Summer is one of my favorite seasons. I love spending time outdoors in the sun and water. Because I live in Michigan, I have to soak up every opportunity during the summer months to do so!

I also love what summer means at work: special events, outdoor meetings, and picnic lunches. Take advantage of summer by planning special seasonal activities and team building opportunities. Below, I’ve described my five favorite workplace summer activities. Tell me about your favorites in the comments!

1. Company Picnics and Cookouts
Baudville hosts a company picnic every summer and invites employees’ families to join in at a popular West Michigan location. This year, we invaded the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park for a wonderful evening of food, flowers, and fun. Holding a company picnic is a great way to boost camaraderie and engagement among your team. Download our Summer Team Events eBook for ideas to bring your team together this summer.

2. Team Volunteer Projects
The summer is a popular time for working in the community and giving back. The past few months, Baudville has sent multiple volunteers groups to the Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding where we’re constructing a sensory riding trail. The experience has been invaluable for our employees and leadership. Get involved in your community and watch teams and individuals grow!

Years of service recognition programs also known as service awards or milestone awards, have recently come under scrutiny. These awards became common in the early 1900s to help retain factory workers.  In today’s knowledge economy, several may argue that the service award doesn’t make sense. Why are we recognizing someone for simply staying around?

I believe recognizing years of service is even more important today than it was years ago. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found the 2012 median number of years that wage and salary workers had been with their employer was 4.4 years. That’s 7.2 months shy of receiving even a 5-year service award. Employees often aren’t staying around, and most surveys show that approximately 40% of employees are actively looking for a new position. Right. Now.

Years of service recognition programs are best leveraged when they are part of an employee recognition strategy that also includes more frequent forms of appreciation such as day-to-day recognition and peer-to-peer programs. When used together, organizations can create a culture of appreciation that impacts both employees’ tenure and the bottom line.

Here are four pieces of data from recent surveys on employee recognition that provide reasons to recognize years of service.

1. It Matters to Your Employees

“A study by Towers Perrin found that the impact of milestone awards rings true around the globe. Most employees worldwide believe milestone awards show them the company cares about its people.”

The SHRM 2013 Annual Conference and Exposition is officially over! Around the country, about 20,000 HR practitioners and vendors are recuperating from three full-speed, non-stop days of networking, learning, and walking. And I mean lots and lots of walking!

The Baudville team had a great time in Chicago talking to customers and sharing the Baudville story…one blinking ring at a time! In honor of our trip to the windy city, I’m dedicating this week’s High Five for Friday to a SHRM13 recap.

1. Chicago
Chicago is a beautiful city full of thriving restaurants, beautiful parks, and lots to do. The city was pulsing with activity during the conference, and I loved being a part of it. I’m thankful we had beautiful weather during SHRM13 that made it easy to get out, walk around, and enjoy the sights! What was your favorite thing to do in Chicago? Let me know in the comments!

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."