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Jed Boal reporting You may not know this, but today is National Employee Appreciation Day. If you didn't feel appreciated today, you're not alone. However, a company with a name you know makes it their business to spread employee appreciation.
When you think of O.C. Tanner you might think of jewelry, or the medals they made for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. But that is not the core of O.C. Tanner's business. The company is actually the nation's leader in the employee recognition industry.
"Companies are groups of people. They have products, they have services. Nothing works without great people. We are in the business of helping companies appreciate their people," explained David Petersen, president of O.C. Tanner.
Industry numbers show 79 percent of employees who quit their jobs say lack of appreciation was the reason.
Frank Fokkema sets jewels in service awards. He's worked for O.C. Tanner for 40 years. "They care about their employees. The employees, kind of the same way. They appreciate it too," he said.
O.C. Tanner saluted its 1,600 employees today with an "Adulation Jiggity-Jig" and free lunch.
Eighty years ago, Obert C. Tanner sold 50 class pins to high school graduates. The business was born and expanded to service pins, engraved watches and counseling. The $375 million company now works with Fortune 500 companies and neighborhood businesses.
"They're always handing out little gifts, thank you cards. They just make you feel good, like you're giving something to the company," said Lucy Rascon, who works for O.C. Tanner.
As the employee appreciation industry matured, O.C. Tanner discovered that many of its clients wanted something in addition to the service pin to give to their employees. So, the company built a distribution center where they send out everything from electronics to power tools.
"It's not really about the award," Petersen said. "It's about the message, the connection. It's about the emotion that happens between the company and the employee is thanked."
And when they get more from their employer than just a paycheck.
