Thursday, I attended Pearl River County Hospital and Nursing Home’s employee appreciation lunch.
The weather was beautiful and provided a sunny backdrop for the midday festivities.
I saw smiling employees and noted the delicious smells emitting from the grill.
According to an article on allbusiness.com, statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Labor cite that individuals who voluntarily leave a job cite lack of appreciation as one of the major reasons for quitting. The author goes on to say that even though employees and supervisors can attest to being appreciative to employees that perform well, only about 17 percent of employees report those supervisors do a good job at showing appreciation.
The author suggests ways to weave appreciation into the company’s culture. Appreciation must be displayed frequently, be personalized and authentic. She also suggests that supervisors and employers express their appreciation in the language of the recipient. The five languages of appreciation are tangible gifts, words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time and appropriate physical touch such as a high-five or pat on the back.
When I was in high school, I joined the medical explorers group at Hancock Medical Center. The program was designed to provide students an insight into the medical field. After visiting many of the departments, I decided it wouldn’t be a career choice for me. However, I gained a profound respect and understanding of the work required of those in the medical profession.
I have family members who are nurses. The nurses who take care of my dad at the dialysis center in Diamondhead have become part of our family. They inquire about my nephew frequently and see him during face time.
I appreciate everyone working in the medical field. I may have had one or two negative experiences with a doctor or nurse, but that is to be expected as we are human and make mistakes.
I am so thankful for the staff at both of our county’s hospitals for keeping us healthy and doing their best to take care of our medical needs.
I also commend the administration and board members of the Pearl River County Hospital and Nursing Home for showing appreciation to their employees this week and letting them know how much they mean to the organization.