Safety is one of those topics: one that no one wants to discuss, but one that is of the utmost importance to your organization. "Every day in America, 13 people go to work and never come home. Every year in America, nearly 4 million people suffer a workplace injury from which some may never recover. These are preventable tragedies that disable our workers, devastate our families, and damage our economy." – Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis

Since June is National Safety Month, use this time as a reminder to your hard-working staff about the importance of practicing safe procedures and taking the appropriate precautions in the work that they do every day.

Here are 5 ideas to get your team excited (and serious) about safety!

Do you have regularly scheduled safety meetings? If not, schedule them! If so, kick off your meetings with an incentive plan for safe work. Once your team reaches their goal, reward them with our Serious About Safety Water Bottles or Stainless Steel Thermoses.
	Outfit your team in Safety-Themed Team Shirts to spread the word and keep safety front-of-mind. Encourage your team to wear them on the same day each week to build camaraderie, as well!
	Before your team gets in for the day, post our free downloadable Safety Print-and-Posts on their lockers, at their stations, or in their work trucks. These little notes are sure to make them smile, all the while keeping your message of safe working policies at the forefront.
	Encourage your team to keep their eyes peeled for safe behaviors with our Peer-to-Peer Safety Shout Outs. Dedicate a bulletin board in your common area to these Shout Outs so everyone can read about each others' achievements.
	On a quarterly basis, reward your Safety Superstars with a personalized Safety Trophy. For just $29.95, this professional trophy will up the ante on safety and show how much you value safety in the workplace.
Be sure to check out our entire Serious About Safety product line for more ideas! While adding some fun to a serious topic, you keep your team engaged and get better results.

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As a team member since 2005, Falon has worn just about every hat the 'ville has to offer. She's seen both sides of working life — as an employee and as a manager — so if it sounds like she knows what she's talking about, we're pretty sure that's why. When she's not juggling between the IDville and Baudville brands, she's been known to whip up a mean diorama - just like that!

Now that the weather is nice here in Michigan, we finally get to make it outside and we're definitely high fiving for that! Check out the top five things were giving High 5s for this week!

Do you know this week is National Police Week? According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund:

"In 1962, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which May 15th falls, as National Police Week. Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others."

The men and women of our police force often receive little or no recognition for their daily efforts, yet each day they put themselves in harm's way to protect our communities. With Armed Forces Day coming up May 18 and Memorial Day taking place May 27, this is a good week to begin saying "thank you" to officers. Together with your school, office, neighborhood, or community organization, express thanks for your local police department with one of these ideas to thank a police officer.
1. Write a letter to your local newspaper thanking the police officers for their dedication to the community. 2. Put together a plate of cookies or buy a dozen doughnuts from a local bakery and take them to your local police department. Include a thank you card to be displayed by the treat. 3. If you see a police officer while you're out for lunch or picking up coffee, pay for their order. 4. Personally deliver a thank you card to your local police department. Invite other departments to sign your card or deliver their own. 5. Make a donation to a local organization that assists injured police officers or a police officer memorial. 6. Create and frame a certificate of appreciation for your police department. Ask everyone in your office to sign it.
7. Purchase a planter of spring flowers to brighten up the office or entrance to your local police station. Include a sign in the planter that thanks police officers. 8. Brighten up your police department's break room this week! Create decorations that say "thanks for all you do" and put together a basket of snacks they can enjoy all week. 9. Thank a police officer by filling a need of their station or department. Call your local police station and inquire if they have any needs, such as office supplies or landscaping work, and fill the need in honor of National Police Week. 10. Coordinate a potluck lunch for your police department this week. Together with a group of coworkers, make a meal and volunteer during your lunch hour to serve the officers. This is not only a great way to thank a police officer, but it's a valuable opportunity to volunteer with your team, too! Recognition holidays like National Police Week are taking place every month. Don't miss an opportunity to thank a nurse, nursing home staff member, or EMS! Visit our Recognition Event Calendar to find your recognition holiday and ideas for celebrations.

Cori is Baudville's in-house Recognitionista (she's officially a Certified Recognition Professional, too)  and a member of the Millennial generation. Get her employee recognition tips and special discounts by liking Baudville on Facebook.

It's Friday! The sun is shining here in Michigan and the temperatures are rising. It's been a great week here; I hope you've experienced a wonderful week this week, too! As I look back on the week and look ahead to the weekend, these are my top 5 HIGHlights:

1. This week was Teacher Appreciation Week. I had so much fun selecting and giving my kids' teachers a little something to let them know how much I appreciate their dedication, patience, and wisdom. I chose gifts from our Thanks for Making the Difference theme(and of course I included a personal handwritten note). The green tote was a perfect spring way to package the gift, too! So cute!

2. We're ramping up baseball season at my house which means quick dinners, lots of laundry, and many nights spent at the ball fields. It's so fun to watch those little guys out there – especially when one's bent over backwards picking weeds in the outfield during an exciting double play. Across the nation many moms and dads volunteer their time to coach these little fellas (and girlies, too!) Perhaps a mid-season thank you would be appropriate – or an all-team gift at the end of the season… I better get planning!

3. This weekend is Mother's Weekend (notice I did not say DAY). Don't forget to pamper your moms with the rest and relaxation they deserve. Moms are awesome. They do a lot. Say thank you.

4. We're celebrating Tulip Time here in West Michigan. I am not proud to say that I've lived here all my life and I have never been to the Tulip Time festivities. The city is covered with vibrant blooming tulips, Dutch dancers perform nightly, and there's carnival food. Need I say more? This year I will go. I promise.

5. And last, but not least, we're also celebrating National Nurses Week this week! Nurses rock. They give, and give, and give, and give. They help, and comfort, and care for us in times of uncertainty, fear, and discomfort. These people are some of the ultimate givers in life. Have you thanked a nurse lately? If not, there's still time. Do it now.

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As a team member since 2005, Falon has worn just about every hat the 'ville has to offer. She's seen both sides of working life — as an employee and as a manager — so if it sounds like she knows what she's talking about, we're pretty sure that's why. When she's not juggling between the IDville and Baudville brands, she's been known to whip up a mean diorama - just like that!