Workaversary or Workiversary? Everything you need to know!

In the contemporary professional world, celebrating employee milestones is not confined to birthdays and work anniversaries. Enter the realm of ‘workiversaries', an increasingly popular way to commemorate an employee’s work anniversary. 

But hang on a minute, is it ‘workiversary' or ‘workaversary'? 

Quick Overview

The correct term for a work anniversary is ‘workiversary’. It takes the form of a personal message, sent to express gratitude for an employee’s dedication to a company. It is more than just a nice gesture, often boosting employee morale.

Table of Contents

• The correct term: Workiversary
• The roots of Workiversary
• The Birth of company-specific work anniversaries
• Benefit of celebrating work anniversaries
• Workiversary ideas for remote teams
• Workiversary ideas for office-bound teams
• Looking for ways to automate work anniversary celebrations?
• Conclusion
• FAQs

The Correct Term: Workiversary

While the word ‘workiversary’ might still be absent from the formal dictionaries, its usage is gaining traction globally. From social media platforms to corporate hallways, the term is finding a steadfast place in the professional lexicon.

• Google: When we refer to Google‘s vast database of search terms, ‘workiversary’ is searched approximately three times more than ‘workaversary.’
• Instagram: A scan through Instagram hashtags reveals a similar trend with #workiversary boasting twice the popularity compared to #workaversary.
• X (Twitter): The distinction is even starker on X, where #workiversary is used a whopping twenty times more than #workaversary.

But what is behind this growing fascination with celebrating work milestones, and why is ‘workiversary’ the correct term to use? Let’s delve deeper.

PS: Want to celebrate Birthdays and Work Anniversaries at work? Checkout Billy Birthday app for Slack.

The Roots of Workiversary

The term ‘workiversary’ stems from a blend of the words ‘work’ and ‘anniversary’. This mash-up succinctly captures the essence of the celebration — marking the completion of another year at a workplace. While ‘workaversary’ is also formed from the same parent words, it somehow hasn’t caught on with the same fervor, probably because ‘workiversary’ rolls off the tongue a bit smoother and aligns well with the original word ‘anniversary’.

The Birth of Company-Specific Work Anniversaries

Taking the workiversary trend a notch higher, some companies have come up with a clever twist, amalgamating the organization's name with ‘anniversary'. For instance, celebrating a ‘Googleniversary' is now a thing in the vibrant corridors of Google. This personalized approach not only adds a fun element to the celebrations but also fosters a sense of belonging and a positive work environment.

What should you use if you can’t come up with a unique name for work anniversaries at your organization?

If you can't come up with a term as good as Googleniversary, opt for "workiversary." This term is not only more inventive but also adds a touch of fun to the celebration. It stands out compared to the classic "work anniversary".

What are some examples of custom names for work anniversaries used by different organizations?

Organizations often create unique names for celebrating work anniversaries, blending a part of the company's name with the word “versary.” Here are a few examples:

• Automatticcalls it a “Matticversary”
• Elantis Solutionsuses “Elantiversary”
• Facebook celebrates a “Faceversary”
• Google has a “Googleversary”
• Oho Groupmarks the occasion with an “Ohoversary”
• Sherpacalls it a “Sherpaversary”
• Vacouses the term “Vacoversary”

The most effective and memorable of these mashups typically involve using one or two syllables from the company's distinctive name, often blending in an /i/ or /uh/ sound before adding “versary” to the end.

Run out of things to say in your anniversary messages? Try 15 best work anniversary messages.

Benefits of celebrating work anniversaries

If you want to show real appreciation for employee achievements, one of the most powerful tools you can use is a personalized message. When companies take the time to invest in employee recognition, it builds a positive work culture. 

Work anniversaries don’t just boost morale, but they also keep your best people around because it shows you put your employees’ interests first. Team members are far more likely to stick around when you create a positive workplace culture where there’s consistent recognition. Four more stand-out benefits are:

• It encourages engagement and motivation
• It builds stronger team connections
• It enhances employer branding
• It reinforces company values

How to celebrate a workiversary

Work anniversary celebrations can take all kinds of forms, and that's where it gets interesting. We give you some tips to get the ideas going.

Workiversary ideas for remote teams

Remote celebrations need creativity and intentionality to bridge the physical distance. 

• Personalized shoutouts: Start the day with a heartfelt message in your messaging app (like Slack), tagging the person and sharing a quick story about their impact.
• Digital cards or videos: Create a short video montage of teammates sharing messages or fun memories. Tools like Canva and Loom make it easy.
• Deliver surprise treats: Send coffee vouchers, snacks, or a mini gift box to their home. Local delivery services can handle the logistics.
• Virtual hangouts: Host a 15-minute “cheers” call or a themed trivia session. Keep it light, fun, and focused on the person being celebrated.
• Extra time off: Offer a few bonus hours or a “workiversary afternoon” off—simple, but deeply appreciated.

Workiversary ideas for office-bound teams

In-person teams have the luxury of physical space and shared energy—perfect ingredients for meaningful recognition.

• Throw an office party: Balloons, confetti, or a handwritten note on their desk go a long way.
• Team lunch or coffee break: Gather everyone for a casual meal or coffee outing to celebrate together.
• Memory wall: Post photos and highlights from their time at the company—projects, trips, funny moments.
• Small gifts or recognition tokens: A plant, a personalized mug, or a framed “year-in-review” card makes it personal.
• Public acknowledgment: Mention their milestone in a team meeting or company newsletter—visibility is a powerful form of appreciation.

❓ Need more ideas?  We have you covered with 10 Clever and fun work anniversary celebration ideas

Looking for a way to automate work anniversary celebrations?

We’ve got you covered! Our simple Slack/Teams app, Billy (the birthday bot), allows you to streamline the collection of birthdates and work anniversary dates, and automate celebrations by posting a fun and engaging message on the D-Day in the channel of your choice! Read more about the benefits of using a birthday bot for your team with our blog article on the subject.

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Get started with celebrating Birthdays and Work Anniversaries on Slack or Teams by installing the best slack birthday bot on the market.

Conclusion

The most common word for a work anniversary is workiversary. However, you can also use workaversary as an alternative. Some companies have even created their own word for work anniversaries by combining their name and the ending -versary. Whatever you choose, know that it is a great way of recognizing employee achievements and showing them that you care about them. Win-win all the way!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I say workaversary or workiversary?

The most popular way to say it is workiversary. The word is a mash-up of the words work and anniversary, and is used to mark an important milestone in an employee’s career, highlight their longevity, and contributions to the organization. 

2. Is work anniversary a word?

No, work anniversary is a well-understood and common phrase in the workplace. However, it is also expressed through the word ‘workiversary. The most common way to say it is: ‘Happy Workiversary’ or ‘Happy work anniversary’.

3. What is the plural form of Workaversary?

The plural form of workaversary is: ‘workaversaries’. For example, ‘We will be celebrating 5-year workaversaries this month. This usage of the word is secondary to the term ‘workiversary’, which is the most popular combination of the phrase ‘work anniversary’. 

4. What benefits are there to celebrating work anniversaries?

Celebrating work anniversaries boosts morale, strengthens loyalty, and makes employees feel valued. It highlights dedication, creates a positive work culture, and encourages employee retention by recognizing employees’ accomplishments in a meaningful way.