Quarter Finalist
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Joi presents an intriguing analysis of why work anniversaries are significant—and how they should be purposefully celebrated. Their examination of the meaning behind work anniversaries is thought-provoking, as they reflect on community, intent, and the rewards of building cohesive career environments.
Prose: With approachable, down-to-earth prose, Joi guides readers through the processes involved in understanding and honoring work anniversaries. The writing encourages readers to be interactive participants, and Joi’s style is the perfect balance of welcoming and productive.
Originality: Effectively commemorating work anniversaries in a way that will add meaning, satisfaction, and belonging is a unique—and essential—topic for professionals. Joi’s addition of practical suggestions and exercises increases the guide’s originality.
Character/Execution: The information is broken down into graspable sections, and Joi covers a wide variety of professional issues that can interfere with work satisfaction. Checklists, moments of self-reflection, and learning prompts round out the guide’s functionality, gifting readers an abundance of hands-on ideas to implement in their own professional lives.
Date Submitted: January 15, 2024
While Joi’s focus is on practical, original steps to organize and perform work anniversary celebrations, the broader theme is the creation or improvement of healthy, “intentional” workplace culture, especially through demonstrating that employees are valued, appreciated, and remembered for their work. "Work anniversaries can play a significant role in helping you craft an intentional workplace culture," Joi writes. Joi likens work anniversaries to birthdays, with the distinction that work anniversaries are to be celebrated inside of the workplace, while birthdays are personal. Touching on the importance of celebrating both in-person and remote employees, the nuts and bolts of how much to spend and how elaborate to get, and the value of framed certificates and other acknowledgements of employees’ contributions, Inspiring Work Anniversaries makes a compelling, positive case for the power of celebrating employee milestones.
A wealth of clear-eyed advice will help avoid awkward scenarios and ensure celebrations for a host of different types of employees resonate, including guidance for honoring remote employees, writing celebratory speeches, and navigating limited budgets. Business leaders looking for a simple way to acknowledge their employees and curate actionable positivity into their workplace culture will find the ideas and advice here inspiring and easy to implement.
Takeaway: The power and practicalities of celebrating employee anniversaries.
Comparable Titles: Donna Cutting's Employees First, Cindy Ventrice's Make Their Day!.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
