Harnessing the power of good deeds to produce positive mental health among employees, Convergint Technologies is rolling out a pay-it-forward incentive program in May.
“Every May, we are dedicated to doing some sort of awareness incentive,” says Cheryl Mihaljevich, human resources advisor at the security system supplier’s Calgary office. “We try to make it fun, we try to make it broad enough that whether you’re in the office or in the field as a technician or whatever your personal or financial circumstances are, that you could participate.”
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This year, the program offers employees who do a good deed each day the opportunity to win a gift card for their acts of kindness. Mihaljevich got the idea at events she has attended.
“What helped me come up with the idea is over the last year or so, everything that I attend or any speaker I hear talk about mental health in the forefront seems to be doing service or acts of kindness for other people and releasing those happy, healthy, feel-good hormones,” she says.
Some examples of good deeds, according to Mihaljevich, include sending a thank-you note, holding a door, picking up garbage in public, volunteering, bringing in a treat for co-workers or donating used clothes.
The acts of kindness don’t have to cost anything but can instead focus on the fact that helping other people has subsequent health benefits for the individual, she says.
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In previous years, Convergint Technologies offered group exercise challenges and a program called Start, Stop, Continue, which encouraged participants to start a good habit, stop a bad one and continue something they’re already doing.
Employees are already chatting in the halls about the current program, which Mihaljevich finds very encouraging. “When it’s in-the-hallway talk, it means that it’s on peoples’ minds, and again . . . it doesn’t take a lot to make a difference for someone else. I am thrilled that I’m hearing some hallway talk,” she says.