Missing Pieces: 7 Ways to Improve Employee Well-Being and Organizational Effectiveness

Looking for a great summer read?

My good friend Dr. Jean-Pierre Brun and his colleague, Professor Cary Cooper CBE, have just co-written a great book called “Missing Pieces: 7 Ways to Improve Employee Well-Being and Organizational Effectiveness.”

I have never met Professor Cooper, but Jean-Pierre is an old friend. I first met him several years ago when he was a professor in the management department of the faculty of Science and Administration at Laval University in Quebec City. I was very impressed with his research.

In a nutshell, Jean-Pierre found that the absence of employee recognition is the second leading cause of workplace burnout and stress in the workplace.

Earlier this year, Jean-Pierre moved to Paris and became the Executive Director of Stimulus a company that specializes in understanding and reducing stress in the workplace as well as helping companies with change management.

Jean-Pierre sent me a draft copy of his new book several months ago. It speaks about the missing pieces of management. Simple things… like recognizing your employees. Supporting and respecting them. Helping them create a proper work life balance and other great advice that all too often managers overlook.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in recognition and engagement. It will help you create a better workplace.

You can now order his book Amazon.

Governor Arne Carlson on Recognition and TARP Funds

Read this issue of Incentive Magazine to get Rideau Vice Chairman Arne Carlson’s thoughts on Recognition and TARP funds.

Michelle ~ Ma Belle

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die.

~ Mary Elizabeth Frye

On June 20th, 2009 Rideau lost our beloved Michelle Verville.

Mother, daughter, wife… true friend and colleague for over 41 years.

She is in a higher place. May she rest in eternal peace.

We love you Michelle… now and forever.

Father's Day - Recognition Rocks

Many years ago, my eldest son Jonathan gave me the best recognition a dad could ask for!

It was for Father’s Day and Jonathan probably wouldn’t remember it… but I certainly do!

He must have been five or six years old. At school, they were getting ready for Father’s Day and each child painted a stone for their Dad. Jonathan painted a dove on my stone, which is pictured here. It now sits beside my phone at work.

It symbolizes Jonathan’s words that day…

“Happy Father’s Day Dad! You’re the best father in the whole world!”

Jonathan became a dad last year. I hope one day, his son William gives him the same sort of recognition.

Recognition that rocks!

Top 10 Socially Responsible Recognition Initiatives

My good friend and colleague Roy Saunderson, just wrote a great article about the Top Ten Socially Responsible Recognition Initiatives your company can do in the current issue of Incentive Magazine.

Research has shown there is a direct link between higher levels of employee engagement and corporate social responsibility.

I’m proud of the work Rideau’s EcoAction Team and the Recognition Management Institute are doing to help employers and employees become more socially responsible.

Recyc-Québec Certification!

We recently received the highest level of certification by Recyc-Québec for our recycling program.

Recyc-Québec's programme "ICI ON RECYCLE Level 3 Performance" requires a high standard of reducing, reusing and valuing waste. The level 3 certification especially entails a rigorous recycling procedure whereby 90.5% of the recyclable waste produced by Rideau is recycled.

There is still room for improvement but I am really happy our EcoAction team was recognized for all their efforts!

Marion Dulude heads up our EcoAction program and works with a dedicated team who meet regularly to pin point environmental initiatives that will make a difference.

Some of the projects we have completed:

• The complete elimination of water bottles at Rideau’s head office due to the installation of a complete water filtration system;
• The introduction of a Rideau garden at our corporate headquarters;
• The planting of trees with the support of local community initiatives;
• Introduction of Fair Trade coffee and sugar in the cafeteria as well as healthier fair trade snacks in vending machines;
• The complete elimination of styrofoam cups and plastic stir sticks throughout Rideau;
• The implementation of biodegradable cleaning products by the cleaning staff and use of ecologically friendly products in the washrooms;

It really is a team effort. One of the individuals who deserves special mention is Gilles Tittlit. Gilles works in Rideau's maintenance department and is responsible for our compacting machine. His efforts help keep Rideau tidy and green!

Every Tuesday EcoAction holds a lunch time seminar on different topics of interest. The last one was on gardening. Attendees not only learned how to start a conventional garden but those without a backyard learned how to start a balcony garden.

The idea of this program is to educate and make all of us more responsible citizens.

From my perspective, they bring employees together for great causes and make Rideau a better company.

Our Gophers Can Swim!

I presided over RBC’s Annual Montreal West Island Golf Tournament as its Honorary President last week.

In an earlier post, I mentioned that I had not played golf for several years and in fact, it would be more appropriate to call me a gopher, not a golfer. The post finished off by stating that “if you saw gophers running across the Beaconsfield golf course, you would know I was playing.”

Well you wouldn’t have seen any gophers running… you might have seen them swimming but certainly not running! The weather was absolutely terrible and many parts of the golf course were under water!

The organizers had planned an 11 am brunch and a 1 pm shotgun tee-off but due to the rain, the club’s groundskeeper had to cancel the tournament and give everyone a rain check for a time of their choosing.

However, everyone regrouped for 6 pm cocktails followed by a great dinner and silent auction and a little talk on the power of recognition by yours truly.

I’m pleased to say that we raised $30,000 for West Island Community Shares and another $15,000 for the Vaudreuil Soulanges Palliative Care Residence.

These are great causes and I was pleased to help their fundraising efforts along with many of my Rideau colleagues.