Celebrating our success, celebrating you
Mount Royal revitalizes its rewards and recognition program
— Mount Royal University | Posted: September 18, 2023
People want to know that they are valued, that their contributions are appreciated and seen. Celebrate U, Mount Royal University’s revised employee rewards and recognition program, is all about our people.
Celebrate U embodies Mount Royal’s commitment to fostering a culture that recognizes and celebrates the success of employees. Showing appreciation for one another encourages a healthy and positive work environment in which respect, inclusivity, transparency and trust are valued.
“To our employees, we see you. The University values and appreciates your exceptional work and contributions. Through Celebrate U, we aim to honour and highlight those who have dedicated themselves to the success of Mount Royal,” says Dr. Tim Rahilly, PhD, president and vice-chancellor of Mount Royal. “And while formal recognition is wonderful, we also want to encourage an environment that holds up those everyday wins, from a faculty member taking an extra five minutes with a student after class to a building operations member finding a creative solution to an operational issue. Our success as an institution is built on those moments.”
The University is committed to building a robust and sustainable employee recognition program, beginning with service recognition. Celebrate U will be rolled-out in phases over the next two to three years. The first phase, launching on Sept. 18, includes:
- New rewards and recognition website
- Redesigned service milestone program
- Tools and resources to help provide recognition
The formal recognition of the service of every community member at Mount Royal includes Celebrate U cards, as well as tokens of recognition such as pins and acrylic awards corresponding to years of service. Employees with 10 years of service and up will receive a donation to their choice of their Health Spending Account or Personal Spending Account, for every five years of service. They can also choose to direct this donation to a scholarship fund for Mount Royal students.
Human Resources is overseeing the Celebrate U program. Arleen Gallo, associate vice-president of Human Resources, says the program contributes to a positive work environment where efforts are acknowledged and celebrated.
“Our success is a collective effort. As well as celebrating individual contributions, Celebrate U highlights the collaborative spirit that drives our institution forward. We can all take pride in our accomplishments, both as individuals and as members of the Mount Royal team,” Gallo says. “Seeing our colleagues celebrated is such a wonderful feeling. Often, we know an individual who goes above and beyond, creating high-visibility impact. We also know those who consistently contribute in a collaborative fashion, day in and day out. Both are valued for their work that supports the University’s mission of providing meaningful and engaged learning opportunities that create individual transformation and societal benefit.”
One of the goals of Celebrate U is to share the stories of Mount Royal employees. Starting next month, profiles highlighting the stories and experiences of employees who have contributed to the success of the University will be featured on the Mount Royal website. Sharing unique perspectives and contributions of all employees, regardless of their background or role, reinforces that the more we know each other, the more we can appreciate one another.
“This portfolio is being updated to reflect not only the University’s strategic values, but also the community and spirit that drive Mount Royal into the future,” Gallo says. “We are proud of our community and want to recognize everyone who makes Mount Royal a place where people want to grow, learn and work.”