In the hustle of a healthcare setting, it’s easy to overlook the critical work of food and environmental services employees. These dedicated professionals work tirelessly behind the scenes, ensuring that every patient and resident receives the services they need—from nutritious meals to clean, safe environments – all while supporting the caregivers who provide direct care or other services. These employees impact those they serve personally, helping people with their most basic needs. Yet they are among the lowest paid in the organization, making their commitment even more admirable.
With Environmental Services Week (September 8 - 14)
and Healthcare Food Service Week (October 6 - 12) just around the corner, you
have the perfect opportunity to not only recognize their effort but to
celebrate their contribution to patient and resident care.
Recognition doesn’t have to be a grand gesture; it can be as
simple as a sincere thank you or as meaningful as a dedicated area where
employees’ hard work is visibly acknowledged and appreciated by all.
On a recent trip to San Antonio, I was struck
by the incredible street graffiti walls. The bold colors, creative imagery, and
powerful stories really brought San Antonio’s heritage to life. These murals
not only showcased amazing art but also honored the city’s culture and
diversity in a unique way. This got me thinking – what if you could bring that
same sprit of celebration and expression into our workplace?
Introducing Tribute Walls and Videos
Imagine a wall, much like the vibrant graffiti walls of San Antonio, where employees, patients, and visitors can post messages of thanks, share stories, and celebrate the daily efforts of our teams. This wall can become a living testament to the impact these employees make for those they serve.
Tribute videos are another option. Short
clips featuring heartfelt messages from coworkers, administrators, or residents
are a powerful way to share the impact of their work. These can be shared
during team meetings or displayed in common areas. These videos serve as a
digital archive of gratitude, ensuring that these employees know they are seen,
valued, and essential.
Create a tribute wall art event for your team.
- Develop internal tribute wall for employees to express appreciation and gratitude for their coworkers. Grab some markers, colored pencils, or crayons and use the attached graffiti art coloring pages for art and notes of appreciation. Provide some blank pages for the artists in the group to create their own designs.
- Create a space for others outside the department to write appreciation or thank you notes for the team. Post them in a prominent space or a dedicated graffiti wall art board for the event.
- Request short 30-second video tributes from your senior leaders, other organization staff, patients or residents. These videos can scroll on a monitor or computer in the work area.
- Don’t forget the food to connect with food and mirror the urban vibe! – There are some fun ones! Consider offering colorful, artistic snacks – neon-colored cupcakes or cookies, fruit skewers, colored popped corn, or a “Candy” bar with Skittles, Sour Patch, Gummy Bears or Starburst candies that span the color of the rainbow. Or, host a street food-themed event with options like street tacos, grilled corn on the cob and churros or hot dogs, loaded fries or walking tacks as examples. Maybe you could also support a local food truck for the event.
- Hire a graffiti artist to create a tribute wall or bring in an artist to do caricatures of employees.
- Airbrushed T Shirts also fit the theme perfectly!
Building Community, One Wall at
a Time
Just like the graffiti walls in San Antonio bring people together, sparking creativity and connection, a tribute wall for your employees can do the same. It’s more than just a wall—it’s a space where you can build community, where appreciation is shared and felt by everyone. It’s a reminder that every role matters, and every contribution is important. Authentic appreciation creates moments people remember, especially when they can be shared with others. These shared moments strengthen the group and their engagement.