Staff Length of Service Program
Manager-to-Employee Recognition
At Northwestern, we value the commitment and contributions of our employees. Our recognition program is designed to celebrate the incredible contributions of our colleagues—and to make these moments personal and memorable—with the manager playing a key role in bringing that recognition to life.
Every milestone is an opportunity to pause, reflect, and say thank you. Whether you’re celebrating five years or twenty, these moments matter—and they strengthen the sense of community that makes Northwestern special.
How It Works
For Employees
When you reach a milestone—every 5 years from 5 to 15 years of service—your manager will present you with a Northwestern-sponsored gift during a team meeting or one-on-one.
Don’t worry—we’re tracking all service milestones to make sure you receive your gift. If your manager isn’t able to present it during your anniversary month, HR will notify you with instructions on how to pick it up.
If you’re celebrating 20+ years of service, you’ll receive an email with a catalog of gifts to choose from. These gifts will be shipped directly to you, but we encourage your manager to make this a special team celebration.
In order to qualify, NU employees must be:
- Celebrating an anniversary of being benefits-eligible for at least five years
- Currently active with the university (e.g., not on any kind of leave)
- Work primarily in units and schools based on the Evanston or Chicago campuses, including satellite offices. NU-Q follows its own recognition procedures.
For Managers
We expect all Managers to take part in recognizing their team members. You play a key role in making these moments meaningful. Here’s what to do:
- Get Notified: HR will email you at least one month before a team member’s milestone.
- Pick Up the Gift: Stop by the askHR desk on the Evanston or Chicago campus—no appointment needed.
- Present the Gift: Celebrate during a team meeting or one-on-one.
- Capture the Moment: Snap a photo or short video and send it to askhr@northwestern.edu. Your stories inspire others and help us showcase the program!
Pick-Up Locations- Evanston: 1800 Sherman Ave, 1st Floor | Mon–Fri, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Chicago: Abbott Hall, 710 N. Lake Shore Drive, 1st Floor | Wed & Thu, 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Gift Details
- 5 Years: Planter with live succulent
- 10 Years: Laptop sleeve
- 15 Years: Woven tapestry blanket featuring the Northwestern logo
- 20+ Years: Eemployees select a gift from a catalog provided by our vendor, Corporate Imaging Concepts. These gifts are mailed directly to the employee. We strongly encourage managers to celebrate these major milestones with their teams.
Note: These new gifts replace the Yeti mugs previously sent directly to employees.
FAQs
- Give an example of how this program works.
Program Assistant Melissa is celebrating 10 years of employment at Northwestern in March. Her Manager, TJ, will be notified of this milestone at the beginning of February. TJ will have February and March to pick up Melissa’s gift. If, by April, TJ has not picked up the gift or contacted HR, HR will invite Melissa to collect the gift herself.
- How can Managers sign-up to participate in this program?
All managers are automatically eligible to participate. To collect the gift for your employee, simply visit one of the AskHR offices on either the Chicago or Evanston campus.
- I’ll be on campus a different month than when my employee is celebrating their anniversary. Can I pick up the gift early / late?
Yes, you can pick up a gift up to one month early.
- I’m not able to visit campus during the month of my employee’s anniversary. Can I pick it up late?
No. If the manager has not picked up the employee’s gift by the end of the month, HR will invite the employee to collect the gift directly.
- I don’t have a traditional, permanent desk or a way to keep a gift until I can present it. Now what?
HR can hold the gift in our offices until you are ready to present it, through the end of the employee’s anniversary month. For any other questions, assistance, or support in finding ways to recognize your employees, email us at askhr@northwestern.edu.
- Can’t HR mail the gift to my office?
Unfortunately, gifts can only be picked up at the AskHR offices on either the Chicago or Evanston campuses. The only exception is for managers located in U.S.-based satellite offices—we will ship gifts to those managers. If you are in a satellite office, please contact us once you receive the notification about your employee’s anniversary.
- Other Questions?
Email askhr@northwestern.edu