Recognizing Mrs. Stanford
Remember Mrs. Stanford from yesterday? She was the wonderful housekeeper whose work started to slide. We talked to her and discovered that her husband is very ill, and she did not know what to do in order to improve her results at work when that was on her mind. So, we made a behavioral contract with her. We agreed that she will seek help through the company’s employee assistance program and make an effort to gather help from family and friends to help alleviate her stresses at home. If she is having problems maintaining her workload, she will come to you to speak about them rather than letting them affect her work. Yesterday, you overheard her telling a co-worker that her husband is now in the hospital and undergoing surgery. However, you have noticed that her work lately has been better than usual despite the ongoing problems at home.
It’s incredible how a small award that is shared around the workplace can spur some good will and create a little fun. We know of workplaces that have created small trophies with animals, sparkles, tinsel, and a little time and energy that create fun. Some are used to signal that it’s someone’s birthday or work anniversary. Some are used as recognition of doing a great job at something big or small.
Gift cards (which in this case could be for something specifically relevant to the employee) are also widely available, and a great way to share some recognition.
Up Next:
Session 24: The Part Where Someone Gets Fired