Employees throughout Yale New Haven Health enjoyed some recognition, relaxation and inspiration during the health system’s first-ever 10 Days of Gratitude May 4 - 13.
The celebration included Nurses Week, May 6 - 12, Hospital Week, May 7 - 13, and YNHHS’ Week of Gratitude, previously held in March. The 10 days featured activities throughout the health system for all employees, such as leader rounding, wellness webinars and tips, daily inspirational quotes, prize drawings and other perks.
More than 21,000 people throughout YNHHS ordered an employee appreciation gift from a selection of eight items, with free shipping to their homes. Gifts should arrive within the next few weeks.
Thousands of employees enjoyed a free meal in the hospital cafeterias May 10, thanks to a generous donor who wanted to show appreciation to YNHHS employees for the exceptional care a family member received. Many thanks to Food and Nutrition employees in all the cafeterias, who collected those meal vouchers from employees.
Also during the 10 Days of Gratitude, 15 employees in different roles and departments throughout the health system received Excellence in Action recognition. Employees were nominated by their managers for exemplifying the health system’s values.
On each of the 10 days, Human Resources randomly drew employees’ names for prizes that included tickets to concerts, sporting events and area attractions. Thank you to the organizations that donated these terrific prizes.
Wellness was very much a part of the 10 Days of Gratitude, with YNHHS’ Employee and Family Resources Center providing a series of webinars and tips. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging councils also presented two webinars to educate and inspire staff. See the employee intranet home pages for links to webinar recordings and wellness tips.
In addition to health system events, each delivery network held its own activities during the 10 Days of Gratitude, including ice cream socials, employee awards programs, meals delivered to offsite locations, chair massages, healing touch sessions, blessing of the hands and more.
“The 10 Days of Gratitude provided wonderful opportunities to bring employees from many different roles, departments and locations together to celebrate as a health system,” said Denise Morris, vice president, Inclusion, Belonging and Employee/Labor Relations, YNHHS. “At the same time, we honored the people and traditions that make each of our departments and delivery networks unique.”
Morris said organizers are reviewing employees’ feedback and will begin meeting to plan for next year.
“Thank you to everyone who made our first 10 Days of Gratitude a success,” she said. “Next year’s celebration will be even better.”
YNHHS employees got a free meal in the delivery networks’ cafeterias, thanks to a generous donor who is grateful for the care a loved one received.
Darius Burgess, a food service associate in the York Street Campus cafeteria, collected A LOT of vouchers on May 10, as did his colleagues across the health system. We are thankful for the Food and Nutrition staff who go above and beyond during celebrations like the 10 Days of Gratitude.
