Recognizing employee milestones not only boosts morale but also reinforces a culture of appreciation and belonging. Anniversary recognitions are a pivotal part of celebrating career milestones. Here’s a detailed guide on how to set up anniversary recognitions in the admin center.
Note: To ensure the automated anniversary recognitions function correctly, please verify that your employees' hire dates are current in Microsoft Entra ID or Teamflect. This information can be confirmed by visiting the "Active Users" section in your Admin Center.
If you see "No value" listed for any hire dates, it indicates that those dates are missing, and consequently, the anniversary recognitions will not be triggered.
Step 1: Navigate to the Recognitions Module
Log in to the admin center and select the “Recognitions” module. This is your starting point for setting up various forms of employee recognition, including anniversaries.
Step 2: Manage Anniversary Recognition
Within the recognitions module, click on “Manage Anniversary Recognition.” This area allows you to handle settings specifically for anniversary milestones.
Step 3: Enable Anniversary Badges
You will see a range of badges corresponding to different anniversaries, from the 1st year to the 40th year. Choose which milestone badges you want to activate by toggling the buttons next to each.
Use Case Scenario: Imagine an employee, Lisa, who has just completed her 5th year with the company. By enabling the 5th-year badge, you can automatically set up a recognition that resonates with her dedication and loyalty.
Step 4: Customize the Badges
Click the “edit” button next to each badge to customize:
Background Image: Select from pre-existing options or upload a personalized background that reflects your company’s branding or the significance of the milestone.
Badge Image: Choose a fitting badge image or upload a custom design that celebrates the specific anniversary.
Message: Enter a title and message content. Utilize the variable
{{name}}to personalize the message with the employee's name.
Recognition Points: Assign points to this badge which employees can accumulate and later redeem through the “rewards” functionality.
Send As: If you don't want your name to show as the recognition sender on the notification that will be sent, you may set up an alias by entering the company name in this field.
Use Case Scenario: For a decade-long anniversary, customize a badge with a special background denoting the decade milestone, adding a message like, "Congratulations on a decade of success, {{name}}!"
Step 5: Integration and Privacy Settings
Integration with Teams: Connect these recognitions to a specific Microsoft Teams channel. This visibility ensures that the entire team recognizes the individual’s milestone when they receive a notification about the recognition.
Watch the tutorial below to learn how to automatically send notifications to a Teams channel when an employee receives a new recognition:
Privacy: Choose who can see these recognitions within the organization to maintain the desired level of privacy.
Timing: Set the exact time for the badge to be sent out, ensuring it aligns with your time zone (Tip: You can look up the UTC equivalent of your time zone online).
Use Case Scenario: John’s 20th anniversary is approaching. By setting the badge to be visible company-wide and connecting it to the general Teams channel, not only does John get recognized, but it also fosters a sense of community and continued commitment among all employees.
Step 6: Save Changes
They can be viewed in the Company Recognitions by checking the following box in the App:
Step 7: See Upcoming Anniversaries
Go back to the Recognitions page to see a list of upcoming anniversaries in the next 30 days.
By following these steps and considering the use-case scenarios from an HR perspective, you can effectively implement a meaningful and impactful anniversary recognition program that acknowledges and celebrates your employees' tenure and dedication.