Statistics show that the more that employees are recognized, the more engaged and fulfilled they feel at work. At Taubman College, it is important to us that our employees feel valued, appreciated, and recognized. In doing so, we want to celebrate not only their work accomplishments but also their special life events. This includes the birth or adoption of a child, engagements & weddings, graduating with a new degree, and years of service milestones. Life events can connect us, bring us together, and bond us as a community which ties into our shared values within the Taubman College Compact. Lastly, from an HR perspective, when employees feel valued, appreciated, and recognized in the workplace, they are more likely to stay, which results in increased talent and employee retention.
Suggested Parameters
We realize that different teams across the college may want to celebrate in different ways. However, we have created a list of optional ideas to acknowledge special events to get you started. It is important to know that we are unable to celebrate these types of events unless we know about them. Therefore, if the employee would like us to know, they must tell their supervisor, team leader, or HR. Additionally, it is important to check with the individual to craft a celebration that aligns with their level of comfort.
| Life Event | Acknowledgement |
|---|---|
| Birth/adoption of a child |
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| Engagement/Wedding |
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| Graduation |
|
| Death of a family member |
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| 10 years of service |
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| 15 years of service |
|
| 20+ years of service |
|
When planning gifts, please refer to SPG 501.12 to avoid gifts that will tax the employee. For example, gift cards over $50 will result in FICA taxation to the employee as well as any gifts over $400. Additionally, acknowledgement is not always about receiving a tangible gift; it is the level of thought and consideration that goes into it.
If any questions arise, please reach out to taubmancollegehr@umich.edu for clarification, and we would be happy to help!