News from the AOA's Blog

Here are some low-cost, no-cost ideas for recognizing staff for their outstanding contributions to your practice during Paraoptometric Recognition Week, Sept. 12-18.

1. Write words of appreciation on the back of your paycheck envelopes. Possibilities may include words such as “Our practice is doing well because of your hard work. Thank you for all you do.”

2. Call a local radio station and dedicate a song to your staff during work hours.  Use the press release in your Paraoptometric Recognition Week kit for the radio station to use as an introduction before the song begins.

3. Use colored chalk to write a message of appreciation to your employees on the parking lot/walkway to the entrance of the building in which they work.

4. Each day of the week give your staff a playing card.  At the end of Paraoptometric Recognition Week employees play their best poker hand, and the winner gets a prize.

5. Schedule a five-minute break during which everyone says something nice to co-workers recognizing them for their contributions to the success of the practice.

6. Hire a local artist to draw caricatures of your employees during their break/ lunch hour and display in the office.

7. Leave small surprises such as a candy bar, key chain, or practice-identified merchandise in the form of caps or T-shirts in each employee’s work area.

8. Bring in soft drinks and juices to stock the staff refrigerator for the week.

9. Write a thank you note to the employees’ spouse or children. Suggestion: “Please accept my sincere appreciation for the support you have given to your mother (dad, wife, husband) in her pursuit of a career with our practice. I’m fortunate to have her on the team and want you to know how lucky you are to have her as your parent/ spouse. She is a great asset to our team.”

10. Make a CD using “eye-related” songs, such as those listed below, and play a game of “Name that Tune” during lunch hour with your staff.

• Brown-Eyed Girl~ Van Morrison
• Bette Davis Eyes~ Kim Carnes
• Private Eyes~ Hall and Oates
• For Your Eyes Only~ Sheena Easton
• Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue~ Crystal Gayle
• Angel Eyes~ Jeff Healey Band
• These Eyes are Crying~ The Guess Who
• Behind These Hazel Eyes~ Kelly Clarkson
• Eye of the Tiger~ Survivor                                                                                                                                                
• Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain~ Willie Nelson