Ideas That Work: Take Time for a Tea Break

Staff appreciation gestures have been a mainstay of the first year of operations at National Ambulatory Surgery Center in San Jose, Calif. Whether it’s a more formal designation for the Employee of the Quarter — which includes a certificate of recognition, a gift card to Target or Amazon and a big gift such as a piece of carry-on luggage — or a spontaneous shoutout for a stellar performance in the middle of a harried workweek, the celebrations always include boba drinks. The center’s surgeons and anesthesiologists splurge for the mix of black tea, milk, ice and chewy tapioca pearls. “When the staff hears, ‘Shall we get boba?’ their eyes light up and you can see them smile behind their masks,” says Marisa Ynchausti, RN, BSN, the facility’s clinical nurse manager. “Everyone loves the drinks, and there’s an extra value in getting them for the staff because it shows the center’s physicians are paying attention to them and know what they like.” When the drinks arrive, staff members feel like they’re seen, respected and recognized, says Ms. Ynchausti, adding, “A boba toast in the midst of a difficult week goes a long way to showing empathy and appreciation for everyone’s hard work.”