Workplace
Success Stories - Best Practices 2002
Recognition
Strategies for a Diverse Workforce
|
Practice
Name: You've Been Sighted |
Workplace
Issues Addressed: |
Description
of the practice
This peer award program acknowledges employee contributions based
on 12 categories of positive qualities. The dean draws eight nominations
twice a year and individuals select from an array of prizes. Prizes
include a day off, $65 Bart Pass, $75 gift certificates to use at
ASUC, Cal Performances, Cal Sports Events, Recreational Sports Facility,
or lunch/dinner for two at the Women's/Men's Faculty Clubs. Employees
feel that the program is positive, simple, fun, and non-bureaucratic
and that the showing of appreciation for staff fosters a greater sense
of community and builds strong departmental cohesiveness.
Benefits
of adopting the practice
The
Dean's Office is composed of several geographically dispersed
units. The staff from all the units are brought together at the
winter holiday party and 4th of July party, and this program really
gets staff to stop for a moment at the parties, come together
for the drawing, and celebrate each other. An example is the following
response to a recent survey about the YBS Program: "I personally
believe that showing appreciation for staff fosters a greater
sense of community and builds stronger departmental cohesiveness.
Happy people make for happy offices." This practice meets
the needs of a diverse workforce in the following ways: There
is employee input in the process (peer nomination process). It
is inclusive. The offices close early so that everyone can attend.
There is diverse committee representation from all units. It builds
bonds between facilities.
How
this practice works
The You've Been Sighted program is administered by a committee
that changes each year and tries to have representation from most
of the departments. In prior years committee membership has been
composed only of staff, but usually it is a mix of lower management
and staff. The program was started as a way to increase employee
morale and to bring people together. Peers are able to nominate
employees by competing a nomination form and checking off one
or more of the 12 applicable categories of positive qualities
the nominees possess. They can also write additional comments
on the form. The forms are placed in a ballot box. During one
of the two annual staff social events, the dean draws eight of
the nomination forms and reads the comments noted on each form.
In addition to receiving the nomination forms with the comments,
each of the eight nominees can select from an array of prizes.
The 12 categories of positive qualities were determined by the
founding committee, which was made up of management and staff
representatives from most of the departments within the college.
Surveys conducted during the time gave employees an opportunity
to name the kinds of prizes they would want to choose from.
The dean's office administration has committed programmatic guidance (in the form of ad hoc meetings with the adviser) and funds for prizes. (Winners most often choose the day off prize, so the actual amount expended for prizes is significantly lower than budgeted.)
What
you need in place to replicate this practice
Top level management support and funding are needed. A committee
with diverse and broad representation, from all units within the
department to determine the 12 positive qualities that employees
will be judged by. Solicit employee input on the kinds of rewards
(prizes) they want to receive. Fold drawings into existing events.
Make events inclusive (close office early or schedule at times
when everyone can attend--invite retired/former employees, etc.).
Have evaluation mechanisms.
Tangible
improvements to the department as a result of adopting this practice
There's
a greater sense of community; employees feel acknowledged; the
practice has improved the attendance at staff appreciation events;
there is greater appreciation of what others do; it has increased
the interaction between units; and it has improved morale.
Why
this practice was so successful and is worth replicating
This
program has been successful in the College of Engineering because
the acknowledgment comes from co-workers of any level; the public
drawing and reading of the nomination forms has led to the coming
together of the dean's office staff; nominees are touched when
they read the nomination forms that have been returned to them
after the drawing; given the fact that the dean's office 4th of
July picnic and winter holiday party are two established and heavily
attended staff appreciation events, the You've Been Sighted drawings
are an easy and natural extension of these two events; and the
program is simple to implement and replicate.
Related
policies/guidelines
(1)
Guide to
Managing Human Resources, Appendix G: Recognition and Reward Programs.
(2) Business
& Finance Bulletin G-41 - Employee Non-Cash Awards.