Virginia Association of Soil & Water Conservation ...



Handwritten Thank You NoteJust say it – Thank You, Great Job (say it when you see it or learn about it)Alternate Work Schedules (work 8:30-5 versus 8-4:30, 4 10-hour days)Thank you note/letter to family (after long work hours, days away from home)Lunch with Board Member (or relevant committee Chair)Flexible Work Schedules(length of a work day varies as needed)Letter of recognition and add copy to the personnel fileOffice treats for no occasion (donuts, cupcakes, cookies, healthy snacks, etc.)Free Pass/Voucher for time off (specify a number of paid time off hours)Birthday cards signed by the Board (Deliver in person or mail it to their home)Buy the paint, Paint their offices (have a paint party, provide the pizza)Telecommute from time to timeReplace the office chairsBirthday cards signed by coworkers(Deliver in person or mail it to their home)Add some low maintenance plants (reduce stress, cleaner air, esthetically nice)Go along on site visits and audits (be a helper, see them in their element)Anniversary cards – another great year working togetherAdd an office refrigerator, dorm size or full size adds convenienceHelp with a classroom, MWEE, or other outreach effortOffice birthday celebrations (Let birthday person choose cake type)Add an office water cooler (go crazy and include hot water tap!)Nomination for a deserved award (follow-up with District level recognition)Provide timely feedback (be specific in reasons and impact)Add an office microwave for added employee convenienceSpend time mentoring – share your knowledge, insights, connectionsTraveling trophy (reassign periodically to recognize specific above and beyond contributions)Name badges for field work and nameplates for the offices/desksHave business cards for everyoneAdopt a policy of paid volunteerism (award X # hours per year that employees can use to volunteer wherever they want)Say “Thank You” in creative waysProvide District logo “uniforms”Obtain a reserve spot and rotate itBring in flowers for the office just because or after a peak periodPay for the office coffee and coffee condiments and suppliesKeep them stocked with bottled water during hot weatherBring each their favorite treat with a thank you note for being part of team and helping the District make a differenceKeep “petty cash” box with small $ ($5 or 10) gift cards for on-the-spot awards and recognitions of special contributions/efforts (check with auditor)Post pictures or videos of their projects and work on the District’s web site, You Tube, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. accountsBirthday king/queen with banner and tiara/crown and treatsOn the ball awards (sports ball with a note of thanks on it)Staff appreciation day – Board make/bring breakfast, deliver lunchCasual dress Friday in the office. Or, go casual anytime not in the fieldYou make the magic happen (magic wand with a note of thanks for special efforts)Staff appreciation lunch – Board has lunch delivered (or makes and brings in)Take a tour – go as a group to tour a producer, vendor, supplier, etc.Carpool to activities so more employees can attendPay for employees to attend trainingGo on a picnic together and supply to sandwiches/subsHost a pot luck and supply the main course, supplies and blanketsHost a holiday gift exchange between employees ($5 limit) and give each an item (e.g. local honey) Give them a turkey at ThanksgivingGive them a ham at ChristmasAnd the Oscar goes to… Give awards annually to recognize each employees most significant accomplishment that yearHighlight one employee’s work and contributions each month on the District’s web site, You Tube, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. accountsFamily or Date night: Microwave popcorn, big boxes of candy, Cracker Jacks, Red Box couponCelebrate Earth Day, supply lunchBring in extra boxes of girl scout cookies or boy scout trail mixWash their cars, or pay for a basic touch less carwashSubscribe to professional journals, have them delivered to the officeSticky note of encouragementSticky note of thanksCertificate of recognitionPut it in the local paper – give public acknowledgement (if suitable)Put it in the trade journal – give public acknowledgement (if suitable)Email congrats on accomplishments and encourage others to do sameHold contests – tackiest Christmas decoration, worst Hawaiian shirt Collaborate with local Y/gym for discounts (maybe other local businesses)Collaborate with local credit unions for benefits for District staffGet group discount pricing at local amusement parks, sports teams…Ask for their input and follow-up on how/why it was/wasn’t usedAdd a suggestion box and follow-up on suggestions Bring in fresh fruit for the office: apples, oranges, bananasThrow an ice cream sundae party complete with toppings, or bring in individually wrapped frozen treatsCelebrate it with balloons and a thank you notePerformance Tokens for outstanding actions and/or evaluations award tokens in 1-hour increments that employees can use for long lunch, running errands, arriving or leaving early, etc.Bring your daughter or granddaughter to the office day10-pack of 100 grand bars and a note “Thanks A Million” Bring your son or grandson to the office day ABCD cards: Above and Beyond Call of Duty notes of recognitionKnow everyone’s name (and use it) and know something about the family, pets, interests, etc. Give seeds/seedlings for plantingSpecial Cause: Have a committee that selects one cause per year to support (e.g. food bank, cancer walk)Put it in their file – make sure copies of all accomplishments, notes o f praise, etc. are put in personnel fileTalk Time – get together regularly with each employee and as a team to talk about anything but workBrag Board in each office (desk) for employees personal pictures, inspirational quotes, etc Brag Board in main area for District to recognize employees’ accomplishmentsWhite boards on office doors – write notes for encouragement and congratulations (Board and each other)Tuition Assistance for classes benefiting the DistrictLibrary: Learning library books or just books to read and relax Surprise open late or close early for a conservation related holidayField trips – they are popular at any age. Go as a group on a morning or afternoon during a slow time. Nice Nicknames to recognize expertise and onsite resources (Computer Whiz, Fencing King, Barrel Baron)Include your full-time, part-time and temporary employees in all the activities and recognition effortsUse annual performance evaluations to set personally important professional goals (training, classes, duties, projects) as well as District goalsUse annual performance appraisals to ask and discuss what’s working, what’s not, if they need anything to do their job more efficiently or easily, and follow-up on discussionBreakfast meetings (provide breakfast-foods and OJ) once a month or quarter to discuss what’s working, what’s not, if they need anything, and to follow-upEncourage and support joining professional and job related groups, including during work hours if necessaryEncourage teamwork, collaborating, and knowledge sharing. Recognize employees and those activities at Board meetings and in evaluations Work with high schools and colleges to recruit interns and volunteers to assist staff (and bonus – it supports the District too!)Remember to tell them why their work is important and its impact on communities and watershedsEncourage and allow them to try new ideas for getting the job done (there is more than one way to skin a cat!)Rotate assignments to share critical job knowledge and grow all your employees, and to share blah workLet them take the lead and manage special projects and assignments with independenceMake sure they know you trust them, say it and show it with your actions (actions speak louder than words)Put in more face time, get to know each other and build relationships and trustDeal with it. If there is a negative behavior or other issue, deal with it. Letting it go lets it fester and harms morale, commitment and even retention of your other great staff. Uncomfortable as it may seem, dealing with it is better. Your employees will respect you more for it and appreciate your action.Hold exit interviews. Ask resigning employees what the District could do different or better, what made their job easier, what made their job more difficult. That gets you invaluable, honest and meaningful information than a politically correct “leaving for more money.”Ask them. Ask them how they prefer to be recognized (publicly or privately, big fuss or no fuss). Ask them what is meaningful for them, Ask them to give you their ideas for no-cost ideas they would appreciate and for ideas within a $5-$10 price point. They’ll share. Then you can recognize them most meaningfully.Offer an idea bounty. Have a problem? Get employees to submit ideas to resolve it an award the winning suggestion an incentive item (small bonus, paid time off, etc.Bigger money items: salary increases, performance bonuses, promotions, reclassificationsEstablish District traditions to celebrate/do togetherActs of service: wash cars, cook a meal, bake a cake, doing the employee’s job for a day, provide baby-sitting for a night out, etc.Not all recognition needs to costs a lot. Check out a Dollar Store. Buy in bulk. Check out Amazon. Check out Pinterest. Ask a creative friend or relative for ideas and help. Face-to-face not your strong suit? Time at a premium? Scheduling time on whatever calendar you use for relationship building and giving recognition is perfectly acceptable (and certainly preferable to not doing it at all!) ................
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