This thread prompts this one.
After eight years with a company, they gave me a catalogue and I had the option to choose one of several gifts for my longevity. They were all crap, but this globe appealed to me. Barely. I do like globes, and it was the only thing I could have possibly wanted from the choices available (which I don’t remember now). It retailed for $34.95 a decade ago. Looks like it’s appreciated five bucks since then. Think I could get a double sawbuck for it on eBay? 
I got a travel clock at five years. Got a very nice piece of luggage at 10.
Hubby finally got the option of a home-improvement store gift card instead of having to choose from a catalog of overpriced items that he probably doesn’t need. Now at least he can use them for something useful to him.
I didn’t get anything for 5 years, I’ll know next year if there’s anything for 10. We had some sort of ra-ra department meeting a couple months ago where everyone got company logo-ed polo shirts. I couldn’t be arsed to go and got given a size medium when only an XL would come close to fitting. They don’t bother with trinkets for recognition awards, just cold hard cash.
I selected watches at 15 and 20 years (15 was the first time gifts were offered; previously we got a pin). Everything else is utter crap. My husband, who works here too, was at a total loss as to what to get; he loves watches and has a dozen so the offerings there did not appeal. I had him get a cooler that plugs into the cigarette lighter. Whee. :rolleyes:
I do like my watches, though.
I ordered the globe - with a floor stand - for my 20th anniversary. I was in my boss’s cube the day it was delivered. Her only acknowledgement of my years of service was, “Oh, that came in this morning, you can take it home tonight if you want.” There were some pieces missing (rubber footpads); when I called the company to have them send replacements, they said I’d have to ship the whole thing back and get a new one. That pissed me off so much I just gave the damn thing away.
At five years with my last company, I was handed a similar catalogue full of stuff. After dreaming of the day my broken, work-weary soul might choose the 42" plasma screen (35 or 40 years needed for that one), I got a Swiss Army knife. At least it was an actual one, not a knock-off. Has a little gold-tone disc with the company’s former three-initial common name on it. Five years after that, out came the catalogue again, and that time the best pick was a Bushnell refracting telescope. The little logo’ed disc wasn’t attached this time; the NEW three-initial company name was on a little pendant they gave me separately. Lost the pendant, still have the telescope and the knife.
Besides service-anniversary stuff, this company also gave away tons of other crap for all sorts of reasons. I used to have at least ten jackets/hoodie with (count 'em) three different logos on them, tons of t-shirts (working on an outside crew brought batches of these each year the last few years I was there) and a few never-worn polos (hate those). Besides clothing there were all manner of little tchotchkes that I abandoned at my various desks. And a clock-radio with a double-alarm that I still use. A clue to where I worked: I also used to have a double-handful of these little enameled pins commemorating area code splits. :rolleyes: 
I do like that globe. It’s kind of amazing when you look through a catalogue of corporate gifts, what utter shite most of them are. On the other hand, my husband’s construction management company keeps him in shirts, jackets, and ball caps (and they’re not cheap crap, either).
ETA: History Geek, you’ve got me wondering if you work at a different branch of my husband’s company. He’s always bringing home trinkets from work.
It’s a nice globe. I don’t have anyplace to put it though, so it’s in a box somewhere. I have a 12" Moon globe too (my sister gave it to me for Christmas one year). I wish I had a space for it.
I honestly do not recall. Something forgettable, obviously. What I do recall is that after 20 years I did get some warm and fuzzy note of appreciation for my service and dedication from the boss, a catalog to pick a gift from, and 10 months later (along with 20-30 others) the statement that my services were no longer required. Let’s say I have mixed feelings about it all.
Nothing for 5 years. Too bad I don’t work at Blizzard as their rewards are awesome:
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2010/04/earning-your-sword-a-picture-tour-of-blizzards-offices.ars/5
At my last company, for the last two service anniversary gifts, I asked if they’d just make a donation in my name to a charity of my choice. I neither needed ot wanted any of the stuff they were giving out. This had never been done before, but they were willing. The Nashville Humane Society got $200, which is far more than the catalogue stuff would’ve cost them.
StG
Every 5 years, I get a tiny little lapel pin with a new number on it. I just might stick the one with “30 Years” on it in the Superintendent’s ear.
At five years, I got an invitation to a nice dinner at the country club and an el cheapo picture frame with a snapshot of myself and the other 5 year staffers.
At my ten year celebration, I’ll get the same thing plus a $100 cash bonus.
I got a nice pen and a lapel pin at five years.
At ten years I got the gift catalog and picked a nice mantel clock.
I just hit fifteen years a couple weeks ago and am having a really hard time deciding what to pick. Kitchen knife set, cookware, meat smoker, camcorder, GPS… they’re all tempting. I’m also afraid of picking something that looks nice in the catalog but turns out to be crap.
Nope. I used to work for a giant telecom monster.
I am my own corporation (next year it’ll be 10 years old). I buy myself stuff every now and then … does that count? I just picked up a pair of these boots. 
Ooh - I think I like those.
Reading the other posts in this thread, I’m kinda glad the outfit I work for doesn’t do frequent service anniversary giveaways; kinda counterproductive if all you give out is cheap crap that says, “You are slightly valued by us, but not to any great degree.”
OTOH, I made my 20 with the outfit I’m currently with and I was happy with the recognition: a Breitling Superocean watch (and a tidy cash bonus for ‘future maintenance’). Much appreciated as I like such things but could never justify spending more than $50 on a watch for myself.