Give Them The Time They Need for Their Family.

I announced in May, 2010, the 52 - Week Employee Recognition Plan. This is the 30th week. The lesson this week is:

• Give them the time off they need for a family crisis.

Do I need to explain this? I don’t really, do I?

If you hesitated answering that question NO, consider these points:

1. Fair’s Fair. If you have a company crisis you expect, even demand, they work the time needed to solve that crisis. Right? You’re not doing anything more than what you ask, demand, in return.

2. The Vacation Policy. Maybe your HR person mentions your vacation ‘policy’. Fine; that’s their job. But do you want someone at work when at best their attention is divided. You’re paying full dollar for a resource that delivers 50% or less of its potential results.

3. The Investment. Consider the ‘crisis day’ as an investment. Word of that kindness and flexibility will spread through the company. A thread or two of loyalty and trust will be woven into your corporate fabric. That thread, that weave, is employee engagement.

Now, if you are an average company you may have 20% - 30% of your employees actively engaged, intellectually and emotionally, with their work. That thread, that weave, could add a few percentage points.

What if 10% more of your employees were actively engaged, intellectually and emotionally, with their work? How would that be reflected in your corporate results? More revenues? More cash-flows? Lower hiring costs? Lower employee turnover?

Think about it.

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You can start with any week of the 52 - Week Employee Recognition Plan and make that your first week.

You can take one of those weeks and turn it into a month or commit to an accelerated pace and complete 6 of the weeks in one month.

You can create your own week of employee recognition. Share that journey here. Share it in your blog or Twitter or Facebook.

But, do something to recognize your employees! They set your brand apart as your ultimate competitive edge. And the more you recognize their achievements, the more achievements you'll see and they'll enjoy, along with your customers and and shareholders, partners and vendors.

Comments

[Survive Your Grief]

We have a ways to go on this one when many employees struggle to get 3 days off for bereavement leave.

Gov.Schwarzenegger recently vetoed a bill that would have mandated 3 days for bereavement.

Not that that's enough but it would be a start