Maine Nesties
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Recongnition at work (Go Brianne!!!)
On Monday I had the opportunity to go to this year's Bean's Best celebration at Hanger 5 on the BNAS. It was awe-shocking event and I was blown away by the time, money, and effort. There were over 3000 employees in the audience, Bob Marley opened for the ceremony, and they even flew in three recipient winners from Japan. 15 or so folks were recognized and each one had had a 3 minute video created for them highlighting their efforts that proved they were Bean's Best.
And then Brianne, writes she won an award at work! YAYAYAY! Congratulations!
So, I'm curious what your work does to recognize employees. Big or small. potlucks? lunch out? Thank you notes? Awards? Employee of the months? small tokens of appreciation??
Our Abby Jean
Re: Recongnition at work (Go Brianne!!!)
Wow!! That sounds like quite the event! And congrats to Brianne! Certianly nice when hard work gets recognized.
Sadly, I really can't think of anything my work does to recognize employees. We have holiday and end of the year gatherings, but they become very watered down. There is recognition for a job well done from my immediate co-workers, parents and students at times, so I guess that's what matters most.
It does sound like quite the event, and congrats Brianne!
My work actually is pretty good about recognition. They have quarterly reviews which can rage from team luncheons to $1,000.00, and the big recognition is an annual reward where they send you to Disney. Downfall is that it is half conference's, and the rest is playtime, but it is amazing. I have gone twice in the ten years I worked here. Not only do you get to go play at Disney for 4 days with coworkers, you get a gift on your bed everynight. The second time I went I rec'd a portable DVD player.
I am pretty happy with the recognition here.
At my most recent full-time employer, the department would give everyone a company logo doo-dad for "customer service week" because our jobs were (sort-of) related to customer service. Yippee, I always wanted a hat with my company's logo.
(ETA: I'm pretty sure I was at the same company as katsblaze. It just goes to show how much things can vary by department in a big company.)
DH is a federal ee. About 6 months after his 10 year anniversary, he got a pin and certificate in inter-office mail. That was his recognition.
How cool!! My Grammy worked for LL Bean for a while and always talked about that being a great event.
And congratulations Brianne!!
My company does very little in the way of recognition, but that's just the way our corporate culture is. I think they are really trying to do better, and have moved away from the "YOU SUCK, WORK HARDER!!" tactics of years past, so that's good. There is an employee of the year award given at the holiday party each December, and we have recently been doing quarterly team-building parties (our company is about 20 ppl total).
Matt's dad has won Bean's Best twice. Per Matt, he is either the only person, or one of only two people, to ever win it twice.
He's the most humble, unassuming guy you'll ever meet.
I think it is then. We ALWAYS get stuff with our logo on it. Seriously, I have so many coffee mugs, hats, bags, umbrella's, it's insane.
So sad! We do a timely certificate presentation at staff meetings and a mention in the annual awards ceremony program. Once you hit 25 years and up, you start getting plaques, small clocks, etc.
However, we are supposed to be a best practice agency for rewarding good performance and service. And, this is one of those things that has helped keep us #2 in the best places to work in government (smaller agencies list) for years. That's likely to change with the next survey though, because we're likely having a RIF next month. Awards can't make up for that. :-(
Bean's Best is one of DH's favorite days of the year. He was so sad that it was going to happen while we were traveling, and he was super-pumped that it got postponed 'til this week. It always sounds like a really awesome event.
We have an employee luncheon in the summertime, but it really recognizes retirees more than anything. IDK if there's anything here that recognizes employees for a job well done.
Good work Brianne.
When I worked at a summer camp in college I got the counselor of the week award... a certificate and an old camper t-shirt from 2 years before that someone found in the supply closet. I think that's the last time I got recgonized at work.
Kidding aside, I think this is a reason why there is a constant cloud over my current workplace. And that's all I'll say about that...
We have a few bonus programs that vary depending on your department/job. We also have awards that are given out to our different retail shops every year (best sales, safety awards, etc).
I used to work for a title insurance company that not only did bonuses and awards, but my boss was constantly doing nice little things for us. I really miss having a place that does little everyday things for their employees. She used to bring in snacks for us, buy the office lunch, give us gift certificates for spa days, have a massage therapist come in to give us chair massages. We also had tons of parties for birthdays or holidays (only place I've worked where everyone in the office would dress up for Halloween). The company also held a huge formal dinner at Sable Oaks every year. We'd all get dressed up, eat, drink and take turns singing karaoke all night. LOL. I didn't appreciate all that stuff at the time, but now I do! I realize that not a lot of companies do things like that and I really miss that about that place!
Well, considering how small our staff is, there is nothing official, but I have gotten "surprise...we're going for pedicures once everything that has to get done is done." The same with lunches and, oddly, when I was there for 2 months, I was given a $25 restaurant gift card...
It sucks because I seriously need a raise...like, so seriously. I need to talk to my boss about it because I'm getting to the point where I'm just losing my patience more and more whenever something happens that people would normally brush off as "a work thing" because of it. I know there isn't a ton of money to be had, so he does things like this, but I'd rather have a raise and buy my own lunch and pedicures, you know? Ugh...I'm spending my day off job hunting. I really didn't think I'd have to worry about this for at least a couple of years
Wow...ANYWAY, back to recognition. DH works for a company that seemingly does a lot in this area. I'm actually planning to apply for a position there today, hoping the fact that we wouldn't be in the same department, let alone the same building will keep anyone from using this as a reason to not consider me
I'm a teacher as my primary job. And there are really only 2 events in my career that lead to any sort of recognition.
1) You get called at the district meeting for every 5 years of services once you reach year 10. I think you get a paper certificate. Maybe a pin, too. Whoop.
2) When you retire. Last year we had 12+ people retire from just my school so they made a slightly bigger deal out of it (which was stupid IMO since they all got a HUGE incentive from the district to retire and I know they won't do jack for anyone retiring this year). Normally it's a stupid speech from our principal, who doesn't know anyone, about how important the person is to the school, yada, yada, yada. They MIGHT through in a school shirt if they have an extra one kicking around from a sports team.
And that's it. For my "other job", my boss is a real jerk and doesn't recognize jack. Oh, yeah, whoops. I'm my own boss. I guess I suck as recognition, too.
TD is pretty great at recognition- it's part of our "wow" culture, as cheesy as that sounds. There is an instant online recognition program where you can say "good job" to a coworker and they get these "stickers" that you can save up and redeem for mediocre to decent prizes that change over time.
That helps feed into our "WOW Stars" program that recognizes folks for their hard work. Each quarter people from all areas of the company are singled out and congratulated publically and with a $300 (before tax) bonus. Those individual are then eligible for the annual drawing of those that win CEO Leadership Awards, which also include a cash bonus AND a trip (with one guest) to a nice resort with the CEO and other top ranking execs for a long weekend. The WOW Stars are again thanked and the annual winners are announced at these giant "parties" held in a bunch of different locations throughout our footprint called the "WOW! Awards." This whole program is US based.
There is also TD's Vision in Action winners, annual Employee Appreciation Week (management can spend I think $25-50/employee on gifts, celebrations, etc), and our Service Recognition where every 5 years you get a gift. I just celebrated 5 years and my only choice is 5 stock options- not too shabby. Once you hit 10 you get nicer options of watches, diamond jewelry, and electronics in addition to being able to choose stock.
I'm not trying to overshadow Jess rocking at Bean, or Brianne being a superstar, but I actually just won a 3rd quarter WOW star this week and a "Principles in Practice" award for the HR/ Communications dept 2 weeks ago. (My dept is Communications.) The influx of cash for both has been nice, and I'm feeling pretty appreciated at the office.
YAHOO! Good job and congratulations!
I have NEVER been appreciated by an employer like I am at SPO. Even our new director shows great appreciation for the work I do. He was telling another coworker that he doesn't know why I am still working here through all this bullshiit at SPO when I could get any job I want. (really!?!!) And he told DECD that they would be lucky to have an employee like me. It just feels really good.
SPO has a luncheon every fall and gives out awards (employee of the year and I'll carry the load). I got the I'll Carry the Load award because I took on the work of another full time employee without batting an eye. Sometimes you just have to step up!
Congratulations, Brianne! You are certainly right about just needing to step up, but so many people don't do it. Good job!
Well first of all, congrats to everyone getting the recognition they deserve at work!
Second, reading this has made me realize my company actually does a pretty good job at recognition type stuff. Call takers can earn "dress down passes", movie tickets, and $25 or $100 VISA gift cards for strong customer satisfaction scores, those awards are given out monthly. Each quarter every permanent employee is eligible for a bonus payout which is a certain percentage of their quarterly earnings... how much we get is determined by how many of our goals we met as a department, it can be as much as $350 a quarter. Then there's one big annual bonus based on how our company as a whole did the previous year and that one can be $1200 or more (before taxes). They also do a customer service appreciation week every year where we do fun things like games and contests and the company will provide lunch or dinner a few days, we'll get a popcorn machine or cotton candy maker, cute stuff like that. If you work on Thanksgiving or Christmas you get a catered meal, and there's also an annual holiday luncheon for everyone with really awesome catered food, and our CEO comes down and helps serve it. Also, lunch and dinner is provided on really busy days in the winter. And our boss is always bringing in snacks and treats and things like that. For my 3 year anniversary here I got a really nice fleece vest... it does have our company logo on it, but it's still really nice looking, and then for my 5 year I got to choose from a catalogue of stuff, the two best items were an LL Bean raincoat and a panini press. So nothing to complain about here!
I'm late, but the hospital I work at is excellent. Each meeting is started with an appreciation of the great work we do. We get frequent Emails from the president of the hospital thanking us. If there's a job well done, our leaders will send notes of appreciation. We get prizes on our desks once or twice a year (lunch box, reusable water bottle, umbrella). We get staff appreciation lunches. They do a formal dinner party and bigger prizes (you get to choose) once you hit the 5 year mark. They do birthday dinner coupons and the Meat House gift certificates for Christmas. There's staff appreciation give a ways. Lots of great things. I think working for a non for profit hospital is nice...less focus on the $$ and more of the patients and employees.
DH's work spends each and everyday knocking them down. He needs a new job.