A Job Well Done
A Job Well Done
Nearly 50 percent of American skilled workers leave their jobs because they don’t feel appreciated, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor. But that’s not necessarily bad news for the dental laboratory industry. That’s because if there is one are where a small business holds an advantage over the titans of industry, it’s in employee recognition, according to Dee Hansford, president of Dee Hansford Consulting.
“Recognition is such a personal thing, so it is beautifully suited to small business,” she said.
Hansford, who formerly worked for Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Fla., consults with many businesses and government agencies about employee recognition. One of her favorite tips is for employers to start a success file on employees.
“Start with a success file as soon as they walk in the door,” she said. “Tell them, ‘I know you’ll be successful, if I was going to recognize that what would you want to do?”
Set parameters, but let the employee tell you what they would enjoy – it could be an extra long lunch, a flexible schedule or an ice cream treat. Also, ask if he or she would mind public praising. Some people are uncomfortable being the center of attention and your well-meaning effort to recognize their hard work could have the opposite effect.
Hansford has other low-cost ways to reward employees for a job well done:
- Offer a flexible schedule.
- Pay for part or all of a continuing education course.
- Send a letter to the employee’s family letting them know what a great job the employee has done and how valuable they are to your laboratory.
- Make the laboratory fun – host a themed potluck luncheon.
- Bring snacks for the laboratory.
- Never forget they have a life outside the laboratory – allow employees to take an afternoon off for a school recital or leave early to catch a little league game.
