To recognize and honor staff employees for their years of service to the University.

In recognition of their contributions to the University, benefits-eligible (union and non-union) staff employees are eligible to receive awards for their longevity and performance at the University of Chicago.

1. Award emblems are presented to staff employees recognizing years of service as follows:
   • five years: pin;
   • ten years: pin with one ruby;
   • fifteen years: pin with two rubies (effective January 1, 2006);
   • twenty years: pin with two sapphires;
   • twenty-five years (Twenty-Five Year Club celebration): gift selected by the employee;
   • thirty years: pin with three emeralds;
   • thirty-five years: pin with two gold sapphires (effective January 1, 2006); and
   • forty years: pin with one diamond.
2. Unit administrators are responsible for maintaining records of an employee’s service dates and for informing UHRM-Employee/Labor Relations (E/LR) regarding the service award-eligibility of an employee and his/her years of service. UHRM will verify the years of service.
3. The University hosts an annual employee recognition event, the Twenty-Five Year Club celebration, honoring staff employees who have worked at the University of Chicago for 25 years.
4. University units are encouraged to recognize staff members with appropriate service awards and to develop and implement other unit-level recognition programs.
5. Unless service has been bridged, an employee’s years of benefits-eligible service must be continuous to receive a service award. [See policy U205 Re-employment of University Employees.] If an employee has a break in service for any period of time, the years worked prior to the break are invalid for award purposes.
6. An employee who loses his/her award and wishes to have it replaced may contact UHRM-Employee/Labor Relations (E/LR). The employee is responsible for replacement costs.
   

Employees represented by a union may be governed by the appropriate bargaining unit agreement.