We’ve flipped our calendars to October, and that means it’s time to get ready for pumpkin patches, apple orchards, haunted houses, and VET TECH APPRECIATION WEEK! Observed each October during the second full week of the month, this year’s festivities fall on October 13 – 19.
If we’ve learned anything from our 2021 “10 ways to express your appreciation during national vet tech week” blog being one of our most popular posts of all time, it’s that veterinary teams crave meaningful ways to show their techs how valued, essential, and celebrated they are. As with most celebratory occasions, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach to expressing gratitude, the most impactful gestures are those tailored to the individual recipient. That’s where “love languages” enter the equation.
Made famous by New York Times bestseller “The 5 Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate,” the premise is simply that because everyone is different, with varying personalities and motivations, people give and receive love in different ways – and that discovering those preferences will help increase genuine connection.
Luckily, those same principles apply to strengthening a sense of connection and appreciation in the workplace! Understanding whether your techs would prefer an act of service, quality time, a gift, physical touch, or words of affirmation, will help you execute vet tech appreciation week ideas that will deeply resonate.
A good place to start if you don’t already have a sense of your team’s love languages, would be to take the quiz. After that, dive into our list of ideas below!
1. Appreciation ideas for techs whose love language is “Acts of Service”
For techs with acts of service as their love language, actions speak louder than words. Spending time and thought, rather than putting your money towards an expensive gift, is what will make them feel most valued.- Wake up a few minutes early to pick up a carafe of coffee or a treat on your way to work. Better yet, put in the extra scoop of effort to whip up something homemade the night before!
- We all know techs are busy, busy, busy, and that means lunch can be an afterthought. How about fueling the day in a memorable way by bringing in a nice catered meal from a favorite local lunch spot?
- Sign up your acts-of-service-loving techs for a continuing education opportunity, so they can learn a new skill they’re passionate about. Showing them you value their career advancement would leave a particularly positive impression
- Help these vet techs finish up a task or a project. Cleaning instruments post-surgery, inputting patient aftercare information into your practice management software…ask what you can help with to make their day go more smoothly, so they can head home a few minutes early – or at least on time!
- How about washing all your techs’ cars in the parking lot? A little elbow grease would go a long way with folks who fall into this love language category
2. Appreciation ideas for techs whose love language is “Quality Time”
In a world stuffed full of “stuff,” undivided attention is one of the most valuable resources. Clearing some space in your schedule for face-to-face time, or clearing some time in their schedules so they can enjoy added quality time with their loved ones, would be the ultimate type of gesture for techs with this love language.- If you’re a veterinarian or practice owner, schedule a one-on-one meeting with these quality-time-loving technicians. You can share positive things about their performance, and offer them the opportunity to provide feedback as well
- Consider closing the office for a day and hosting a tech appreciation event (picnic, carnival, etc), where everyone can bring their families
- Give these techs a voucher for one paid day off, so they can have quality time at home – or wherever they choose to recharge
- Take your techs out for a nice offsite dinner. Together time at the table is a great setting for high quality connection. No work talk allowed, if you can help it!
- Have your team give back together, by organizing a gathering at an offsite volunteer event. There are plenty of animal-related volunteer opportunities with shelters, but a change of pace may be nice, too. (Clean up a park, serve at a food pantry or soup kitchen, volunteer at a community garden, etc.)
3. Appreciation ideas for techs whose love language is “Receiving Gifts”
For these techs, receiving a physical gift will be the proper path to appreciation. As long as the gift is well thought-out (read: plan ahead), it will surely be a treasured, well, treasure!- Techs with this love language would also enjoy receiving a coupon good for one paid day off. They may just use the day to go on a shopping spree, as opposed to cuddled up enjoying quality couch time!
- Pick up individual gift certificates to one of these techs’ favorite haunts. A local coffee shop, restaurant, nail salon, brewery, or winery would all likely be well-received
- A bouquet of fresh flowers in your tech’s favorite color would brighten up the practice as well as their day. Or, if a healthy snack is more their vibe, a fruit bouquet would make for a tasty treat
- Gift-lovers would surely appreciate an addition to their wardrobe, be it a cozy custom sweatshirt, or a fresh new set of scrubs
- Celebrate the number of years of service the technician has had with your team with a commemorative plaque, pin, or an acrylic award
4. Appreciation ideas for techs whose love language is “Physical Touch”
The work of a veterinary technician is quite physical. Bending in strange positions, lifting heavy doggos, and long days spent on feet, take a toll over time. For techs with physical touch as their love language, a bit of pampering of those weary limbs would make their day.- Many chiropractors are available to spend the day on-site. Consider hiring one for a day, to help your team spend vet tech appreciation week in proper alignment
- Book a virtual session with an ergonomics coach or posture expert, to set up your techs for success both now and in the future
- Bring a masseuse to the practice for a day for your physical-touch favoring techs. A foot massage would feel extra indulgent on-the-clock!
- A warm hug can be one of the easiest ways to display your genuine gratitude. (Of course, it’s always best to get consent first.) High fives and fist bumps are also highly recommended throughout the week
5. Appreciation ideas for techs whose love language is “Words of Affirmation”
Time to dig deep and find your inner Shakespeare for the techs on your team who favor words of affirmation! Verbal or written communication is the way to go, if you want to make these folks feel tech-stra special.- Find time to tell these individuals how much they mean to you. It could be through a small “toast” type speech in a morning meeting, something more privately expressed through an email, or a heartfelt, hand-written sentiment in a greeting card
- A peer recognition activity would be a great way to go here. Have all your team members write something nice about your vet techs, and read the positive feedback out loud
- Your glowing reviews about these techs needn’t stay internal. Use your practice’s social media accounts or blog to spread the word by crafting a “vet tech of the day” highlight post
- If words of affirmation aren’t YOUR thing, here are a few starter sentiment ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
- You are excelling in your role here
- We value and respect you for your contributions to the team
- You bring positivity and enthusiasm to your work every day
- You are a team player, and you support your colleagues to achieve common goals
- You contribute positively to our work environment
- You are a source of inspiration and encouragement
- You focus on the positive, and try to find the good in situations, even when it’s difficult
- You cultivate strong and meaningful connections with your coworkers, and with our customers
Did you like these ideas? How do you express appreciation for your techs? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure and visit our original vet tech appreciation ideas blog post here, if you haven’t already.
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