15 things you can do to show your call scheduler that you care

Showing your on-call scheduler that you care about them and appreciate their hard work will be rewarded in improved morale and productivity. Try some of the following suggestions:

1. One of the best things you can give your on-call schedulers is the gift of time in the form of an afternoon off or a "free” day off.
2. Recognize events. Birthday cakes, a balloon bouquet when a baby is born, or flowers when a family member dies all show that you appreciate them as a human being.
3. Approved down-time: 15 minutes a day to do “personal stuff” such as phone calls or checking their personal email or Facebook. This should be in addition to the scheduled breaks.
4. Help them grow their network by introducing them to company executives and important clients.
5. Consider two hours of bonus pay for every month of perfect attendance.
6. Provide drinks. All the time. A water cooler, coffee, even soft drinks and juices. All. The. Time.
7. For a Friday afternoon break, bring in ice cream and toppings for an "ice cream social". Have a variety of toppings to make it more fun. 
8. Nominate your physician scheduler for an award, local or national. Google “Call Scheduler of the Year”.
   
   
   
   
9. Have a health awareness contest. One great example is a walk-a-thon that the City of Dallas sponsored. Employees set goals based on the number of steps walked each day, and the City awarded the top achievers free gym memberships.
10. Consider a contest based on job performance, with a similar award.
11. Get your CEO on board with calling outstanding employees personally and thanking them. 
12. Every day, write a note for one employee. A post-it note with a specific message such as “great job for over-performing by 10% yesterday” is ideal. Put it on his desk when he’s at lunch. Make sure you touch every person in the office at least once per month.
13. Bring food whenever possible. Homemade cookies. Donuts. Stuff to make sandwiches.
14. Create a private library (one bookshelf will suffice) of business, self-improvement, and motivational books. You can start the library by going to thrift stores where books are usually $1 or less. Allow employees to permanently borrow books and encourage them to bring books to donate back to the library. 
15. Give Monopoly money when goals are reached. Allow employees to save up and “spend” the money on inexpensive items in the “Superstar Store”, which can be as simple as a box in the boss’s office. Store items can include:
• Candy, popcorn, and other snacks
• Movie tickets
• Gift certificates for restaurants or a free car wash
• Cool office supplies

Most of these ideas are "little things". But seemingly small gestures can go a long way towards retaining valuable employees who fill your critical key positions.