Posted on Nov 12, 2015
Would your company honor you on Veterans Day?
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Interrupted
I was working this morning at my customer's location and my cell phone rang showing a number from Illinois that I did not recognize. I ignored it and went about what I had been doing before being inconvenienced by the interruption.
Annoyed
A few minutes passed, and my cell phone vibrated once. Out of curiosity at the persistence of the caller I answered in spite of my annoyance. The voice on the phone was that of a woman. She told me her name and introduced herself as being from my company, Clarity Solution Group, which has its headquarters in Chicago -- and who never calls me. My boss works remote as I do, and calls from the home office are usually from him and not from Chicago.
Shocked
I was quite anxious to hear what this quasi-stranger had to say. When she spoke again, I was shocked. She simply said, "I wanted to call you and thank you for your service." You see, today is Veterans' Day in the USA. Many people seemed to be conditioned to say, "Thank you for your service," once they discover you are a veteran. It's almost like, "Thank you for coming," before you leave McDonalds.
Surprised
What is even more remarkable is the Clarity leadership (CEO, President, Founders, Practice Leads, HR) were all down in our neck of the woods to celebrate Veterans' Day and to hold our holiday party. So, 'Miss I had to call and interrupt your busy schedule' had called and made this sincere offer of gratitude without coercion. Moreover, she simply ended the conversation with, I just wanted to wish you a happy Veteran's Day.
Amazed
I have been retired from the military for ten years and have worked for five different companies, including Clarity Solution Group, and no one from corporate headquarters has ever called me to wish me a happy anything or tell me that they appreciated my service to our country.
Grateful
Now, 'Miss Grateful' did not stop there; apparently she called every veteran in the company offering the same thanks to each one. We mentioned this to the company leadership, and the were as surprised (pleasantly) as we Veterans were. " The photo above is our team of military veterans turned analysts and our corporate leadership (I am in the back row center next to the CEO with a light next to my head). All I can say at this point is I hope they give her a big "care bonus."
Endeared
Several months ago I wrote an article called, "Why I work at Clarity." This gesture was not one of the reasons then, but it certainly is now. Many companies talk the talk, but Clarity walks the walk.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/happy-what-jeffrey-strickland-ph-d-cmsp?trk=mp-reader-card
I was working this morning at my customer's location and my cell phone rang showing a number from Illinois that I did not recognize. I ignored it and went about what I had been doing before being inconvenienced by the interruption.
Annoyed
A few minutes passed, and my cell phone vibrated once. Out of curiosity at the persistence of the caller I answered in spite of my annoyance. The voice on the phone was that of a woman. She told me her name and introduced herself as being from my company, Clarity Solution Group, which has its headquarters in Chicago -- and who never calls me. My boss works remote as I do, and calls from the home office are usually from him and not from Chicago.
Shocked
I was quite anxious to hear what this quasi-stranger had to say. When she spoke again, I was shocked. She simply said, "I wanted to call you and thank you for your service." You see, today is Veterans' Day in the USA. Many people seemed to be conditioned to say, "Thank you for your service," once they discover you are a veteran. It's almost like, "Thank you for coming," before you leave McDonalds.
Surprised
What is even more remarkable is the Clarity leadership (CEO, President, Founders, Practice Leads, HR) were all down in our neck of the woods to celebrate Veterans' Day and to hold our holiday party. So, 'Miss I had to call and interrupt your busy schedule' had called and made this sincere offer of gratitude without coercion. Moreover, she simply ended the conversation with, I just wanted to wish you a happy Veteran's Day.
Amazed
I have been retired from the military for ten years and have worked for five different companies, including Clarity Solution Group, and no one from corporate headquarters has ever called me to wish me a happy anything or tell me that they appreciated my service to our country.
Grateful
Now, 'Miss Grateful' did not stop there; apparently she called every veteran in the company offering the same thanks to each one. We mentioned this to the company leadership, and the were as surprised (pleasantly) as we Veterans were. " The photo above is our team of military veterans turned analysts and our corporate leadership (I am in the back row center next to the CEO with a light next to my head). All I can say at this point is I hope they give her a big "care bonus."
Endeared
Several months ago I wrote an article called, "Why I work at Clarity." This gesture was not one of the reasons then, but it certainly is now. Many companies talk the talk, but Clarity walks the walk.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/happy-what-jeffrey-strickland-ph-d-cmsp?trk=mp-reader-card
Culture
Thank You
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 5
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Every year. Nothing ridiculous, just a quick thank you in recognition of the veterans in the group.
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The organization I'm fortunate to work with as part of the "Training With Industry" program held a Veteran's Day breakfast for all of it's employed veterans. I was invited by the senior employed veteran, a retired Marine Corps Colonel of 29 years. The Executive Leadership Team (all executive VPs) served all of the veteran employees breakfast and the retired Marine COL said a few words in front of everyone, regarding how the day came to be, how we as American's should honor it and how this organization has begun to embrace the mentality of "Why not hire a veteran" vs the "Why hire a veteran".
All in all, I was humbled that a private non-profit organization went out of it's way and it's executive leadership was so involved. I was also honored that the Marine COL remembered me, the only active duty service member that works within the organization and called to make sure I was invited to the breakfast, since Human Resources only invites the veterans on the organizations payroll.
I hope everyone else had a warm Veterans Day.
All in all, I was humbled that a private non-profit organization went out of it's way and it's executive leadership was so involved. I was also honored that the Marine COL remembered me, the only active duty service member that works within the organization and called to make sure I was invited to the breakfast, since Human Resources only invites the veterans on the organizations payroll.
I hope everyone else had a warm Veterans Day.
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My organization does a good job of in person recognition of service, but it is a public service organization.
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