How would you honor someone who has served your company for 30 years? If you are Jim Worthington (left in picture), Peter Broms (right in picture) and Howard Berlin, co-owners of
Newtown Athletic Club in Newtown, PA, you reward that person with $30,000 and name the day after her. That's what the trio did on May 19 for Linda Mitchell, the director of marketing, public relations and charitable giving for the club, in recognition of her 30th anniversary with the company. She received a check for $30,000, and they named the day Linda Mitchell Day.
Mitchell started with the club in 1981 as an aerobics instructor and was promoted into various jobs during the next 30 years, including aerobics director, fitness director and director of sales and marketing. Mitchell also has been active in the industry, presenting at industry conferences and serving as the executive director for the Delaware Valley Alliance of Health Clubs and on the board of directors for Mid-Atlantic Club Management Association.
“Linda has provided a continuity of recognition for years which has helped us create and maintain an image which has enhanced our standing in the community as well as the industry,” Worthington said in a release from the company.
These club owners clearly felt that Mitchell played a large part in the success and growth of their company, and they rewarded her greatly for that. The day of recognition and the check not only showed Mitchell that they appreciated her, but it showed other employees that their dedication will be rewarded and it showed members that the owners truly care about their employees.
OK, so you may not have $30,000 to honor a dedicated employee, but you can find other ways to recognize someone's contributions. You could name the day after that employee, like Newtown did, and throw a party to commemorate the day and that person's contributions. Perhaps all your staff could wear buttons with that employee's face on them or you could put a poster of that person in your lobby so members could wish that person a happy anniversary. You could give them an extra week off. There are plenty of ways to celebrate dedicated employees who have remained loyal and integral to the success of your club company. What other ideas do you have?