Proven ideas to motivate staff: Sears’ staff hold fridge farewell party
Highlighting your organisation’s sustainability efforts to staff is an effective way of demonstrating commitment and eliciting staff commitment in return. To underline its sustainability credentials and led by its green team, retailer Sears Canada decided to replace the 11 staff refrigerators in staff lunchrooms at its Toronto head office with brand new Energy Star rated appliances. Having become part of the furniture through their ‘loyal service’ and not content with letting the changeover pass with a whimper, the office green team decided to organise a send-off ‘retirement party’ and invited Sears associates to sign farewell messages on the old inefficient fridges before they were ‘retired’ to a ‘responsible appliance recycling facility.’
The fridge replacement initiative was an ideal opportunity to focus on the company’s sustainability commitment and promote energy efficiency at home and at work. The first new fridge was officially unveiled by Sears Canada CEO Dene Rogers and Sustainability Leader James Gray-Donald, and although people may have been sad to see them go, they were more than happy with their shiny replacements.