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!

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!

Achievements. Proudly displayed in offices, cubicles, in waiting rooms, on bookshelves, in the way we hold our heads high, shoulders back, walk with a pep in our step... we take pride in our achievements in many different ways. Being recognized for the value that we bring to our jobs, to our communities, to our families, is important. When we're recognized for our contributions, we want to do more.

It's important to note that not all achievements have to be acknowledged with grandiose crystal trophies. In fact, I would argue that smaller, more frequent acts of recognition and appreciation are more powerful than that once-in-a-blue-moon super celebration. And when the acknowledgement comes from all levels throughout the organization - peers, managers, leaders - the impact it has is more pronounced.

Our all-new Collect Your Flair Kits give you a program for recognizing defined behaviors throughout your organization, ultimately creating a culture of recognition and appreciation.

Kristy Sherlund, Baudville's VP of Product and Merchandising, explains the inspiration for our new Collect Your Flair Kits, "When I looked around most workspaces I found certificates hung on the walls, awards decorating desktops, and notes pinned up on cubicle walls – each representing a proud moment for the person displaying it. The power of pride can go viral and that's the kind of contagiousness, as a business leader, we want spreading around our offices. We designed our new Collect Your Flair Kits as a way for you to build a little friendly competition surrounded with pride in everyday achievements. So go ahead, spread the love and watch spirits soar!"

Each Kit includes 120 pieces of Flair Wear(TM), and you choose whether you'd like your team to collect and display their flair on lanyards or desktop frames.

The power is in the execution – define the behaviors you're going to reward, communicate with your team, and keep your eyes peeled for moments of greatness. Give flair, get results, and watch your team's success blossom!

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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!