2020 was a year unlike any other and we are so thankful for the way every member of our team pitched in to help Without their flexibility, dedication and perseverance this year would not have been a success. It certainly was a team effort and we are truly grateful! Facing so many unknowns was challenging but thanks to everyone’s contributions we knew that anything was possible!
Every January our annual Employee of the Year Celebration is eagerly anticipated. The honoree is chosen by a committee, planning is always Top Secret and the surprise festivities have a theme, reflected in the menu and activities. Past celebrations have included a Latin theme complete with salsa lessons, a trip to a paint bar, a baseball theme, the Olympics and the Oscars. The party culminates in the surprise disclosure of the Employee of the Year. The celebration has always been a chance to let down our hair and get silly.
This year in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic we were determined to carry on the tradition which seemed especially important because of all the hard work and sacrifices of so many on our team. We put our heads together and came up with a plan that still had an element of surprise but kept everyone safe.
We put together a “Celebration to Go”, basket that included appetizers, a gift card to Grub Hub, a small bottle of champagne or sparkling cider, and customized stemless wine glasses. Inside the basket was a heartfelt note to each person thanking them for their unique contributions in 2020. The basket also included a smaller envelope containing the names of the honorees. To keep the element of surprise we all opened the baskets at 6:00 pm sharp on a Friday afternoon.
This year we asked everyone for their opinion as to who should be chosen and why. The results were unanimous. When we closed the office temporarily in the spring two people continued to work tirelessly behind the scenes- Donna and Nancy. This is what their coworkers said:
Donna (Office Manager)
“What would we do without you? Time after time, you have proved yourself loyal, caring and trustworthy. You held the whole office together when the world shut down! You navigated a constantly changing system, and patient schedule and staff scheduling with grace. With you at the helm, patient care stayed smooth and seamless. You continued to be our confidant and kept all of us together during this incredibly stressful time. You have gone above and beyond and we appreciate you!”.
Nancy (Bookkeeper)
“What would we have done without you? Words cannot express how thankful we are for all you have done. You worked tirelessly during the shutdown, helped answer all of our team members unemployment questions and navigated unknown territory with the business. You have taken on so much including securing all of our loans and managing them! That alone is a fulltime job, and yet you still find time to help the clinical staff with laundry and wipe downs! You always have our best interest at heart and have kept us afloat during the craziest year.”