How to make a work anniversary card
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Quick answer: To make a work anniversary card, create an online group card a week before the date, use an anniversary design or a team photo as the cover, and share the signing link with colleagues. Ask for a memory or thank-you from each person. Then seal the card and send the finished link on the anniversary itself.
Work anniversaries are easy to miss. There's no cake in the diary and no leaving do, so a colleague can quietly reach five or ten years without anyone saying a word. A group card fixes that in a few minutes. This guide covers when to send one, how to set it up, and what to write for different milestones.
What is a work anniversary card?
A work anniversary card marks the date someone joined an organisation, usually signed by their team and manager. In the US it's sometimes called a "workiversary" card; in the UK you'll also hear "long service" or "years of service" card for bigger milestones.
It's different from a wedding anniversary card. If you're celebrating a couple, see our guide to the group anniversary card instead.
Which work anniversaries should you mark?
Any year can be worth marking, but milestones such as 1, 5, 10, 20 and 25 years matter most to people. Many formal service-award schemes only start at five years. HR guidance from SHRM suggests that starting at five years can miss younger staff, and recommends recognising earlier milestones such as the first and third years too.
A practical approach for teams:
| Milestone | Suggested approach |
|---|---|
| 1 year | Small team card, light and friendly |
| 2–4 years | Card if the team does birthdays too; otherwise a message in the team chat |
| 5 years | Team card, plus a mention in a team meeting |
| 10 years | Card from the wider department, manager's message first |
| 20, 25+ years | Card from across the organisation, possibly printed for presentation |
In our view, consistency matters more than size. If one person gets a card at five years and another gets nothing, people notice. Keep a simple list of start dates so nobody is missed.
How do you make a work anniversary card?
Create the card, share one link, collect messages, then seal and send on the date. The process is the same as for any online group card; our guide to making a group card online explains it from start to finish.
1. Create the card
On SignThisCard there's no separate work-anniversary occasion page, so start from the anniversary designs or upload your own cover, such as a team photo from their first year. Uploads can be JPG, PNG or WebP up to 10 MB, ideally 960×1280 portrait. Add a cover message like "Happy 10-year work anniversary, Marcus!" and choose a colour.
You need a free account and must verify your email address before you can share or send the card.
2. Invite colleagues
Paste the signing link into Microsoft Teams, Slack or a group email. For a long-serving colleague, include people from other departments and former teammates who still work at the company; they often have the best stories.
To track who's signed, use individual invitation links or email invitations. Each personal link accepts one signature, and the management page shows waiting, opened or signed for each invitation. The management page also shows the overall signature count.
3. Collect messages
Signers don't need an account. They press "Add your message", write a note, add their name, choose a note colour and can draw a handwritten signature or add a photo. A writing helper suggests text that they can edit.
4. Add music or a video
As the organiser, you can add a library music track or upload a short video, for example a quick message from the department head.
5. Seal and send on the day
SignThisCard doesn't send cards automatically. Set an email reminder (0–365 days before the planned date, sent around 9 am UK time), then preview, seal and send. Sealing closes signing and cannot be reopened, so give everyone a deadline first.
Send the finished-card link or enter the recipient's email address. They press Reveal card and it opens like a book, with no account needed.
What should you write in a work anniversary card?
Thank them for something specific and mention how long they've been part of the team. A memory, a skill you rely on or a moment they helped you is worth more than a generic "well done".
Ideas by milestone:
- 1 year: "Happy one-year anniversary, Chloe! It feels like you've been here much longer, in the best way. Thanks for everything you've brought to the team."
- 5 years: "Five years! You've trained half the team and still answer every question with a smile. Thank you, Marcus."
- 10 years: "A decade of your spreadsheets keeping us all honest. Congratulations on ten years, and thank you for always being the calm one."
- 20 or 25 years: "Twenty-five years is an incredible achievement. So much of how we work today started with you. Thank you, and congratulations."
- From a manager: "I can't imagine this team without you. Thank you for your loyalty, your ideas and your patience with my calendar."
Things to avoid:
- Jokes about age ("you must be ancient by now")
- Hints that they should have moved on or been promoted by now
- Comments about salary or pay rises
If the anniversary coincides with a promotion, a congratulations card from the team may fit better, or you can combine both in one message.
Should the team add a gift?
A card alone is often enough, especially for earlier milestones. For bigger milestones, teams sometimes add flowers, a voucher or a team lunch.
SignThisCard doesn't collect money. If you're gathering contributions, use a separate method such as a bank transfer, a gift-collection service or a voucher, and put that link in your invite message. Many organisations also run their own formal long-service awards through HR, so check what's already planned so you don't duplicate it.
How much does a work anniversary card cost?
It can be free for small teams. SignThisCard's Free plan covers one card with up to 15 signers, and that free card can be used once.
- Single Card – £1.99: one card, unlimited signers, one-off payment
- Plus – £4.99/month (or £47.90/year): up to 5 cards per calendar month, up to 10 active cards
- Unlimited – £9.99/month (or £95.90/year): no fixed card limit, fair use applies
HR teams marking several anniversaries each month may find a monthly plan simpler. Monthly plans can be cancelled at any time, with access continuing to the end of the paid period.
Key takeaways
- A work anniversary card marks the date someone joined an organisation and is usually signed by their team and manager.
- Recognising early milestones, such as the first year, can matter as much as five or ten years.
- The best messages thank the person for something specific.
- Signers don't need an account; only the organiser needs a free, email-verified account.
- SignThisCard doesn't send cards automatically, but an email reminder helps you send on the right day.
- Keep a list of start dates so every colleague is treated consistently.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal to send a card for a work anniversary?
Yes, especially for milestone years like five, ten or twenty-five. Many teams also mark the first year. A card is low-key and inclusive, so it suits people who don't want a fuss. If your organisation has a formal service-award scheme, a team card adds a personal touch alongside it.
What do you write in a 10-year work anniversary card?
Mention the decade, thank them for something specific and add a memory if you have one. For example: "Ten years of being the person everyone asks first. Thank you for your patience and good humour, and congratulations on a brilliant decade." Keep it warm and avoid jokes about age.
Who should organise a work anniversary card?
Usually the line manager, a team lead or an office manager, but anyone on the team can do it. HR teams sometimes organise cards for milestone years. Whoever organises it needs a free SignThisCard account with a verified email; everyone else can sign without one.
Can remote colleagues sign the card?
Yes. Anyone with the signing link can add a message from a phone or computer, wherever they are. Share the link in the channels remote colleagues actually use, such as Teams or Slack, and give a clear deadline. You can also send individual email invitations to people in other offices.
Can we print the card for a presentation?
Yes. The finished card has a print view with a "Download PDF" option. Printed and PDF copies include the messages, signatures and photos but don't play music or animations. A printed copy works well if a long-service milestone is being marked at a team meeting or event.
What if we've missed the anniversary date?
Send it anyway, and say so honestly: "We're a few days late, but we didn't want this to pass without saying thank you." A slightly late card is far better than none. Then add start dates to a shared calendar so it doesn't happen next year.
Conclusion
A work anniversary card is a small, inclusive way to say thank you for years of effort that often go unnoticed. Keep a list of start dates, invite the people who've worked closely with them, ask for specific memories and send the card on the day. If the main point is gratitude for a project or favour, our thank-you card from the team guide may suit better, and you can find more ideas in our group card ideas by occasion.
Ready to mark the milestone? Start an anniversary card on SignThisCard and share the link with the team.