Have you ever felt like your day could use a few words of encouragement? How would you react if you were unexpectedly told that your work was genuinely appreciated?
The recent Pay-It-Forward card program implemented by the Wellness Committee at State University of New York-Finger Lakes Community College shows that the most valuable things in life could actually be a kind word or a thank you.
Inspired by a Pay-It-Forward program implemented at Thompson Hospital and Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield, the FLCC Wellness Committee wanted faculty and staff to experience the joys of unexpected kind words. Faculty and staff participate as both givers and recipients.
Thompson Hospital’s staff members shared their original card templates, and each card bore a bright, colorful theme. The FLCC Wellness Committee copied the cards onto cardstock paper, added a logo on the back and hand-wrote an inspirational message in each: “Keep up the good work,” “Smile” or “Thank you for what you do.” Then, each committee member hand-delivered or sent a card via interoffice mail to a person who they thought could use a little pick-me-up. Each recipient added his or her own message or signature and passed the card along to another colleague.
“The idea is someone would read it, feel better and then pass that good feeling along,” says Patti Zimmer, assistant director of human resources at the college.
Although the school’s faculty and staff work in the same building, they rarely interact with each other outside of their immediate departments due to the four-story building’s organization. Zimmer hoped the Pay-It-Forward efforts would encourage people in different roles to recognize each other, and cultivate a sense of teamwork and community.
The program ran from mid-February to mid-March 2017. In early April, Zimmer put all the cards on display in the Student Center hallway where faculty, staff and students could see them.
To add to the fun, the Wellness Committee added an incentive. At the end of the program, members of the committee randomly drew three cards. Then, based on a random number, they counted down the names and that individual won a Wegman’s gift certificate.
The true rewards of the program, however, came from the people. When Dr. Robert J. Brown, professor of history at FLCC, received his first card he wasn’t sure what it was.
“When I read the text, I was pleasantly surprised,” Brown says. “It made my day to know that what I do up on the fourth floor impacts the other three.”
Brown ended up receiving four cards in total. He, in turn, hand-delivered his and says everyone was surprised and pleased. One recipient was “jubilant,” he says.
“This program was a great bridge builder,” Brown says. “We occasionally feel hard-pressed and overwhelmed, and it’s nice to get a bit of encouragement and validation. It felt like a bit of sunshine.”
Brown has mentioned the program to family members, who are interested in providing similar programs in their workplaces.
