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Maintaining high morale among employees in the workplace is critical to smooth business operations. At MGW Telephone Co, president and general manager Ron Smith said to ensure the survival of the company, they have to recognize the employees who have been with them for many years. For many telcos, like Albany Mutual Telephone Association and Roberts County Telephone Cooperative Association, salary adjustments are a primary means of rewarding outstanding employee performance. ENMR-Plateau Telecommunications has a similar internally regulated employee recognition program. Externally, the telco's employee recognition program is based upon customer opinion. If a customer rates the quality of service as excellent, or if a customer comments about a particularly well-done job by a specific employee, the staff member receives a commendation.

Maintaining high morale among employees in the workplace is critical to smooth business operations. Recognizing staff for exceptional performance and other accomplishments has the potential to create a positive environment and increase office productivity.

At MGW Telephone Co. in Williamsville, Va., President and General Manager Ron Smith recognizes the live-year milestones of employees at a meal shared by all of the telco's staff. "To ensure the survival of the company, we have to recognize the employees who have been with us for many years," he said.

Sharing meals also is an important vehicle for spotlighting hard workers at Yadkin Valley Telephone Membership Corp. (YVT, Yadkinville, N.C.). On a quarterly basis, all 150 employees are invited to a catered breakfast at the main office. Even though it is voluntary and takes place in the morning before the office opens, the response is great, said General Manager Jim Crabtree. "The breakfast is a great opportunity to recognize the positive initiatives taken by various employees, and to thank them for their hard work," he said.

The telco also keeps its customers abreast of accomplishments of YVT's employees via the company newsletter. Each issue salutes staff and offers support to the employee group, said Crabtree. "If we receive a letter or a phone call of commendation from a customer regarding a specific employee, we share that accolade with the individual, as well as the entire staff," he added.

For many telcos, like Albany Mutual Telephone Association (Albany, Minn.) and Roberts County Telephone Cooperative Association (RCTCA, New Effington, S.D.), salary adjustments are a primary means of rewarding outstanding employee performance. At Albany Mutual Telephone, General Manager John Rose annually compensates with a cash bonus those of his 12 staff members who consistently demonstrate good workmanship. "I feel that it is important to reward those employees that put forth extra effort," he said. "Because bonuses are regulated internally, I emphasize confidentiality; I prefer that the details of annual bonuses not be discussed among employees."

While bonuses are rare at RCTCA, General Manager Pamela Harrington, acknowledges that the potential for salary raises, contingent upon employee performance, is an effective form of recognition for employees that work especially hard. The telco also utilizes a Star Award program, wherein any staff member may issue an accolade on behalf of another employee. Star employees receive the award from their supervisor, and a note is placed in their permanent record. In addition to being recognized at staff meetings, a Star Award is looked upon favorably during the employee's annual performance appraisal, said Harrington.

ENMR*Plateau Telecommunications in Clovis, N.M., has a similar internally regulated employee recognition program. Employees may recognize their co-workers for an outstanding effort on a particular project by submitting a form to the telco's director of employee services. Externally, the telco's employee recognition program is based upon customer opinion. If a customer rates the quality of service as excellent, or if a customer comments about a particularly well-done job by a specific employee, the staff member receives a commendation. All of these accolades are published on the telco's Intranet and can be viewed by all staff members. Quarterly, all names of those who have received accolades are entered into a raffle, and the winner receives $250.

"Programs like these are extremely valuable," said Tom Phelps, chief executive officer at ENMR*Platcau. "Being recognized for hard work is very important to employees, and so in the end, both the company and the staff benefit from programs that acknowledge that their hard work is not going unnoticed."