With average job tenure in Australia shrinking to just three years four months, a Years of Service Award is even more relevant, not less. Here's why.
The length of time an employee spends at an organisation is decreasing. Average job tenure in Australia is just three years and four months, McCrindle reports, and a school leaver today will have 17 different employers in their lifetime.
This has led many to argue that the Years of Service Award Program is no longer useful. After all, if no one is staying at a company for five or ten years, what's the point in having the program at all? Well the truth is, shrinking job tenure makes Years of Service Awards Programs even more relevant. Here's why:
The importance of loyalty
Yes, job tenure is shrinking. But that means when you can show an employee has been loyal to your organisation for a certain period of time, it becomes even more crucial to recognise this, not less.
Think of it from a marketing or PR perspective. Millennials and Generation Z only expect to be in a job for a couple of years, and they'll expect their counterparts to do the same. But what if they arrive at a company and see peers receiving rewards for three or five years' tenure? This will show them that those employees believe this is a great place to work, one where they will learn new skills and that's worth staying at for a certain period of time.
Likewise, this is also great press from an external perspective. It's a point of discussion in interviews - you can show how great the culture is at your organisation by pointing out how many people have received Years of Service Awards. With so many businesses only holding on to employees for one or two years, this will create a point of difference and encourage the best talent to choose you.
Pointing out achievements not just tenure
Where some Years of Service Award Programs do fall down is how they are communicated. Five years in a job isn't necessarily a good thing if that employee has underperformed. That's why when you communicate who's receiving an award, it's essential you focus on their achievements and what they've brought to the company over that time. Look back and consider big projects they've worked on, as well as impact that has had on your business, and be sure to mention these during your awards ceremony and in internal comms.
A different timeline
When designing a Years of Service Award Program in the modern age, it's important not to get caught up in what older programs used to celebrate. It's simply unrealistic to introduce 20-year milestones. However, shortening the timelines to two, three and five years is going to make rewards a lot more achievable. You can then offer different rewards and celebrations depending on the length of time that person has spent with you, so you can still differentiate longer tenure.
A Years of Service Awards Program with Power2Motivate
A Years of Service Awards Program from Power2Motivate Australia can help you and your workers celebrate long tenure and drive employee retention, motivation and engagement. From reminding busy managers when their employees are approaching service date anniversaries to generating customised certificates and issuing points and rewards, the Power2Motivate years of service program handles all the administration for you.
Reach out to the team today for more information, or request a demo.