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Incentivizing Staff to Just Show Up - with Ross Coleman and Adam Wallach - The Day Camp Pod #80

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Front-line workers have certainly felt the pressure these past couple of years. Tune in to hear Ross and Adam’s tips on encouraging staff to keep coming back!

Once upon a time, there were day camp staff that worked the full season, full days, and missing time was a rare occurrence. Today - not so much. With the front-line staff reckoning of the past few years, getting our staff to just show up every day has become more and more of a chore.

Today, we explore some proactive initiatives being taken by two of the most creative minds in our field, Ross Coleman and Adam Wallach - THIS is the Day Camp Pod!

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YOUR HOSTS:

With Guests:

Andy Pritikin

Sam Thompson

Adam Wallach

Ross Coleman

Notes and Ideas from Ross and Adam:

Ross:

  • We started a weekly attendance raffle in 2021. You are eligible if you do not miss any time the week prior. If you are late, leave early, absent, etc you are not eligible for the drawing. 

  • Those eligible have their names put into our raffle bucket and we pick two winners each Monday morning. I announced the two winners on our camp PA at 9:30 each Monday. Each winner receives $500 on the spot.

  • There was no mention of money or attendance when I did the announcements. It was framed as the winner of our staff raffle. We saw a significant drop in staff asking to leave for the doctor, road test, etc. It was also a very exciting moment each Monday when we did the announcement.

Adam:

  • As we increased and adjusted salaries this year, we essentially made $400 of the total salary a bonus. The $400 could be earned at $50 per week. The criteria for earning the bonus were:

  1. Present every day for that week and on time for work

  2. Prepared for work - bathing suit, staff shirt, name is written on staff shirt

  3. In the pool during swims

  4. Actively Participating with your group in activities

  5. No cell phone use.

  • The bonus was called "Being a Mohawk Professional" and it was a session at training. The bonus was available to general counselors and assistant counselors. (Adding lifeguards for 2023). The specialty staff and group leaders were the ones responsible for sharing if someone should not receive the weekly bonus. We simply managed by exception beyond daily attendance.

  • As part of the salary adjustment this year we itemized "Staff Training" days as part of the work agreement and it was a separate $150 line item. $50 per day as most staff had 3 days to attend. We found this to be a better approach that maximized attendance at training than previously just making it part of the lump sum salary.

Video: Being a Mohawk Professional

Mohawk Day Camp Safety Plan and Operating Playbook

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