Hello everyone: I am putting together my PowerPoint for SQF Refresher Training 2026. I have a lot of years in food safety and consider myself to be pretty creative, but I have to say I am running out of ideas on how to hold attention for three hours. I have a reputation for being the person that teaches and holds attention by making it enjoyable rather than just spout out a bunch of rules. I can't let them down this year! We have come so far. I need fresh ideas and strategy. I am up for anything. I am even up for games I can get them to play that will get them out of their seat and keep them from falling asleep. I am up for giving out gift cards and other prizes.
I have managed to turn the SQF culture here around in the two years I have been here. They used to ignore it and be scared to report anything thinking it was telling on their coworkers. Now they see it as protecting the company and customer which will lead to better opportunities for them. They see fining violations as a challenge and actually fun because I taught them it is like looking for Easter Eggs. You know they are out there and you are going to find it before the next person. We have a "Poker Chip" program here at my facility. If you find a violation and tell me about it, I will give you a poker chip worth five bucks in our canteen. I have people making serious side hustle money with those poker chips. The poker chips are also taken into account when their yearly review comes up and is figured into their raise. Incentive is a wonderful thing. It isn't just the Poker Chips though, when I give one, I put it in an envelope along with a letter on company letterhead explaining why the find they had was such a good catch. I have it handed out by HR to make it as official as possible. Example: Someone found an ant on a pallet. I could have just given them a chip, instead, I made a production out of it. I wrote a detailed letter about how they may have just saved the company an enormous shipping cost and reputational cost by reporting the ant. I detail how the company receiving our product would have every right to return the shipment for just one ant on a pallet even if it was dead. The reaction has been amazing. I get hugs from people on the floor for recognizing them. I hear they hang the letter on the refrigerators at home. I'm glad to do it and the outcome have garnered us a 99 out of 100 on our last audit. They were ecstatic and we had a very large party along with shirts that say.... SQF IS A TEAM SPORT AND NOBODY BEATS US. Then on the back is the audit score of 99 as if it were a football jersey.
I told you all that in case you all need ideas too. After all the above my "idea arsenal" is low. My creative spirit is thin. I really need ideas ya'll. This is a call to arms to help each other build the best cultures.
Thank you in advance.
Edited by Rassmutten, Today, 02:35 PM.
