And the winner is...

And the winner is... me!

There was a contest at my night job for ideas to improve either customer service or revenue. True to form, I discovered I won from someone congratulating me - not from the supervisors that chose the winners. I could not even tell what ideas were selected for myself or the others winners as the monthly newsletter I later read listed only the winners and not the ideas. I don't even know if they will implement any of these ideas. The reason I cannot relate my winning idea either is that I submitted a three page report with over a dozen suggestions. Who knows which put me over the top? Who knows if they will do anything other than the one-time bonus to the paychecks of the winners?

I have to admit, it feels great to be rewarded for my ideas though. In almost a decade in the workplace, this is the first time I have been formally recognized for my work. Other workplaces have had programs that were geared to rewarding employees, but I never benefitted. Not for a lack of ability, talent, motivation, effort, or performance. Usually these things get skewed into informal currency traded amongst co-workers for favors and other things aside from the most deserving. At my current day job, I am literally ineligible for their employee rewards program. A surefire way to demotivate the employee is to not reward the behaviors that are the most productive. Congrats to the Carolina Theatre for even attempting a program and even adhering to the goals they set out to achieve. I support this very much and hope they utilize this opportunity to capitalize on whatever ideas they received.