Use thoughtful work anniversary messages to wish your coworkers well

While increasing compensation, bonuses, and benefits are great ways to reward top talent, showing appreciation through words hits different. And what better time to do so than when they achieve a work anniversary? 

Be it one year or 10, work anniversaries mark the value and dedication employees bring to their team — and that’s worth appreciating. 

Whether you’re a coworker, manager, or team lead, sending thoughtful work anniversary messages celebrates these special days and fosters a positive work environment that encourages loyalty and engagement.

The importance of recognizing work anniversaries 

Besides making employees feel good, congratulating them for their hard work directly impacts their behavior and the company’s bottom line. Here are four ways celebrating work anniversaries benefits your team and boosts employee performance.

1. Improving employee retention

Employees need to feel valued to stay satisfied. And satisfied employees are more likely to remain in their position for longer.

With job hopping on the rise, it’s increasingly challenging for employers to retain top talent. But a whopping 82% of workers consider recognition central to job satisfaction, so sending simple work anniversary wishes is an excellent way to keep great workers.

2. Increasing employee engagement and company revenue

According to Deloitte, recognition improves employee engagement, and a 15% increase in engagement can lead to a 2% increase in revenue. So teammates who appreciate the hard work their coworkers provide might just help their employer achieve further success. 

3. Boosting employee morale

One of the reasons sending happy work anniversary wishes improves employee engagement is because it enhances everyone’s mood.

Perhaps surprisingly, 36% of people would give up $5000 of their yearly salary to be happier at work. If you’re the manager of a small business, this is excellent news, as you may not be able to offer your employees their ideal salary, but you can offer their ideal work environment.

4. Creating a positive company culture

How your employees interact with each other and think about you and your organization shapes the company’s culture.

When employees feel acknowledged for their strong work ethic and dedication, they’re more likely to respect and speak positively about their workplace. And this impacts how current employees and individuals outside the organization perceive the company, helping you retain and attract top performers.

Work anniversary message examples to thank employees 

No matter how long you’ve known the employee, it’s easy to overthink what you say in your anniversary card. You want it to be professional yet personalized, concise yet expressive. And, most importantly, you hope it makes them feel valued and appreciated. 

Use these examples for inspiration when creating a thoughtful work anniversary message.

Simple work anniversary quotes

• “Time flies when you’re doing a fantastic job! Today marks your first anniversary as part of our team. Thank you for the positive attitude you bring to work each day. You make our office a better place.”
• “Wishing you the happiest work anniversary from our team at [company name]. We knew you’d be an asset since your first day. Keep up the great work!”
• “Happy workiversary! We’re so glad to have you on our team and wish you another year of success.”
• “Happy [X] year work anniversary from the [department’s name]. We’re so impressed with everything you’ve accomplished in the past year.”

Celebratory work anniversary messages

• “Here’s to another year of working together! Sending our best wishes as you continue to achieve great success and career growth.”
• “Wishing you a wonderful work anniversary! During lunch, join us in the boardroom to celebrate your success with snacks and drinks.”
• “Today we’re celebrating [employee name]’s work anniversary. We’re so grateful for their contribution to our team and know we wouldn’t have achieved what we have without them.”

Formal/professional work anniversary messages

• “Congratulations [employee’s name] on your [X] year at [company’s name]. We’re so pleased to have you on our growing team. Here’s to another year of success and growth.”
• “Wishing you another successful year as we celebrate your [X] work anniversary. You’re a valuable team member. Keep up the good work!”
• “Wishing you a very happy work anniversary as you celebrate your [X] year at [company name]. You’re irreplaceable, and we’re so grateful for how you’ve shaped this work environment through your dedication and perseverance.”
• “It’s been an honor to be a part of your professional development. And we’re thrilled to wish you a [X] year work anniversary. Cheers to your continued success.”

Happy and funny work anniversary messages

• “Congratulations on your work anniversary at [company’s name]. Here’s to another year of you sending the best memes and GIFs in our Slack channels.”
• “Happy [X] work anniversary! This year you impressed us with your hard work, determination, and consistency when sending pet updates.”
• “Thank you for being a terrific employee! You make coming to work fun for the whole team. Happy [X] work anniversary.”

Great work anniversary wishes for a long-term employee

• “Happy [X] year work anniversary to one of our best employees! You inspire us each day with your enthusiasm and dedication to your work. When you started at the company, you were part of a 10-person team and took on additional responsibilities to ensure our success.

  We couldn’t have made it to where we have without your hard work and determination. Thank you for being part of our team. We’re wishing you another year of success and happiness.”

• “[X] years ago, we came across an incredibly impressive application. And today, we’re celebrating that very employee for being a valuable part of our team. Congratulations, [employee’s name], for another year at [company’s name].

  You’ve accomplished so much in your time with us, and we wouldn’t have reached today’s success without your help. Thank you for being part of our company and bringing your A-game daily.”

• “Happy work anniversary, [employee’s name]. You’ve been essential to our company’s success for [X] years, and we’re so pleased to have you on our team. You’ve set a high standard for the rest of us with your fierce work ethic and grit. Having an employee like you fills us with gratitude.”

Detailed work anniversary message

• “Happy work anniversary, [employee’s name]! We wanted to take this moment to thank you for your dedication to [company’s name] over the last [X] years. It’s been a pleasure for me and the rest of the team to work alongside a hard-working employee such as yourself.

  You bring enthusiasm and creativity to each of your projects and never accept anything less than exceptional. We wanted to share these moments to celebrate your contribution to our team:

  - You developed the [system’s name], making your coworkers feel valued for their input and improving the team’s collaboration skills.

  - You led the [project’s name] and guided your teammates to success.

  - You exceeded your [quota/success metric] for this year, proving your determination and passion for your role.”

Work anniversary wishes for a boss

• “Happy work anniversary to a fantastic manager! The way you lead our team inspires each of us every day. Thank you for your continued dedication to our growth and success.”
• “Congratulations on another year at [company’s name]. I greatly appreciate your support in my professional development and feel honored to be working under your guidance.”

Tips for creating a thoughtful work anniversary message 

Finding the right balance between professionalism and warmth is tricky, but following these tips will help: 

• Keep it positive: Your message should be uplifting and make your employee feel proud of their years of hard work. Avoid joking about the length of time they’ve been there or whether you’ll lose them soon, as these comments might distract from your positive and appreciative message. 

• Personalize it: Ready-made greeting cards can feel a bit impersonal. The best cards and appreciation messages include a tidbit of humor or a good memory you shared with the sender.

  Adding this personalization makes the reader feel cared for and seen, so try to include details showing your recipient you were thoughtful when writing their message. You might mention a positive attribute they bring to the team or an accomplishment they’ve made.

• Choose the right tone: The message’s tone may change depending on your workplace and the recipient’s personality. If you’re a manager, you’ll want to strike a friendly yet professional tone, and coworker-to-coworker messages can be slightly less formal. 
• Involve the whole team: According to Bonusly, 65% of employees are willing to stay in jobs where coworkers recognize them for their work, even if they have an unappreciative manager. Be inclusive with your message, expressing that the entire team appreciates this person’s work. And if possible, encourage other teammates to send messages as well.

The true value of valuing your employees

Employees spend about a third of their time at work. And an easy way to appreciate the hard work and dedication they provide during this time is by sending work anniversary messages. Now that you have several examples, this task is even easier — and just like that, your team feels valued and recognized for their great work.