Recognizing Contribution
Just four months after beginning work at the Greater Chicago Food Depository in late 2000, Donna Larkin was shocked to find herself moving into a leadership role at one of the nation's largest food distribution centers. With the senior public relations official out of commission with a broken leg, the job was handed to Larkin, the No. 2 person in the department. However, her initial surprise and temporary promotion were about to be trumped by yet another development just a few months later.
As they do each quarter, the Food Depository's 85 employees gather in a cramped room just off the sprawling, bustling warehouse floor to listen to Michael Mulqueen, the executive director. He makes note of employee contributions, celebrates, with cake, all birthdays that took place over the past three months, and then recognizes special achievements by his colleagues. First, he reads off the list of "Shining Stars" and hands out award certificates to those employees who have been nominated by their fellow workers for a special good deed.
Then comes the moment the employees are waiting for: the five nominations for the "Employee of the Quarter," presented to Mulqueen by department managers and the director of human resources. Larkin's was the first name called. "I tried to stay calm and cool," she recalls. After all the names were read out, the winner for the first quarter of 2001 was Larkin. "I was shocked and excited. It is a great honor. No matter how professional and confident you are, this award validates what you do for the organization," she says.
In fact, the Food Depository's employee recognition programs – which also includes an Employee of the Year award – are central ingredients in Mulqueen's longstanding efforts to build collaboration and eliminate barriers between the low-wage warehouse workers, the professional staff and the 600 soup kitchens, food pantries, and senior centers that the not-for-profit organization serves. The Food Depository moves $54 million worth of food through its warehouse annually to more than 300,000 people throughout Cook County, Ill.
A former senior military officer, Mulqueen in his decade-long tenure has set the tone from the top. He's regularly out on the gritty warehouse floor where the atmosphere and pace can get frenetic, getting to know every employee by name, and often learning a great deal about their families. "The real key to building our culture is the absolute commitment of the CEO," says Barbara J. Whicker, director of communications and Larkin's supervisor.
It is Mulqueen himself who selects the award winners, taking into consideration such issues as job knowledge, performance, initiative, teamwork, customer service and reliability. Each quarterly nominee receives a paid day off, with the winner earning a $100 savings bond, a dinner certificate and recognition in the food depository's internal and external newsletters. The Employee of the Year award, which has included a maintenance supervisor and a food-order-preparation team leader, wins two airline tickets or $350 worth of food and restaurant vouchers.
Regular employee recognition programs need not be expensive or complicated to put in place and can have a positive impact on morale and turnover rates. However, to Linda Anderson, director of human resources, that almost misses the point. "This is the right thing to do. Any organization should recognize the value of their employees," Anderson says. Just ask Donna Larkin who says, "Everyone feels part of something bigger. This is more than just a job."
Company: Greater Chicago Food Depository
Web site: www.chicagosfoodbank.org
Industry: Nonprofit food services
Location: Chicago, Ill.
Number of employees: 85
Sales: N/A
