achieve the same longevity and get celebrated for it when the time comes.
It increases employee engagement
Higher employee engagement means higher morale and productivity. Celebrating employees’ work anniversaries helps achieve this because they feel more appreciated and seen by their peers and leadership. As a result, they don’t feel like they’re just a cog in the machine.
Looking for more ideas? Download our report for six more ways to increase employee engagement, regardless of the external challenges an organization may be facing.
It strengthens employee loyalty
In today’s employment environment, loyalty has become less of a priority than financials. Employees will often leave a company if they get a significantly better offer from another one. While that’s understandable, it’s less likely to happen when employees are attached to their existing workplace because they feel comfortable and appreciated there.
When your employees see how rewarding it is to reach duration milestones at your company, they’ll strive to get there and think twice before jumping ship when they get an attractive offer elsewhere.
47 happy work anniversary messages
If you can’t quite find the right words to put in your happy work anniversary wishes for your coworkers, we’ve got you covered.
Here are some examples of happy work anniversary messages, including my very own one-year anniversary messages that I received from coworkers, to use as inspiration for different situations:
One-year work anniversary
- Congrats on all the success you've had in year 1! We're happy to have you on the team.
- Congratulations [Name] :). Well done on your first YOS, great to have all those [Insert relevant work topic] discussions - hope you have a lovely day
- Congrats, dude!!! Always a pleasure getting to work with you and talking [Insert relevant work topic] and catching up on life in Slack. Here's to many more Years of Service awards in the future!
- Congratulations on your first year of work with us [Name]! Your dedication and hard work are appreciated. Happy workiversary!
- Happy first-year anniversary! Thank you for being a valuable member of our team since you started here!
- Wow, I can’t believe a year has gone by already. I guess time flies by when you’re having fun—and working with you has been a blast! Congratulations, my friend, and I hope we get to work together for many more years.
Three-year work anniversary
- 1. 🩷🩷🩷 congrats on three years, there is no other [Job title] I would have rather made an emoji of
- [Name]! Lots of changes over 3 short years. New managers, new humans ;-). Thanks for being the steady leader of [Department]. Cheers to 3 years and many more!
- Congrats on your anniversary--3 years of greatness! Not only have you crushed being the best [Job title] a [Department] team could ask for, but you've crushed being a [Three fun facts][people leader, a momma, and an amazing human]. I'm so lucky to have you to turn to for guidance throughout my professional and personal life. Here's to hoping the next years are just as exciting and even more adventurous! Much love for you 🤲
- 3 years!!!! Congratulations [Name]!!
- Congrats on 3 years, [Name]! I've loved working with you and getting to know you as a person. And I've gotta say, big fan of both work [Name] and personal [Name]. Thanks for being you!
Five-year work anniversary
- Huge congratulations [Name] on your 5 YOS! Such an amazing milestone & it's clear to see the impact you've made on the [Department] team from reading through all the lovely messages. It's been great getting to know you over the past few months!. Here's to many more successful years at [Company] 🎉🎊
- Happy Half Decade [Name]!!! Here's to the other half. 🎉🎉🎉
- Congratulations on 5 YOS, [Name]! Here's to many more successful years at [Company]! 🎉
- Five years already? Time flies when you're having fun! I’m thankful for your loyalty and commitment to our team’s success.
- Congratulations on reaching your five year milestone! Your contributions have made a significant impact on our organization and I couldn't be happier to have you as a part of our team.
- You made it [Name]! Five years of service in the books! Thank you for all your dedication over the years, and congratulations on your work anniversary!
Ten-year work anniversary
- A decade of excellence! Thank you for your continued dedication and hard work. You’ve made such an amazing impact on our company’s future.
- Congratulations on this amazing milestone! Your loyalty and commitment are greatly appreciated. I hope you feel special and celebrated today and every day!
- Congratulations on completing a decade of unwavering commitment to our company! Your hard work and dedication are truly appreciated. Here’s to many more years of amazing accomplishments. Happy work anniversary, my friend!
- The impact you’ve had on our organization over the past ten years is second to none. You’ve truly made a massive difference, and we’re eternally grateful for it. Happy ten-year work anniversary, buddy!
Thirty-year work anniversary
- Wow, 30 years! Your commitment to our organization is inspiring. Thank you for everything you've done and continue to do.
- Happy 30th anniversary! Your hard work, dedication, and loyalty are truly appreciated. All that you’ve accomplished in these three decades will never be forgotten.
- I can’t believe flip phones were all the rage when you started here. Congratulations on three amazing decades with the company.
- Wow, thirty years! You’re a rare breed, (name). We appreciate your service, your loyalty, and all your hard work. Happy anniversary, buddy!
See also: Crafting Happy Retirement Messages: Tips & Examples
General work anniversary messages for coworkers and colleagues
- Congratulations on another year of outstanding work! Your contributions are invaluable.
- Happy work anniversary! Thank you for your hard work and dedication to our organization.
- Hard work, diligence, and loyalty make the best employees, and we’re glad you’re a person we can always rely on. We couldn’t have thought of a better moment to express our gratitude for your service than your work anniversary.
- We never realized what we did to deserve someone like you. Your ingenuity and ability to come up with new ideas and bring them to light is a thing to behold. Thank you for your incredible service over the past “X” years.
- Happy work anniversary! You're an important part of our team, and we appreciate your hard work.
- It's been great working with you for another year. Happy work anniversary!
- It’s been a true blessing to see your face every day when I come to work over the past “X” years. I really appreciate having you as a colleague and friend. Happy work anniversary, and here’s to many more years of us working together.
- You are a source of inspiration, and your work ethic is exemplary. Thank you for being there every time we needed you. We wish you a happy work anniversary!
- Congratulations on another year of making a difference! Your contributions are truly appreciated.
- Happy work anniversary! Thank you for your hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence.
- Words can’t describe how proud we are of you. You’ve been an integral part of this organization over the past “X” years, and we couldn’t be more grateful for your service. Happy “X-year” work anniversary!
Transform Your Workplace Culture: Download the WorkHuman Research Report for Key Insights on Recognition, Performance, and Bringing Authenticity to Work!
Work anniversary wishes for remote coworkers
- Even though we're miles apart, we're still a team. Congratulations on another year of great work!
- Happy work anniversary! You're an important part of our remote team, and we appreciate all you do.
- We may not see each other except on the screen, but our bond over the past “X” years has grown exponentially. I appreciate you, and I love working with you. Happy work anniversary, my friend!
Work anniversary messages for your boss or manager
- Happy work anniversary! Your leadership and guidance are appreciated more than you know.
- Thank you for being an amazing boss/manager. Happy work anniversary!
- They say great leaders are created, not born. After seeing how you’ve led us over the years, I now know that’s true. Thank you for your mentorship and support over the past “X” years, boss.
- Your leadership has been nothing less than a beacon of light for us. Congratulations on another year of growth and success. We wish you the happiest work anniversary, boss.
Funny work anniversary messages
- Congratulations on surviving another year! Just kidding - your contributions are truly appreciated.
- Happy work anniversary! We promise not to sing "Happy Work Anniversary" to you (unless you want us to).
- Another year of putting up with us - you deserve a medal! Happy work anniversary.
- Wait, wasn’t yesterday your first day here? Congratulations on “X” years with the company, buddy!
7 best work anniversary quotes
- "The only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs
- "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that count." - Winston Churchill
- "It's not about money. It's about the people you have, how you're led, and how much you get it." - Steve Jobs
- “Do more than is required. What is the distance between someone who achieves their goals consistently and those who spend their lives and careers merely following? The extra mile.” - Gary Ryan Blair
- “People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.” - Dale Carnegie
- “Your talent determines what you can do. Your motivation determines how much you’re willing to do. Your attitude determines how well you do it.” - Lou Holtz
- “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal. Nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong attitude.” - Thomas Jefferson
See also: Show Your Gratitude with these 32 “Happy Thanksgiving” Messages to Employees
How to improve your work anniversary wishes
When crafting happy work anniversary wishes for your employees or coworkers, there are several things you can do to make them perfect.
Here are some helpful tips to consider using:
- Personalize the message by including specific details about the recipient and their achievements.
- Leave a card or note on their desk
- Show public appreciation
- Gift showing your appreciation
- Use memes and GIFs to add humor and creativity
- Throw a party
- Give a toast
- Include a tasteful joke
- Plan an outing
FAQs
Is a 15-year work anniversary a big deal?
Work anniversaries are usually celebrated in ten-year intervals. However, that doesn’t mean the years in between don’t count. For example, we celebrate 15-year anniversaries at Workhuman and feel they should be recognized. Acknowledge your employee’s decade-and-a-half of service with a gift and well wishes. Here's an example message from leadership for a 15-year anniversary:
It is my great honor to present you with this Years of Service award. Congratulations on reaching your remarkable milestone! I encourage you to take the time to read and watch the highlights of the recognition awards you've achieved over the years - as told by your colleagues. These fantastic moments illustrate the many instances of your imagination, determination, innovation, and respect over the years. Together, we applaud you and thank you for the great efforts you've given Workhuman. You play a special part in the history and success of our great company.
How do you write a short work anniversary speech?
The ideal length for a short work anniversary speech should be five minutes. It should highlight what you appreciate the most about the people you work with and your experience on the job. Your speech should also acknowledge the honoree’s achievements during your time with the company.
What is a good idea for a work anniversary gift?
While it’s not a must, getting a gift for an employee or colleague on their work anniversary is considered proper etiquette. How expensive the gift should be depends on how strong your relationship with the person is.
There’s nothing specific you should get, but it’s important that your gift shows you put some thought into it.
Conclusion
When an employee or coworker reaches a plateau of time spent at the company, you should celebrate their time with the organization with happy anniversary wishes. Doing so helps breed loyalty, employee recognition, and employee engagement within the workplace.
You can also go the extra mile and throw a party or plan an outing for the person you’re celebrating. Alternatively, you can buy them a gift or an anniversary card to congratulate them on their special day.
If you’re unsure how to phrase your well wishes, use one of the many examples we provided in this guide to inspire you. The most important thing to remember is to be sincere and speak from the heart.
About the author
Ryan Stoltz
Ryan is a search marketing manager and content strategist at Workhuman where he writes on the next evolution of the workplace. Outside of the workplace, he's a diehard 49ers fan, comedy junkie, and has trouble avoiding sweets on a nightly basis.