Looking after each other.

[no_hypocrisy]

I saw a woman working very hard and very well as a cashier. Friendly, helpful too.

Ordinarily I would thank her and head for the door. Today, I took a good look at her and wanted someone managerial to hear from a customer how much she was appreciated.

I spoke to a manager about how I used to work as a cashier and I knew the "real deal" and she was it. The manager perked up and told her higher-up and requested I fill out a card on behalf of the cashier, which I did.

People are losing their jobs over bullshit every day. Their supervisors only hear the bad news. I think that if you see someone doing their job with a little extra effort, tell someone on your way out. You might be saving their job in the future.

[peacebird]

1. Agree totally. I have done this for years, my mom taught me the importance of giving recognition.

[graham4anything]

2. I too have done this for years. And in places that accept tips, I go out of my way...

in restaurants I am a regular in, I will go out of my way to tip
In a diner I go to, the guy who brings the water and sets the table is the hardest worker in the place. Every Christmas I wait til no one is looking and hand him personally and make sure he knows it is his. And thank him.

If I won a mega lottery-I would give a nice sum each to about 100 people I see weekly, most of them more than my extended family
The people in the supermarkets, the guy who gets the wagons in the parking lot, the special post office clerks who go out of their way for all customers, as opposed to the ones who say sell you the PO cardboard box, instead of for the weight, saying here is the free priority ones when the postage will be priority rates anyhow.Those people.

The bus drivers. The guys who work in garages (especially during this years Sandy storm, the one who let me have more than the $50.00 max, because he and I talked the whole year about President Obama.

The guy during the storm when nothing but a subway's was open who put 2x as much stuff in the hero, went back the other day just to seek him out and thank him.

The regular people.
And none of them do it for anything but their salary.

The 9 to 5ers who might work for a corporation we are suppose to hate, yet they are just
9 to 5ers and without that job, would be unemployed.
The mom and pop stores still standing, make sure to not forget them during the year, for a buck or two more it is worth it in that they stand by what they sell.

[garthranzz]

3. I've made a point of complimenting people to their bosses

in person or on the phone. My father did it all the time. Doing so is one way I honor him.

[alphafemale]

4. just the act of thanking people in thankless jobs can almost bring them to tears.

they get crap upon crappity crap day after day and their feet hurt. And they almost never get a thankyou.

[Chorophyll]

5. Absolutely.

Thank you for doing that, and for the reminder.

[JDPriestly]

6. Thanks for the reminder.

[jillan]

7. I always do this - whether it's the cable guy or at a store... the only time a manager hears

about an employee is when they screw up, never when they do something right.

The guy who installed my cable was brand new. I didn't know that at first. I moved into an older home that never had cable.
He worked his behind off for me and stayed until he got everything set up the way I wanted. Never seemed frustrated, just seemed happy to help me.
When I called his boss to let her know, she was thrilled to hear from me. And I know that my phone call made sure that new employee had job security - because when and if he does screw up, my phone call will be in his record as well.

We have all been that new employee, or that employee that never is appreciated.

It's up to us to give people a reason to smile.

[Mopar151]

8. Attaboys have real power

And handing them out in the right circumstances pays off.

[DirkGently]

9. Good going. I try to leave positive feedback when possible, too.

People don't hesitate to complain when a worker doesn't meet their expectations. We shouldn't be shy to throw compliments around either.

[sarchasm]

10. So true.

Fill out those how-did-we-do cards and mention anyone exemplary by name. Management reads them because so few ever actually get filled out. It could make a huge difference in someone's life.

[Stonepounder]

11. I am a firm believer in 'complaining' when something is not up to my expectations.

And, by the same token, I am also a firm believer in letting management know when someone exceeds my expectations. A company I used to work for had one of the greatest incentive programs I have ever seen. About once a month we would have a team meeting and our boss would pass out 'attaboys'. They were just certificates good for somewhere between $10 and $25. You had to spend them on 'you'. Take yourself (and your significant other) out to a movie, buy yourself a DVD or CD, or save them up. Once you 'spent' them, you just turned in an expense report with the certificates attached, and the company cut you a check. We loved them!

I am always amazed at how thrilled managers are to receive compliments and how concerned and appreciative they are to receive complaints (providing of course that the complaints are constructive). I once had a restaurant manager give ma a $100 gift certificate when I told him that his chicken enchilada had too much cheese in it. He literally gasped. He said: 'No wonder my budget is off. Do you know how much more cheese costs than chicken?'

Managers and bosses need feedback to know whether things are going well or poorly. And I would much rather give a compliment than a complaint.

[1StrongBlackMan]

12. Good for you ...

I make a practice of bringing good service to the attention of management (and, if appropriate, tip in recognition of superior service).

[eggplant]

13. I always do this.

Most every place that I've spoken with a supervisor, they are very happy to hear the compliments, and they really do make a difference for the worker.

[ErikJ]

14. Cynical me. Maybe the mgr will be afraid she is after her/his job and find a way to terminate her.

[no_hypocrisy]

16. Not in this case. Woman was in her Sixties.

I felt protective of someone who could easily face age discrimination. I wanted management to see her as someone with experience, not wrinkles.

[Beartracks]

15. K&R n/t

[madmom]

17. Hubby and I did this a week or so ago. We were at a local hamburger joint and the

sandwiches were better than usual. We made a point of telling the manager and sending a tip to the cook. He was very grateful!

[JimDandy]

18. Thanks. Good reminder to accentuate the positive. n/t

[Voice for Peace]

19. and acknowledge them face to face as well.

I remember reading a poem a long time ago about a man
in a toll booth.

All I remember is that nobody driving by those tolls seemed
to notice that there was a human being in the booth --
often standing there for hours, alone, with barely a human
nod from passing drivers.

Everybody in any kind of service job deserves to be seen
and noticed, and especially if they're making a good effort,
to be appreciated. Validated. Just because they're human.

[renate]

20. this is one of my favorite things to do

It's totally and completely selfish of me because it feels really good. It's so easy to do and it can help give a good employee a little extra job security.

And to quote Frank Burns from M*A*S*H forever ago, "It's nice to be nice to the nice."

Thanks for this thread!

[humbled_opinion]

21. I wish it were true in my world...

but I live in a nightmare world, when the layoffs come from sequestration the rumor here is that the bosses are going to try and layoff Obama voters first and foremost...... They are relying on bumber stickers, reported political contributions, and workcenter chatter to determine who the Obama supporters are. I would think this would be illegal but really there is no law stopping them...

[Iwillnevergiveup]

22. no_hypocrisy

We're on the same wave length.



http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022099375

[spanone]

23. great post!!!!!

k&r