Rites and rituals at the office can help to establish team unity, allow employees to feel

appreciated, and offer a more enjoyable workplace experience. Some of these rituals can
also bring attention to individuals who complete special accomplishments for the company.
These celebrations can encourage others to reach for higher goals and gain the attention
and respect of their colleagues.
Awards Ceremonies
Many companies employ awards ceremonies as a rite to entice higher performance goals
from employees. Award ceremonies bestow recognition on the winners, while showing the
other employees what they can gain by reaching the same goals. Workers will often strive to
achieve customer satisfaction standards, complete projects under budget, or develop new
innovations to win the respect that comes with such awards. Rewards for award winners can
range from certificates and plaques to bonus cash and travel packages.
Team-Building Exercises
Companies also often sponsor after-hours activities as a means to build camaraderie among
workers. These rituals, such as softball teams, bowling leagues and paintball games,
promote team unity, social bonding and cooperative thinking among workers who may not
have had the opportunity to know each other in the workplace. Many companies also
provide off-site, multi-day retreats that allow workers and executives to communicate their
concerns about the workplace environment in an open and non-judgmental space.
Related Reading: Company Letterhead Examples
Sales Rewards
The best salespeople are often highly motivated individuals. When a company adds the
ritual of rewards for its top achieving sales personnel, the motivational factors increase for
these competitive professionals. Whether the reward is the simple recognition that comes
from ringing a bell after a successful sale, or comes in the form of cash bonuses and luxury
items, salespeople will often pursue such prizes with a higher level of personal drive and
tenacity.
Birthday Parties and Happy Hours
Another common ritual that companies use to bring workers together is to celebrate an
employee's personal milestones. Birthday parties, baby showers and retirement celebrations
are all methods that companies use to show how they value employees as people, rather
than as an impersonal means of production. Off-site parties, company picnics and "happy
hours" allow workers and management to have more opportunities for social engagement
with each other away from the stress of the office.

The Legend of Makahiya

A myth submitted to the site by Zinnia Marniel Bendayon
Philippines
Long time ago, there was a couple in Barangay Masagana (Pampanga today) who wanted a
daughter. Their wish was granted and the wife gave birth to a baby girl. They called her
Maria. Maria was very beautiful but very shy that she wouldn't go out from their house.
Weeks later, Spaniards came to their town. The Spaniards were very cruel that they get
everything they wanted. They rob houses and kill everyone who gets in their way and who
refuses to give what they wanted.
The couple was very frightened to lose their daughter so, they hid Maria in the bushes so the
Spaniards couldn't find her.
After the Spaniards left their town, the couple tried to look for Maria but they couldn't find
her even in the bushes where they hid her, instead they found a little plant that is very
sensitive that when you touch it, it would immediately close.

So they thought it was their daughter, Maria. They called the plant "Makahiya" that means
"touch me not," like their daughter who was very shy.
What is a belief?
Beliefs come from real experiences but often we forget that the original experience is not
the same as what is happening in life now. Our values and beliefs affect the quality of our
work and all our relationships because what you believe is what you experience. We tend to
think that our beliefs are based on reality, but it is our beliefs that govern our experiences.
The beliefs that we hold are an important part of our identity. They may be religious, cultural
or moral. Beliefs are precious because they reflect who we are and how we live our lives.
Pre-existing beliefs
As a care worker in the community services industry, the pre-existing beliefs you may have
could be related to stereotypes that have developed for you around issues like sexuality,
alcohol and other drugs, ageing and disabilities, independence, health, the rights of people,
your idea of health and what its like to be older and/or disabled.
These stereotypes could affect the way you interact and work with clients. This is because
you have assumptions about what your clients can and cant do for themselves, the way
they should think about issues and what is best for them. If you make assumptions as a
worker then you are denying clients their rights, respect and dignity. As a worker this would
be regarded as a breach in your duty of care towards clients.
The need for older people and people with disabilities to express their sexuality does not
necessarily diminish over time. The desire for intimacy can in fact intensify. The
development of new relationships may occur as a result of living in a residential care setting
or as peoples social networks change over time. The right to express sexuality is a quality of
life issue and is part of ones self-identity. The way people choose to express their sexuality
may change over time in a variety of ways. Intimate relationships enhance a persons
quality of life and contribute to their feelings of well being. As a care worker it is important to
respect a persons right to express their sexuality in a way which is appropriate for them.
What are values?
Values are principles, standards or qualities that an individual or group of people hold in high
regard. These values guide the way we live our lives and the decisions we make. A value
may be defined as something that we hold dear, those things/qualities which we consider to
be of worth.
A value is commonly formed by a particular belief that is related to the worth of an idea or
type of behaviour. Some people may see great value in saving the worlds rainforests.
However a person who relies on the logging of a forest for their job may not place the same
value on the forest as a person who wants to save it.
Values can influence many of the judgments we make as well as have an impact on the
support we give clients. It is important that we do not influence clients decisions based on
our values. We should always work from the basis of supporting the clients values.
Activity: What are some of my values?
Mannersare they old fashioned? Do they hold a high or low value in your life?
Prideare there things you need to be proud of? Do you value pride or do you value
humility?
Clotheshow important are clothes at work? At play?
Behaviour on the sports fieldwhat behaviours do you value? Sportsmanship? Winning?
Team spirit? Individuality?
Family life? What do you value about family life?
Where do values come from?
Our values come from a variety of sources. Some of these include:
family
peers (social influences)

the workplace (work ethics, job roles)

educational institutions such as schools or TAFE
significant life events (death, divorce, losing jobs, major accident and trauma, major health
issues, significant financial losses and so on)
religion
music
media
technology
culture
major historical events (world wars, economic depressions, etc).
Dominant values
Dominant values are those that are widely shared amongst a group, community or culture.
They are passed on through sources such as the media, institutions, religious organisations
or family, but remember what is considered dominant in one culture or society will vary to
the next.
Using the sources listed above, some of your values could be:
familycaring for each other, family comes first
peersimportance of friendship, importance of doing things that peers approve of
workplacedoing your job properly; approving/disapproving of foreign orders (doing homerelated activities in work time or using work resources for home related activities)
educational institutionsthe valuing or otherwise of learning; value of self in relation to an
ability to learn (this often depends on personal experience of schooling, whether positive or
negative)
significant life eventsdeath of loved ones and the impact on what we value as being
important; marriage and the importance and role of marriage and children; separation and
divorce and the value change that may be associated with this (valuing of self or otherwise)
religionbeliefs about right and wrong and beliefs in gods
mediathe impact of TV, movies, radio, the Internet and advertising on what is important in
our lives, what is valued and not valued
musicmusic often reflects what is occurring in society, peoples response to things such as
love and relationships which may then influence the development of our values
technologythe importance of technology or otherwise; the importance of computers and
developing computer skills
culturea cultural value such as the importance of individuality as opposed to conforming to
groups
major historical eventsnot wasting anything, saving for times of draught, valuing human
life, patriotic values.
It is important that you develop an awareness of what you value, as these values will be
important in informing your relationships with clients, coworkers and employers.
The following is a list of common dominant values in Australian society. Tick the values that
apply to you and then select the ten most important values you ticked and rank them.
(1 = most important, 10 = least important)
Click here for the list (.doc 12 KB)
Did you learn something about yourself that you didnt expect? What is important here is
your ability to be able to identify the values that are important to you.
It is important to be conscious of our values. This knowledge helps us to:
ask ourselves why we are doing what we are doing
identify the consequences of our actions for ourselves and others (including clients and coworkers)
consider other and better options if necessary.
It is important to not only have a knowledge of your value system, but to understand that
your values underpin your beliefs and beliefs underpin behaviour. How we behave is a
reflection of our beliefs and our beliefs are a reflection of our values.
Exploring your values

We are all influenced in varying degrees by the values of our family, culture, religion,
education and social group. Knowing your own values can help you work effectively with
clients, resolve conflicts and support the organisations philosophy of care appropriately.
Wherever our values come from they make us the unique person we are today!
Answer the following and then think about what it tells you about yourself, where your
values have come from and how people with different backgrounds and life experiences
would answer these questions. There are no right or wrong answersjust answer honestly
and be willing to explore and reflect upon your own values.

Race
With what race do I identify?
Do I know people from a different race to me?
Do I believe people from different races should live together?
What would life be like if my skin colour was different?
What do I think about marriages and relationships between people from different races?
Gender
How many friends do I have from the opposite sex?
If I was a different gender how might life be different?
Religion
What is my religion? Do I believe in it?
What is my familys religion?
Are most people in my community from this religion?
How does my religion influence my life?
Culture
What culture do I identify with?
What do I like and dislike about my culture and traditions?
What other cultures interest me? Do I like learning about them? Why?
Language
What is my first language?
What other languages do I speak?
Who should decide what language people should speak?
General
What political party do I support? Why?
Do I believe in the death penalty? Why?
What are my views on abortion? Why?
What are my views on homosexuality? Why?
What are my views about illegal drugs? Why?
What are my view about voluntary euthanasia? Why?
Reflect on your answers about where your values have come from.
What did this activity tell you about your values?
Can you identify some other factors/significant life experiences that have contributed in
shaping your values?
Why have you decided to become a worker in the CSI?
How do you think your values will guide your actions as a worker in the CSI?
The aim of this activity is to make you aware of issues that could arise in the workplace and
the differing values workers can have. There are no right or wrong answers, so when
completing this activity try to be as honest as you can.