Workplace
Success Stories - Best Practices 2002
Recognition
Strategies for a Diverse Workforce
|
Practice
Name: Student Appreciation Day |
Workplace
Issues Addressed: |
Description
of the practice
Career
employees plan, organize, and serve students at a buffet. Each party
has a theme with appropriate décor, music, and entertainment.
Students win a variety of donated raffle prizes and are given upgraded
library privileges. A student employee writes: "Shelving books
and working at the circulation desk for 15 hours a week may seem a
small service to offer a campus as large as Cal, yet in my four years
of employment as an undergraduate student I always felt that my contributions
were important--moreover, I never felt that they went unnoticed. The
annual Student Appreciation Party always showed that Library administration
valued and sincerely appreciated the work I had done for the Library
system. Attending the party every year gave me an opportunity to not
only relax and enjoy ice cream with other student employees throughout
the Library system, but also to connect with Library career staff
on a very casual level. As a student, the event made me feel like
I was an important part of a large Library staff community and that
my job was more than a means of supporting myself while getting an
education."
Benefits
of adopting the practice
The
Student Appreciation parties have a great reputation among Library
student employees and definitely contribute to retention of student
employees in the face of stiff competition for more glamorous
and high-paying jobs. They not only reward students, but staff
get a great morale boost coming together in a team effort for
a good cause. Staff and student employees benefit across the board
with fun, food, team spirit, and the satisfaction of thanks given
and received. This practice meets the needs of a diverse workforce
in the following ways: There is employee input in the process.
There is recognition that is not built into the basic structure
of campus student employment.
How
this practice works
Top
level management support is needed. Career staff serve students
at a hearty buffet. Each party has a theme with appropriate decorations,
music, and entertainment. Students win a variety of donated raffle
prizes at the party and also receive upgraded library privileges.
The department solicits donations of prizes from local vendors.
What
you need in place to replicate this practice
Top
level management support and funding. Staff or someone to organize
the event. Funding to purchase prizes or someone to solicit donations
from local vendors.
Tangible
improvements to the department as a result of adopting this practice
An
employee writes: "The party serves to spotlight the Library student
employees and the Library's activities, increases the overall
sense of community in the Library and on the campus, and draws
much-needed student workers to the Library. This is an important
event which shows our appreciation and support for our hardworking
student staff."
Why
this practice was so successful and is worth replicating
There is top level commitment, support, and funding. There
are values. The department takes internal polls and gets feedback.
The department promotes a culture of fun, recognition, development,
and a safe environment. Student employees receive recognition
that is not built in to the basic structure of campus student
employment.
Related policies/guidelines:
(1)
Business
& Finance Bulletin G-41 - Employee Non-Cash Awards.
(2) Guide
to Managing Human Resources, Appendix G: Recognition and Reward
Programs.