National Healthcare Food Service Week

October 5 - 11, 2009 is National Healthcare Food Service Week!

This is a great opportunity to recognize the important work completed by all food service employees in your establishment. Food and meal service is a critical aspect of satisfaction for residents and patients. Without the food service workers, your operation would not be in business.

Employee recognition also assists greatly in employee retention, productivity, and morale. Although recognition should occur throughout the year, it becomes very important to do something for them at this time.

Recognition can include thank you notes, gift certificates, nominal gifts, rewards, contests, parties, public recognition, and, of course, food--provided someone else prepares and serves it!

Public recognition can serve many purposes. Taking an ad out in the local paper and thanking all the food service workers, by name, for all they do everyday is a great way to recognize the employees. Who doesn't like to see their name in print? It is also serves to market your facility. Too often facilities only make the paper if something bad happens. This is a way to remind the community of all the good that happens as well.

If you are stumped on how to recognize your employees, a great book is 1001 Ways to Reward Employees by Bob Nelson. These ideas are not theories, but approaches taken by actual companies.