Companies benefit from morale building

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Employee morale can have a significant effect on everything from productivity to turnover. As a result, area companies are willing to invest in activities and programs that boost employee morale.|ret||ret||tab|

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Recognition|ret||ret||tab|

CoxHealth strongly believes in employee recognition. Service awards are given in five-year increments and attendance awards are given annually, said Don Anderson, vice president in human resources.|ret||ret||tab|

Recognition for actions above and beyond the job description is given to employees through the partners program and Most Valuable Partner program, according to Mike Scarlett, customer service facilitator. |ret||ret||tab|

Employees may be nominated by visitors, patients or other employees for these awards. Winners receive a prize, are featured in the employee newsletter and their pictures are displayed in the staff elevator, Scarlett said.|ret||ret||tab|

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Activities and events|ret||ret||tab|

Butler Rosenbury & Partners' philosophy is that employee events help employees bond and relieve the stress of the everyday workplace, said Camille Knowles, human resources coordinator.|ret||ret||tab|

The cost is well worth it to Butler Rosenbury, Knowles said. "It's a win/win situation."|ret||ret||tab|

Activities outside the daily work schedule create a sense of well-being and belonging, according to Anderson. |ret||ret||tab|

CoxHealth sponsors an Employee Appreciation Day in the spring, and a party is scheduled around Christmas with board members and senior executives passing out turkeys.|ret||ret||tab|

In the fall, an annual picnic is held at Lake Springfield for employees from all Cox facilities in the area.|ret||ret||tab|

At O'Reilly Automotive Inc.'s corporate offices, a Team Activity Committee, comprising department representatives, plans monthly events and activities for employees, according to Sue Glenn, executive assistant of corporate services.|ret||ret||tab|

The company provides an annual Easter party for employees and their families. In the summer, O'Reilly Automotive schedules a float trip for anyone who wants to participate.|ret||ret||tab|

"We are really a strong, family-oriented company," Glenn said. "Monthly events give people a chance to get together outside of work and get to know each other better."|ret||ret||tab|

There is an annual St. Patrick's Day party in the spring, and a Halloween casino party in the fall, Glenn said. The company provides door prizes and drawings at each of its events.|ret||ret||tab|

St. John's Regional Health Center holds an annual fall picnic for employees, according to Carolyn Schwartze, marketing outreach coordinator. The hospital also sponsors an annual ski trip. This year participants went to Crested Butte, Colo. A trip to Alaska is in the planning stages, Schwartze said.|ret||ret||tab|

St. John's offers reduced rate tickets to local attractions, such as the Wonders of Wildlife Museum.|ret||ret||tab|

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Sports|ret||ret||tab|

Along with other employee activities and charitable events, some companies participate in several sports events each year. Baseball, volleyball and basketball are the most popular. |ret||ret||tab|

Cox sponsors a couple of baseball teams each year and holds an annual employee golf tournament. St. John's sponsors up to 10 softball teams in its extended service area. Every May, the hospital hosts a 3-on-3 basketball tournament at the Springfield Family YMCA. Participating teams are made up of both kids and adults. Proceeds go to The Kitchen and the YMCA Scholarship Fund, Schwartze said.|ret||ret||tab|

Butler Rosenbury sponsors softball, volleyball, basketball and flag football. The company even has foosball and ping-pong tables set up in the break room for employees to use at lunch and on breaks. |ret||ret||tab|

O'Reilly holds annual softball tournaments for employee teams.|ret||ret||tab|

O'Reilly holds softball tournaments for employee teams from the corporate offices and the local stores.|ret||ret||tab|

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Community involvement |ret||ret||tab|

Butler Rosenbury employees participate the Big Brother-Big Sister Bowl-A-Thon in March and in the Heart Association Walk-A-Thon in April, Knowles said. |ret||ret||tab|

The company puts on an annual chili cook off in which employees are divided into groups. Judges from outside the company rank entries. Donations from the event go to purchase items for a family at the Victim Center, Knowles said.|ret||ret||tab|

Butler Rosenbury adopts at least one family each year at Christmas. |ret||ret||tab|

"Last year we adopted four families," Knowles said. Employees donated enough to provide a $250 gift certificate at Dillon's and buy everything on each family's wish list.|ret||ret||tab|

This year the company will participate in the Students Go to Work program. Employees will be taking a group of third graders to the new Krispy Kreme Doughnuts store. The facility was a Butler Rosenbury project.|ret||ret||tab|

For the annual Day of Caring event, the entire Cox School of Nursing is involved, plus as many as 40 other employees, who voluntarily give up a day of vacation to participate. For the last two years the hospital has concentrated its efforts at the Family Violence Center on East Cherry Street.|ret||ret||tab|

St. John's employees raised about $70,000 in the annual Sunshine Run event last year, according to Mickey Moore, development director of St. John's Foundation for Community Health.|ret||ret||tab|

Proceeds from the event last year went to the St. John's Burn Center and Camp Barnabas.|ret||ret||tab|

Employees raised another $80,000 last year in an annual campaign to promote quality health care in areas served by St. John's.|ret||ret||tab|

"We are proud of how employees came together on that project," Moore said.|ret||ret||tab|

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