A Clean Sweep: Housekeeping Staff Receive Monthly Awards for Hard Work
Last February, the basement of the Van Etten building flooded, leaving a huge mess for Einstein’s housekeeping unit to clean up. The flood happened on a weekend, so housekeeping director Fernando Quiles had his managers call in a lot of employees on their day off to come help with the cleanup.
Members of housekeeping together at an appreciation barbecue hosted by their managers
“There was stuff all over the place,” said housekeeper Kenneth Ford. “It was tough, but we all came together.”
Following the flood, Mr. Quiles decided to turn the mess into something positive for his staff. He awarded certificates to the employees, including Mr. Ford, who helped restore Van Etten. It was a small gesture, but for the housekeeping staffers who unceremoniously keep Einstein clean on a daily basis, it felt great to get some recognition.
Expanding on a Simple Gesture
So many staff members appreciated the awards that Mr. Quiles decided to make the presentation of certificates of appreciation a regular practice. Now, every month, Mr. Quiles confers with his three managers to identify deserving recipients. The awards fall into various categories, such as “outstanding efforts in floor care” or “consistency and dedication.” Four certificates are awarded each month, and managers say the practice has helped boost morale among the housekeeping staff.
“We wanted to show our appreciation to them,” said Mr. Quiles, adding that housekeeping is often the first to get complaints but the last to get accolades. “They don’t always get the recognition that they deserve and the certificates provide a way to do so.”
Representing Einstein’s Frontline
Einstein’s 53-person housekeeping staff has a lot of responsibility in the everyday operation of the College of Medicine; they set up and break down events, keep more than 10 buildings on campus clean and attractive for students and faculty, and provide the first impression of Einstein for anyone visiting the campus.
“We set the tone here,” said Mr. Quiles. “If the place is not clean, nobody is going to want to come in: students, staff, parents, faculty or alumni.”
Selecting Honorees
Kenneth Ford makes a clean sweep in UllmannThe certificates are a way to acknowledge staff members who go above and beyond their regular duties. In deciding who should get awards, Mr. Quiles considers reviews from “customers,” which include Einstein’s faculty and administrators. “In addition to congratulating employees who have done a great job, the awards allow us to acknowledge employees making a stronger effort,” he noted.
“In at least one instance, we selected someone to recognize the greater efforts being made, because my manager felt the individual should know that the improved approach to his work had been noticed and was appreciated."
At an appreciation barbecue held in September, where the housekeeping managers cooked hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken for their entire staff, many of the award winners said it was nice to be recognized for the work they do.
Angela Randall, who works the daytime shift at Forchheimer and has worked at Einstein for six years, was one such recipient. She received an award for “consistency and dedication through all levels of work performed.”
“It’s awfully nice to be recognized; being acknowledged means everything,” she said, smiling. “And it makes you want to try even harder.”
“It’s truly a morale booster,” said Robert Thornton, one of Mr. Quiles’ nightshift managers. “This is sometimes a thankless job, so it’s important to acknowledge the great work that our staffers do.”
Another award recipient, Jazmen Swett, who has worked at Einstein since 2009, was pleased when he received an award in April for floor cleaning. “I know I work hard,” he said. “And I try to make everybody comfortable. When it’s a clean place, you feel comfortable, you feel safer.”
Mr. Swett said the awards have helped build comradery among the staff because in the end, it’s not just about individuals. “We all work together.”
Posted on: Friday, February 17, 2017