Compensation Cafe: Appreciation Shouldn't Ever Be Put on Layaway

Have you heard the stories of the Kmart "Layaway Angels" in the U.S.? It's a story that's made it all the way to Ireland and warmed more than few hearts this holiday season as it spread to more stores than just Kmart.

This one story from ABC national news summarizes several of these moments (email subscribers, click through):

From Hawaii to New York and points in between, the layway angels teach us three important lessons that apply just as well in the workplace.

1) Do something nice.

These layaway angels saw an opportunity to help others and chose to do so. Making this gift to others wasn't something they had to do. In workplace terms, this wasn't "part of their job description." Taking this extra step to do something nice for others in need during what can be a stressful time of year can be seen as the workplace equivalent of choosing to pause in your daily work to help out a colleague on something that you don't get paid to do. It could be as simple as taking the time to notice the hard work of those around you and tell them "thank you."

2) Inspire others to do the same thing.

What's the result of doing something nice - whether it be saying "thanks" or paying off someone's debt? You inspire others to do the same. From Orange County, California, comes this story I've heard in similar reports repeated in media across the U.S.:

"[Kmart Mangaer Matthew] Aldridge watched a woman who came in to pay off her layaway balance learn that someone had already beat her to it. She then told the cashier that she wanted to pay off the layaway balance of the woman in line behind her."

Kindness shown to others is one of the most powerful viral forces. So is appreciation, praise and recognition. We've seen the viral effect again and again in organizations that simply give their employees permission to recognize and appreciate each other through peer-to-peer programs.

3) Inspire others to do even more.

The kindness demonstrated often changes and grows in ways people may not have anticipated. One story I heard related to the layaway angels (though I don't have an attribution or location) said a woman who discovered her layaway items had been paid for turned around and gave the equivalent money to a local homeless shelter. This person chose to spread the warmth and good wishes of the season beyond those initially intended as the recipients.

The same is true of kindness and gratitude in the workplace. When appreciation becomes a habit at work because it's simply part of the culture, it's easy to demonsrate that habit in other areas of your life.

One final thought - By Christmas Eve, total "layaway angel" donations came to half a million dollars at Kmart stores alone - all from people giving a little or, occasionally, a lot to make the holiday bright during what has been inarguably a very difficult few years for many people.

Think of the viral effect recognition and appreciation could have in your workplace next year. It really can start with just a handful of peopel choosing to make a difference.

As Globoforce’s Head of Strategic Consulting, Derek Irvine is an internationally minded management professional with over 20 years of experience helping global companies set a higher ambition for global strategic employee recognition, leading workshops, strategy meetings and industry sessions around the world. His articles on fostering and managing a culture of appreciation through strategic recognition have been published in Businessweek, Workspan and HR Management. Derek splits his time between Dublin and Boston. Follow Derek on Twitter at @DerekIrvine.