What managers can expect
Last updated: October 9, 2025
Recognizing milestones should feel meaningful—without adding stress. That’s why we’ve created tools, templates and ideas to support managers in celebrating staff authentically and consistently.
The University of Washington Service Award Program recognizes all regular staff for their continuous years of service to the University every five years of continuous service starting at the 5-year service mark.
Here is the UW Service Award 5 year milestone process:
Step 1 – Notification: Managers and employees receive an email at the beginning of the month notifying them that it is their Service Award anniversary.
Step 2 – Pin and Certificate Delivery: Managers receive the employee’s celebration five-year pin and five-year certificate through campus mail and are responsible for presenting their employees with the pins and certificates. Managers: Make sure your campus mailbox is updated in Workday.
Note for UW Medicine departments: If your department has a UW Service Awards coordinator, the coordinator will receive the manager communications.
Here is the UW Service Award 10, 15, 20, 25 + year milestone process:
Step 1 – Notification: Managers and employees receive an email at the beginning of the month notifying them that it is their Service Award anniversary. The email will include instructions and a link to order their gift from the University Book Store.
Step 2 – Gift Selection: The employee is responsible for ordering their preferred gift using the provided link. At checkout, the gift is shipped to the managers campus mail box. Managers: Make sure your campus mailbox is updated in Workday.
Step 3 – Gift Delivery: Managers receive the gift through campus mail and are responsible for presenting it to the employees.
Note for UW Medicine departments: If your department has a UW Service Awards coordinator, the coordinator will receive the manager communications.
Additional meaningful recognition
The Manager Recognition Toolkit provides tools and guidance for recognizing service anniversaries and creating a culture of recognition.