Here are 6 great ideas for boosting staff morale
(Editor’s note: In this second part of a two-part series on raising staff morale, we give you six suggestions from your peers. Last month, we covered the latest research on what surgery center and hospital employees want.)
Sometimes, the best way to boost morale is to involve your staff in planning special events. Consider these suggestions from your peers:
1. Establish a staff satisfaction team. A staff satisfaction team can be an effective way to address morale issues, says Meaghan Reshoft, RN, MBA, director of the Day Surgery Center at Northwest Community Healthcare in Arlington Heights, IL. The same-day surgery staff satisfaction team includes an operating room RN, an operating room technician, two pre-op/recovery RNs, a sterile processing technician, a secretary/registration representation, and the director. The group meets monthly.
The group was established about four years ago after a firm, Moorehead Associates in Charlotte, NC, conducted a formal staff satisfaction survey. The team addressed areas highlighted as concerns in the survey, and the firm conducted a second survey 18 months later. Significant improvement was shown in every area except pay. However, the center hasn’t made any substantial changes in that area because it already pays the hospital rate and benchmarks its salaries.
To address other staff concerns, a suggestion box is located in the lounge, and the team decides whether to implement suggestions. "We also award small prizes for the best suggestion of the month," Reshoft says.
2. Have a gourmet meal at the staff meeting. At Day Surgery Center, the endoscopy department has a gourmet brunch at its monthly staff meeting, Reshoft says. All staff members’ names are put in a fishbowl, and four names are pulled at each meeting to prepare the next brunch, complete with casseroles and fresh fruit, she says.
3. Hold monthly theme days. El Camino Surgery Center in Mountain View, CA, holds a monthly theme day and involves the staff in planning it. The theme days include a holiday party in January, because many staff members have spouse holiday parties in December and also find it difficult to find baby sitters that month. One nurse coordinates a Chocolate Day (scheduled near Valentine’s Day) and a Pie in July day, complete with theme decorations and contributions from the staff. The center closes early one day every June for a picnic, which the staff appreciate, says Julie Butner, executive director.
Janet Reynolds, human resources manager, says, "A survey was done with the staff determining what type of picnic they wanted; e.g., at a park on the weekend with families, at a theme park such as Six Flags Marine World, or a work afternoon at the local park for staff only. A group of volunteer staff members assist with food, games, prizes for the picnic."
In December, a catered breakfast is the setting for each surgery center team to present its achievements and goals fulfilled for the year. In addition, spontaneous lunches are provided throughout the year, often paid for by physicians and/or vendors, Reynolds says. "This is done as recognition for a special occasion, a particularly heavy caseload day, or just to say thank you," she says.
4. Hold a Staff Appreciation Week. During Staff Appreciation Week at El Camino, each team is designated a day and given $50 to show their appreciation to the other staff. One year, the Perianesthesia Team gave each team $10 worth of lottery tickets and provided snack food throughout the day.
5. Mark milestones. At El Camino, milestones, such as the center’s 10th anniversary, are marked with a luncheon, and staff participation is encouraged. "Volunteer staff members participated on the 10th anniversary party committee, assisting with the catering, decorating, DJ, and assisted in setup and cleanup," says Reynolds.
6. Give out recognition cards. Reynolds says her facility offers three types of recognition cards: "You made my day," "Great Idea," or "Super Job."
"Any staff member can obtain a card and write a note and give it to a fellow staff member," she says. "In certain instances, the card may be given with a movie ticket."
(Editor’s note: For more suggestions, see Same-Day Surgery, April 2002, p. 51, "Happy employees result in satisfied patients — Recognition programs should be specific;" and p. 53, "Employee award program based on specific actions.")
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