Committee focuses on recognizing and rewarding Bert Nash staff

Officially, it is called the Recognition and Retention Committee. Based on the group’s activities, it could be called the fun committee.

“We’re the party planners,” said Lydia Shontz, administrative assistant at Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, whose duties include chairing the center’s R&R Committee.

R&R used to stand for retention and recruitment. The committee’s name was changed to put more emphasis on recognizing and rewarding employees. It is important that employees feel like they are being heard at work and are able to express themselves within a safe setting. There is an undeniable link between gamification and employee engagement so tapping into that can be beneficial not only for a company but for its employees, which will make them feel engaged and understood.

“The way to people’s hearts is money and food,” said committee member Julie Berndsen. “Food events can be a good way for employees to socialize, which is a good thing.”

The committee is given a modest budget to use for its activities throughout the year. They may use it to fund the rewards & recognition activities for their employees which will likely require custom trophies for any occasion, to organize events such as games and contests, and to support employee well-being through various engagement programs. This can help boost employee morale to a great extent while keeping spirits high and fostering relationships among the employees, which in turn raises productivity and enables a stress-free work environment.

To supplement its budget, the group also sponsors fundraising events, from bake sales and restaurant fundraisers to larger scale events, parties and galas. All of the activities are aimed at recognizing and supporting Bert Nash’s staff, letting them know they are appreciated, and thanking them for their dedication and service.

Supporting employees is incredibly important within a business, so doing activities like this, as well as looking at the important side by seeing what the best key man policy would be for their insurance plans, for example, will help them feel cared for within their organization.

Mindy Downs is the veteran of the R&R Committee – she’s been part of the group for seven years – while Eve Anderson is one of the newest members.

“I have enjoyed the benefits as a staff member for years,” Anderson said. “I’m very excited to be on the committee.

In December, a $30 gift card was given to each of Bert Nash’s nearly 180 employees. "It was like a Christmas bonus," Shontz said. "You could use the card for gas or groceries."

“With the economic climate the way it is, especially with all the cuts in funding for mental health, it’s one of the ways to reward what we do here,” said Berndsen, who is a case manager. “All of us are very passionate about what we do. That’s why we work in this field.”

In February, the R&R Committee sponsored a new event – a chili contest. Employees could sample the entries and vote for their favorite in each category.

“That was really fun,” Downs said of the chili contest.

Sticking with the food theme, the group hosted a snack event for employees in March, and there will be a pizza day in April. In May, the committee will host another snack event. There will also be an on-site jewelry and handbag sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 1 in the second-floor meeting rooms of the mental health center, 200 Maine St. in Lawrence. The public is invited. The R&R Committee will receive 25 percent of the profits from the event, which will go toward future activities.

There are nine members of Bert Nash’s R&R Committee, all women, though not by design. “We’re looking for males to be on the committee,” Berndsen said.

“Every now and then we lasso one, but they don’t last,” Downs said.

R&R Committee members are: Anderson, Berndsen, Downs, Deb Edelman-Dolan, Cindy Hart, Kristin Hoffman, Angie Keegan, Stephanie Shelley and Shontz.

Bert Nash has other committees staffed by dedicated employees: diversity and cultural competency, documentation, institutional review, quality management, risk management, Spirit Award and utilization review.

All of the committees serve an imporant role for the organization, but the R&R Committee has a unique mission. “We have the most fun,” Berndsen said.