Celebrating workplace milestones and anniversaries
We all love a reason to celebrate, and in the workplace this usually means milestones and anniversaries. But, why does recognising them matter and what does a good, appropriate celebration look like within a small business?
What milestones should you be recognising?
Not every workplace milestone needs a huge party, but some common examples of something to celebrate could include:
Significant anniversaries - 1 year, 5 years
Promotions or role changes
Completion of important projects
Team or company achievements
Personal milestones - birthdays, engagements, babies (where appropriate).
Why celebrating matters
It’s not all about cake and cards, done well, workplace celebrations can help build a positive workplace culture.
They also help to:
Boost morale - People feel seen and valued when their contributions are recognised.
Strengthens retention - Employees who feel appreciated are more likely to stay.
Reinforces company values - Acknowledging achievements highlights what your business values and rewards.
Builds connection - Shared celebrations encourage teamwork and a sense of belonging.
How to celebrate
It’s important not to overthink celebrations in the workplace. They don’t have to be all singing and all dancing, sometimes a handwritten card or personalised message is enough. Other ideas for celebrating/acknowledging important events could also include:
A public thank-you at a team meeting
A small gift, voucher, or extra leave day
A team lunch or morning tea
A post on your internal communication channel.
For bigger milestones like major project completions, you might choose something more formal, such as a presentation, certificate, or planned team event.
How to keep celebrations professional
Of course, celebrations in the workplace need to remain professional and appropriate. It’s important to respect boundaries as not everyone likes or wants public attention, so always consider personal preferences.
Celebrations should also be fair and consistent. If you decide to celebrate one milestone for one employee, you should celebrate again when another employee reaches the same one in order to avoid favouritism, but remember the celebration needs to suit the individual.
You should also be mindful of cultural, personal and lifestyle differences among staff and stay aligned with your own workplace policies, particularly when celebrations involve presents, alcohol or time away from work.
If you’re unsure how to recognise milestones in a way that fits your business or you want some guidance on putting together policies or practices, we can help. Get in touch and we can chat about building a workplace culture where your staff feel valued, supported and celebrated.
Many of you will have seen the news in December that the Employment Rights Bill received Royal Assent and is now officially the Employment Rights Act 2025. This Act is set to give the biggest shake up in employment law in decades and all employers, regardless of size, will need to make changes.
If you need support navigating your way through what this legislation means and what changes you need to make in your HR policies/procedures, please do get in touch as we would love to help.