by Betty Jo Hawkins

Created on: August 13, 2010

Showing appreciation to your co-workers can be done in many ways.  We acknowledge each of our co-workers on their birthdays.  We give them a card and I do not mean just a birthday card but one with meaning.  We select it with great care, it somehow describes them to a tee.  Most often it contains lots of humor.  Not only do we give each other a birthday card but we bring in cakes, cup cakes and or other snack foods to celebrate their special day with them.  Look out if it is your over the hill birthday you will be in for a treat.  You'll find a happy birthday note out by the time clock as well. We spend more hours with our co-workers then we sometimes spend with our own family's.  

When ever we get a new employee we make them feel special from the very beginning.  They will find a welcome sign out by the time clock. They are taken to lunch on their first day.  A breakfasts or snack day is given and they are the guest of honor.  They get a welcome aboard gift it could be a lunch bag with goodies provided by our welcome committee.  They may find movie tickets, a lock for their locker, pens and other useful items.  We also have a brag box where you can brag about your co-workers who have helped you, or have done something really grand for someone else.  We practice good customer service not only to our customers but to each other as well.  It really does make for a nice work environment.

When ever one of us has a crisis's in our lives you can bet that our co-workers will do all they can to help each other out.  My co-workers are my extended family.  Many of us have worked together for over a decade. Some have been in our department for over thirty years. We have seen our co-workers bury their parents, seen them have children and watched each others children graduate from high school develop careers and begin to get engaged.  Some have gained grandchildren.  We have even retired a few.  We have had some that are difficult to work with but they generally do not stay long.  Over all, I can honestly say my place of employment is a great place to work.

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