Comments on: How Do You Thank Your Coworkers Without Breaking the Bank? http://moneysmartlife.com/how-do-you-thank-your-coworkers-without-breaking-the-bank/ Money Tips for a Better Life Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:59:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Government Employee http://moneysmartlife.com/how-do-you-thank-your-coworkers-without-breaking-the-bank/comment-page-1/#comment-20680 Government Employee Thu, 11 Oct 2007 17:46:52 +0000 http://moneysmartlife.com/how-do-you-thank-your-coworkers-without-breaking-the-bank/#comment-20680 My "company" offers up comp-time, but being in an environment that allows you to slack off without getting fired causes serious strain on those who actually perform above and beyond. We've recently started a program called the "Hero award", in which one employee will submit a recommendation for another to receive the award based off of going above and beyond their daily tasks. The problem with that is it's still a popularity contest as some people are getting awards for taking a problem to the next level and solving it while others are getting them for, well, "watering my plant while I was on vacation" or "cleaning out the microwave in the break room". This not only is annoying to listen to and makes me wonder if they did this during work hours or on their breaks, but it also takes the value of the hero awards that others have earned. The "crappy pins" and "cheesy awards" don't offer anything to keep people motivated to work hard. My “company” offers up comp-time, but being in an environment that allows you to slack off without getting fired causes serious strain on those who actually perform above and beyond. We’ve recently started a program called the “Hero award”, in which one employee will submit a recommendation for another to receive the award based off of going above and beyond their daily tasks. The problem with that is it’s still a popularity contest as some people are getting awards for taking a problem to the next level and solving it while others are getting them for, well, “watering my plant while I was on vacation” or “cleaning out the microwave in the break room”. This not only is annoying to listen to and makes me wonder if they did this during work hours or on their breaks, but it also takes the value of the hero awards that others have earned.
The “crappy pins” and “cheesy awards” don’t offer anything to keep people motivated to work hard.

]]> By: MoneyNing http://moneysmartlife.com/how-do-you-thank-your-coworkers-without-breaking-the-bank/comment-page-1/#comment-20641 MoneyNing Wed, 10 Oct 2007 23:19:29 +0000 http://moneysmartlife.com/how-do-you-thank-your-coworkers-without-breaking-the-bank/#comment-20641 Actually treating everyone to lunch or dinner doesn't make them feel good. You should talk to them one by one and let them know how much you appreciate their hard work. When review comes, you should mention it again. As long as you really feel appreciative, they will sense it. Actually treating everyone to lunch or dinner doesn’t make them feel good. You should talk to them one by one and let them know how much you appreciate their hard work. When review comes, you should mention it again. As long as you really feel appreciative, they will sense it.

]]> By: The Financial Blogger http://moneysmartlife.com/how-do-you-thank-your-coworkers-without-breaking-the-bank/comment-page-1/#comment-20506 The Financial Blogger Mon, 08 Oct 2007 10:24:40 +0000 http://moneysmartlife.com/how-do-you-thank-your-coworkers-without-breaking-the-bank/#comment-20506 "comp" time is pretty to make up for a small team. We always do it after a big rush. The key is to have everyone in the team agree and then, the manager just forget to put the absence on paper. Therefore, it becomes a "sick day" and the Company policy is not hurt ;-) Sometimes, you have to bend the rules if you want to keep your employees happy. If you don't have fun at work or don't feel rewarded, then working become a real pain! “comp” time is pretty to make up for a small team. We always do it after a big rush. The key is to have everyone in the team agree and then, the manager just forget to put the absence on paper. Therefore, it becomes a “sick day” and the Company policy is not hurt ;-)

Sometimes, you have to bend the rules if you want to keep your employees happy. If you don’t have fun at work or don’t feel rewarded, then working become a real pain!

]]> By: kitty http://moneysmartlife.com/how-do-you-thank-your-coworkers-without-breaking-the-bank/comment-page-1/#comment-20487 kitty Mon, 08 Oct 2007 03:20:10 +0000 http://moneysmartlife.com/how-do-you-thank-your-coworkers-without-breaking-the-bank/#comment-20487 Comp time is probably the best. Do you have power to tell the employees to just take a day or two off? If you cannot do that can you persuade your manager to have some group picnic in a local park (during work hours) with everyone bringing something to eat. We often have those. Our company has a much better recognition plan. To start with, our managers usually have no problems claiming a group lunch at a local restaurant as a business expense. At least during normal times when the company is doing OK and there is budget for such things. In better times, we even had group movie trips after lunches - during work hours. But... Ours is a Fortune 500 company. All a manager/team leader needs to get a group lunch paid is the approval of his immediate manager. As long as the department has money, the approval is easy to get. We also have ranking and evaluation first witin a group, then across all groups, and these are really important for bonuses and raises. The best way to reward employees is to get them better evaluations. In addition, if our projects are successful we can get some serious awards - my last one was $1500. The highest one I've got was $2500. Comp time is probably the best. Do you have power to tell the employees to just take a day or two off? If you cannot do that can you persuade your manager to have some group picnic in a local park (during work hours) with everyone bringing something to eat. We often have those.

Our company has a much better recognition plan. To start with, our managers usually have no problems claiming a group lunch at a local restaurant as a business expense. At least during normal times when the company is doing OK and there is budget for such things. In better times, we even had group movie trips after lunches – during work hours. But… Ours is a Fortune 500 company. All a manager/team leader needs to get a group lunch paid is the approval of his immediate manager. As long as the department has money, the approval is easy to get.

We also have ranking and evaluation first witin a group, then across all groups, and these are really important for bonuses and raises. The best way to reward employees is to get them better evaluations.

In addition, if our projects are successful we can get some serious awards – my last one was $1500. The highest one I’ve got was $2500.

]]> By: Ben http://moneysmartlife.com/how-do-you-thank-your-coworkers-without-breaking-the-bank/comment-page-1/#comment-20486 Ben Mon, 08 Oct 2007 03:13:33 +0000 http://moneysmartlife.com/how-do-you-thank-your-coworkers-without-breaking-the-bank/#comment-20486 sixpack, I totally agree comp time is a great answer. The problem I have is the "official corporate policy" says we can't give comp time, sucks doesn't it. sixpack, I totally agree comp time is a great answer. The problem I have is the “official corporate policy” says we can’t give comp time, sucks doesn’t it.

]]> By: sixpack http://moneysmartlife.com/how-do-you-thank-your-coworkers-without-breaking-the-bank/comment-page-1/#comment-20432 sixpack Sat, 06 Oct 2007 23:34:34 +0000 http://moneysmartlife.com/how-do-you-thank-your-coworkers-without-breaking-the-bank/#comment-20432 What we do is give people 'comp' time and take a half day off when it gets slower. They usually appreciate 'getting out early' on a Friday when they aren't expecting it. What we do is give people ‘comp’ time and take a half day off when it gets slower. They usually appreciate ‘getting out early’ on a Friday when they aren’t expecting it.

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