Celebrating Employee Milestones: Do You Have a Gift Policy for Long-Term Service?

Dear all,

Can anybody please share with me if you have any policy to give gifts to employees who have completed 10 years, 15 years, or 20+ years in the company? If you have one, could you please share it with me?

Thanks and regards,
Rekha

Dear Dezar Rekha,

It was a pleasant surprise to see such a post in the current corporate scenario. Yes, we have and also have worked for companies that have such policies. The things which are presented are:

1) Watches with company logo engraved.
2) Gold coins with company logo.
3) Other items like silver idols of gods and other decorative silver items.

Among the above, the watches are most common. For example:
1) For 10+ years, you may give SONATA.
2) For 15+ years, you may give Titan.
3) For 20+ years, you may give Titan Raga.

And similarly, you can increase the price of the watch with years. You can also give silver items, followed by Titan watches, and ending with gold coins. This must be accompanied by a felicitation ceremony along with an appreciation certificate.

Regards,
SC

Dear SC,

Thank you very much for your prompt response. I will definitely discuss this with my management. I would also like to request other HR friends to share their suggestions and experiences related to this matter with me.

Thanks & regards,
Rekha

Hi Rekha,

Yes, I have also been in companies that have this policy. In one of the companies, gifts were being distributed to those who completed 5, 10, or 15 years with the organization. The gifts included music systems, watches, kitchenware, and yearly, three-yearly, and 5-year magazine subscriptions.

In another company, employees' names used to appear in the corporate magazine. This magazine was common for all branches, including international offices.

Regards

Hi Rekha,

Recently, we completed 20 years of our operations and celebrated the occasion with a 2-day event. During the event, we recognized and felicitated our team members for their outstanding work. Among them was an award called "Legend of United," which included a small trophy and certificate to honor individuals with over 10 years of service. We highlighted team members with 10, 14, and 15 years of service, explaining their contributions and acknowledging their efforts.

One of them received the highest honor, "Fellow of United," for their exceptional contribution in their respective functional area. This recognition took place with the All India team present at the function, and images were circulated afterwards.

Hope this idea helps.

Regards,
Yogesh Pahuja

Dear Rekha,

The usual gifts would be giving watches, pens, coins with Co logo, etc., as mementos. But I personally feel that people who have served so long in any organization could be given a paid vacation, maybe to places like South Asian countries, as going abroad these days is almost the same as a holiday in India.

I personally feel that such initiatives would build a better work culture, and employees would stay with a particular organization for longer!

Cheers,
Rueben

Dear Yogesh & Rueben,

Thank you for your valuable guidance and for sharing your experiences with me. I truly appreciate the time and effort you have put into responding to my post. I will consolidate the information and create a draft policy, which I will then discuss with my CGM.

Thanks again,
Rekha

Hi,

We give a scroll of honor and a cash gift to our employees. After going through the various suggestions, I feel that the company's policy should be designed to cover employees at various stages depending on the industry to which they belong.

In the case of IT or BPO companies, a reward should be given on completion of 3 years, 5 years, 8 years, and 10 years. For the Manufacturing Industry, where retention is high, the starting year may be 5, then progressing to 10, 15, and 20 years.

The value of gifts or cash awards should increase with the years of service and should be a decent amount from 10 years onwards. These should be presented to the employees at the workplace in the presence of their department or location colleagues to motivate others as well. The presentation should be done with respect for the recipient.

The items should be personalized for the employee or their family and incorporating the company logo would be a nice touch.

Thanks,
Pankaj

Hi,

In our company, we also have a policy of awarding our employees for a minimum of 5 years of service. The gifts generally include:

1) Crystal vase
2) Leather bags
3) Esprit watches

All these gifts come with the company logo. Employees are given the option to select one.

Regards,
Niketa

Wonderful replies... simple additions... my ideas:

If in industries where retention is high,

15 years - Watches / ESOP,

25 years - Silver (utensils/anything) / Paid vacation trip / ESOP,

35 years - Gold (utensils/anything) / Paid vacation trip / ESOP.

If in industries where retention is moderate,

10 years - Watches / ESOP,

15 years - Silver (utensils/anything) / Paid vacation trip / ESOP,

20 years - Gold (utensils/anything) / Paid vacation trip / ESOP.

If in industries where retention is low/very low,

2 years - Watches / ESOP,

5 years - Silver (utensils/anything) / Paid vacation trip / ESOP,

8 years - Gold (utensils/anything) / Paid vacation trip / ESOP.

These depend on many factors, following are some:

- Culture of the company
- Nature of the industry
- Budget/Financial position of the company
- Future of the business
- Future plans of the company
- Competitors' strength
- Quality of people retaining back

Well, one of the ideas posted about a paid vacation trip is simply superb. Kudos to such thinking. Keep it up, my friend.

Ankit Banerjee

Dear Rekha,

For employees completing 5, 10, and 15 years of service, you can give them Long Term Service Awards - Silver mementos with a certificate signed by the head of the organization. Such awards can be given during a retreat or meeting as it will motivate an employee, and also the other staff gets to know that the organization does care for them.

Regards,
Anu

I agree to Mr Venkat.In my company we offer:
10 years – Tour package for the employee with family to International destination /Star Cruise
15 years – Tour package + Dinner with the CEO of the company (with family)
20 years –A gift voucher +Tour Package +Dinner with CEO (with family)
Regards
Neeta

Hi,

I have a few options:

- Provide a certificate for successful completion of the number of years they have worked with the company.
- The company can sponsor a trip for them.
- Gift a leather jacket with the company logo and some motivating slogans.

Thanks,
Pooja

I work for the financial sector. We have a policy that incorporates three elements:

1. Commemorative gift
2. Appreciation certificate
3. Cash amount

For 10 years, we give silver cufflinks and Rs 5,000. For 15 years, it is a lapel pin of gold with the company logo and Rs 10,000. For 25 years, it is gold cufflinks with the company logo and Rs 25,000.

These are given in a ceremony by the HR head and include guests from all functions (top management). We are also considering now going for a yearly dinner where these can be presented. This can be an event at a much larger scale than our small ceremonies.

Alia

Hi,

First, review your HR budget for the year. Second, consider the conditions for whom the awards are to be given. Make a list of employees who have completed 10, 20, or 30 years of service. Based on your budget and the funds allocated by management, select gifts such as watches, gold coins, clocks, shields, cups, medals, or anything else you prefer, categorized accordingly. Obtain approval first for the samples you propose. Present the details to management, including the color, size, model, price of the gifts, and then proceed. Document all this information in a note format and finalize it.

Regards,
R. Devarajan

Yes, I think giving watches, other gadgets, gold, etc., are good ways of recognition. But, I feel that we have to appreciate the family also for the supportive role. Maybe we can send the family on a vacation, or invite the family and arrange a small party, etc.

Apart from this, I also feel that we have to have some kind of display mentioning Mr. or Ms. Magnificent, etc., at their workstation. Or, in a manufacturing sector, have a different kind of uniform probably with a different color, etc., so these people are also happy, and even the others each time they see them will feel motivated.

Dear Rekha,

Rather than focusing on monetary part, i will appreciate if company recognize their long term association with the Company and make them feel that they have been pillars of the Company in achieving goals. If some body think that by giving gift of 5k or 10 k after 5 yrs or 10 yrs may help in employee retention, they may be wrong. As u can see many emloyees leave their gratuity even they are about to complete 5 yrs in the company, if they get good offer. Amount of Gratuity might be much higher what can be given tru gift.

To recognisee the employee's long-term association with the Company, i wll recommend that there should be a formal policy. They should be awarded with the gift on any big occassion like Annual day, Picnic etc of the Company when all employees with their families are present to celebrate that moment. This gift will be provided by the top boss of the Company. Applause by the spectators will be real award.

On this occassion if something like silver coasters, silver bowl, silver glass etc is given will be better then other electronic items. On the silver coaster his name, doj of the company and best wishes shoud be engraved.

Regards

Subahsh