Average job tenure is shrinking, making Years of Service Award Programmes all the more special. Here's how you can make your event a success.
It's a rare thing to see an employee stay at a company for 10 or even just five years these days. In fact, Deloitte reports that only 28 per cent of millennials envision staying at their jobs for more than five years - as this age group becomes the dominant section of the global workforce, average job tenure is only set to decrease.
So, when you do get an employee that shows real loyalty to your company, it's important you celebrate that - and a Years of Service Award Programme is the perfect tool.
What is a Years of Service Award Programme?
All too often, businesses spend all their efforts on attracting new talent to their company by offering a range of perks and benefits. While these are of course important, it's also essential you recognise those employees who have been with you for a significant period of time. A Years of Service Award Programme enables you to do this, commemorating the loyalty of those who have been with you for a certain period of time. You'll have different awards depending on the length of time people have served in your company, with the best saved for those who have been there 10 or more years.
But it's not enough just to have a Years of Service Program. You need to give the award with sufficient pomp and ceremony to show the employee in question (and the other people who work with you) that you really care about and appreciate loyalty within your organisation.
What can you do for an effective Years of Service Award ceremony?
Ideas for your Years of Service Award ceremony
1) Make it an event!
It's not enough just to give the employee a gift and leave it on their table - five or 10 years at a company is a real achievement, and you need to show that. Consider organising a special meal or drinks event for the employee, where you present the award to them. Talk to the people they work with the most to find out what sort of theme the employee might want, and decorate accordingly.
2) Give them a trophy as well as an award
A Years of Service Award Programme is great PR for your company.
Power2Motivate's global rewards gallery gives employees access to thousands of different prizes - from travel to event tickets and electrical appliances, there'll be something to get your employee excited! In addition to this, however, it's a good idea to get a trophy or other lasting memento that the employee can keep on their desk. This will be a constant reminder of the effort you went to to celebrate their achievement and will also show other employees that you care.
3) Make speeches
Ask two or three people at varying levels of your organisation to give a speech explaining an individual has received a Years of Service Award.
Get the person's direct manager to give one that mentions the achievements the employee has had over their time in the organisation. It's also a great idea to get someone at the exec or board level to give a speech showing how much they value that employee's contribution. If the employee has ever trained or mentored others, you could also ask them to give a speech explaining how the employee has helped them through their time at the company.
This will show the employee not just that you value their years of service but what they have specifically done at your company to help make it successful.
4) Post about it on social media
A Years of Service Award Programme is great PR for your company - it shows potential future candidates and customers that you have people who a) want to work for you for a long time and b) you care about enough to put on a Years of Service Award event for. Make the most of this PR opportunity by publicising the event on social media - this will also give your employee an extra boost.
At Power2Motivate, we've made countless Years of Service Award Programmes a success. For more information, contact us today or request a demo.