Rewarding employees right

SANTA CRUZ — Two female co-workers watch in dismay as the "Employee of the Month" award goes yet again to the same employee who receives it every month. After her photo is hung once again in recognition of her value to the well-known company, the oft-honored employee happily goes about her work seemingly oblivious to the resentment and hostility felt by her two co- workers. The above scenario is currently being played out in a television commercial, but it's a perfect example of common mistakes made by managers and supervisors described in the new book, "Make Their Day! Employee Recognition That Works." Longtime Santa Cruz resident Cindy Ventrice is the book's author and believes that many managers and supervisors need to change the way they attempt to give recognition to their employees. "Lots of companies have ‘Employee of the Month,' and they think of that as recognition," Ventrice said. "If it's specialized, then it is recognition. "But if the employees don't know what it's for, then it's viewed as favoritism," she continued. "It doesn't make anyone feel better — instead, it's damaging morale." Geared toward managers and supervisors, Ventrice's book offers the dos and don'ts of employee recognition, which she believes can be an effective way for companies to boost morale, leading to greater productivity and increased profits. A 1983 graduate of San Jose State University with a bachelor's degree from the education department, Ventrice went into business for herself in 1984. Ventrice founded the Santa Cruz-based Potential Unlimited, which offers seminars and workshops geared toward improving relationships between employers and employees. After years of visiting companies of all sizes, Ventrice found common themes as to what management did successfully to make workers happy. One way was for management to build solid relationships with its employees, said Ventrice. If an employee has a strained relationship with his or her supervisor, attempts at bestowing recognition from the supervisor are more often than not received poorly by the employee. Two Santa Cruz County companies cite Ventrice's book as good examples of management building relationships with its workers. Watsonville-based Graniterock and Design Octaves in Scotts Valley both have created a workplace based on mutual respect, according to Ventrice. Other tips covered in the book include offering recognition the moment a newly hired employee walks in the door, creating a well-designed peer recognition program and displaying a commitment to employees' well- being. "My definition of recognition is based on the dictionary's definition," Ventrice said. "To see, to acknowledge — it can be anything that makes an employee feel acknowledged. "If employees feel acknowledged by management, that's recognition. The key for a manager is to put that element of recognition into everything." "Make Their Day! Employee Recognition That Works" will be in stores beginning Tuesday. Ventrice said Borders and Bookshop Santa Cruz will carry the book, but that it can also be ordered through any of the local bookstores. Contact Kirsten Fairchilds at kfairchilds@santa-cruz.com. ‘Make Their Day! Employee Recognition That Works' AUTHOR: Cindy Ventrice, a Santa Cruz resident and the founder/president of Potential Unlimited. WHAT: A book geared toward managers and supervisors that looks at recognition from the employee's perspective. RELEASE DATE: Tuesday. PHONE: 476-4224. E-MAIL: cventrice@maketheirday.com. WEB SITE: www.maketheirday.com.