The Workplace Success Stories Recognition Program provides a vehicle to collect and widely disseminate information about successful workplace practices in the areas of equal employment opportunity (fairness), affirmative action (representation), and diversity (inclusiveness). Nominated departments who meet the selection criteria, focused around a particular theme each year, receive recognition, and their success stories are shared with the entire campus community in a variety of venues with hopes that the successful practices will be adapted by other departments. Each year a call goes out and Chancellor Berdahl encourages departments to submit nominations. Several Vice Chancellors also send out memos encouraging departments within their control units to submit nominations.

This year's theme is Maximizing Employee Input in Managerial Decision-Making. Eleven practices are showcased on this website. When you review these practices, you will learn about the wide array and diversity of programs that make employees feel that their input is valued and respected. From workplace climate surveys to recruitment and selection decisions--there are many ways for staff to to have an active voice about decisions that affect them directly.

This is not an awards program. Departments do not compete against each other for a prize. Rather, it is a program that acknowledges and gives attention and favorable notice to all departments in some way for their good faith efforts. For those departments who meet all of the program's selection criteria, the acknowledgement includes having their success stories showcased in a number of venues to share this information with the campus community. Departments who do not meet all of the criteria are acknowledged and given feedback and encouragement to continue the good faith efforts they have started.

Please consider trying out some of these practices in your own departments. Representatives from the various departments have agreed to serve as contacts to answer your questions. Acknowledgements will also be given to departments who replicate these practices. Please notify Staff Equity and Diversity Services about any practices that you are able to adapt in your departments. Tapping into the existing campus knowledge and expertise and sharing these successful practices will over time help the campus attain greater organizational effectiveness.

"Because no one person can consider all facets of a position, I feel that I have been able to provide valuable insight into many of the positions we have filled during my tenure. Even when I don't supervise or report to a particular position, I have a point of view that is considered in the hiring process, that adds strength to the final selections." — Staff

"Even the most routine tasks take on importance and significance when they can be viewed as contributing to an exciting outcome." — Assistant Dean

"It is FUN and a definite morale booster" -- Director

Review and Implement Best Practices

We are interested to learn whether departments adopt and replicate the best practices we showcase. See the complete list, or find a practice or programs by:

Category | Workplace Issues Addressed |
Department | Control Unit/Division

"The lecture and lunch series provides staff with one of their very infrequent opportunities to take a brief pause from the harried pace of providing behind-the-scenes technical support to our researchers. The lecture presentation gives everyone a chance to appreciate the context of their contributions toward research and education. The question and answer segment of the presentation provides a forum for interesting discussions on the topic." -- Manager of shops and research support services

Best Practices by practice name

 

Best Practices by Category (one category per practice)

• Awards & Tangible Gifts
  Cheers for Peers
  Employee Acknowledgement
  Employee Recognition
  Recognition Selection Survey
  Student Appreciation Day
  Two Thumbs Up
  You've Been Sighted
  

• Employee Development
  Employee Development Program
  English as a Second Language
  Mentor & Protege Program
  Staff Development Committee
  Student Group Advising Core Competencies
  Training & Development (Cap. Proj.)
  Training & Development (Fin. Aid)
  

• Networking/Info-Resource Sharing Across Depts/CU
  Department Safety Coordinators
  Early Birds
  Staff Meetings & Retreats
  

• Organizational Improvement/Effectiveness
  Annual Planning Retreats/Department Planning Committees
  Department Operational Objectives/Staff Director Collaboration
  Design Alliance
  Diversity Committee
  Health, Safety, and Security Committee
  Let's Hear It! Our Annual Survey
  Organizational Development Committee
  Work Environment Survey
  

• Orientation
  New Career Employees Orientation
  Orientation Program
  

• Performance Appraisal Process
  Anonymous Management Survey
  Feedback & Prospectives
  Performance Management Plan
  Qualitative Analysis Process
  

• Recruitment & Selction
  Broad Staff Inclusion in Recruitment and Hiring
  Staff Participation in Department Management Selection
  

• Relationship Building
  Annual Organization-wide Events
  Fridays at Four
  Ice Cream Social
  Research for Staff Lecture Series
  Staff Exchange Day
  Staff Initiated Activities
  

Workplace Issues That Were Improved by the Practice

Appreciation/Celebration of Differences
Annual Organization-wide Events
Annual Planning Retreats/Department Planning Committees
Diversity Committee
Employee Acknowledgement
Employee Recognition
Fridays at Four
Research for Staff Lecture Series
Staff Exchange Day
Staff Initiated Activities
Staff Meetings & Retreats
Student Appreciation Day
Two Thumbs Up
You've Been Sighted

Camaraderie
Annual Organization-wide Events
Cheers for Peers

Communication & Info Sharing
Design Alliance
Department Operational Objectives/Staff Director Collaboration
Department Safety Coordinators
Early Birds
Fridays at Four
Orientation Program
Qualitative Analysis Process
Staff Development Committee
Staff Exchange Day
Staff Meetings & Retreats
Student Group Advising Core Competencies
Training & Development (Cap. Proj.)
Work Environment Survey

Community & Team Building
Annual Organization-wide Events
Anonymous Management Survey
Early Birds
Fridays at Four
Ice Cream Social
Mentor & Protege Program
Research for Staff Lecture Series
Staff Exchange Day
Staff Initiated Activities
Staff Meetings & Retreats
Student Appreciation Day
Student Group Advising Core Competencies
Training & Development (Cap. Proj.)
Two Thumbs Up
Work Environment Survey
You've Been Sighted

Continuous Improvement
Anonymous Management Survey
Design Alliance
Department Safety Coordinators
Employee Development Program
English as a Second Language
Let's Hear It! Our Annual Survey
Mentor & Protege Program
Performance Management Plan
Qualitative Analysis Process
Staff Development Committee
Student Group Advising Core Competencies
Training & Development (Cap. Proj.)
Training & Development (Fin. Aid)
Work Environment Survey

Customer Service
Department Operational Objectives/Staff Director Collaboration
Design Alliance
English as a Second Language
Feedback & Prospectives

Faculty/Staff Relationships
Annual Planning Retreats/Department Planning Committees
Fridays at Four
Research for Staff Lecture Series

Favoritism
Recognition Selection Survey

Fewer Grievances
Recognition Selection Survey

Injury Prevention
Health, Safety, and Security Committee

Management/Staff Communication
Anonymous Management Survey
Fridays at Four
Research for Staff Lecture Series

Morale
Recognition Selection Survey

Motivation
Broad Staff Inclusion in Recruitment and Hiring
Fridays at Four

Organizational Culture
Annual Organization-wide Events
Design Alliance
Diversity Committee
Let's Hear It! Our Annual Survey
New Career Employees Orientation
Organizational Development Committee
Orientation Program
Staff Initiated Activities

Planning
Work Environment Survey

Productivity
Department Operational Objectives/Staff Director Collaboration
Qualitative Analysis Process

Professional Development
Qualitative Analysis Process

Public Forum for Staff Recognition
Annual Organization-wide Events
Cheers for Peers

Retention
Employee Development Program
Recognition Selection Survey
Student Appreciation Day
Two Thumbs U

Safe Work Environment
Health, Safety, and Security Committee

Staff Buy-in on Management Decisions
Staff Participation in Department Management Selection

Team Buy-in on Hiring Decisions
Broad Staff Inclusion in Recruitment and Hiring
Employee Development Program
Student Appreciation Day
Two Thumbs U

Teamwork
Annual Planning Retreats/Department Planning Committees
Employee Development Program

Training to Address Health and Safety Issues
Health, Safety, and Security Committee

Trust
Anonymous Management Survey
Employee Development Program

Best Practices by Department

Administrative Systems Department
Anonymous Management Survey
Cheers for Peers
Department Operational Objectives/Staff Director Collaboration
Staff Participation in Department Management Selection

Associate Vice Chancellor - Adminstration
Let's Hear It! Our Annual Survey

Facilities Services
Employee Acknowledgement
Employee Recognition
Feedback & Prospectives
Mentor & Protege Program
Orientation Program
Training & Development (Cap. Proj.)

Chancellor's Office
Two Thumbs Up

Chemistry
Research for Staff Lecture Series

Clark Kerr - Custodial Services-Student Housing
English as a Second Language

Engineering
You've Been Sighted

Financial Aid
Training & Development (Fin. Aid)

Fisher Center for Real Estate & Urban Economics
Fridays at Four

Informational Systems and Technology
Work Environment Survey

Lab Animal Care, Office of (OLAC)
Recognition Selection Survey
Staff Exchange Day

Library
Early Birds
Ice Cream Social
Organizational Development Committee
Staff Development Committee
Student Appreciation Day

Registrar
Employee Development Program

Residential & Family Living/New Student Services
Broad Staff Inclusion in Recruitment and Hiring

School of Public Health - Labor Occupational Health Program
Annual Planning Retreats/Department Planning Committees

Student Life, Office of
Performance Management Plan
Qualitative Analysis Process
Staff Meetings & Retreats
Student Group Advising Core Competencies

Undergraduate Affairs
New Career Employees Orientation

University Health Services (UHS)
Annual Organization-wide Events
Diversity Committee
Health, Safety, and Security Committee
Staff Initiated Activities

University Relations
Design Alliance

Vice Chancellor -Adminstration
Department Safety Coordinators

Best Practices by Control Unit

Administration (formerly BAS)
Annual Organization-wide Events
Department Safety Coordinators
Diversity Committee
Health, Safety, and Security Committee
Let's Hear It! Our Annual Survey
Staff Initiated Activities

Facilities Services
Employee Acknowledgement
Employee Recognition
Feedback & Prospectives
Mentor & Protege Program
Orientation Program
Training & Development (Cap. Proj.)

Chancellor's Unit
Two Thumbs Up

EVC&P
Annual Planning Retreats/Department Planning Committees
Anonymous Management Survey
Cheers for Peers
Department Operational Objectives/Staff Director Collaboration
Early Birds
Ice Cream Social
Organizational Development Committee
Research for Staff Lecture Series
Staff Development Committee
Staff Participation in Department Management Selection
Student Appreciation Day
Work Environment Survey
You've Been Sighted

UGA
Broad Staff Inclusion in Recruitment and Hiring
Employee Development Program
English as a Second Language
New Career Employees Orientation
Performance Management Plan
Qualitative Analysis Process
Staff Meetings & Retreats
Student Group Advising Core Competencies
Training & Development (Fin. Aid)

University Relations
Design Alliance

VCR
Fridays at Four
Recognition Selection Survey
Staff Exchange Day

Printable Matrix of Best Practices in "Recognition Strategies for a Diverse Workforce"

Printable Matrix of Best Practices in "Maximizing Employee Input in Managerial Decision-Making"

The matrices are in the Portable Document Format (.pdf). A portable document format file is an electronic facsimile of a printed document. Portable document files (.pdf) can be viewed by using the software program Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free from the Adobe Systems Incorporated home page. PDF files can also be printed to your local printer; however, portable document files are large and may take some time to print. If you are using a screen reader, Adobe can convert .pdf files to html.