It is common for recognition and appreciation to be missing or limited in the workplace. This isn’t necessarily intentional but rather a reality in the tensions of running a business combined with the discomfort some leaders have with showing appreciation.
Recognizing that, and I am guessing a commercial opportunity, National Employee Appreciation Day was created in 1995 by Bob Nelson. Nelson is a founding Recognition Professional International board member who created this event with his publishing company Workman Publishing.
The day is this Friday, March 3.
While such nationally proclaimed days feel like emotional blackmail, fail to succumb at your peril. Even well-known credible business mags are in on the deal. It’s the 11th hour and if you are still wondering what to do check out this Forbes article: 5 Ways To Celebrate Employee Appreciation Day.
Mother’s Day is in May. Father’s Day in June. During that month, as a lad one year I queried Mom. Why isn’t there a Kid’s Day? Mom was raising three boys and a girl, all rambunctious while she persistently tried to get a dollar to do the work of three. Without slowing her process of making four lunches she said, “Every day is Kid’s Day”.
Initially, I wondered where is my daily cake and card. Many years later, I understood that the daily cake and card was in the form of being tucked in at night and always getting a “good night kiss.” It was never going hungry, got cookies after school, piano lessons, little league, and all the other things that parents do to demonstrate love while helping children learn, grow and become decent members of society.
I was not an easy kid. I was at times a toxic team member, my numbers were not persistently good, and the quality of delivery on my household chores was at times lacking. Yet, I was always held accountable for my behavior and the quality of my results and coached, at times aggressively, to improve and I did. It was a good thing our family was not run like a business or I would have been terminated somewhere between 6th and 8th grade.
True confessions…I bristle at all the well-intentioned, defined and commercialized special recognition days.
My suggestion: a team trip to the taco truck and the boss makes margaritas.
Get ready for:
- National Teacher’s Day March 7
- National Administrative Professional’s Day (Formerly Secretary’s Day) April 26
- National Boss’s Day October 16 (I’ll be expecting card and cake)
- You may have missed National Engineer’s Week was Presidents Day Weekend in February
Once a year for an hour or an afternoon can be an excellent all in appreciation event but it doesn’t replace regular discussions with people. Positive appreciation when warranted, job well-done and feedback/correction when necessary need to happen persistently in real time, not just in the annual review process.
I’m the Outsider and that’s what I think.
