Beyond the Paycheck: Why Celebration is Your EVS Team’s Secret Weapon

Posted on July 3rd, 2025

At the recent 2025 AHE Exchange, Donald Sipp of Ruck-Shockey and Associates Inc. delivered a powerful message in his “Beyond the Paycheck: Why People Quit” presentation: We all need to celebrate more! This isn’t just a feel-good sentiment; for healthcare Environmental Services (EVS) departments, fostering a culture of celebration is a strategic imperative for success.

EVS professionals are the unsung heroes, directly impacting infection prevention and patient experience. Yet, when their vital contributions go unnoticed, morale plummets, stress rises, and valuable talent walks out the door. Neglecting celebration leads to disengagement, burnout, and costly turnover, ultimately compromising the very quality and safety they strive to uphold.

The Power of Acknowledgment

Celebration, in its truest form, is a fundamental leadership practice. It’s about:

• Boosting Morale: Making employees feel seen, valued, and appreciated.
• Building Psychological Safety: Creating an environment where contributions are welcomed, and mistakes are learning opportunities.
• Strengthening Teams: Fostering camaraderie and a sense of belonging
• Enhancing Retention: Happy, recognized employees are more likely to stay.

Your Celebration Toolkit: Ideas from AHE

At the AHE Exchange, our discussion group even generated a word cloud filled with fantastic ideas for celebrating EVS teams. It was a vibrant testament to the creativity and shared commitment within our community! The suggestions ranged from simple daily acknowledgments to larger team events.

Think about:

• Daily Recognition: A sincere “thank you,” a public shout-out in a huddle, or a positive note.
• Small Gesture: Coffee and donuts, a team lunch, or a “spotless room” award.
• Milestones: Work anniversaries, certification completions (like CHEST!), or positive patient feedback shared with the team.
• Team Activities: A quick game, a themed day, or even a simple team photo.

The key is consistency and authenticity. Make celebration a regular part of your team’s routine. It doesn’t always require a big budget, but it always requires genuine appreciation.
By actively celebrating your EVS team, you bring their vital role into the spotlight, reinforcing their value to the entire organization. This investment in human connection goes far “beyond the paycheck,” leading to improved morale, lower turnover, and ultimately, a safer and cleaner environment for every patient.