Alexander says managers must remember that PCAs spend 90 percent of their time caring for people, and that can be draining. They need a break now and then. We have 33 acres of woodland here. In a couple of weeks we are going to do some grounds cleaning and have apple cider and doughnuts. I think I will have different teams, make it competitive and give prizes.
Prizes are always good.
From a budget point of view, you can spend a little money on things like sending flowers to someone's home or on an employee of the quarter award. This is a lot cheaper than putting an ad in the newspaper. Alexander has other low-cost activities to make employees feel special. Many of her workers are single mothers, and they recently brought their children to work with them for a couple of hours. They loved it, and the residents loved it, too.