Especially Now, Find a Way to Recognize Employee Milestones

We need some time to celebrate. That might sound counterintuitive right now, as federal employees work from home most or all of the time, rarely see one another and still try to perform mission-critical duties supporting the public.

But taking time to recognize employee milestones that are usually a part of everyday workplace culture remains vitally important to our mental health and helps normalize an abnormal  situation. During this Public Service Recognition Week, I hope you’ll take time to consider how to honor your team members who are achieving significant milestones in their careers.

How can you do that? Here are some specific suggestions. 

Ensure a sense of belonging for new hires. The federal oath of office reads: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”

We administer that oath to new employees virtually now, but how do we instill pride and a feeling of connectedness—true allegiance—in them? It takes effort. Introduce your newbie to the team virtually, designating time outside the normal grind of tasks to foster communication. If your new teammates don’t get to know those with the most expertise, how can they learn the subject matter and the social norms that govern your work community? 

Continue to recognize years of service milestones. Like it or not, longevity is honored in the federal government. Years of service milestones are generally the only recognition outside of promotions that govvies get. While none of us entered into federal service for accolades, acts of acknowledgement demonstrate appreciation for long-term dedication, lessons learned and obstacles overcome.

Ensure your human resources team continues to process years of service certificates and pins. More importantly, show true appreciation for those who hit big anniversaries of government service—10, 20, 30 years. If you’re the one experiencing a significant milestone, mourn the tiny loss of pomp and circumstance. Recognizing and then letting go of issues beyond your control brings closure.

I recently solicited years of service milestones from listeners of my podcast for feds and received hundreds of responses. These people want to feel seen. They’ve served in government their entire adult lives, and a simple “thank you” means a lot to them.

Honor those who choose to take on more responsibility. Do you have a new chief of staff, team lead, or project manager? Recognize them. People taking on more responsibility or new positions right now face complications we never could have envisioned. While we can’t buy a cake and gather the team to discuss the way ahead, we can personally, sincerely thank people for stepping up during a crisis. And we can encourage everyone to rally around these new leaders. 

Don’t forget retiring feds.  I personally know three people who retired during this pandemic who simply walked out the door. No fanfare. No cake. No hugs. No awards presented. These missed opportunities not only show a lack of empathy for the most senior employees, but also signal to those next in line that the organization’s leadership doesn’t value them. Intended or not, inaction speaks volumes. 

Taking care of people matters more than ever. Ensuring we support new, current and outgoing team members fosters goodwill when we need it most. Happy Public Service Recognition Week, feds. A tip of the hat to you for all you do. Next time, I’ll bring cake.

Love Rutledge hosts the FedUpward podcast, a show for feds to find tips and strategies to navigate everyday problems. She has 20 years of government service, a bachelor’s degree in communication from Tulane University, a master’s in public administration from The George Washington University and a master’s of science in resource management from the Eisenhower School at the National Defense University. She’s also a wife and mother of two preschoolers. Opinions expressed are hers and not those of the government.