Five Year pin

AuntPeggy

AuntPeggy

Final Approach
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So, today, I got a congratulatory email from HR telling me that this is my 5-year anniversary. The email pointed me to a website where I could log in and download a PDF certificate with my name emblazoned on it. It doesn't quite say what the certificate is for. There is a spot on the certificate where I can have someone sign it after I print it.

Whoopee.

What happened to 5-year pins? What happened to a handshake from my boss and his boss? Can they possibly afford the sheet of paper? and what should I do with it after it is printed and signed?
 
For ten years at one employer (in two different stints, so they counted it as total time, but not toward vacation benefits... nice, eh?) I got to go "shopping" on some website for a "gift".

The choices were a golf umbrella, some other junk, or a cheap pair of plastic binoculars. Heh.

The certificate to go "shopping" was delivered in e-mail automatically with about as much fanfare as yours. Yawn.

The binocs ride around in the little storage cubby in the back of the Yukon for the rare occasion when something is going down somewhere a ways off up in the mountains and I want to take a look, and I don't have the Sony A55 and zoom lens with me. Or the good binocs. ;)

Both grandpas on the other hand, had real trinkets from their long term employers. This is one grandpa's Union Pacific set of pins, which we framed with a drawing of his favorite engine, 8444. Each pin has a different color "gemstone" for years of service. I'm guessing the two red stones was his twenty year pin. When he retired, UP closed the Brighton, CO station. He started as a telegrapher.

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Somewhere around here there are trinkets from Buckingham Trucking and Coors Porcelain from the other grandpa.

May they both RIP, their examples of staying at companies far too long is a curse. :)
 
Some financial wizard figured out 2 cents for piece of paper and ink saves money over a 25 cent pin. Plus not many would even print the certificate. :D

Don't look for the Gold Watch when you leave either. :rolleyes:

Cheers
 
(chuckle). Feel the pain.

I was at Bell & Howell, loved my job, figured I'd work there til I died. Good folks.

Problem was, they always made money, had cash, little debt and treated their people well. This is a fatal combination in business, especially in the 80s. Company was worth more broken up than intact, and my division was sold to TRW.

Shortly after my start with TRW, boss (whom I treated poorly, undeservedly, but we were all bitter) came by and took us all to lunch and prepented me with my 5-year TRW pin. I was not impressed.

Guess all that does not matter any more? You put me in a mind, though, to give some recognition to my employees based upon time of service - they are good people and I am lucky to work with them.
 
Rusty - I'd prefer to have the date completely ignored than to have a perfunctory automated email with a link to a generic acknowledgement.
 
the thought of a 5 year recognition is kind of depressing...
 
tonycondon said:
the thought of a 5 year recognition is kind of depressing...
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Heh. Wait until you're 20 in, and you meet up with all your old buds from the first place for a beer and dinner, and start swapping stories and realize none of their companies are any smarter than yours, wherever you've landed after numerous buy outs and layoffs and corporate reindeer games, and the same six people who ran the original company are running all the new ones. ;)

Wichita is probably small enough for that in any particular specialty. I know Denver sure is. The talent pool is pretty small.

Even funnier is when contemporaries go back to a start-up so they're the only tech person there, so the start-up hands them a big tech VP title but they're getting paid the same amount you are. That's always fun for a good ribbing over beers too. "Hey, it's the VP! How's that title treating you man? Still driving that beat up pickup truck?" Heh.

We do it all out of love, of course. ;)

And we all secretly hope his or her silly start-up actually makes a go of it, since maybe they'll hire us when the next place goes under. ;)

Somewhere around 40 you start having scary conversations like, "You know, all these places kinda suck. We should seriously sit down and build a business plan and at least do this crap for ourselves..." knowing full well you're the guy in the conversation who doesn't have kids, so you'll be e one pulling the all-nighters... and still seriously considering it in the back of your head as an option.

'Merica!! As Mr. White, would say. At least we're free to try. :)
 
denverpilot said:
Heh. Wait until you're 20 in, and you meet up with all your old buds from the first place for a beer and dinner, and start swapping stories and realize none of their companies are any smarter than yours, wherever you've landed after numerous buy outs and layoffs and corporate reindeer games, and the same six people who ran the original company are running all the new ones. ;)

Wichita is probably small enough for that in any particular specialty. I know Denver sure is. The talent pool is pretty small.

Even funnier is when contemporaries go back to a start-up so they're the only tech person there, so the start-up hands them a big tech VP title but they're getting paid the same amount you are. That's always fun for a good ribbing over beers too. "Hey, it's the VP! How's that title treating you man? Still driving that beat up pickup truck?" Heh.

We do it all out of love, of course. ;)

And we all secretly hope his or her silly start-up actually makes a go of it, since maybe they'll hire us when the next place goes under. ;)

Somewhere around 40 you start having scary conversations like, "You know, all these places kinda suck. We should seriously sit down and build a business plan and at least do this crap for ourselves..." knowing full well you're the guy in the conversation who doesn't have kids, so you'll be e one pulling the all-nighters... and still seriously considering it in the back of your head as an option.

'Merica!! As Mr. White, would say. At least we're free to try. :)
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Not gonna happen. I will quit next year to spend the rest of my life sipping pink lemonade on the back porch. I have plans. http://www.pilotsofamerica.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51983
 
The only suitable retirement gift is a solid gold watch, minimum 14 karats, pocket watch preferably. My own unit gives chairs as retirement gifts. I might have to set them straight on that one.
 
Those pins are damn expensive to buy for the company. I work in an accounts payable department to buy "Recognition pins" for the corporation cost in the neighborhood of $60k/year! So those that think they're 5 cents are well wrong.
 
When I left my position at a public accounting/consulting firm after 20 years (one year ago), one of my main reasons for leaving was evident when I decided to give notice: I didn't know who to tell. I had a geography leader, a local service line leader, a national service area leader, a national service line leader. I found out our "policy" was to notify the chairman -- somebody I'd never met despite being a partner for 10 years.

(And yes, we got to "shop" for trinkets every 5 years)
 
saracelica said:
Those pins are damn expensive to buy for the company. I work in an accounts payable department to buy "Recognition pins" for the corporation cost in the neighborhood of $60k/year! So those that think they're 5 cents are well wrong.
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When you understand how much turnover costs, you'll see that these are still a bargain at $60K.
 
AuntPeggy said:
Rusty - I'd prefer to have the date completely ignored than to have a perfunctory automated email with a link to a generic acknowledgement.
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Come work with me, boss didn't say boo and I like it that way:yesnod:
 
We give those certificates out when somebody does or says something stupid at my job. Sorry your company sucks.
 
JB1842 said:
Oh, we have those. For some reason we always seem to have Taser re-certs when its the interns last day....:devil:
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Lol, as a civilian I'm going to have to rely on video of a certain taser qualification on Saturday...
 
Most of our interns beg to get hit with it. They are mostly 19-21 year old college kids wanting to be in law enforcement to show that they are tough. Ah, to be young and eager. It's the older interns, usually vets, that are hesitant.
 
So, today I found out from Personnel that the lovely piece of paper is accompanied by a monetary reward. After logging on the the web link provided, I find that I have been awarded 6500 points! I can use those 6500 points for a $50 gift card from any number of vendors. TGIF and Macy's were on the list. Yay. Those points are worth nearly 1 cent each.
 
The company announced in a fit of cost cutting that they were stopping taking people to lunch on their 5 year or whatever anniversary.

What, says I, I have worked here 23+ years and nobody ever noted let alone took me to lunch on my anniversary.
 
I wonder if I could send my wife a link to print out her own anniversary card?:wink2:
 
I don't think I've ever gotten anything for a certain number of years at any place I've ever worked. :dunno:
 
I must be lucky. I got a 5 year pin, plaque and got to pick a give (went with a B&D cordless screw-gun). Yay for a company that's been around forever and is so deep rooted in tradition - both a blessing and a curse. :shrug:
 
AuntPeggy said:
So, today, I got a congratulatory email from HR telling me that this is my 5-year anniversary. The email pointed me to a website where I could log in and download a PDF certificate with my name emblazoned on it. It doesn't quite say what the certificate is for. There is a spot on the certificate where I can have someone sign it after I print it.

Whoopee.

What happened to 5-year pins? What happened to a handshake from my boss and his boss? Can they possibly afford the sheet of paper? and what should I do with it after it is printed and signed?
Click to expand...

I don't suppose it ever occurred to you to take the signed certificate around and show it to all the people that had a hand in hiring you and training you and showing you the ropes and allowing you to keep your job for 5 tough years and THANKING THEM. Tell me I'm wrong and I will shower you with praise.

Edit:
Peggy, I do think employers also deserve a little bit of thanks occasionally, and we never seem to get it,
But I do agree that an email allowing you to download a vague certificate is rather cold and tacky and I guess I don't blame you for your reaction. And congratulations on being able to keep a job in this economy.
 
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Did 41 years Got a 40 year pin and a handshake 41 yrs 3 mnth 28 days but whos counting. Almost as much time flying. given a chiece i prefer to fly.
 
My 30 yr recognition was a pin and a rolling suitcase. Always wondered if they were trying to tell me something. Retired after 34.
 
I've been practicing law for 27 years - no one gave a pin or even thanks. Well, a couple people have thanked me but not because I have been in practice 27 years. I did 10 years as a member of AOPA last month. Squat. Zip. De Nada.
 
AuntPeggy said:
So, today, I got a congratulatory email from HR telling me that this is my 5-year anniversary. The email pointed me to a website where I could log in and download a PDF certificate with my name emblazoned on it. It doesn't quite say what the certificate is for. There is a spot on the certificate where I can have someone sign it after I print it.

Whoopee.

What happened to 5-year pins? What happened to a handshake from my boss and his boss? Can they possibly afford the sheet of paper? and what should I do with it after it is printed and signed?
Click to expand...

This must be one of the happiest days of your life, congratulations!

I can not believe that some numb nuts actually gets well paid to dream up such demoralizing nonsense.

I do not miss that part of my years of corporate life one iota.

-John
 
comanchepilot said:
I've been practicing law for 27 years - no one gave a pin or even thanks. Well, a couple people have thanked me but not because I have been in practice 27 years. I did 10 years as a member of AOPA last month. Squat. Zip. De Nada.
Click to expand...

JOhnH said:
I don't suppose it ever occurred to you to take the signed certificate around and show it to all the people that had a hand in hiring you and training you and showing you the ropes and allowing you to keep your job for 5 tough years and THANKING THEM. Tell me I'm wrong and I will shower you with praise.

Edit:
Peggy, I do think employers also deserve a little bit of thanks occasionally, and we never seem to get it,
But I do agree that an email allowing you to download a vague certificate is rather cold and tacky and I guess I don't blame you for your reaction. And congratulations on being able to keep a job in this economy.
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Everskyward said:
I don't think I've ever gotten anything for a certain number of years at any place I've ever worked. :dunno:
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fgcason said:
That is nothing short of flat out insulting.
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flyingron said:
The company announced in a fit of cost cutting that they were stopping taking people to lunch on their 5 year or whatever anniversary.

What, says I, I have worked here 23+ years and nobody ever noted let alone took me to lunch on my anniversary.
Click to expand...

John Baker said:
This must be one of the happiest days of your life, congratulations!

I can not believe that some numb nuts actually gets well paid to dream up such demoralizing nonsense.

I do not miss that part of my years of corporate life one iota.

-John
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I have told people, "thanks for putting up with me". As far as training me... I came in with quite a bit of experience already. I am grateful for the job and I feel that getting a paycheck that doesn't bounce is a fair return for doing the work that I do.

When I was in school and getting a degree in business management, one thing we were warned about is "dissatisfiers". Those are the kinds of things that cause more dissatisfaction than just leaving them out. In this case, simply not acknowledging the anniversary would have been much better than what they actually did. As a couple in this thread noted.
 
AuntPeggy said:
When I was in school and getting a degree in business management, one thing we were warned about is "dissatisfiers". Those are the kinds of things that cause more dissatisfaction than just leaving them out. In this case, simply not acknowledging the anniversary would have been much better than what they actually did. As a couple in this thread noted.
Click to expand...
Right. I never gave it any thought one way or another until this thread. :rofl:
 
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