The Permeation of Comraderie

Today is either day 12 or 13 without a single day off from work for me. I am mentally exhausted. When I get this drained I tend to be quite cranky. But thank goodness I have a staff that understands the stress level, trust me they are stressed out too. This past week I had one staff member promoted and 2 quit to go to a seasonal job of sorting corn. There was no warning of any of the three leaving, it just happened all within a couple of days. So I have staff members that are working doubles with no days off for over a week. The stress level is getting high.

The staff are making critical mistakes and I am finding them difficult to defend. Except for a single mindset that is permeating through the group. They all know we can't break now, they love their co workers and help one another in tremendous ways. This comraderie is seeping out through my facility, and other department heads are noticing the tight knit group we have and how hard they all work. So on that note something really uplifting happened today.

I have an employee that works extremely hard but due to being so overworked she made some mistakes this week that did not go unnoticed. In a meeting of department heads today her mistakes were brought up and she was being crucified. I immediately came to her defense and in a very irritated voice explained that she was the sole provider for a family of 5, works her ass off never says "no" to an extra shift, and for not much pay. I explained that this woman wraps her feet in ace bandages just to get through the day because her shoes are so poor for the job. The group began to ask questions about her home life.

By the end of the meeting the group had pitched in to buy her shoes (really good ones like I got for Mothers Day), gift cards at Wal-Mart and even a gift card to Applebees. Why Applebees? This employees 26th wedding anniversay was this month but she and her husband could not afford to go to Applebees for their anniversary dinner (2 entrees for $20) due to purchasing back to school items for the 2 youngest children.

The group prefers to remain anonymous donors and wants me to present her with these gifts. Personally, I think they should be a part of the presentation so that they too can see how grateful she will undoubtedly be.

The comraderie has definitely permeated throughout the building! What a great group of people we have!