Mailbox

Workforce, June, 2002

Private Recognition

Janet Wiscombe's article ("Rewards Get Results," April 2002) raised an issue that I often find myself disagreeing with. It stated, "Public recognition is an important component of the award." Later in the article it talked about what can happen when people get left out or if someone receives an award that is perceived as not deserved. Why does it ever have to be a public recognition? I believe that a reward can be just as effective and meaningful if it is given privately. When someone does something that deserves recognition, give him or her something in private that is of value to that person. You can do this at any time with any employee or group of employees without calling an "announcement" meeting.

This also allows you to praise small accomplishments as well as the big ones. I do like the idea of service awards that was mentioned. Public recognition of time served is a good way to bring attention to those who have stuck with the company in good times and bad.

Steve Webb

Orem, Utah

A Gentler Workplace

I just wanted to comment on Tom Terez's recent article on the aftermath of 9/11 in What Works, "The Case for Slowing Down" (April 2002). I'm printing the article and placing it in our break room, hoping that staff here will read it and give it some thought. Being in HR often puts one in a position to do a lot of observation, and your article made me think a lot about how things had changed following the attack, and how they've changed back. I can't say that everything and everyone has gone back to the way they were, but a lot has. It makes me wonder what we can do to encourage people to be more empathetic again. I hope it doesn't take another tragedy like this to shape a kinder, gentler society and workplace. Thank you for the great article.

Gerri Deach

Human Resources

Washington State Dept. of Financial Institutions

Olympia, Washington

Menial or Meaningful?

I read Shari Caudron's piece with interlest (On The Contrary, "Feeling Bad About Doing Good," January 2002) and would like to make an observation about the "menial" tasks that she was asked to undertake. In her perusal did it never occur to her that the jobs she was doing would need to be done by the nursing staff if she didn't do them? That, by doing non-medical tasks, she was freeing the staff to do the medical tasks she couldn't do? That this too is important under the guise of "do what you can do and leave others to do what they do"?

I work as an administrator in a hospital and, when I'm feeling as if I don't contribute to patient care, I remind myself that if I didn't do my job, the doctors, nurses, and other medical staff couldn't do what they do since they'd have to be doing my job too.

Sometimes the value of the things we do that appear "menial" is in the freedom that it gives others, not in the task itself.

Linda Hurst

Administrator

Strong Epilepsy Center

Strong Memorial Hospital

Rochester New York

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