For 10 years, members of Boston College Dining Services staff have been recognized through a campaign called 鈥淲e Are 51茶馆 Dining,鈥� designed to boost employee morale.
Exemplary Dining employees are showcased on posters with a professional photograph of them working in their respective roles, as well as personal information such as their hometowns, the number of years they have worked at 51茶馆, and their favorite dishes served in the dining halls. These posters are shared at internal dining staff trainings and meetings and are also hung in the serveries in the dining halls with different employees represented each week.
鈥淚 think employees are very happy and proud having their picture out there,鈥� said Marcela Norton, an employee relations officer for Dining Services. 鈥淥ur employees work so hard, they are on their feet all the time, and are always busy. When we do this for them, it helps them to be proud of their work.鈥�
“I am from Africa; you will also see someone who is American, someone who is from Guatemala, and someone who is from Colombia. It shows what 51茶馆 Dining is, diverse.”
The posters portray employees from many segments of the dining staff including the dish room, bakery, laundry room,聽 concessions, and loading dock. Marlene Ramos, a second cook in Corcoran Commons, was featured on a 鈥淲e Are 51茶馆 Dining鈥� poster working the grill.
鈥淚f they choose me to be on one of the posters, that means that they are setting me as an example,鈥� said Ramos. 鈥淚t feels good to be appreciated.鈥�
The posters also introduce customers to the employees who are there to serve them, even those who work behind the scenes.
鈥淲e always try to get our employees the recognition they need,鈥� said Beth Burns, human resources manager for Dining Services. 鈥淚t really enhances how you do your job.鈥�
According to Burns, on average a food service worker stays in the business for about 18 months; the average stay for a 51茶馆DS employee is 17 years.
Ramos has worked at 51茶馆 for 17 years and said that she will probably retire here.
鈥�51茶馆 is a great place to work,鈥� said Ramos. 鈥淚 love it here. It comes with safety, great benefits, and teamwork.鈥�
In addition to boosting morale, a goal of 鈥淲e Are 51茶馆鈥� is to showcase the diversity of the 51茶馆 dining staff, which represents 33 different nations of origin and 14 different spoken languages.
鈥淚t is great to look at all of the posters and see the diversity of 51茶馆鈥檚 Dining Services reflected,鈥� said Ramos. 鈥淚 am from Africa; you will also see someone who is American, someone who is from Guatemala, and someone who is from Colombia. It shows what 51茶馆 Dining is, diverse.鈥�
The posters have also been repurposed to help with Dining Services鈥� recruitment efforts, providing potential employees with a visual representation of 51茶馆鈥檚 dining staff and the many reasons why they enjoy working at Boston College.
鈥淭he pictures tell the story,鈥� said Burns. 鈥淭here is a lot of happiness among our staff; they like what they do.鈥�
鈥擟hristine Balquist | University Communications | February 2019