Time to celebrate Guyana’s most precious resource

Dear Editor,
Friday, March 5 marks another Employee Appreciation Day, and it couldn’t come at a better time, since, this year, it needs our special attention as managers. This March represents the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 work-at-home migration, March 02, 2021 marks one year since the dark period in Guyana’s history, and a year of new and ever-evolving challenges for employees across every region of our great country.
However, a time to celebrate Guyana’s most precious resource, the people who toil day after day to build our country’s aspirations, our health workers, our peace officers our first responders, our production workers, our sale and deliver services, our customer services, our problems resoluteness and our business-driven development employees.
As 2021 hits full stride while we approach the second quarter of the year, our workers are playing a vital role in the evolution of the workplace, our business models and the ability of organisations to survive this COVID-19 crisis. And they’re doing it remotely, while balancing new demands around their home lives and work routines amidst a public health crisis.
For almost a year now, many workers have been separated from their peers and managers through temporary furloughs, work-from-home, rotating schedules, and other new policies. And while working from home has its perks, it can’t take the place of the personal connections and sense of togetherness found in workplace cultures in shared office environments.
Our employees are feeling more detached than ever before. Even with virtual connections over Zoom and other collaborative services, employees have gone months, or even a whole year, without personal interactions with people they might have worked with for years.
And then there are those employees who haven’t had the luxury and safety of working from home. Health care workers, first responders, drivers, restaurant workers, warehouse and manufacturing employees, who have endured the added stress and risk of becoming infected while serving customers and keeping their businesses running.
While cards, flowers, cupcakes or gift cards on Friday are a lovely gesture, what employees want even more is an experience of appreciation as something that’s not reserved for an annual holiday; rather, as something that can – and should – be expressed every day of the year. Employees want to feel like they are making a contribution and a difference. Even mundane tasks can be infused with a sense of purpose when you help employees understand how their work connects with the customer, mission, and big picture.
My own research suggests that, across the generational spectrum, one of the things employees value more than anything else is working for someone whom they trust. So, demonstrate appreciation by being that person. Show concern. Keep confidences. Do what you say. Be consistent. Small daily actions can quickly inspire trusting relationships.
It doesn’t matter what you do on Employee Appreciation Day, if the rest of the year people feel discounted, disrespected and treated unfairly. Consider carefully how you speak to, and interact with, others. Understand and honour differences. Find ways to consult employees about issues that affect their work. Honour commitments. It’s as simple as remembering – and acting upon – the Golden Rule.
This week offers a wonderful opportunity to send a message of appreciation to our employees. But keep in mind that the job of celebrating the value of our staff isn’t finished when you log off on Friday afternoon. Plan to keep it going on Monday and every day thereafter by practising these strategies: offering meaningful work, facilitating ongoing development, inspiring trust, providing appropriate challenges, demonstrating respect, ensuring our employees are equipped with abilities to perform their jobs, while enabling flexibility in their work environment and offering recognitions generously.

Sincerely,
David Adams