9 Work Anniversary Gift Ideas from Companies That Do It Right
Picture an employee celebrating their work anniversary. They get an email. Maybe a shout-out in a team meeting. And that's it.
There's nothing wrong here. But then, there's nothing that stays with them for long or makes them feel appreciated either.
Now imagine a better gift: something personalized with their name, a note from leadership, and something they’ll actually use.
A work anniversary is one of the few occasions where recognition is expected. In fact, when employees feel seen at their milestones, they tend to stay with the company longer. Yet, not many companies get this right.
Good milestone gifts for employees don't have to come with a hefty price tag. A meaningful gift that shows you've put in thought can be just as valuable.
And if you want to sprinkle a bit of creativity too, you've landed in the right place. We've rounded up 9 of our favorite work anniversary gift ideas from companies that got it right. Let's dive right in.
What Makes a Work Anniversary Gift Memorable?
Here's what makes work anniversary gifts stand out from generic corporate merch:
1. It Feels Personal
The best personalized corporate gifts for work anniversaries should make employees feel valued for their contribution. Add a handwritten note, mention a recent project, or let them choose from a few gift options. It doesn’t need to be expensive, just thoughtful.
2. It Scales Through Tiers or Themes
A tiered gifting program makes work anniversary gifts easier to manage. You could set gift options for 1, 3, and 5+ years, and group them around themes like wellness, productivity, sustainability, or company values.
3. It Reflects Company Values
Company values shouldn’t just live on your website or in the employee handbook. Work anniversary gifts can be a simple way to put those values into practice. Instead of generic gift cards or logo merchandise, choose sustainable products, support small businesses and artisans, or give to social-impact causes.
4. It Works for Remote and Hybrid Teams
If you have a remote or hybrid team, your recognition plan should take this setup into consideration. So, choose options that can not only be personalized but can also be shipped to their homes, and at the same time suit both in-office and remote employees.
5. It Is Celebrated Openly
Picking the right work anniversary gift is important. But so is public recognition. Add a shout-out in the newsletter or Slack, have the manager say a few words, or share the story behind the gift. This makes the recognition more personal and visible.
9 Brands That Nailed Work Anniversary Gifts
different budgets that have cracked the code for work anniversary gifts:
1. Smartsheet: 5-Year Custom Nike Dunks
If you're looking for work anniversary gift ideas that employees can wear, Smartsheet is a great example. At an employee's 5-year anniversary, Smartsheet gives them custom Nike Low Dunks, with 'SMART' printed on the heel of one shoe and 'SHEET' on the other.
Smartsheet’s 5-year Dunks have become a company tradition. Source: LinkedIn
This idea was so successful that the shoes have now become a company tradition. In fact, one of the employees took to LinkedIn, calling them a 'limited edition' pair.
Why it works: The shoes not only come with a great brand value themselves, but they're also something that employees would want to wear and show off. So, naturally, the gift will get seen outside the office. Not to mention, employees can't buy them. They get to earn their pair.
2. InterWorks: Design-Your-Own Nike Sneakers and Customised Ray-Bans
InterWorks is an IT and data consulting firm. For work anniversaries, its Employee Experience team picks three gift options every year. These are usually items that employees can either wear or use daily.
And that's not all. The team goes a step ahead, collaborating with the marketing team to create a special email. When it's an employee's anniversary, they receive this special email and select the gift they want. And since these options keep changing every year, coworkers excitedly track down anyone with a January anniversary to get a sneak peek.
InterWorks changes its three gift options every year, which keeps the anniversary email something to look forward to. Source: InterWorks
InterWorks started with customized Ray-Bans. These became so popular that the company repeated them. In 2021, it added custom Nikes through Nike By You, letting employees choose their design, colors, and text.
Why it works: Employees can choose a gift that suits their taste instead of getting the same item as everyone else. And since the options keep changing every year, it builds a buzz around the email. Whether you're planning leadership appreciation gifts or gifts for the whole team, this beats generic branded swag any day.
3. Sheng Siong: Gold that Scales with Tenure
Sheng Siong is a Singapore supermarket chain with over 80 stores across the country. On an employee's 5-year work anniversary, the brand gives out a gold coin engraved with the company logo as a Long Service Award.
This isn't a one-time gift. As an employee's tenure grows, so does the gold coin. According to news reports, there are four tiers, one for every 5 years:
5 years: 20g, worth about S$3,700
10 years: 30g, worth about S$5,600
15 years: 40g, worth about S$7,500
20 years: 100g, worth about S$18,600
Sheng Siong’s coin gets bigger with every 5-year milestone and is handed over at a ceremony with the CEO. Source: MotherShip
The 20-year coin has "20 Years Long Service Award" engraved on the back. On top of that, employees receive their coins with a certificate of appreciation at a ceremony with the CEO, Lim Hock Chee.
Why it works: While the reward is extremely valuable in itself, it also grows with tenure, making each milestone bigger than the last. Plus, gold holds its value, letting employees keep or use it.
4. ASW Global: 10-Year Club Jacket + Pin
ASW Global introduced a 10-Year Club for employees who complete a decade with the company. In 2026, it gave each member a specially designed jacket and a pin. Besides being a unique gift, it also gives employees a sense of belonging.
ASW Global’s jacket and pin mark membership in an exclusive 10-Year Club. Source: AsWhiteglobal
The gifts were given out at an Employee Appreciation Night across the company's Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam offices. Senior leaders, including CEO Joe Fussell, also attended the event to thank members in person. ASW Global also invited the members' companions and family to join the event.
Why it works: The jacket and pin are more than simple anniversary gifts. They're a sign of membership to an exclusive club. Plus, inviting families allows members to share the recognition with the people who supported them.
5. Lornamead: Embossed Gold Coin
Lornamead is a personal care company that makes and markets products under brands like Yardley, Aqua Net, Rapid White, and Lypsyl.
The coin is custom-made for Lornamead, so it can’t be bought off the shelf. Source: LinkedIn
Lornamead employees who reach the 5-year mark with the company receive a custom-made, embossed 24-karat gold coin. It is a token of gratitude for their dedication and contribution, and carries a lot more value than standard personalized corporate gifts.
Why it works: Real gold has lasting value. And because the coin is custom-made and embossed, it is specific to the company and not something random off the shelf.
6. LEGO: Golden Brick
Another unique work anniversary gift idea that we absolutely love is from LEGO. It gives its employees a golden brick on a work milestone, along with a LEGO set and flowers. Employees call it a DUPLO brick.
A rarer solid 14kt gold version reportedly went to 20-year employees at a German factory. Source: Reddit
There's also a rarer version. LEGO reportedly gave solid 14kt gold LEGO bricks to employees with at least 20 years of service and extraordinary achievement at a German factory. It is said that only 30 of these bricks exist, though this isn't a confirmed number.
Why it works: Only LEGO could give this, since the object is the company itself. A brick also connects to the product employees help make. Not to mention the solid gold version adds a sense of rarity.
7. D2L: Engraved Bricks that Build Up Over a Career
D2L is a software company, and most of its work is virtual. To give this work a more physical feel, its Product Development team started the Recognition Brick Program in 2015.
D2L’s bricks also mark projects and milestones, building into a physical record of a career. Source: LinkedIn
The idea was simple: every employee will receive a brick figurine of themselves, on a base with the D2L name and their own name. The collection grows with engraved bricks:
A new "X Year" brick on every work anniversary.
Bricks for projects and milestones, like shipping a feature or finishing an internal program.
Special black bricks for shipping a significant product or capability.
Team-specific bricks, like a "sourcery" brick for recruiters who source a hire.
If you're looking for tiered work anniversary gift ideas, this one is a good inspiration.
Why it works: Bricks add up over the year, leaving employees with a physical record of their career. And since these bricks are not limited to anniversaries but also extend to projects and achievements, it's a great way to mark an employee's tenure and contribution together.
8. Apple: 10-Year Aluminum Award
Apple has given personalization a whole new meaning by including not only the employee but also its own product in the work anniversary gift. On an employee's 10-year work anniversary, Apple gifts them a solid aluminum award.
What makes it unique? The fact that it is made from the same 6000 series aluminum used in Apple's products. The award features the Apple logo in the center, along with the number 10 and the employee's name engraved on the side.
The box includes a polishing cloth and a hand-signed note from the CEO. Source: Reddit
The gift doesn't end here. The box also comes with an Apple polishing cloth, a note explaining how the award was made, and a congratulatory note hand-signed by CEO Tim Cook. The award has different versions for the 20- and 30-year marks as well, with the 20-year one featuring a darker space gray color.
Why it works: The award uses the same materials as Apple’s products, while the recycled alloy and production process add meaning to the gift. A note signed by the CEO makes the thank-you feel more personal.
9. Paradise Group: Rolex Watches and Gold Bars
Paradise Group is a Singapore restaurant operator behind brands like Paradise Dynasty, Beauty in the Pot, and ParaThai. At its annual dinner and dance at the Marina Bay Sands Grand Ballroom, it gave long-service awards to 330 employees with 5 to 15 years of service.
Everyone with 10+ years got a Rolex, regardless of position. Source: Waopost
The gifts were tied to the tenure:
5 to 7 years: A 2.5g Suisse gold bar, worth about S$240.
8 to 9 years: A 5g gold bar, worth about S$450.
10+ years: A Rolex watch, given to employees regardless of position. Models included the Datejust, which retails for around S$9,800.
15 years: S$5,000 travel vouchers, since these employees already got a Rolex at the 10-year milestone.
The company spent close to S$2 million on the event, including the watches and other gifts.
Why it works: A Rolex or a gold bar has status and value outside the company. Plus, every employee with 10+ years gets one, no matter their role. The gifts also go well beyond the premium branded merchandise Singapore companies usually give. As such, it requires a very large budget. So, think of it as an upper limit, not a template.
Employee Gifting Tax Considerations in Singapore
Before you take inspiration from these unique work anniversary gift ideas and pick out an item, you should be aware of the tax rules. The IRAS gift tax concession Singapore employers rely on treats work anniversary and long service gifts as employee awards.
Here's how it works:
Non-cash long service awards worth $200 or less aren't taxable and fall under the administrative concession. These include things like a pen, a plaque, or a watch.
If an award exceeds $200 in value, the entire amount becomes taxable, not just the extra. The employer must also declare what it cost. For example, a watch or pen is still taxable if it exceeds $200.
Cash awards for long service are taxable. IRAS counts gift and shopping vouchers as cash.
Here's what you need to do next
Why did we list these nine companies as our favorite work anniversary gift ideas? Because all of them have two things in common:
They are specific to the company.
Employees have to earn the gifts.
But while these are good starting points for taking inspiration, not every company has Apple's manufacturing budget or LEGO's built-in brand equity. And that's okay. Because as we always say, you don't need a hefty price tag to make your gift more valuable or meaningful. The idea is to select something only your company could give, and tie it to tenure.
That's where Gumtoo can help.
Gumtoo turns these "earned, not bought" milestone moments into reality through custom merch for corporate gifting. Instead of one-size-fits-all tenure gifts, we help you build a tiered gifting program for different milestones with premium branded merchandise in Singapore.
Want a milestone gifting program your team looks forward to? Talk to Gumtoo about building a tiered anniversary gift set today!
FAQs
1.What are some good work anniversary gift ideas for employees?
A good anniversary gift is one that is tied to your company and feels earned. For example, Smartsheet gives custom Nike Dunks at 5 years. So, select gifts that employees can use daily, or pick for themselves.
2. Do work anniversary gifts have to be expensive?
No, a good work anniversary gift doesn't have to be expensive. What's important is that it feels like you've put in thought and genuinely appreciate the employee. Even a small thing like a handwritten note from leadership can hold a lot of value.
3. Should the gift change as employees stay longer?
Ideally, yes. Tiering gifts by tenure keeps things fair and easy to manage, like 1 year, 3 years, 5 years, etc. Some companies build this into the gift itself. For example, Sheng Siong's gold coins grow from 20g at 5 years to 100g at 20 years.
4. Are work anniversary gifts taxable in Singapore?
Taxation depends on the gift itself. Non-cash long service awards worth $200 or less aren't taxable under an IRAS concession. If an award goes over $200, the whole value is taxable, and the employer must declare the cost. Cash awards are taxable.
5. How can you celebrate work anniversaries for remote or hybrid teams?
For remote or hybrid teams, select items that can be personalized, shipped to their homes, and suit both office and remote employees. Top it off with public recognition, like a shout-out in the company newsletter or on Slack.
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