Reward enduring employees

At Catawba Animal Clinic in Rock Hill, S.C., it truly pays to be a longstanding employee. To celebrate anniversaries, staff members are given a card that congratulates and thanks them for their years of service. They also receive a $5 gift certificate to a sandwich shop across the road from the clinic. And for significant milestones, employees receive significant surprises—$100 for 10 years of service, three weeks of vacation for 15 years, $200 for 20 years, $250 for 25 years, and $300 for 30 years with the practice.

"I've been with the practice for 23 years," says Jean Weaver, Catawba Animal Clinic's hospital administrator. "We have one assistant who's worked with us for 16 years and two technicians approaching their 15th year. We have very little turnover, which is something we like to celebrate!

"Veterinary medicine, while a very challenging career, doesn't always provide the perks that some other medical professions offer," continues Weaver. "So we must create our own perks to show deserving staff members our appreciation."