Category Archives: Workplace Gifts

One Ham Bone, Three Great Soup Recipes

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Liz King | 1 Comment

Just like I’ll fight (nicely, of course) the other cooks at the Thanksgiving table for possession of that flavorful turkey carcass — such a great way to make stock — I do the same at Easter for the ham bone.

These rainy April days are the perfect time to take that ham bone out of the freezer and put it to good use for some great tasting and heart warming comfort food.

Bean soups especially benefit from a long simmer with a ham bone, whether or not there’s much meat left on it. If there is, that’s just a bonus; slice it off at the end and add it to the soup.

Allow at least two hours for each of these soups, and know that they’re just as good reheated for lunch.

SPLIT PEA SOUP

One of my favorite spring soups is split pea, that hearty staple, even better when it’s studded with bits of ham. Ina Garten’s recipe for split pea soup, taken from the original Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, is a simple and delicious way to start.

To use your ham bone in this recipe, submerge it in the soup during the last 40 minutes of cooking. Depending how much meat comes off the bone, you may be able to reuse it if you refrigerate it between uses.

NEW ORLEANS RED BEANS AND RICE

John Besh’s beautiful, coffee table-worthy cookbook, “My New Orleans,” is 384 engaging pages of stories, recipes and Southern inspiration.

I first made this fragrant pot of red beans and rice on Super Bowl Sunday, with the justification that the game was being played in New Orleans, and so red beans and rice were perfectly appropriate.

This simple recipe starts with the trinity (green pepper, celery, onion) and gets flavor not only from smoked ham hocks, but also from bacon fat, cayenne pepper and, of course, Louisiana-made Tabasco sauce. The red beans freeze well, too.

HAM BONE SOUP

Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times

Everything is better with bacon, and that includes Melissa Clark’s simple ham bone soup, adapted from an old Junior League cookbook. According to Clark’s piece in The New York Times, “The soup was simple: boil a bone with beans and a bay leaf, and dinner was done.”

Add a green salad and some crusty bread and you have a wonderful meal to share and savor!

About gThankYou, LLC

Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.

gThankYou, LLC provides company leaders with a variety of easy, meaningful and affordable ways to recognize and reward employees, holiday time or anytime. gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude and our free Enclosure Cards are personalizable including incorporating your company logo. And, nearly all orders ship same day.

gThankYou, LLC (www.gthankyou.com) is based in Madison, Wisconsin. Contact: Rick Kiley, Chief ThankYou! Officer, gThankYou, LLC at info@gthankyou.com or 888-484-1658.
Follow the Company Blog – “Celebrating Work”.
Join the Conversation @gThankYou
Watch our gThankYou! YouTube Video – “Learn More About Us”.

“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

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Posted in All Recipes, Ham Gift Certificates, Ham Recipes, Ham Soups, Soup

Tagged Andrew Scrivani, Comfort Food, comfort soup, Food Network, Ham bone, Ham bone soup, ham leftovers, Ham soup, Ina Garten, John Besh, Melissa Clark, My New Orleans, New Orleans Red Beans and Rice, new york times, red beans and rice, soup, split pea, split pea soup, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, The New York Times

10 Tips for Writing Employee Thank You Notes

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Liz King | Leave a comment

The humble handwritten thank you note can boost your company’s bottom line, believe it or not.

A recent Forbes article by Josh Bersin, founder and principal at Bersin by Deloitte, illustrates the point. His article, “New Research Unlocks the Secret of Employee Recognition,” cites his company’s comprehensive research project on employee recognition showing that organizations giving regular thanks to their employees far outperform those that don’t.

Companies scoring in the top 20% for building a “recognition-rich culture” actually had 31% lower voluntary turnover rates.

That makes sense to Geil Browning, founder of Emergenetics International. In an Inc. Magazine article, “How to Thank Your Employees in Only 8 Words,” she writes:

“When you recognize the contributions of others, you reinforce the kind of behavior you want to see again. People who feel their efforts are noticed, and their work makes a difference, are more likely to go the extra mile in the future. Leadership is about empowering others to realize their own abilities. Communicate your belief in your people, and watch them rise to meet your expectations.”

Put another way, recognizing employee’s contributions shows you’re paying attention and that you care. It makes people feel valued. When you write a thoughtful note of gratitude, it’s also a permanent keepsake reminder.

Browning quotes business guru Tom Peters:
“People don’t forget kindness.”

Her research at Emergenetics suggests most employees appreciate personal thank you notes, if they’re personalized and meaningful. To be meaningful, notes should be specific and prompt. And to reward behaviors you want people to repeat, be sure to recognize efforts involving those behaviors.

Browning offers 10 tips for customizing thank you notes to celebrate employee strengths, according to brain-related research:

The “gift of gab” is a work asset for gregarious people. You might write: “I celebrate how you share your enthusiasm,” or “Thanks for keeping the lines of communication open.”
For quieter people you could say: “I prize your well-considered solutions,” or “I appreciate your respectful attitude toward everyone.”
For assertive people, try: “Thank you for keeping the momentum going,” or “I appreciate your decisive action.”
More easygoing people who want everyone to get along might appreciate: “Thank you for helping to keep the peace,” or, “I appreciate your amiability more than you know.”
To flexible, change-seeking workers who don’t get flustered easily you might write: “I recognize your easy resilience” or “Thanks for how you handled [difficult client].”
To focused staffers with strong opinions, try: “I depend on your support,” or “I honor you for your convictions.”
Analytical thinkers might value: “I appreciate your penetrating questions,” or “I respect the depth of your knowledge.”
For structural-minded, detail-oriented people, consider: “Thank you for transferring all that data perfectly,” or “You always meet your deadlines—impressive!”
Social thinkers want to please you, so you could write: “I’m so grateful for your team building skills,” or, “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Conceptual workers who want to feel unique might value: “Your solution to the XYZ problem was stunning,” or “I treasure your creative long-term views.”

Bersin’s research also showed the effectiveness of rewarding employees for:
1. specific results and behaviors and,
2. making thank yous public.
Consider displaying a list of employees you’ve recognized in your company newsletter, on bulletin boards, or via social media.

The best practices his research project uncovered also recommended including peer-to-peer recognition and making it easy for employees to recognize each other frequently. For more on new “social” peer-to-peer recognition, you might enjoy Incentive Magazine’s article, “The Pressing Case for Peer-to-Peer Recognition” by Andrea Doyle.

How often and on what occasions do you write employee thank you notes? Do you ever have peers write thank you notes to peers?

“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

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Posted in Employee Gifts, Empolyee Engagement, Fun with Gratitude, Gratitude, Gratitude Research, Management & Leadership, Rewards & Recognition, Showing Gratitude to Employees, Thank You, Thank You Power, The Art of Thank You, Workplace Gifts

Tagged "How to Thank Employees in only 8 Words", "New Research Unlocks the Secret of Employee Recognition", Andrea Doyle, Bersin Associates, Bersin by Deloitte, Deloitte, Emergenetics International, Employee engagement, Employee Gifts, employee recognition, Employee retention, employee rewards, Forbes, Gail Browning, gift certificates, gratitude at work, great ways to say Thank You, how to write a thank you note, Inc. Magazine, Incentive Magazine, Josh Bersin, Peer-to-Peer Recogniton, thank you letter, thank you note, the art of "thank you", Tom Peters, workplace gifts

3 Fantastic Food Blogs | gThankYou! Favorites

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Liz King | Leave a comment

As winter weather drags on, finding inspiration in the kitchen can get a little harder.

Sweet potatoes, again?

On one hand, in my kitchen is often where I most want to be, next to the heat of the stove and a ready pot of tea. I’m the hunkering-down sort. I tend to bake too much, drink too much hot chocolate, and make endless variations on roast chicken and risotto.

On the other hand, winter in colder climates is one of the most discouraging times for produce. By March, I am tired of winter squash and potatoes. I have no more ideas for kale. I want something new.

That is where these food blogs come in. Visit any of these websites and let Deb Perelman, Heidi Swanson and Joy Wilson inspire and engage you with their vivid photographs and active imaginations.

I became a fan of Smitten Kitchen in a backwards way. I had heard of Deb Perelman, the New York-based author of the popular tiny kitchen blog, in passing via recipes from friends. But it wasn’t until I read about (and subsequently cooked) her lasagna bolognese in Best Food Writing 2012 and then impulsively bought her gorgeous new cookbook that I became a true SK convert.

A great blog is a combination of look and voice. Perelman takes all her own photos, and they’re beautiful, from a colorful mixed citrus salad with feta and mint to the French onion tart posted just this month. Her tone is self-deprecating and funny.

Her husband is “such a tidy eater … I comparatively eat with the grace of a Hoover.” She has a category on the blog called “disasters,” and writes about one set of them, “They’re not inedible. … They’re just not wonderful or magical or seriously, why have you not dropped everything yet and run to your kitchen to get this started?“

Smitten Kitchen is organized for maximum ease — recipes are grouped by season, as well as by type (pancakes, dumplings), ingredient (eggs, apples) and cuisine (Indian, Italian). Now is the perfect time to try pancetta, white bean and chard pot pies, or “hibernation fare,” pasta with sausage, tomatoes and mushrooms.

For healthier, I’m-sticking-to-my-New-Year’s-resolutions dishes, my absolute favorite blog is Heidi Swanson’s 101 Cookbooks. Swanson is the essence of inspirational, raving about her farmer’s market finds and offering simple substitutions for almost everything she makes.

Because of Swanson’s blog (and her two cookbooks, Super Natural Cooking and Super Natural Every Day), orzo has become a pantry staple, for potluck salads and easy weeknight dinners. I am no longer afraid of tofu, and I am shamelessly addicted to kale.

Following 101 Cookbooks is a great way to incorporate more grains into your diet in interesting, easy ways, from scones to warm noodle bowls. Start reading before spring, and you’ll be ready for every peapod and asparagus spear that crosses your path.

On the opposite end of the “virtuous” spectrum is Joy the Baker, a delightfully hedonistic blog full of cupcakes, cookies and lots of dark chocolate. Ina Garten is her kindred. (And yes, Joy has a cookbook too. It’s lovely.)

Photo from Joy the Baker

The site’s author, Joy Wilson, is perhaps best known for her sweets, but the first thing I made from her website was savory: this creme fraiche/bacon/gruyere quiche with a puff pastry crust, which simultaneously satisfied my craving for creme fraiche (like a mild sour cream) and something different to make with eggs.

I am intrigued by Wilson’s dark chocolate, pistachio and smoked sea salt cookies, the oatmeal sandwich cookies with creamy peanut butter filling and her roasted strawberry buttermilk cake, which transforms strawberries “from summer fruit to warm, soft candy.”

Maybe strawberries aren’t quite in season yet, but that sounds like the perfect cake to snap me out of my winter funk.

A few other food blogs to try and enjoy:

Wishing you spring weather soon!

“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

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Posted in All Recipes, Fruits & Vegetables Gift Certificates, Grocery Gift Certificates

Tagged 101 Cookbooks, Best Food Blogs, Best Food Writing 2012, Deb Perelman, Dinner: A Love Story, food blogs, Heidi Swanson, Holly Hughes, Ina Garten, Joy the Baker, Joy Wilson, Orangette, recipes, Smitten Kitchen, Super Natural Cooking, Super Natural Every Day, The Amateur Gourmet, The Bitten Word, The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook

A Vegetarian Easter Holiday Dinner

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Liz King | Leave a comment

Most people think of Easter dinner and imagine something heavy and carnivorous at the center of the table — a spiral-cut ham, a rack of lamb, a thick pork tenderloin.

But no one wants to leave vegetarian family and friends out of the loop, and even for the meat-eaters things can get pretty heavy. Change up your 2013 Easter menu with these simple, savvy veggie-centric options from some of the web’s best recipe sites.

Pear and Pecan Salad

This simple starter salad from Betty Crocker could be made with any variety of nuts — pecans, walnuts or even pine nuts. Whisk together a quick dressing of Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, maple sugar, salt and pepper. Make sure your pears are nice and ripe, and everything else takes care of itself.

Spring Pizza

Asparagus is like an announcement in vegetable form: it’s finally spring! Perk up the Easter table with this pretty, bright spring pizza, topped with asparagus, garlic, chives and a mozzarella/fontina cheese blend.

Reviewers on Eating Well note that you can substitute green onions for the chives and feta for one of the cheeses. If the asparagus stalks are a little thicker, be sure to peel the ends.

Risotto Primavera

This risotto primavera from Bon Appetit is perfect for Easter dinner for so many reasons. It’s rich and warm, perfect if the late-March weather is still snowy. And it’s endlessly adaptable based on what you find at the grocery store, from edamame and spring peas from the freezer to carrots, spring onions and leeks. Top it with an over-easy egg if you’re feeling decadent.

Scalloped Potatoes with Creme Fraiche

Scalloped potatoes always feel so wonderfully holiday-worthy. These are especially good, containing creme fraiche (similar to sour cream, but milder), half and half, fresh thyme, garlic and chives.

According to one cook on the Food Network website, “I made this wonderful recipe for Easter and it was a HUGE success!! The potatoes came out beautifully creamy and the flavor was just amazing.”

Venetian Carrot Cake

For dessert, conclude with one of the Easter Bunny’s favorites — carrots, cleverly disguised and sweetened up in this beautiful Venetian carrot cake by Food Network chef Nigella Lawson. Amped up with pine nuts, golden sultana raisins, vanilla, almond flour, nutmeg, lemon and (of course!) rum, this lovely cake will please everyone at the table, vegetarians and carnivores alike.

We wish you the best for a wonderful holiday with family and friends. We hope these recipes help you to make it a delicious event too. Bon Appetit!

“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

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Posted in All Recipes, Fruits & Vegetables Gift Certificates, Grocery Gift Certificates, Vegetable Recipes

Tagged Betty Crocker, Bon Appetit, Carrot cake, Easter, Eating Well, Epicurious, Food Network, Nigella Lawson, pear and pecan salad, pizza, risotto primavera, scalloped potatoes, simple, spring pizza, vegan, vegetarian, Venetian carrot cake

Employee Gifts for Spring Just Got Easier!

Posted on March 17, 2013 by Liz King | Leave a comment

gThankYou! is excited to announce new Spring Enclosure Card designs for your Certificate of Gratitude Gifts!

“Artful Flowers”

Whether you celebrate the spring holidays at your workplace, or just want to brighten winter-worn workplace spirits, it’s a great time of year to share your gratitude with employees and co-workers for their continued hard-work and contributions to your business.

At gThankYou!, we are committed to helping companies find easy, meaningful and affordable ways to celebrate employees and clients throughout the year.

What’s easier for you and your recipients than a gThankYou! Ham Gift Certificate or a gThankYou! Pie Gift Certificate to show your appreciation for employees’ hard work for you? gThankYou! Certificates of Gratitude come in a range of popular varieties and are redeemable for any Brand, at nearly any Store in the U.S. And, our popular Enclosure Cards free with any purchase!

New Spring Enclosure Card Designs

Our new spring Enclosure Card designs make it easy for you to share your gratitude with recipients. They’re customizable with your personal message and can even include your company logo – all at no charge with your purchase of any Certificate of Gratitude variety. These new designs can be found on the gThankYou! website along with other popular Spring and Summer Enclosure Card Designs.

“Thank You Bubble”

“Butterfly Stamp”

“Thanks Text”

At gThankYou!, we work hard to make it easy for you! We look forward to helping you with your employee gift-giving efforts.

Happy Springtime!

“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

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Posted in * News Releases - gThankYou!, Employee Gifts, Empolyee Engagement, Enclosure Cards, Fun with Gratitude, Gratitude, Management & Leadership, New Products, Rewards & Recognition, Showing Gratitude to Employees, Spring and Summertime, Thank You, Thank You Power, The Art of Thank You, Workplace Gifts

Tagged Easter Gifts, Employee Gifts, Employee Gifts for Spring, employee rewards, gift certificates, gratitude at work, Gratitude Gifts, ham gift certificates, Pie Gift Certificates, Recognition rewards, Thank You gifts, Turkey or Ham Gift Certificates, workplace gifts, workplace gifts for Easter

Sweet and Savory Pies for Pi Day!

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Liz King | Leave a comment

Happy International Pi Day!

Diagram from 314 Solutions, Inc.

Around the world, people celebrate mathematics on March 14. Pi (Greek letter “π”) is the symbol used in mathematics to represent the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter; which is approximately 3.14159 but can be calculated out to about a trillion decimal places!

Here at gThankYou! we take the liberal view of Pi – in order to celebrate gThankYou! Pie Gift Certificates and delicious pies of course!

Deep Dish Winter Fruit Pie with Walnut Crumb

Pi Day comes at a rather inconvenient time for pie bakers, when the fruits of summer are still a long way off. Solve that problem with this deep dish beauty, which combines dried figs, fresh apples and pears, and either fresh or frozen cranberries for a pie tasters describe as “amazing” and winning “rave reviews” from “gaga” guests.

photo by Sara Remington via Epicurious.com

Find the recipe, taken from “Rustic Fruit Desserts: Crumbles, Buckles, Cobblers, Pandowdies, and More” by Cory Schreiber and Julie Richardson, on Epicurious.

Pear and Almond Tart

photo by Yasmine Abdullah via Flickr.com

The difference between a pie and a tart is really very minor. According to The Kitchn, a pie is “a sweet or savory dish with a crust and a filling. The sides of a pie dish or pan are sloped,” unlike a tart pan, which has straight sides. A pie “can have a just a bottom, just a top, or both a bottom and a top crust,” while tarts are open face. And pie crust, made from flour, salt, butter or lard and cold water, can go either sweet or savory, while a tart crust often contains sugar.

No matter how you define it, this pear and almond tart is a keeper. The recipe, published in the February 2005 issue of Bon Appetit, comes from Paule Caillat. Feel free to adapt the recipe using canned pears: just drain them, “dry them very well and carry on.”

Double Crust Apple Pie

photo by Edward Kimuk via Flickr.com

For one entire summer, Evan Kleiman, the host of KCRW’s popular radio show “Good Food,” made a pie every single day.

Serious Eats reports that after all the variations on “shepherd’s pie, ice cream pies, cream pies, fried pies, gallettes, crostadas, small French tarts, and bastillas,” her favorite pie was this one — the double crust apple pie.

“It has everything,” she wrote. “The yielding sweetness of fruit cooked in sugar with a hint of cinnamon. If I were an apple, it’s how I’d like to go.”

Savory Pork and Peas Pie

Nicole Mourian won four ribbons at the Fourth Annual Good Food Pie Contest in 2012, at least one of them for her humble-sounding pork and peas pie.

photo by LA I’m Yours via the Good Food blog

The secret to this recipe is twofold: controlling the temperature, and high quality ingredients. According to the Good Food blog, “It’s a combination of slow roasted Niman Ranch pork shoulder, pork belly, carrots, chopped Gravenstein apples and peas that she had shucked and frozen last spring.

“She combined the braising liquid from the pork belly with a little flour and rosemary to form a gravy. And as if that weren’t enough, her pie crust is made with the unctuous European Style Butter from Straus Family Creamery in Northern California.”

Still, there’s little doubt those of us without access to Niman Ranch and Strauss Family products can still come up with something pretty amazing for a chilly March night. Who says pie has to be sweet to be delicious?

We hope we have given you plenty of reasons to celebrate Pi(e) day tomorrow! Brighten someone’s day with a pie. You’ll be glad you did.

About gThankYou, LLC

Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.

“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

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Posted in All Recipes, Pie Gift Certificates, Workplace Gifts

Tagged "Good Food" Radio Show, "Rustic Fruit Desserts", 314 Solutions Inc., apple pie, Bon Appetit, Cory Schreiber & Julie Richardson, Double Crust Apple Pie, Edward Kimuk, Epicurious, Evan Kleiman, Fourth Annual Good Food Pie Contest, fruit pie, KCRW, LA I'm Yours, March 14 - Pi Day, Nicole Mourian, Paule Caillat, pear and almond tart, Pi Day, Pie, pork and peas pie, Sara Remington, savory pie, Serious Eats, The Kitchn, winter pie, Yasmine Abdullah

Thanking Employees at Easter Time

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Liz King | Leave a comment

A sincere “thank you” at work means a lot, so it makes sense to find ways to show your employees you appreciate them throughout the year.

Whether you choose to celebrate the Easter Holiday or Springtime, your employees will be grateful for the recognition and the post-winter pick-me-up.

In fact, a Harvard Business Review (HBR) blog notes that saying thank you is vital. In “Do You Really Need to Say Thank You?” Peter Bregman, author of 18 Minutes: Find Your Focus, Master Distraction, and Get the Right Things Done, writes:

“When you offer a real thought-out “thank you” to someone, you’re acknowledging her effort, appreciating her thoughtfulness, recognizing her intent, and offering feedback on the impact of her actions.

Still, it’s more than that. Those things are rational, but saying “thank you” is mostly an emotional act. It connects one person to another. Saying “thank you” doesn’t just acknowledge someone’s effort, thoughtfulness, intent, or action. It acknowledges the person himself.

Acknowledging other people is … perhaps the critical responsibility … of a good manager, but … that’s understating it. Acknowledging each other is our basic responsibility as human beings living in community with other human beings.”

But is it appropriate to celebrate Easter in the workplace?

Most Companies say Yes! So says WorkplaceCommunications.com:

“Of course, not everyone celebrates the holiday, but this should not stop you from offering your employees a [thank you gift].”

An article by Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) staff in HR Magazine makes a great point about any workplace gifts or festivities for holidays: Make sure everyone feels included. If that means a more secular approach for your organization is a better fit, don’t loose the great opportunity to thank employees, just change your emphasis to celebrating the emergence of Spring.

“It can be difficult to stay religiously neutral during [holiday] celebrations,” according to SHRM member Melissa Fulwider of Augusta Iron & Steel Works Inc. in Augusta, Ga. Her tips include:

Thank employees for their work throughout the year.
Give everyone a small gift.
Share a meal with employees.

Here are a few employee appreciation ideas for your Easter or Springtime gift:

Homemade Treats—Hot cross buns, carrot cake muffins, cupcakes with bright-colored frosting, or decorated sugar cookies say Happy Easter or Happy Spring.
Gift Baskets—While they’re typically for kids, what adult wouldn’t want to receive basket full of chocolate and other goodies?
Items that Say “Spring is Coming”—Try a flower-pot with a packet of seeds or planted spring bulbs that will bloom in the office.
Small Gift Certificates or Gift Cards—Employees will appreciate even a $5 certificate for pie or ice cream. Something they can enjoy alone, or share with their family. There’s a gift certificate or card for every budget.
Office Party - Host an office breakfast or special lunch. Make it festive and everyone will enjoy the special break. It’s a great way to celebrate a team or work group.
Get Outside – Celebrate by planting flowers at a local shelter.
Write a Thank You Note – Personalized notes of gratitude are always a welcomed gift of recognition.

In “Easter Activities for the Office,” SmallBusinessFreeForms.com suggests an Easter office party:

“An office Easter basket lunch party always put a smile on [workers’] faces. … Take some Easter Baskets and fill them with a sandwich, Easter hard-boiled eggs, chips, and don’t forget the Easter cookies and candy. You can also add some Easter-themed pens and notepads, etc. to the baskets. Have some refreshments to go along with these and maybe a large fruit and vegetable tray … with a little Easter decor and have some fun. …”

If you go the party route, SmallBusinessFreeForms.com offers a free Easter party flyer.

If you choose homemade gifts, Workplace Communication.com, in “Easter Basket to Make for the Workplace,” suggests a fun way to make them. If your staff is small, maybe a group could have a (paid) work party and make them for the rest of the team.

How does your business thank Employees at Easter time? Do you celebrate the Easter holiday or make it a Spring-theme event?

About gThankYou, LLC

“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

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Posted in Empolyee Engagement, Fun with Gratitude, Gratitude, Ice Cream Gift Certificates, Management & Leadership, Pie Gift Certificates, Rewards & Recognition, Showing Gratitude to Employees, Thank You, Thank You Power, Workplace Gifts

Tagged 18 Minutes: Find Your Focus, Augusta Iron & Steelworks, Easter, Easter Gifts, Easter office party, Employee engagement, employee gift certificates, Employee Gifts, Employee Gifts for the Holidays, gratitude at work, Harvard Business Review, HBR Blog Network, HR Magazine, Ice Cream Gift Certificates, Melissa Fulwider, Peter Bregman, Pie Gift Certificates, SHRM, SmallBusinessFreeForms.com, Society for Human Resource Management, Springtime Gifts, workplace gifts, workplace gifts for Easter, WorkplaceCommunications.com

Ham FREE eBook: Spring Ham Primer

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Liz King | Leave a comment

gThankYou! is excited to announce our free eBook,
“A Spring Ham Primer”.

Click Image to Download!

We believe a glazed ham is the perfect centerpiece for a spring party or holiday celebration. If you’ve never cooked one before, gThankYou! is here to help with this quick step-by-step guide on how to cook your ham, as well as suggestions for side dishes and additional places to look for great recipes.

Novice or seasoned pro, you’ll find useful tips and resources in this handy Ham Primer. gThankYou! Ham Gift Certificates are a popular employee gift this time of year. Share this free Primer with recipients, include one of our free personalizable spring-themed enclosure cards and make your Certificate of Gratitude gift truly special!

Here’s a peek at our “A Spring Ham Primer” Table of Contents:

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. How to Choose and Cook a Spring Holiday Ham
2. Great Ways to Glaze
3. Recipes
4. Super Side Dishes for Spring Ham
5. Resources

Download your free copy now by clicking this link:
“Spring Ham Primer”

For more recipes and “how to” posts about Ham, be sure to check out the links to these popular gThankYou! posts. More posts are available under the “Ham Recipes” category so check them out and let us know what you like!

Bon Appétit !

The gThankYou! Team

About gThankYou, LLC

Turkey Gift Certificates and Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates by gThankYou! are two of America’s favorite employee gifts and can be redeemed for any Brand (Turkey, or Turkey Or Ham), at virtually any Grocery Store in the U.S.

“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

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Posted in * News Releases - gThankYou!, All Recipes, Ham Gift Certificates, Ham Recipes, Turkey Or Ham Gift Certificates

Tagged Bon Appetit, bruce aidells, Cook's Country, Cook's Illustrated, Cooking Light, Easter Ham, Epicurious, Free eBook, Good Eats - Alton Brown, Ham Glazes, Ham Recipes, How to Cook a Spring Ham, How to Coose a Ham, Huffington Post, Martha Stewart, Nancy Oakes, Nigelia Lawson, Paula Deen, Real Simple, Saveur, Serious Eats, Side Dishes for Easter Ham, The Food Network, The New York Times Dining Section

Are You Ready for National Employee Appreciation Day?

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Liz King | Leave a comment

March 1st is the Perfect Day to Celebrate Employees!

Here’s Why: It’s both National Employee Appreciation Day AND World Compliment Day! Wow, how perfect is that!

Celebrating employees should be a regular event at any workplace, but sometimes there are days that are fun and are so well suited to tie in your recognition events, it’s hard not to take advantage of them. This Friday, March 1st is one of them.

Don’t despair if you don’t have any plans yet. Making employees feel valued can be a simple as a heartfelt “thank you”. Make your thanks public – thank employees as they walk in the door Friday, over lunch at the cafeteria, in the plant and posted on your internal internet. You can even post your gratitude on the World Compliment Day tweet stream at: @complimentday.

Time permitting, a handwritten note delivered personally really shows you care.

It’s a great day to host that workgroup breakfast or lunch you’ve been talking about. Make it easy and fun. Order in pizzas or welcome all to a spread of ice creams and toppings, a sure way to brighten everyone’s Friday afternoon.

For other quick ideas, check out these helpful articles:

Recognition Professionals International, “Employee Appreciation Day”

Squidoo, “Ways To Celebrate National Employee Appreciation Day”

And, if nothing else, be generous with your gratitude and appreciation. It will be appreciated!

What’s your favorite way to show employees they are valued?

About gThankYou, LLC

“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

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Posted in Employee Gifts, Empolyee Engagement, Fun with Gratitude, Gratitude, Management & Leadership, Rewards & Recognition, Showing Gratitude to Employees, Thank You, Thank You Power, The Art of Thank You, Trends, Workplace Gifts

Tagged Employee engagement, Employee Gifts, Employment Appreciation Day, gift certificates & gift cards, gratitude at work, National Employee Appreciation Day, National Employee Recognition Day, Recognition Professionals International, Squidoo, workforce recognition, workplace gifts, World Compliment Day

Employee Gifts Beat the February Blahs

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Liz King | Leave a comment

Did you know that February is National “Blah Buster Month”?Well, according to Oracle Education Foundation’s ThinkQuest it is.

For a lot of people, it’s true at home and it’s true at work. So as a businessperson, how do you help employees beat the blahs?

One great way is to create opportunities for physical activity. Could be the flexibility for free time to allow employees to exercise, a workgroup party – bowling, laser-tag or outdoor skating, or a hands-on community service project. Physical work is good for one’s spirit and one’s body. Add some teamwork with it and you have a win, win for all. That’s the key for some My Fitness Pal members.

Member “Scoobiesnax” posted “The February ‘Blahs.’ how do YOU beat them …?” saying:

“So the dreariest month of the year is upon us, and for many people (especially those who live in a colder climate as I do here in Ontario, Canada) it tends to be the hardest month to stay motivated … what [are] people … doing to stay motivated and fresh during this dull time of year?”

Fellow members answered:

I’ve started Vitamin D recently but not sure just how much it’s helped…
I take full advantage of every sunny and non-rainy day by going outside to run/walk and get fresh air.
I’m adding an hour to 2 hours every evening of Badminton … I love it!

Exercise is certainly healthy and uplifting, plus research shows it’s good for your your business, not just your employees. Another great way to lift employees’ spirits is a small gift. Indeed, at the American Express small business site Open Forum, writer and teacher Jacob Harper, formerly with Top Story Weekly, writes in “5 Easy Ways to Brighten Your Employee’s Days”:

“With all the responsibilities that come with being a boss, it can be tempting to overlook your role in maintaining your employee’s happiness. But some of the best leaders will tell you even small gestures can make a tremendous impact on company morale and, in turn, the success of the business overall.

Give a small gift. Listen. Does an employee rave about a favorite lunchtime spot or coffee bar? Get them a gift certificate so their next few visits will be on your bill.”

What about a favorite food? Or an informal workgroup pizza lunch? Showing your recognition and interest helps lift’s spirits; share your attention and thanks broadly so your whole organization benefits.

Whatever delights your employee, there’s likely a gThankYou! Gift Certificate of Gratitude to match. Just add a smile, handshake, sincere thanks and watch your employee shed the blahs. Just like that.

Here’s an employer who knows how to give a gift. Watch “Kyle Goes to the World Series.”

Here’s the story: “If you’ve been to the UC Davis Coffee House at some point these past couple years, you’ve met Kyle. And I’m pretty sure he waved at you with the biggest smile, and greeted you like you were one of his closest friends.

With the help of his CoHo coworkers and their spontaneous donations, this goober got an extra special surprise after Game 1 … a ticket to see his favorite team play in the World Series, ticket and transportation costs covered completely.”

You may not generate quite as much joy as University of California, Davis Coffee House, or CoHo, did with its expensive gift, but your employees will definitely appreciate an infectious smile and your appreciation. It’ll banish the blahs and make them think of you. Happy February!

How do you help your employees beat the February blahs? How do you chase away your own blahs?

“G” logo and “Certificates of Gratitude” are trademarks and “gThankYou” is a registered trademark of gThankYou, LLC.

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Posted in Employee Gifts, Empolyee Engagement, Gratitude, Management & Leadership, Rewards & Recognition, Showing Gratitude to Employees, Thank You, Thank You Power, Workplace Gifts

Tagged "5 Easy Ways to Brighten Your Employee's Days", "Kyle Goes to the World Series", American Express Open Forum, CoHo, Davis, Employee engagement, Employee Gifts, Employee retention, employee rewards, February blahs, gratitude at work, great ways to say Thank You, Jacob Harper, My Fitness Pal, National Beat the Blahs Month, Oracle Education Foundation, Scoobiesnax, the art of "thank you", ThinkQuest, Top Story Weekly, UC Davis Coffee House, University of California, workplace gifts

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