15 Work anniversary memes you can use in celebrations

Memes have been a standard when it comes to celebrating work anniversaries in a fun and humorous way. They make people laugh and say, “Hey, we remembered” without making a big deal out of things. 

If you’re looking for a happy work anniversary meme for your colleague or workmate that expresses just the right sentiment, then you’re sure to find it here. We’ve collected funny work anniversary memes and heartfelt messages that are sure to put a smile on your coworker’s face. 

Key Takeaway: From pop culture icons to cute animals, memes help keep workplace recognition engaging, relatable, and easy to share across teams.

Why do people use memes for work anniversary celebrations?

Memes are a way of letting people know that you remembered their special day, and instead of sending just a ‘Congratulations on your 3rd year’ message, memes do it in a fun way. It’s personal, it’s fun, and it's engaging. Memes allow you to communicate sentiment and mood without saying much, because the picture says it all. 

Popular culture, relatability, and humor make the best memes. They help team members bond over shared experiences and workplace culture while keeping the mood light. They’re also easy to share on Slack, social media, and email - what’s not to love?

BTW - Is a work anniversary called a: workaversary or workiversary? Find out 👉 Workaversary or Workiversary? Everything you need to know!

Popular work anniversary memes 

1. Michael Scott meme

Image from: The Office Series

The perfect meme adds a bit of humor to a relatable situation, and no one combines timing and relatability like Michael Scott. Keep the mood light by wishing your colleague all the best with famous ‘Office’ style humor. 

If you love work anniversary memes as much as Michael Scott, you can automate your messages inside Slack with BuddiesHR and Billy. Billy will ensure you never forget a colleague’s anniversary (or birthday) again. No more awkward, ‘I'm sorry I forgot…’ conversations. 👉Bring fun into your everyday celebrations, while Billy makes it easy to acknowledge anniversary milestones.  

2. Star Wars meme

Image from: Star Wars

Some of the most popular work anniversary messages feature Darth Vader from Star Wars. Darth Vader is one of the most iconic characters in pop culture and is often associated with power.  Use Darth Vader for colleagues who are still going strong, have long tenure, and make light of corporate culture. 

3. Addams Family meme

Image from: The Adams Family

Addam’s Family memes are used for inside jokes that communicate extreme relatability and dark humor. Best sent to colleagues that you know very well, and have shared common work experiences with. Wednesday Addams embodies the mood of the millennial generation workplace - often seen as quietly brooding and skeptical. 

4. Cat meme

So, appreciation for your cat-loving colleagues with these memes. Send them to the coworker who’s aloof, confident, cool, and laid back. It’s like they just know they’re awesome and aren’t afraid to say it. Take your ‘happy anniversary’ to the next level with a work anniversary gif - there are plenty of cute cats online to make your own memes. 

🎉 Generate unique work anniversary messages with the FREE work anniversary message generator from BuddiesHR. Use them for anniversary cards, Slack messages, and social media posts. 

5. Baby Yoda meme

Baby Yoda work anniversary messages are popular because they combine an irresistible level of cuteness with light-heartedness, making them perfect for anything from first-year celebrations to twenty years. Baby Yoda is the perfect meme for chats between remote teams - innocent fun the whole team can relate to. 

6. Baby meme

Work in a physical office space? Then why not print out cute baby memes that everyone loves and decorate your team member’s desk with them? It’s a fun way to cheer everyone up and acknowledge your colleague on their special day.  Small gestures make a big difference. Mix it up with animal memes and you’ll have a work anniversary celebration to remember. 👇

7. Cute Animal meme

Give kudos to your colleague for their hard work with cute animal memes. They’ve been doing a good job for a long time, and now you’re finally able to let them know that you think they’re great. Animal-loving coworkers will appreciate that you took notice of their affection for their ‘fur babies, ’ and it's usually a hit every time. 

If you’re afraid that you’re going to miss your colleague’s special day (we think it’s a valid concern), then find out how to prevent this by setting up Billy in Slack. Understand the top 5 benefits of setting up Billy (the birthday-anniversary bot) for Slack. 

Milestone work anniversaries

1. Five-year work anniversary

Five whole years and you haven’t quit yet, that’s pretty serious, and this meme communicates just that. Your colleague has found the company they love to work for, and is celebrating a big day with their five-year tenure. 

2. Ten-year work anniversary 

Let’s face it, by the time ten years rolls around, even the biggest skeptic is impressed. Either the company is doing something right, or you’re just a sucker for punishment. But either way, hats off to a work colleague with staying power - that’s admirable. 

3. Fifteen-year work anniversary

As if ten years wasn't enough of an accomplishment, fifteen years seems like a lifetime in our ever-changing world. By this time, ‘old age’ memes are part of the repertoire. Make a fuss of your colleague by sending them funny memes that tell them how impressed you are. 

Pop culture happy work anniversary memes

1. Ron Swanson grumpy boss meme

Image from: Parks and Recreation

Any employee who’s had a grumpy boss relates to this meme. The Ron Swanson work anniversary meme originated with the popular series, Parks and Recreation, where deadpan humor, work cynicism, and dry wit rule. If this is your work environment, your colleague will appreciate the nod. 

2. Game of Thrones sarcasm

Image from:  Game of Thrones

This one is for the colleague who seems to outlast everyone. Fans of the series, Game of Thrones, will appreciate the subtle hint here to the show's most enduring character, Tyrion Lannister. 

3. Seinfeld, let’s just move on meme

Image from: Seinfeld

This meme humorously celebrates a work anniversary while poking fun at hustle culture and the idea that celebrations are fleeting in a fast-paced work environment. The meme features Kramer from Seinfeld with his energetic, wide-eyed enthusiasm — adding to the meme’s chaotic charm.

4. Dawson heartfelt meme

Image from: Dawson’s Creek

Memes don’t always have to be funny, sarcastic, or witty. They can also just reflect heartfelt sentiment towards the accomplishments of your colleague. This meme says it all. 

5. Sopranos ‘I like you’ meme

Image from: The Sopranos

Another heartfelt message, but this time for fans of the iconic series, The Sopranos. If this is your colleague, the intention of this meme will be clear to them, especially if you’re not usually the emotional type. We don’t gotta spell it out for you, do we?

Need more inspiration? We’ve got you. Here are the 15 best work anniversary messages.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are memes really that popular?

Yes, according to a recently updated report, the global meme industry in 2025 is predicted to be around $6.1 billion. People between the ages of 13 and 36 represent the group that uses memes the most. 74% of respondents say they send memes to make people smile or laugh, showing the memes are very much still part of culture. 

2. What is meme etiquette?

Meme etiquette is the unspoken (and sometimes spoken) rules for sharing memes in the workplace that are appropriate and respectful. Be aware of the different boundaries between colleagues, friends, and strangers. Use HR safe rules like no swearing, offensive jokes, or racism.

3. Are memes appropriate for the workplace?

Yes, when used respectfully, memes are a great way to help individuals and teams bond over shared experiences. They are a way to communicate company culture, mood, and common feelings about situations. 

4. Can I create my own memes for internal office use?

Absolutely! In fact, personalized memes can make celebrations and internal culture feel more authentic and fun. Tools like Canva or message generators make it easy.

5. Do memes need to be approved by HR?

In most cases memes do not need to be approved to be shared on Slack or another messaging platform. However, if you’re posting a meme on behalf of your whole team, get agreement on whether everyone thinks it’s appropriate. 

6. Is there a way to automate anniversary messages in Slack?

Yes. Slack first apps like Billy by BuddiesHR allow you to automate celebration messages in a few easy steps. This takes all the hard work out of remembering important dates and provides fairness and consistency across teams. 

A work anniversary meme for every mood

When an image can say everything, why bother to write a long anniversary message (unless you want to). With a meme, acknowledging your work colleague is fun and helps you bond. Whether you’re saying, ‘hats off’ to them for being a hard worker, or sending a message about surviving password changes (yes, that’s a meme), you can make it memorable. 

You’ll never run out of steam or ideas, and if you can automate anniversary messages, even better. No one has to feel left out - ever. Include Billy in your Slack workspace right now, and make everyone laugh with top-notch memes by lunchtime.