I thought this was a little condescending...

[mjr]

Ok, at my place of employment, we have a group of people who are supposed to help make things "fun" and somehow "improve morale".

They picked a horrible name, because it spells WTF.

Anyway, on Wednesday they came around with yellow post-it notes and wrote silly little phrases like "Thank You", "You're Awesome", and "You Rock" on them, and stuck them on our monitors.

It was really dumb, and I seriously considered tossing mine in the circular file immediately. I left it there for a couple of hours, though, first. It wasn't extra motivating or a morale boost. It was humorous, though. The guy next to me and I were joking about it. I told him if they really wanted to improve our morale, they could have handed us envelopes with $100 bills in them.

That's kinda the thing with motivational speakers, too. They make you feel really good for a day or so (not to mention essentially implying that all those "issues" and "problems" that you complain about are your fault, because you're too stressed), then you go back to your same routine.

[Mr Hero]

The only motivational speaker worth a damn is Matt Foley. He lives in a van down by the river.

[EricKei]

They picked a horrible name, because it spells WTF.

I really wonder if their choice of names wasn't on purpose. It serves as an early indication of what they consider to be "funny."

[Gerrinson]

I've always found the occasional sincere 'Thank you' from someone receiving my work to mean far more than some sort of blanket message dropped on everyone.

For example, I just learned earlier this week that the training manual for a position in another department lists my name specifically and describes me as a 'kind and generous man'. An entry that has been there for more than a year. Which does make me feel appreciated.

Granted, they are supposed to fear me and my horrible wrath. Apparently my plan has backfired.

[mathnerd]

I was joking around with my boss at MajorBank one day and mentioned I still love coloring books and crayons. The next day there was a fresh, new box of Crayola's and a giant coloring book on my desk. My boss did that kind of stuff all the time. If there was some little way he could make our lives easier, and he had the money in petty cash, he'd do it. Sometimes it's the little things. More companies should understand they don't need to put on any kind of dog an pony show, they just need to pay a little attention.

[April]

. Sometimes it's the little things. More companies should understand they don't need to put on any kind of dog an pony show, they just need to pay a little attention.

That is SO true. It would be nice to hear "You handled that difficult client really well" instead of them complaining because I raised my voice a bit (or something equally silly)

[EricKei]

Gerrinson -- Perhaps not. Encourage them to read that training manual; it should be the first step to lulling them into a false sense of safety around you. This will make things that much more terrifying once they learn the truth...but, by then, it'll be far too late...

[dalesys]

Granted, they are supposed to fear me and my horrible wrath. Apparently my plan has backfired.

The "Eumenides" ploy. Call the Furies by a good name and they won't come after you. (whistles away into the dark)

[notalwaysright]

Anyway, on Wednesday they came around with yellow post-it notes and wrote silly little phrases like "Thank You", "You're Awesome", and "You Rock" on them, and stuck them on our monitors.

This would irritate me. At the very least it would have the same effect as getting a handful of Valentine candy hearts which say I love you. Empty. How about actually taking the time to say thank you about something specific. At my work we get little pins when someone fills out a card which says how helpful we are. Well, I never get any. When someone says I'm helpful I will never ever say, "thanks, NOW PUT THAT IT WRITING."

The whole going around with trite notes reminds me of this episode of Better Off Ted. (Excuse the terribly cut youtube video). It's basically a giant company who tries to assign personalities to employees.

[fireheart]

The whole going around with trite notes reminds me of this episode of Better Off Ted. (Excuse the terribly cut youtube video). It's basically a giant company who tries to assign personalities to employees.

I remember that. Better off Ted is a GREAT show, shame it only lasted two seasons

I did have to crack up at the fact that they all formed "groups" and then started turning on each other.

And I want to weaponize pumpkins now dammit!

[dalesys]

...And I want to weaponize pumpkins now dammit!

Bowling balls work better in cannons...

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

You want to motivate your employees? Pay them better.

Or, failing that, feed them.

[MoonCat]

You want to motivate your employees? Pay them better.

Or, failing that, feed them.

Or both

We once had a supervisor who handed out bubble liquid. It was supposed to lift morale. He was a bit of a bubble head, though, so I suppose it figures.

The only time we get praise is when they overhear us saying that no one ever expresses appreciation for a job well-done. I remember a summary of the annual state of the company meeting once said something about how the company's success was clearly due to "great leadership." Nothing about a great staff. Pissed me off, but it wasn't unusual.

[wolfie]

You want to motivate your employees? Pay them better.

Or, failing that, feed them.

And don't do a half-assed job of it. At a former employer (desk job - it was YEARS before I got into trucking) they ordered pizza as a "thank you" for people who made it into work the day after a massive snowstorm (can't recall if it was the same storm that had the then-mayor calling in the army). Of course, the quantity ordered resulted in fewer slices than employees who made it in.

Another way of doing it half-assed: Arquebus Motor Freight has employee appreciation barbecues. From noon to mid-afternoon on a weekday. While the drivers are all out on the road.

[Dreamstalker]

My store has "employee appreciation days". Food (which is done during dayshift when it's busy, so unless you're smart enough to grab food before you clock in you might not get anything) used to be up in the office/timeclock area where everyone could get at least something quickly (food would be rotated/refilled and lit Sterno/hotplates could be watched), now it's down in the basement break room and getting down there long enough to eat something is a crapshoot. Also you don't know how long stuff's been sitting out, or who has been touching it (or with what)...

Bowling balls work better in cannons...

But pumpkins have a slightly more colorful result.