The employee experience听isn鈥檛听shaped by a single program, policy, or initiative. More often, it鈥檚 the everyday moments that leave the biggest impression鈥攁 manager who takes time to listen, a colleague who steps in to help, a leader who acts on feedback, or a simple expression of appreciation that makes someone feel seen.听
These听everyday听interactions听go beyond our formal Employee Experience Action Planning process and can听influence how connected people feel to their work, their teams, and the University. They build trust, strengthen engagement, and help create an environment where employees can do their best work.听
Over the course of his career, Senior Associate Vice President of Human Resources, Dan Salamone has led many efforts that support the employee experience at the University. We recently spoke with Dan about the impact recognition can have on听the employee听experience and our overall University culture.听
Dan, you oversee our recognition team at the University. Can you tell us about the importance of recognition on听the employee听experience?听
Yes, thank you. Recognition is an important part of creating听a positive听work experience. It makes people feel valued by not only celebrating and acknowledging their effort but also bringing visibility to their听great work鈥攏ot just the results. The most meaningful recognition often comes from听timely, genuine acknowledgment and appreciation for contributions that might otherwise not be talked about. Those moments 鈥� repeated over time 鈥� create听a more听satisfying work experience.听
Consistent recognition of听good work听promotes relationships among peers and managers while reinforcing behaviors that lead to success. Recognition encourages people to bring their best because it is valued.听
What role does the employee experience have in helping to shape our organizational culture?听
Employee experience influences everything we do.听It’s听essential that we create an environment where people feel supported, connected, and able to do their best work. It includes things like listening to our team members, encouraging career growth and development opportunities, enabling workplace flexibility, and rewarding and recognizing performance. We want to make sure people have what they need to succeed. When done well, people feel valued, have听a strong sense听of听belonging听and feel good about the effort that they give every day.听听
How can both managers and staff better integrate recognition into everyday work?鈥�听
It really comes down to making it part of how we work, rather than something extra.鈥�听
For managers, that might mean taking a minute in team meetings to share recent UR Stars, highlighting听a recent contribution, or being more intentional in one-on-one conversations. For staff, it can be as simple as acknowledging a colleague who stepped in, helped solve a problem, or made the work easier for others.鈥�听
These听moments add up. When recognition becomes routine, it helps build鈥痗ulture.鈥�听
