Retirement celebrations are perfect opportunities to present loyal employees with custom awards. In these days of job hopping and "me-first" thinking, it pays for a company to honor those employees who have weathered all the storms and turned away the other offers. My generation of workers has very little job loyalty; we're always looking for the "bigger, better deal." We'll take the money over job security nine out of 10 times.

The days of employees staying with one organization for 30 years have passed us by. There are a few exceptions out there that prefer security and comfort over the mighty dollar. They like working at the same place because they like seeing the same people every day and performing the same routines. There's something to be said for that kind of living.

Staying Put

That kind of loyalty isn't acknowledged enough. The recruiting arm of the human resources department is often too focused on attracting the best candidates. Everyone else in the company jumps on the "please work for our company" bandwagon, while the true loyalists fall into the background. Many of them like working in relative obscurity. The recognition embarrasses them.

Regardless of how they feel about recognition, your loyal workers should be given custom made awards for their work. Acknowledge them as publicly as possible. If someone is retiring with your business, have a party for that person, a company-wide party if possible. Let the young bucks know that there is value in staying in one place.