Shelley McLain, CFO + Human Resources
DOmedia’s kuDOs program, a new employee recognition program designed to celebrate outstanding contributions and foster a strong workplace culture, has had a profound positive effect on workplace culture since its launch in 2023.
We built the kuDOs program upon five essential elements: recognition, values, employee voice, leadership, and belonging; the program aims to empower employees, strengthen teamwork, and reinforce DOmedia’s core values.
At DOmedia, we recognize that our people are the key to our success, and with kuDOs, we’re not just rewarding great work—we’re fostering an environment where employees feel valued, heard, and motivated to excel.
Employees select one of the below values when filling out their submissions, along with leaving a short comment regarding the reason for their kuDO.
- Believe in What We Do: Passion drives our innovation and fuels our mission.
- Create Ecstatic Interactions: We strive for excellence in every client, partner, and team interaction.
- Constantly Improve Best Practices: Growth and learning are at the heart of our company’s evolution.
- Play to Win as a Team: Collaboration and camaraderie drive our success.
- DO the Right Thing: Integrity is non-negotiable in everything we do.
Since the program has rolled out, we’ve received hundreds of kuDOs submissions, ranging from acknowledging a peer for going above and beyond, to thanking a team member for doing something kind. After receiving the submission, our HR department notifies the recipient of the kuDO along with their supervisor, and when the employee hits a designated number of kuDOs, they receive a reward.
At a company of our size, teamwork and friendliness go a very long way. By having the ability to show your team that you appreciate them with more than just a quick “thanks!” via chat or email, we’ve seen an increase in employee relations and team solidity.
Employees have praised their peers for teamwork, problem-solving, and going above and beyond. Some notable submissions include:
✅ “Not only does she take on the world, but she’s always raising her hand to help and add value. You’re doing amazing, absolute ROCKSTAR!”
✅”When he sees a coworker overwhelmed, overworked, or struggling, he offers help. Sometimes he picks up tasks outside of his normal job. Sometimes he just offers a meme to lighten the mood. But he’s always a team player.”
✅”The most senior dev around, he showed up for the roll up call, covering for the tech team. I applaud his discipline and attention to details. Always getting the small things right leads to getting the big things right.”
Through peer-to-peer recognition, shout-outs from our leadership team, and milestone celebrations to highlight and appreciate employees who embody the company’s mission and values, morale has increased and we’ve seen an exceptional shift in cross- and inter-team collaboration, employee morale, and leadership.
The program has also shown to assist in increasing retention, with DOmedia seeing a sizable decrease in employee departure. We believe that through reinforcing a culture of appreciation, collaboration, and excellence, we’ve chosen to continue investing in the well-being and professional growth of our employees, ensuring the company remains a leading innovator in the OOH advertising space.
For as long as I can remember, my mother said to “invest in people, not things,” so this is especially important to me as a leader at the company; ensuring that our team feels valued is a major concern, and I’m thrilled to be able to see these kuDOs come in weekly and have a positive effect.
We’re excited to keep this program going, and hope to see hundreds—or thousands—more kuDOs come through our form.
