Service Recognition Program

UF Human Resources is pleased to sponsor the Service Recognition Program, which honors staff with at least five years of continuous service. The program, introduced in 2019, recognizes TEAMS employees for five-year increments of continuous service, based on their most recent date of hire.

Employees may receive their choice from a selection of gifts from the UF Bookstore. Recipients will receive an email from Awards Coordinator Verlissa Ford at v.ford@ufl.edu inviting them to select an anniversary gift during their anniversary month. They will have the option to pick up their gift in person at the UF Bookstore or have it shipped to an address of their choice at no charge. Those who still wish to collect their service pin as their chosen gift instead will also still have the option to do so.

Additionally, employees celebrating 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, and 50 years of service in 2024 will be honored at an evening event hosted by the Office for the Vice President of Human Resources in 2025.

“Continuous service” starts from the most recent date of hire. If an employee leaves their position for any reason and is re-hired, their continuous service is recalculated from the most recent hire date. Thus, an employee who works for five years without a break in service will receive a five-year award. If the employee has a break in service and returns to work for five more continuous years, they will receive another five-year award, not a 10-year award. A “break in service” is defined as a break of more than 180 days not covered by approved leave.

UFHR will continue to work with department coordinators — now called “service recognition liaisons” — to provide information about employees who are reaching service milestones each year and to provide other guidance about the new program. Those who have questions are encouraged to contact Verlissa Ford in UF Training and Organizational Development at (352) 273-0149 or v.ford@ufl.edu.

Please note: These length-of-service awards, in large part because they are given to employees in five-year increments, are not taxable (per IRS Publication 525 Taxable and Nontaxable Income).