Writing a work anniversary announcement can be an exciting but also challenging task. As an employee reaches a milestone year with the company, it’s important to honor their commitment and achievements. A well-written announcement will make the employee feel valued. It will also update coworkers on their fellow employee’s accomplishments.
When crafting a work anniversary announcement, you need to grab people’s attention right away. The opening paragraph should highlight the individual’s contributions over the years. Mention the specific anniversary, such as 5th, 10th, 15th, etc. Share a brief overview of some major projects or wins the employee was part of.
How do you gather the necessary details?
Before writing the announcement, you need to collect key details. Here are important questions to have answered:
- What is the full name and job title of the employee?
- How many years have they been with the company? Is it their 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th etc. anniversary?
- What are some of their major accomplishments over the years? What projects or initiatives did they lead or contribute to?
- How has their work impacted the company? Have they spearheaded any important innovations or programs?
- What qualities make them a valued team member? Are they known to be a mentor or leader?
- Are there any special memories or funny anecdotes colleagues have involving this employee?
Reach out to the employee’s manager and close coworkers to gather relevant details. Check their resume or LinkedIn profile for a refresher on their background. The employee themselves is also a great resource to fill in any gaps about their various contributions.
What should you include in the announcement?
The announcement should cover several key areas:
Tenure facts
Note how many total years the employee has been with the organization. If possible, share a few stats about how the company has grown and changed over their tenure. This puts their longevity into perspective.
Major projects and accomplishments
Highlight some of the major initiatives the employee has been part of. Make this section specific by mentioning product launches, campaigns, or programs they spearheaded. Quantify their accomplishments with stats like “increased sales by 30%” or “led a team of 10 designers.”
Coworker quotes
Include quotes from colleagues about working with the employee. Especially look for funny or heartwarming anecdotes that show their personality. Quotes should be 1-2 sentences long and mention the colleague’s name and position.
Awards and promotions
Note any promotions, awards, special designations like “Employee of the Year”, etc. that the employee has achieved over the years. Recognizing these milestones shows their advancement.
Personal details
Share a few personal details such as where they grew up, college attended, hobbies, or family facts. This gives coworkers a better sense of the person behind the employee. Make sure to only include details the employee has shared publicly.
How do you format the announcement?
The format should make the announcement easy to read and navigate. Here are some formatting tips:
- Use the employee’s photo if you have permission
- List their tenure stats in a callout box
- Break the text into sections using subheads
- Use bullet points to highlight major accomplishments
- Put coworker quotes in italic text
- Add a “Congrats [Name]!” headline in a larger font
You can get creative with fonts, colors, spacing, and other design elements. Just keep it clean and professional.
What communication channels should you use?
The announcement should reach all staff members but can be shared in different ways:
- Email a company-wide announcement
- Post on your intranet or employee portal
- Add to your internal newsletter
- Print and display on office notice boards
- Share on workplace chat platforms like Slack or Teams
- Post on social media feeds if you have them
Aim for a mix of online and offline channels. The goal is making sure all employees at every location can view the announcement.
How can you personalize the announcement?
While the announcement should cover their tenure, adding personal touches makes it more meaningful. Here are some ideas:
- Ask the employee if there is a cause they care about and include a note about donations being accepted in their honor
- Include a short list of “Little known facts about [Name]” like favorite foods, hidden talents etc.
- Make references to popular TV shows, movies, or music the employee enjoys
- Mention the employee’s family members by name if appropriate
- Include an informal photo like from a work event or team offsite
- Ask coworkers to share personal stories and memories about working with the employee
Knowing small personal details helps customize the announcement specifically for them.
When should you send the announcement?
Aim to have the announcement go out right around the employee’s official anniversary date. Check with their manager or HR to confirm the exact date.
If the date falls in the middle of the work week, you can either announce:
- On the closest Monday or Friday to build momentum leading into or following the date
- The day before or day of the actual anniversary so it’s top of mind on the date
Avoid sending it well after the anniversary has passed. The goal is recognizing their milestone while it’s still timely.
How can employees help celebrate?
The announcement shouldn’t be the end of recognizing the employee’s anniversary. Encourage coworkers to make the celebration an ongoing event with any of these ideas:
- Sign a giant congratulatory card or poster board
- Record short video messages congratulating them
- Compile a book of memories, inside jokes, photos over the years
- Create a special badge or sticker for them to wear
- Bring in a cake or treats to enjoy together
- Decorate their workspace with balloons, streamers, confetti
- Organize a team lunch, happy hour or other event in their honor
Rallying coworkers to celebrate together will make the employee feel extra special on their big day.
Example work anniversary announcements
Reading example announcements can help spark ideas for what to write. Here are two sample announcements honoring fictional employees with made up details:
Example 1
Congratulations Jane Doe on 15 Incredible Years!
This month marks a major milestone for our amazing Account Director Jane Doe as she celebrates 15 years here at Acme Marketing. Jane joined us back in 2008 as an junior account manager. After steadily rising through the ranks, she now heads up our largest client accounts.
Over the years, Jane has spearheaded countless successful campaigns including last year’s record-breaking Greeble launch. Clients and coworkers alike always praise her creativity, work ethic, and dedication. Her VP of Account Services Michael Smith says “Jane is an invaluable leader on our team. She motivates everyone around her with her passion and drive.”
In addition to her client wins, Jane is beloved for her infectious laugh and fun team breakfasts. She also lends her photography skills to snap photos for company events. Jane truly epitomizes the caring culture at Acme.
Please join us in celebrating Jane’s amazing 15 years with Acme! We can’t wait to see what she’ll accomplish next.
“Having Jane as a mentor over the years has made me a better marketer. Her guidance has been invaluable.” – Sarah Lee, Account Manager
“Jane is one of the most creative, hardest working people I know. We’re so lucky to have her!” – Bill Thompson, Graphic Designer
Example 2
Happy 10 Year Acme-versary, John Smith!
A decade ago, John Smith joined our IT team at Acme Tech. Since then, he’s been an integral part of major initiatives like our 2018 system upgrade and 2020 office relocation.
After starting as Help Desk Technician, John has been promoted twice. He now serves as Senior Network Administrator keeping our tech infrastructure running smoothly.
Over the past 10 years, John has:
- Provided IT support for 3 office moves
- Trained 12 interns as part of the IT apprenticeship program he founded
- Served as the lead sys admin for 5 major system upgrades
- Fixed over 10,000 tech issues and counting!
John is admired by his team for his technical expertise and patience in solving problems. When he’s not heads down on a project, John can be found mentoring new IT hires or indulging his secret snack food stash.
Help us celebrate John’s 10th Acme-versary for a decade of accomplishments with many more to come!
Conclusion
Writing an effective work anniversary announcement takes planning, personal details, and a celebratory tone. By highlighting the employee’s tenure, accomplishments, and impact you show their value. Formatting the announcement to be easy to read and sharing across multiple channels helps spread the news. Coworkers can keep the celebration going with personal touches. Celebrating work milestones boosts morale and brings teams together.