Before I started my own business almost 34 years ago I had never worked anywhere for very long. I also worked Temp for years, which I loved. With temp positions I would be a a place usually 1-6 weeks. Long enough to get my bearings and know the people a bit, but not long enough for them to drive me crazy. I really enjoyed learning something about different types of businesses. I did bookkeeping so it could be a construction office, or a retailer, or professional office. I liked the variety.

I don't think I got any official gift when I hit 10 years with the BBC. IIRC my boss got me a Starbucks gift card (which was nice of her!)

When I hit 5 years at my current company I got...a different color badge. So people who see me in the office or in the company directory can tell I've worked here 5+ years. (If I'm still here at 10 years I'll get...a DIFFERENT different color badge.)

I also worked Temp for years, which I loved.

Yeah, I temped for more than 10 years. I was able to pay my rent and bills and just work 9 months in total out of the year. I'd work for two months then take three weeks off.

(If I'm still here at 10 years I'll get...a DIFFERENT different color badge.)

You're color coded! On the hand, instant visual bestowal of respect. On the other hand, when you get to the 30 years color badge, people will probably think you're a sad bastard.

a different color badge

At my company, they changed the badge color about four years after I was hired, so having the "old" badge was a (minor) mark of distinction.

Something similar with email addresses. They started out with firstinitiallastname@company.com, then had to start using firstname.lastname@company.com for new hires.

I got a little plaque and a branded keychain for my 5-year anniversary. I actually got them in year six, because year five was 2020, and everyone had other things on their minds. Totally fair—I didn’t think of it myself.

I got a musty, glass picture frame clock with a bad photocopy of a Maypole photo for 10 years. At 20, though, they do these cool wooden side tables with school logo on them. Anyone who retires after more than 10 years of service gets a beautiful wooden rocking chair (which we all mock for its agist overtones, but it is pretty).

Something similar with email addresses. They started out with firstinitiallastname@company.com

One of the fathers of Emmett's little league teammate started at PIxar from the get-go, so his email was [First Name]@Pixar.com. Not even a last initial. (He also worked on Nightmare Before Xmas pre-Pixar.)

Timelies all!

It's been an awful day here. Mr. S has been disregulated all day. It doesn't help that he spit out his medicine and we had to give him more. Hopefully he actually swallowed the second attempt.

I am actively applying for jobs that will get me my 10 years so I'm vested in my pension, but are in a very different branch of state government, so shan't be getting any service length awards. I am SUPER salty about the whole situation, like thinking of giving packets of gourmet salt with my contact info on them to the people I actually like as a farewell gift.

My father moved into his office when they opened the building in the mid-90s. His key eventually wore out, and they couldn't find his info, as they'd updated the file system in the interim. They've since moved him to the stupid multi-university health campus downtown (Symbolically very nice. Logistically a nightmare). He's also been there long enough that his email is @university.edu