Healthcare Environmental Services

Showcasing Talent

2010-07-13T10:15:00.003-07:00

Hold an art/hobby exhibition. Ask all the environmental services staff in your facility to submit drawings, photographs, needlework, or other arts and crafts. Display the items in the lobby, in a community room, or another public place. Give an “Environmental Services: The Team You Can Count On” Recycled Shoppers Tote and Junior Padfolio to each employee who has contributed. Honor these exhibitors at a cookies-and-punch reception.

Timed Test

2010-07-13T10:15:00.001-07:00

Add a new game in your lineup for National Healthcare Housekeeping Week called, “Can You Find 10 Things Wrong With This Room?” Purposely set up one of your patient rooms incorrectly. Then test each housekeeper individually. Time him or her, seeing how long it takes to find the errors. Reward the people with the best times by giving them Housekeeping Gift Bags Of Appreciation. Hand out Spinning Star Key Tags to thank everyone who played.

Pat On The Back

2010-07-13T10:14:00.001-07:00

Since you can’t be everywhere all at once, sometimes your employees witness good deeds when you’re not right there. During your recognition week, set out baskets of “Our Success Is Because Of You” and “Going Beyond Expectations” Lapel Pins. Encourage your staff to use the pins to reward co-workers for doing an excellent job. Remind them to include your facility’s laundry and maintenance team members.

Gentle Reminder

2010-07-13T10:12:00.002-07:00

Give your staff members a gift that gets them thinking about how much their contributions matter. Distribute “Teamwork Makes The Impossible Possible” Retractable I.D. Badge Holders to everyone. Then establish weekly prize drawings for the entire year until the next National Healthcare Environmental Services Week. On a randomly chosen day each week, fill a bowl with the names of people who are wearing their badge holders. Draw a name and give out a prize, such as a “Environmental Services: The Team You Can Count On” Verve Lunch Bag.

Workers That Rock

2010-07-13T10:12:00.001-07:00

Express to your housekeepers how well they’re doing by holding a rockin’ National Healthcare Housekeeping Week. Divide the staff into teams. Ask each team to pick a rock band name. Start the festivities by passing out “Housekeeping Rocks” Mini Carryalls to all team members. Throughout the week, have the teams compete in games, such as charades, Pictionary, and hangman. Award points to each game’s winning team. At the end of the week, tally the points and present “Housekeeping Rocks” Stainless Steel Tumblers to the members of the team with the best overall score.

Winning Ways

2010-07-13T10:11:00.000-07:00

Every employee can be a winner if you create customized award categories. Pick the Most Dependable, Hardest Working, Most Helpful, and Least Likely To Call In Sick, or other traits that fit your laundry staff members. Just make sure you don’t leave anyone out. Announce the winners at an event held in the style of awards shows. Have department heads present the awards. As each employee gives a short acceptance speech, reward him or her with a handsome “Laundry Staff: Fresh & Clean Is Our Theme” Red Pearlescent Water Bottle or Venture Reversible Tote Bag.

Get Them Guessing

2010-07-13T10:10:00.001-07:00

Let employees guess “who’s who” in photos of the backs of their coworkers’ heads. Recruit a volunteer to take the pictures. For the staff member with the most correct answers, have an Environmental Services Compact Umbrella. It will help keep his or her head dry and in “picture perfect” condition. Give all participants Comfort Grip Pens with the slogan “Housekeeping: Making The Ordinary Extraordinary.”

Bright Housekepping Ideas

2010-07-13T10:09:00.000-07:00

Employees who feel they are involved in how their workplace is run are more dedicated to its success. Ask your housekeepers for suggestions on how to improve your facility. Create forms that suggestions can be written on, and set up a suggestions box to put them in. Make sure suggestion contributors write their names on the forms so you can reward them. Give a “Housekeeping: Together We Make The Ordinary Extraordinary” Key Ring With LED Flashlight to each person who submits a serious suggestion. Present a Housekeeping Gift-Boxed Mini Candle to everyone whose idea gets implemented.

Fact Or Fiction?

2010-07-13T10:08:00.002-07:00

“Two Truths And A Lie” has become a popular game for recognition weeks. In this activity, employees turn in three statements about themselves. Two of the statements are true; one is made up. Everyone tries to pick out the untrue statement about each person. Organize this game for your maintenance staff by printing up the submissions and distributing them. Present a “Property Of Maintenance Department” Deluxe Duffle Bag and “Maintenance Staff: Keeping Things In Working Order” 4-In-1 Multi-Function Tool to your employee who identifies the highest number of false statements.

60 Minutes Of Enviromental Services Fame

2010-07-13T10:08:00.001-07:00

Give members of your environmental services staff the focused attention they deserve. Celebrate a staff member each day or hour by declaring “Beth Jones Day (Hour).” Announce the staff member’s name on the P.A. system and provide some information or a story about the person’s background and personality. Present the staff member with an item from the Environmental Services Gift-A-Day Package.

Clever Competition

2010-07-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

Provide your healthcare housekeeping employees with a chance to show off their abilities by holding a housekeeping triathlon. Choose three events that pertain to your workplace, such as mirror cleaning, bed making, and floor polishing. Give points for each event, allotting the most for first place, next for second, etc. While playing triumphal music, award a “Housekeeping: Making The Ordinary Extraordinary” Roll Up Travel Bag to the person with the most points. Give each triathlete a Two-Tone Fabric Wallet, along with praise for a good effort!

All Together Now

2009-06-03T10:13:00.001-07:00

Emphasize the importance of being team players by declaring September 15th “Team Tuesday.” Adorn your facility with sports-themed decorations. Invite everyone to wear team apparel, and arrange for a sports coach to give your employees a pep talk on teamwork. Hand out “Teamwork For Success” Kits (see page 21) at the beginning of the day. Present one to the guest speaker as well. Serve snacks that would be found at a Superbowl party. Before the festivities wind down, give out “Great Staff, Great Team” T-Shirts.

Forecast: Showers

2009-06-03T10:12:00.004-07:00

Spend some time singing in the rain, singing your environmental services staff’s praises, that is. Decorate a bulletin board or display case with paper raindrops. Hang a sign that says, “We Shower Our Environmental Services Staff With Appreciation.” Draw
a template of a large raindrop on a sheet of paper. Photocopy the raindrop, then make these copies available to patients and their families. Instruct them to write thank-you notes on the paper, cut out the raindrops, and place in a collection box. Each day of your recognition week, hang up several of the raindrop notes. Then give staff members something from the Environmental Services Gift-A-Day Packages. At the end of the week, distribute Environmental Services Compact Umbrellas With Cases.

Green Is Good

2009-06-03T10:12:00.003-07:00

Organize a “green” appreciation luncheon that adds a twist to the three Rs: recognize the contributions of your staff while reusing and recycling. Buy old candles and interesting glass jars at second-hand stores. Melt down the candles (in a double boiler), then let them harden inside the jars. Have these as centerpieces at the luncheon. Use plates and silverware that contain recycled materials. Lay out fabric tablecloths instead of disposable ones. Thank your luncheon guests with gifts that have less impact on the Earth, such as “It Takes A Team To Keep It Green” Eco Journal and “It Takes A Team To Keep It Green” Jute Tote Bag.

Gifts In Hand

2009-06-03T10:12:00.001-07:00

Be ready with appreciation at the start of National Healthcare Housekeeping Week. Stand by the time clock. (If you have more than one, recruit volunteers to help you.) As each employee clocks in, give out “A Shining Example Of Excellence” Retractable Badge Holder. Also award a “Behind Every Great Hospital Is A Great Staff” Lapel Pin or other lapel pin that fits your situation.
Include a hearty handshake!

T-rrific Recognition

2009-06-03T10:11:00.003-07:00

Give your employees “Environmental Services: Taking Pride in a Job Well Done” T-Shirts to proudly wear. During National Healthcare Environmental Services Week, hold an appreciation lunch. In the invitation, state that the entry ticket to lunch is the shirt. At the end of the event, give each environmental services worker a 3-Section Plate With Lid as further thanks.

Daily Drawing

2009-06-03T10:11:00.001-07:00

Use two-part raffle tickets to pick a prizewinner per day during your recognition week. Distribute the tickets Monday morning to your laundry staff members. Place gifts, such as “Laundry Staff: Making Each Day Clean And Bright” Office Mugs and Contour Grip Water Bottles, in a pillowcase. At the end of each day, draw a raffle ticket. Have the lucky ticket holder reach into the pillowcase without looking and pull out a prize. On Friday, take all of your laundry staff to dinner after the drawing.

Head To Toe Thanks

2009-06-03T10:10:00.002-07:00

Utilize the theme “Hats Off To The Maintenance Staff” as the basis for your celebrations. Design a banner out of bulletin board paper that states the theme, and attach plastic hats from a party store. Make construction paper cutouts of hats and write a staff member’s name on each, then display them outside the maintenance office. Thank these devoted workers with “Maintenance Staff: Making A Difference One Repair At A Time” Caps and Handy Auto Travel Kits. Also, ask employees in other departments to wear hats on a designated day to honor them.

Gratitude At High Altitude

2009-06-03T10:10:00.001-07:00

Without dedicated housekeepers, your facility couldn’t have reached its current heights of care. Create posters that read, “Thanks For Helping Our Facility Soar.” Hang up photographs of various types of aircraft. Distribute soda and juice from a cart that you push through the halls. Also pass out small bags of peanuts or pretzels. Use Roll-Up Travel Bags and Roll-Up Blankets as thank-you gifts. Make the items extra special by personalizing them with the name of your facility.

Musical Gifts

2009-06-03T10:09:00.002-07:00

Each September, find a unique way to distribute gifts of appreciation. In 2009, try playing a version of musical chairs called “musical gifts.” Start by gift wrapping items that aren’t too bulky, such as “Environmental Services: Taking Pride In A Job Well Done” Executive Style Pen & Pencil Sets and Mini Organizers. Hold a get-together, complete with snacks and music. Instruct everyone to pick out a wrapped gift and stand in a circle. Play a song as you have participants pass around the gifts; when the music stops, each person keeps the gift in his or her hand.

Focus On Feet

2009-06-03T10:09:00.001-07:00

Put a new spin on the old concept of guessing games. Hold a “Guess The Feet” contest at your facility. Take pictures of your housekeepers’ bare feet and post them on a bulletin board. Have contest entrants guess whose feet are whose. Award a “Housekeeping: A Shining Example Of Excellence” Drawstring Backpack to the person with the most correct answers. Give all participants “Housekeeping: A Shining Example Of Excellence” Digital Top View Pedometers to track the steps taken with their feet.

Surf’s Up

2009-06-03T10:08:00.000-07:00

Organize an event with the title “Surfing Into Super Service.” Plan a luau complete with Hawaiian food, such as mahi mahi and pineapple. Talk other managers into putting on grass skirts. Allow employees to wear Hawaiian shirts and reasonable shorts. Place canned or bottled beverages along with ice in Environmental Services Cooler Bags during the luau. Provide each person with his or her own bag. Extend the theme by sending everyone home with Environmental Services Bath/Beach Towels, which are also good for the beach.

Priceless Performances

2008-07-02T14:19:00.000-07:00

For entertainment at your National Healthcare Housekeeping Week recognition event, look for hidden talent within your own facility. Find staff members from other departments who like to sing, play the piano, tell jokes, etc., and encourage them to perform. At the event, present your housekeeping employees with “Housekeeping Rocks” FM Scan Radios in gratitude for their efforts. Thank your volunteer entertainers with “Thanks For Making A Difference” Briefcase Bags.

Saluting Service

2008-07-02T14:16:00.000-07:00

Promote loyalty by celebrating employment anniversaries. Hold a ceremony for your environmental services staff and invite people from other departments to attend. Award Prestige Series Years of Service Medallion Lapel Pins With Presentation Card for one, five, 10, 15 and 20 years. Also do something unique in honor of each person, such as plant a tree at your facility, make a donation to the local food bank or name a room after him or her. Announce these unusual “gifts” at the ceremony.

Fruitful Event

2008-07-02T14:13:00.000-07:00

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Give your housekeeping staff members a healthy start to their morning by serving fruit for breakfast during your recognition week. Pick a category of fruit per day, such as citrus or berries. Or choose a different color of fruit
to focus on daily. Serve fruit juice in “Housekeeping: The Sparkling Touch That Means So Much” Travel Tumblers. Pass out “Housekeeping: The Sparkling Touch That Means So Much” Deluxe Lunch Bags, which are good for carrying fruit in.

Photo Fun

2008-07-02T14:10:00.000-07:00

This year, create a slightly different awareness bulletin board for National Healthcare Environmental Services Week. Before the week begins, give a disposable camera to someone on your team, with instructions to take casual photos of a second team member working. Have the first person pass the camera to the second person after the photos are taken, and repeat the process until everyone has been photographed. Develop the film, then arrange the photos on a bulletin board. During the appreciation week, thank everyone for another successful year by handing out Photo Frames Of Appreciation or Tri-Fold Frame Clock & Caddies.

The Power Of Words

2008-07-02T14:03:00.001-07:00

Word puzzles can improve mental fitness. For National Healthcare Housekeeping Week, combine brain-boosting puzzles with housekeeping by creating crosswords and word searches using words related to cleaning, such as polish and vacuum. Try a free website, such as www.puzzle-maker.com, that forms puzzles from the words you enter. Distribute copies of your puzzle along with Thank You Pens . When your employees turn in correctly completed puzzles, hand out “Housekeeping: The Sparkling Touch That Means So Much” Mini Carryalls (see page 16).

2008-07-02T12:35:00.000-07:00

Shine a spotlight on your environmental services staff members with a “You Light Up Our Facility” luncheon. Print the slogan on the luncheon programs. Create spotlight beams out of yellow paper to hang on the walls. During the luncheon, play the song “You Light Up My Life.” Pass out “Environmental Services: Our Care Shines Through” Hand Powered Flashlights to your employees. As everyone eats, hold drawings for “Environmental Services: Our Care Shines Through” 11-in-1 Multi-Tools.