The Sodexo team at Lahey celebrates our colleague's diversity constanly. We believe by learning more about each other's culture, we build a better team and respect among our colleagues.Its also makes comming to work more rewarding.
Here are a few videos and pictures of how our colleagues at Lahey hospital and Medical center incorporates diversity during the holiday seasons:
Haitian Christmas Special
Genese Bruno and Chef Dave Cox
Emmanuel Volcy(Manny) with Chef Dave Cox
Offering Manny's Famous Haitian Chicken Wings and Justin's Famous lobster Mac and Cheese during
a holiday catering event
Incorporating Ravi's famous Vegetable Pakoras during one of the holiday catering event.
Colleagues from the Environmental Services department at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center send their Thanksgiving wishes and shared the favorite things they like to do with their family on Thanksgiving in this heart warming video.
Last week Maria Petkiewich and Debra Francis from the Food and Nutrition department at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center shared their Thanksgiving family recipe with us.
This week, Maureen O'Brien, prep cook, in the Food and Nutrition department was very kind to share a fun and easy No Bake "Thanksgiving Turkey" dessert that she prepares with her grandchildren every Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is just around the corner. The Food and Nutrition team at Lahey Hospital and Medical center are busy planning for our annual Thanksgiving meal and Pie sale. According to David Cox, Executive Chef, we sold approximately 1128 pies and 300 tea breads last year! This year we will be having the pie sale on Monday, 11/25 and Tuesday, 11/26. I will post pictures of the pie sale in my blog next week. So, be on the look out for our Pie galore!
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I would like to share 5 fun facts about Thanksgiving:
1) The first Thanksgiving Day was celebrated by the Plymouth Pilgrims at Plymouth, Massachusetts
2) The first Thanksgiving lasted for three days!
3) Turkey was NOT on the menu on the first Thanksgiving feast. So what was on the menu then? It's basically whatever you could catch in the wild (Deer, rabbits, fish etc).
4) Thanksgiving is primarily celebrated in United States and Canada as a day to give thanks for the blessing of the harvest and for the proceeding year.
5) Each Thanksgiving, the President “pardons” a hand-selected turkey, sparing the bird from someone’s dinner table and ensuring the rest of its days are spent roaming on a farm, doing whatever it is turkeys love to do. Twenty-four turkeys have been pardoned to date(not including this coming Thanksgiving)
http://www.whitehousehistory.org/history/white-house-facts-trivia/facts-thanksgiving-turkey-pardoning.html
*Excerpt and info taken from wiki, the White house blog and whsv.com
I have also invited a few of our Food and Nutrition colleagues to share their favorite food, event and Thanksgiving family recipe.
Maria Petkiewich's mother in law's Famous Brocolli and Cheese Caserole
Ingredients
- 1 can cream of Broccoli
- 1/2 box of Ritz Crackers
- 1/4 stick of butter, melted
- 2 heads of Broccolli
- 1/4 cup of milk
- 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 375°F
- Stir all the ingredients except cheddar cheese in a 1 quart casserole. Bake for 15 minutes
- Sprinkle cheddar cheese over the broccoli and bake for another 2 minutes.
- Let stand for 5 minutes before serving
Debra Francis's Famous Granny's Cookies
-1 cup shortening
-1 cup sugar
-2 eggs
-1 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup sour milk
-1 tbsp vanilla
-3 1/2 cups flour
-1 tbsp baking powder
-1 tbsp baking soda
-1 tbsp salt
-1 tbsp nutmeg
Instructions
- Cream together shortening,sugar and brown sugar
- Add eggs, sour milk and vanilla. Mix until smooth
- Sift together the remaining dry ingredients
- Stir into the batter and chill the batter for an hour
- Heat the over to 350°F.
- Bake for 10-15 mins (Until it turns brown)
-Let stand for 5 minutes before serving
Hope you have fun trying out our colleagues's family recipe.
Wishing you and your family a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!
This week I have invited Darrin Cassidy, Patient Services Supervisor at Lahey Hospital and Medical center to blog about his experience working on Thanksgiving. One can truly feel Darrin's commitment in putting our patient at the heart of everything we do in this article.
The holidays are generally associated with family, friends, and food. The subjects of family and community are prevalent during Thanksgiving, and I suspect this can make our patients feel especially lonely. One may think going to work the least desirable destination during this festive time. I’ve found the opposite to be true.
Some days we may forget just how important this building we call work actually is. Patients come to Lahey Health to be healed. They come sick, vulnerable, and scared. This anxiety must be multiplied during the holiday season. At a time when most are breaking bread with their families and trading stories, patients have the misfortune of missing out on these cherished moments. It is on these days our compassion as an organization must be at its strongest. The kindness of a stranger is a powerful thing. Making a positive impact on even one patient is a good feeling that stays with you a long time.
I’ve been at Lahey Health since 2006. I was merely seventeen when I worked my first shift. I remember when my former supervisor informed me I would be here on Thanksgiving, my shift beginning at the same time my family was scheduled to feast. I was not happy. But when I got here we brought countless turkey dinners to our patients. Nearly every patient was eager for a visitor. They were just as happy to have somebody to talk to as they were for their meal. A person’s spirit can be uplifted in these brief moments of human connection, and there’s no better time than during the holidays, when a patient misses their family and friends.
Although it may not be ideal to work during Thanksgiving, we should try and approach this day with more optimism and more compassion. Simply take the time to ask our patients how they’re doing and wish them well. We should be thankful for our health and do our best to make those less fortunate than us as comfortable as possible while they are with us, especially on holidays, and we should take pride in our ability to do so. These minor interactions have a major impact, and that’s the very definition of thanksgiving.
It's that time of the year again- time for benefits enrollment. This can also be an anxious time for some as the cost for medical insurance will go up again next year and also there is a lot of information to read and study along with numerous forms to complete! Who wants to make a mistake that will affect them for an entire year, right? Hence, the dreaded task begins.......
This year I was fortunate to have the opportunity to assist a number of my colleagues in their benefits enrollment. As I assisted others, I also learned along the way. Here are five of the most useful tips I found while helping others with their benefit enrollment:
1) Budget the frequency of your doctor visits- Being able to estimate how often you plan to see a doctor in the upcoming year is going to make a big difference in your medical insurance selection, as you could budget your annual out-of-pocket expenses in advance. Some plans cost less upfront, however the amount of annual out-of-pocket will be more, so in the end, you would end up paying more if you visit the doctor very frequently.
2) Select your medical provider- Do you prefer the flexibility to see any doctor of your choice without getting a referral? If so, you would have to go with a PPO plan. One of the downsides of a PPO plan is that they can be quite costly. But, if you already know who your medical provider is and they are listed as a preferred doctor with your insurance, and you don't mind needing a referral, then selecting an HMO plan would probably be a better choice as it would save you a lot of money.
3) Enroll in Flexible Spending Account (FSA)- A Flexible Spending Account are comprised of your pretax dollars that you may use to pay for qualified medical expenses that are not covered by your health insurance plan (such as your co-pay, prescription medication, and even dental costs). Previously, you could not carry over the balance from your Flexible Spending Account- any unused amount leftover from the previous year would be forfeited. On October 31, 2013, the U.S. Department of Treasury announced changes to this "Use or Lose" rule. You may now carry over $500 from your unused FSA to the next year. http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl2202.aspx
4)Sign up for your biometric screening- Many insurance providers are offering biometric screening as an incentive to reduce insurance costs. Some people are reluctant to participate in biometric screening as they cannot find time to do it or they believe they would fail the screening due to a pre-existing condition. The screening does not actually take much time -usually around 10-15 minutes and involves screening for nicotine usage, Body Mass Index (BMI), cholesterol level, glucose level, and blood pressure. It is usually followed by another 10-15 minute questionnaire (which you could complete at a later time before the dateline). Also, even if you initially fail the screening, you could still appeal the results (I have heard some colleagues have successfully done so). It's definitely worth a try.
5)Opt for the mail-order pharmacy- Most of the insurance plans offer a choice of using a traditional pharmacy or a mail-order pharmacy for filling prescriptions. Remember to use the mail-order pharmacy- it could save you a lot of money along with the convenience of having your prescriptions delivered right to your home.
I hope the above tips will help you with your benefits enrollment.
A special thank you and gratitude to all Veterans!
We would also like to salute and recognize Herbert Rukin "Herb" a member of the Sodexo at Lahey Food and Nutrtion team who has served in the Navy for 7 years.
Herb- Thank you for all that you have done for our country! We salute you!
Herb Rukin, Food Service Worker with Emi Rizik,Retail Operations Manager
Origins of Veterans Day
Raymond Weeks of Birmingham, Alabama, organized a Veterans Day parade for that city on November 11, 1947, to honor all of America's Veterans for their loyal service. Later, U.S. Representative Edward H. Rees of Kansas proposed legislation changing the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day to honor all who have served in America’s Armed Forces. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11th as Veterans Day and called upon Americans everywhere to rededicate themselves to the cause of peace. He issued a Presidential Order directing the head of the Veterans Administration, now the Department of Veterans Affairs, to form a Veterans Day National Committee to organize and oversee the national observance of Veterans Day. The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery. At 11 a.m., a color guard, made up of members from each of the military services, renders honors to America's war dead during a tradition-rich ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns. The President or his representative places a wreath at the Tomb and a bugler sounds “Taps.” The balance of the ceremony, including a "Parade of Flags" by numerous Veterans service organizations, takes place inside the Memorial Amphitheater, adjacent to the Tomb.
Have you started your holiday shopping? It's a little over a month before the holiday and by looking at the traffic to the mall, the holiday shopping has already began for some.
If you are like me, you will be browsing the web to look for the best holiday gift idea. Looking at what is new for the techies on our list, what is suitable for kids and teanagers, and so forth. The other day when buying a birthday gift for a six years old girl, I learned the "new" thing for them is Lalalopsy(www.lalalopsy.com). I had Barbie and all the Disney princess characters in mind when I walked into the shop!
So,I guess we can say that finding the perfect gift is never easy. But magically I think I found the answer to the perfect gift this holiday season. It occurred to me yesterday as I was walking into Jazzman's Cafe & Bakery at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Burlington. Joseph Magaletta, a Lahey volunteer, was cleaning the condiment station and he was doing it with a smile. I approached Joseph and told him that he is doing a great job. He thanked me and told me he is glad to be able to help. He had a big grin on his face! Joseph volunteers twice a week at Lahey as he is still in school. According to Joe, he enjoys volunteering in the Food and Nutrition department as everyone is nice to him and he can makes a lot of friends while helping others.
When I walked further down the hallway, I saw Mrs. Aenea Holland, a long time volunteer. Aenea worked at Lahey for more than 22 years before retiring in 2006. According to Mrs.Aenea, she was looking for ways to fill her time and also to give back. Her volunteering journey began when she volunteered to sell Angel ribbons at the 2009 Lahey Cancer Walk. Seeing how successful her Angel was at the event, she decided to continue her "Angel" journey. Nowadays, she volunteers twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays from 830am-1pm and all the proceeds go to the Sophia Gordon Cancer Center at Lahey. When I asked Mrs. Aenea apart from being able to contribute to the cancer center,what are some other reasons that make her continue her volunteerism journey. She told me, the biggest gift she found from her "Angel" is the ability to provide moral support to others. A lot of patients stop by to tell her stories of how much her "Angel" touches them and has helped them and their love ones through striving time. I told Mrs. Aenea I have experiened it firsthand as I too always stopped by and bought some of her "Angels" as a gift for colleagues and patients that may need a little "angel miracle" from Aenea.
After the above reflections, I realized the best gift you can give to anyone is the spirit of volunteerism. So, this year before you start accumulating your credit card bills or pulling your hair thinking about the best present, consider the gift of volunteerism.
You can volunteer at any non-profit organization that is near you and send a card with a picture of yourself volunteering. You could include a nice note such as "I am volunteering on your behalf, as I want to give you the best present one could ever give. Happy Holidays!"
I bet it will bring a smile and a warm thought to anyone who receives it.
Let's hear from Joseph and Aenea in the following video:
On October 5, 2013, colleagues at Lahey Hospital and Medical center celebrated the Lahey Service award to recognize Lahey colleagues for their years of service. Colleagues who has worked at the hospital for 5,10,15 and 20 years are invited to attend the service award reception at the cafeteria. Colleagues who worked for more than 25 years celebrated the award over the weekend at the Marriott Burlington.
The Sodexo Food and Nutrition team prepared an amazing array of delicacies such as our in-house Jazzman's cafe & bakery cup cakes, cream puffs, cannolis, fruit variety,cheeses and vegetables dip along with a chocolate fountain.
The event was a success. Congratulations to all Lahey Service award recipient and thank you to all colleagues that made this event a success!
Linda Clay, Director of Food and Nutrtion with Mary Pittsley, Administrative Assistant
Debbie DaSilva, Medical secretary,Maureen Dugan, RN, General internal Medicine and Karen Hartford, Administrative Director, Clinical Services
Cup Cake display preapred by Shaina Volovick, Jazzman Baker
Shaina Volovick with the cream puff that she prepared for the event
Wishing all our colleagues and their family who are celebrating the festivity a Happy Diwali!
What is Diwali? Diwali, the festival of light, is one of the most significant holidays for the Hindu community. This year it falls on November 3- 7.
Usha Patel is wearing a traditional Indian dress- Kurta Salwar
Rangooli was displayed on the desk -
A design made from colored rice and powder(usually displayed on the floor) are used to decorate the household and shopping malls. Rangoli is used as a joyful way to welcome the Goddness of Wealth and Prosperity.
Usha Patel is wearing a traditional Indian dress"Lehnga",
To learn more about the Diwali celebration, please visit the blog post dated October 10 or go to the following link: http://sodexoatlahey.blogspot.com/2013/10/diwali.html
Happy Halloween from the Environmental Services and Food and Nutrition Team at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center,Burlington,MA
John Brigham and Mary Pittsley
(Food and Nutrition department colleagues)
Derek Hyunh,Zahir Khalifa,Kevin Rodriguez,Johnny Tran
(Food and Nutrition department colleagues)
(Left to Right) Maria Johanna, Ana Rodrigues,Maria Vargas,Patty Vietro,John Rota,Elizabeth Latorre and Irene Camacho (Environmental Services department colleagues)
Rebecca Hecht,Johnny Tran and Stephen Davis
(Food and Nutrition department colleagues)
Front row (Left to Right) Emi Rizik, Maria Petkiewich, Yuko Gosselin, Herb Rukin, Rose Noseworthy, Diane Cushing,
Rich Delacy
Back row: James Tuson, Betty De la Cruz, Jason Surette
I am going to be honest, I love the Boston Red Sox! Not based on how well they play, but it is the team spirit displayed by the team and most importantly by all Bostonians that makes me fall in love with the team. One can truly understand why we are called Red Sox Nation in Boston. You can walk around Boston and you will see everyone proudly wearing their Red Sox gear. You could go to any event, whether at someone's home or at a business meeting, and the Boston Red Sox somehow will always be in the conversation. When the team wins, everyone comes to work motivated. When the team loses, everyone feels depleted.
I couldn't help but feel this is the best team spirit that a team could display. A sense of belonging, pride and unity. I felt these feelings are similar at the Food and Nutrition department at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center. Recently, our team won the Spirit of Sodexo NorAm award, which is the highest honor in Sodexo North America. We also achieved a Tier 1 result, which is the highest score in the recent Hospital’s employee engagement survey.
When you walk into the department, everyone has the same goal: providing exceptional service to our patients, visitors and colleagues and there is a sense of pride, belonging and unity in the department.
I am proud to work with my team here at Lahey. Recently, Maria Petkiewich, a Jazzman's staff member submitted the below compliment about our director in Lahey's Above and Beyond page, which is a colleague recognition program at Lahey:
"Not Just My Boss, Also My Friend!
I want to thank Linda Clay. This September, the Food and Nutrition Department won the the award for being the "Best Team in North America." My colleagues in the department are very good workers, but Linda makes us be the best we can be! Under her leadership, we became not only a "team," but also a family. We work well together, not just for our paycheck, but to make the patients and visitors know that Lahey Hospital & Medical Center is a very special place. We have a wonderful role model in Linda. Whenever I have a concern or problem, she tries to solve it immediately. Every day, when I come into work, I try to be like Linda. I want to congratulate and thank her from the bottom of my heart. She is not just my boss, she is my friend!"
Exemplary service really starts from the top. I wanted to take this opportunity to recognize Linda, the Food and Nutrition management team, and all colleagues in the Food and Nutrition department for making everyday a better day for all those you served.
Sitting – (L to R) Leon Basil, Claire Lewis, Amanda Tulolo, Amanda Set, Lai Yee, Pat Duca, Cindy Carter
Standing – (L to R) Jason Lancaster, Craig Donahue, Patrick Lam, Pam Sherry, Mary Russo, Roza Daniyelyan, Lori MacAuslan, Tom Giglio, Josh Black, Nate Sesin, Keith Thomasset, Maryann Ruotolo, Andre Abou-Farah, Diane Houng
October is American Pharmacists Month, specifically, the week of October 20-26 which is the National Hospital and Health Systems Pharmacy week. It is a time to celebrate and recognize the important contributions made every day by pharmacists and technicians in hospitals and health systems.
At Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, there are more than 60 technicians and 60 pharmacists, who prepare and dispense approximately 2.5 million medication doses annually.
During the Pharmacy week, the team, led by Keith B. Thomasset, BS, Pharm.D., MBA, BCPS, director of pharmacy services organized the below activities to celebrate and thank the team members for their contribution:
1)Technician appreciation board thanking the technicians for all they do to ensure our patients receive safe care
2)Pizza party and Pot luck challenge – Winner- Roza Daniyelyan . Her winning dish is Hummus and grape leaves
3)Guess the number of vial caps in the jar – Winner –Wael Labib
Please join me to thank our wonderful Pharmacy's colleagues during the celebration!
Should customer service be an art? Everyone thinks they know what customer service is. Unfortunately, not everyone realizes customer service is not a "one size fits all" practice. Treating each customer as an individual, listening to them and getting them what they want instead of what you think they want is the key to customer service. Of course, you having lots of smiles and enthusiasm will be an added bonus as well! However, doing all these things will only meet their expectations. Its like getting a "pass". In another words, the service is acceptable but not memorable.
In order to give a memorable experience, you have to exceed the customer's expectations. It sounds hard, right? It doesn't have to be. You can do it easily by paying just a little attention and taking one step further. For example, if someone asks you for directions, you should walk them to the destination or if you can't walk them all the way, you could walk a few steps with them until you can point them to the right direction. Often times people give you directions such as "Go straight, take a left, take a right , go through the first door and make a right......" Seriously, by then, you have already lost them! They might just be courteous and say thank you. You can lose a customer this easily as they might not want to come back due to the confusion.
After my explanation above, does exceeding a customer's expectations sounds more attainable? It's listening to your customer, treating them as an individual, providing them with what they want, and by doing the little things that matter to them. Voila! It's really that simple!
I used to work in the hospitality industry for more than 15 years before joining healthcare. I can't help but wonder why there is so much difference in service between a hotel and a hospital apart from medical assistance? Let's take a look at service provided in a hospital versus a hotel
In a hospital:
1) A telephone operator answers the phone
2) Self parking/valet parking is available
3) You check in with a coordinator/customer service representative
4) You are admitted to a room or unit
5) Housekeeping and turn down service is provided
6) Cafeteria is on site
7) Room Service is available
In a hotel:
1) A telephone operator answers the phone
2) Self parking/valet parking is available
3) You check in with a front desk agent
4) You are assigned a room
5) Housekeeping and turn down service is provided
6) Restaurant is on site
7) Room Service is available
The Sodexo team at Lahey always looks at ways to provide personalized service to our patients. We provide all the above mentioned services with a smile and treat all our patients as individuals. We always strive to provide the little things we call "exceptional service" to all our customers because we truly believe that patients and colleagues are the heart of everything we do!
Let's hear it from my colleagues in Environmental Services and the Food and Nutrition department in the following video:
Have you worked with bosses that you love? You despise? You admire?
If we take a survey today, I am sure there are different opinions on what makes a good boss. In conjunction with Bosses Day today, I gathered the top 10 list.
Feel free to drop me a note or two to let me know if you agree,disagree or you have something to add:
1)A good boss will always come to work with a smile and never brings their personal problems to work.
2)A good boss greets all co-workers each day and takes time to set the tone for the day.
3)A good boss does not just sit in the office, but walks around the operation to provide guidance,encouragement and appreciation for the staff
4)A good boss is a good listener.
5)A good boss takes critism and acts on it.
6)A good boss is not a "know it all" but someone who is humble and finds excitement and joy when the employees grow.
7)A good boss does not live in denial but engages the team to work together to achieve the department goals.
8)A good boss is fair, consistent, has high standards and holds people accountable including themselves.
9)A good boss knows his employees' names and takes the time to get to know them.
10)A good boss loves their job!
Happy Bosses Day to the management team at Lahey Hospital and Medical center and to all the Bosses out there!
Irene Camacho, supervisor in the Environmental Services department has been working at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center for 21 years. She comes to work everyday with a smile and a positive attitude. Last week I got a call from her. She sounded so happy and excited and I had to tell her to calm down so I could understand her. She told me she was checking her floor and came across a patient who needed assistance to scratch her back. She offered to help the patient. The patient was so shocked when she realized Irene works in the Environmental Services department and she will help the patient even though it is not part of her job. Irene told the patient that it is her job to take care of the patient and she is more than happy to assist the patient whenever she can. The patient told Irene that this is the first time the patient is admitted at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center and she is very impressed with the hospital and everyone who works here. Irene was so happy to hear the compliment about the hospital and it just made her day. When I saw Irene later, she still had a smile on her face. The smile of satisfaction and happiness.
Gustainvil Lozius, “Gus”, linen handler and turndown service attendant has been working at the hospital for 8 years now. He also comes to me each day with a smile of satisfaction on his face and I enjoy hearing the story about “his patients”. Due to patient privacy, he did not share patient information with me. Just brief information on how he makes a difference in the patient’s day by making them smile, assisting them with their needs or when a patient told him they missed him and hope to see him again the next day. We receive compliments from patients almost once a week on Gus. A few days ago, a patient called down to the office to compliment Gus and told our administrative assistant she believes he’s the one that helped her make it through her surgery! I went up to see the patient with Gus to thank the patient for her recognition. When we left, the patient asked Gus “Will you come back to see me later?” .The patient already missed Gus.
I believe the stories from these two individuals provide me with the answer. It is indeed true that if you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life. You make a difference for everyone you serve and take joy and satisfaction just by looking at their smile.
Thank you Irene and Gus! Thank you for putting patients at the heart of everything we do…..
I grew up in Malaysia which is a multiethnic country. The main ethnic groups in Malaysia consist of Malay, Chinese and Indian. Hence, I am fortunate to be able to celebrate the different festivities of all three ethnic groups.
Diwali, the festival of light, is one of the most significant holidays for the Hindu community. This year it falls on November 3- 7. It also happened to be one of my favorite holidays. My childhood memory of the festival begins with the clay lamps. I was mesmerized by the small clay lamps filled with oil that are lit in all Hindu households. The small clay lamps signify the triumph of good over evil, and the lights are kept on during the night. I remember asking my mom’s permission to do the same in our household. Unfortunately, I was being turned down due to fire hazard. In recent years many households switched to the electric version.
Homes are also cleaned prior to the festival to welcome the goddess of Lakshmi and the smell of food and cookies fill the entire household. Paper lanterns and incredible Rangooli (A design on the floor made from colored rice and powder) are used to decorate the household and shopping malls. Rangoli is used as a joyful way to welcome the Goddness of Wealth and Prosperity. Hindu women will adorn their beautiful saris (a traditional Hindu dress), colorful bangles and earrings and Men will wear dhoti (sarong wrapped around the waist and leg) with an oxford shirt.
I got so excited when Sodexo Executive chef at Lahey, Dave Cox and line cook, Ravi Rajkarnikar, introduced Indian cuisine at the cafeteria in Lahey Hospital and Medical Center this week in conjunction with the upcoming diwali celebration.
The menu consists of: Plain Pulao ( Basmati Rice cooked with a touch of Butter, Green Peas, and Raisins) Plain Naan (Indian Bread) Polak Rahma Masala (Spinach cooked in a sauce with Kidney beans and Peppers) Vegetable Pakora (Indian Mixed Vegetable Fritter cooked in Chick pea flour) Makhani Chicken (Butter chicken, a popular Indian dish, cooked in Tomato based gravy, Butter, Cream, and Nuts) Onion Chutney, Tamarind Chutney
As I savor every bite of this sumptuous meal, it brings back my childhood memories and a taste of home. What a wonderful way to celebrate the festivity and introduce diversity at work.
Kudos to the Food and Nutrition team. Happy Diwali everyone!
I work in a hospital and I have the opportunity to meet a lot of people from all walks of life in a daily basis. I meet patients, visitors, vendors as well as colleagues each day. So what qualifies as good deeds? How about greeting everyone that you came across? A smile? A hello? And when you see someone who could use your assistance, do you offer your help? A good deed doesn't have to be in the news and it certainly doesn't have to be complicated. It is supposed to be simple- a way of life. I get to know a lot of people by smiling at them and by greeting them. I once met someone who told me they could use a hug and I gave her a hug. I invited patients or visitors who have lunch by themselves to have lunch with me at the hospital cafeteria and I make friends! Good deed don’t go unnoticed because when you make someone's day special, you make yours special as well!
At Sodexo, we believe in making everyday a better day. The Sodexo Food and Nutrition team at LaheyHospital and Medical center always makes an effort to engage with our colleagues and visitors. We believes open communication plays a significant role in colleagues's and customer's satisfaction. The team also believes in engaging all colleagues so there is a sense of teamwork, respect and care when you experience any of the Food and Nutrition service at Lahey.
Today, I would like to tell the story of George Reels. He works as a cashier at the Lahey Cafeteria for over 10 years. He always comes to work with a positive attitude and you will find him assisting patients with their trays, escorting them to the cafeteria and seeking management assistance if he is not able to do so. Perhaps George is not on the news and according to George “he did it because he thinks it is the right thing to do. He hopes someone will assist him, too, when he gets older and needs help”. A week after the video was posted; George received a text message from his brother saying he is very proud of George.
Let’s hear from George and his colleagues on the video below
What I learned from George
Assisting others should come from the heart and it feels good to be able to help others. Good deeds do not go unnoticed as nothing is more rewarding than feeling good about yourself and that is priceless.
Why would someone travel 4 hours a day for a job and still love it?
With the rising price in gas and an inflation rate at 1.5 percent in the US as of August 2013 according to the Bureau of Labor statistic http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpidfv13.pdf, a lot of people are looking for ways to cut transportation cost and look for a job near home.
Maria Petkiewich, a food service worker at LaheyHospital and MedicalCenter, however, is not one of them. According to Maria, job satisfaction and a work culture that promotes caring and teamwork are more important to her. “I used to work in Boston where I get paid more and it is only 20 minutes away from my home but everyday I am unhappy. To me, finding a workplace where I look forward to coming to work everyday is more important to me".
Let’s hear from Maria on the below video on why she love her job and why she is willing to make the 4 hours commute.
What I learned from Maria
Creating a job culture that promotes caring and teamwork should be a priority at all organizations. To be realistic, people need money to pay their bills, however, once the minimum is met, it's job satisfaction that matters.
Always treat your employees the way they want to be treated. Take a minute or two each day, greet your employees, get to know your employees and more importantly, learn their names. It will just take a minute of your time but you are making someone's day special. The productivity of your organization will also improve.
Have a great day and don't forget to bring your smile to work every day!
