Now, let me be clear:

Appreciation of hard-working employees is good
Recognition from management is good
A pat on the back for a job well done is good

These facts are NOT in dispute. But hey, pssst… Imma let you in on a little secret… If your occupation gets a week to be “celebrated,” you’re being underpaid and underappreciated.

It’s just that simple. Teachers, are you with me???

I think of it in terms of holidays like Christmas, birthdays, and Mother’s Day. If you’re only nice to people on those days, and you do so because you’re told to by your calendar, you may as well not even bother. It’s silly. Worse, it’s meaningless.

A few free lunches do not compensate for poor working conditions.
A scented candle doesn’t fix understaffing.
A Starbucks gift card isn’t respect.

We can do better. We need to do better. Let’s make sure our veterinary teams have a living wage, a supportive workplace, good benefits, and a positive work culture. We have enough “World’s Best Vet Tech” tumblers, thanks.