Staff appreciation is vital to physical therapy success. To ensure your PT staff stays engaged and motivated, you must show them they are appreciated. And what better time to show appreciation than physical therapy month? The list of ways to thank your therapy team is endless, but here are five ways to help get you started.
Spread the Word; It’s Physical Therapy Month
Showing appreciation can begin by celebrating PT month within your clinic. Start by letting your patients know it is PT month by designing colorful posters and flyers with PT information. Create something special for your clinic if you have creative team members. If not, you might consider the PT Toolkit. Available from the APTA, the toolkit gives you access to print graphics, handouts, postcards, and signs to celebrate PT month. T-shirts and buttons are always fun and can help you show gratitude to your hard-working PTs.
Fun Activities
Group activities can be loads of fun. Simple office activities are not complicated and can help you show your PTs that you appreciate their hard work. Activity ideas might include:
- Food. You can keep it simple with coffee and donuts or have a lunch catered for your staff.
- Teammate recognition. Let your PTs recognize each other. Ask all therapists to write something they appreciate about another team member and share these responses during a staff meeting.
- A surprise. If you want to shock your staff in a fun way, switch out a team meeting for a fun activity. Consider taking everyone outside for a walk, take a field trip to a local restaurant, or hire a masseuse to come in to give your team some stress relief.
Celebrate With Social Media
It seems like everyone is engaging on social media these days. It is a fantastic tool for thanking your PTs. You can use your social media platform to celebrate National Physical Therapy Month and show appreciation. An active social media presence raises awareness for physical therapy and your practice. Social media platforms are the ideal place to highlight your PT staff’s team and individual accomplishments. If you want to interact and share other posts, consider following ChoosePT on Twitter @ChoosePT and Facebook @ChoosePhysicalTherapy.
Gifts
Decorating the office, engaging on social media, and doing group activities are fun ways to celebrate the month of October. However, you might understandably feel overwhelmed with the time it takes to implement extensive appreciation efforts. Everyone likes to receive a gift. Gifts require little time and can help you express your gratitude. Consider these ideas:
- Gift cards
- Coffee for the team
- Tickets to the theatre, museums, or sporting events
- Company swag
- Desk or travel mugs
A Personal Touch
Consider personalizing gifts for your PT staff, particularly if you have a small team. Let your employees spend their time off in a way they will enjoy by giving them a free PTO day or a floating holiday. Perhaps an award is in order? Employee awards bring the office together and show appreciation for specific employee accomplishments. Maybe you have a PT who strongly supports a cause. How about a donation to an organization that they support? Download and print these appreciation cards to write a personal note on the back!
The staffing professionals at myPTsolutions are here to help with your unique staffing needs. MyPTsolutions offers customized hiring solutions for your physical therapy practice
