3. Offer team bonding opportunities
Instead of guessing what motivates employees, the foodservices team at Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pa., surveyed workers to find out. “We think it’s really important to know what they want, because a lot of the stuff we had in place was really outdated, “says Jim Meinecke, residential dining coordinator for the university. One request was more group outings to help the team get to know each other better, such as ice skating, basketball games and group classes.
Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., also motivates staff with group experiences. The department hosts a cooking competition each year, and the competitors go bowling before the event to help build camaraderie and team spirit in the kitchen.