Motivational Monday July 15, 2019

Motivational Monday

Joke of the Week:

What’s orange and sounds like a parrot?

A carrot.

Safety:

Protecting Your Eyes:

Employees who have jobs that require them to work on computers for two or more hours in a row every day are at the highest risk of eyestrain. If your job tasks entail heavy computer use, review the following tips to help prevent eyestrain:

• Don’t forget to blink: Blinking produces tears that will moisten and refresh your eyes.
• Give your eyes a break: Regularly look away from your monitor by following the “20-20-20 rule”: Every 20 minutes, look at an object about 20 feet away for a minimum of 20 seconds.
• Be mindful of lighting and glare: Lights that are too bright or create too much glare can strain your eyes and make it difficult to see your monitor. The worst offenders are light sources above or behind you, as well as fluorescent lighting and sunlight. To avoid these issues, try using an adjustable desk lamp, close the blinds or shades to prevent glare, and avoid putting your monitor directly in front of a window or white wall. Consider using an anti-glare cover for your computer screen.
• Ensure your monitor is adjusted properly: It should be directly in front of you, about an arm’s length away, with the top of the screen at or just below eye level.
• Make it easy on yourself: Are you struggling to read small fonts? Adjust your computer’s type size so it’s easier to read.

HR Best Practice:

Employee Recognition:

There are a number of demonstrated benefits that stem from recognizing people, at all levels, in the workplace. To start, it’s been shown to:

• Increase morale and motivation – 40% of Americans say that they would put more effort into their work if they were recognized more often.
• Enhance productivity and lead to bottom-line improvement – When you increase morale, productivity, performance, and work quality also increase, ultimately affecting your bottom line.
• Help retain top performers – It’s important for individuals to know that their work has impact. If they don’t feel appreciated, don’t expect them to continue putting in the same effort. Companies that score highest for building a “recognition-rich culture” have 31% lower turnover rates than their peers. Aside from direct costs, losing your top performers carries many indirect costs, like lost institutional knowledge and relationships.
• Identify low performers before it’s too late – Once you have a recognition program in place, you’ll be able to quickly see who your low performers are and support them through professional development, a better team environment, or otherwise.
• Drive engagement – Motivation and productivity are just one piece of the engagement puzzle. Recognition also helps drive employee engagement by providing a sense of value and accomplishment. Research shows that recognition increases employee engagement up to 60%.

Recognition should be frequent, visible, tied to organizational values, and inclusive. Frequent recognition encourages positive employee behavior by providing regular and ongoing appreciation and acknowledgement. Visible recognition provides positive reinforcement for both the employee being recognized and the others around them. Values-based recognition encourages teamwork towards common goals. Inclusive recognition lets employees know that their contributions and opinions are noticed.

Recipe of the Week:

Cherry Ancho Mole

 

1 1/2 ounce ancho chiles, stems and seeds removed

¼ ounce Chile de Arbol

1 pound fresh dark cherries (we like Bings), pitted and halved

1/2 small onion, roughly chopped

1 cup brewed strong coffee, hot

2 chipotles in adobo sauce

1/4 cup Peanuts, toasted

1 ounce chocolate (over 60%, please, none of that milk chocolate nonsense), chopped

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground allspice

1 pinch ground clove

1 dash freshly grated nutmeg

 

1. Rehydrate the chiles by submerging them in water and microwaving for 2 to 3 minutes. They should be soft and have changed in color, becoming more red. Remove from the water and set aside. Discard the water.

 

2. In a food processor, combine all of the ingredients for the mole except for the coffee and the vinegar. Pulse repeatedly, scraping the sides until the mixture is as smooth as you can get it. Combine the coffee and vinegar and pour through the top of the food processor while the blade is running. The mole should loosen up and blend until completely smooth. The quick mole is ready to use, but can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week before using.

 

Courtesy of Kayley Boyle, Bryan Zimmerman, Eugene Forsyth & the Culinary Department at The Colorado Convention Center!

 

Stay Motivated:

Have an amazing week!

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