Years of Service Recognition FAQs

All full-time, benefits-eligible employees of the University are eligible for the Years of Service Recognition Program, including staff, faculty and technical service and remote employees. Postdoctoral researchers, part-time employees, and employees for Penn State Health and Penn College are not included in the program.

Recognition for past milestones will not be available retroactively. Penn State leaders appreciate the hard work and dedication of all employees, and we look forward to celebrating everyone through this program in the coming years. We will continue to honor and thank you for your work through an established program such as the faculty and staff achievement awards, and this new program will bring new opportunities to recognize your dedication.

The Years of Service Recognition Program will supersede any existing unit recognition. Currently, there is no standard or centralized system for recognizing employees. This means that, while some leaders might have introduced methods to show appreciation, these practices were inconsistent and not available to everyone. This program aims to recognize employees equally across every college, campus and unit. Units who celebrate anniversaries with gatherings, presentations or other traditions are welcome to continue them, but this program will replace any gift or award policies a department currently offers for years of service.

This new Years of Service Recognition program will continue to offer the iconic Penn State chair as a gift choice for 25 years of service, with other options to choose from within the gift catalog, as well.  

Managers will receive an automated email 45 days before an employee's anniversary month. They will then have until 14 days after receiving the email to submit comments for a personalized yearbook and invite coworkers, friends and family to provide more. Two weeks before the anniversary date, submitted comments and photos will be compiled into the physical copy of the yearbook.

Employees observing their fifth anniversary or later will receive an email notice on their anniversary and be invited to select a gift from a catalog and view a yearbook.

Employees receive a digital and printed yearbook and numbers by default, and are invited to select a gift from a variety of options associated with their anniversary. The chosen gift will be sent directly to the employee’s home. For virtual gifts, access will be given through an email sent directly to the employee.

Submitting materials to the yearbook is voluntary, but doing so will help to show your employee or colleague that you appreciate the work they do. The submission form will include options to submit written comments, photos and/or a video of yourself offering congratulations to personalize the anniversary gifts for the recipient. These materials will not be made public, but will be shared with the employee to celebrate their anniversary when the day arrives.

Yes, non-Penn State employees such as friends and family can also contribute well wishes, photos and videos to the yearbook.

This program does not allow employees to exchange physical gifts for monetary gifts or to opt for a donation.

In accordance with the recent updates to HR Policy 109, employees who leave Penn State for fewer than five years can carry their previous years with Penn State forward for benefits. Employees must complete the application within the policy in order to receive those benefits. Once updated in Workday, the employee’s future milestone dates will be automatically calculated based on the new hire date that includes any reinstated prior years of service. They will not receive milestone acknowledgements for any anniversary dates missed during the break in service.

Gifts are available for anniversaries from five to 50 years of employment. Employees are eligible for recognition for every five-year interval until they retire or depart from Penn State.