Updated May 2024
A History of Giving Back
When this post was initially published two years ago, our team at Red Dog Media had fewer than 40 teammates. Now, in 2024, we are 60-strong!
In the early days of our employee recognition program, our teammates could nominate each other for the Go the Extra Mile (GEM) Award. In addition to being recognized for going the extra mile, the winning teammate would win $2,500 for charitable giving.
Even in the early days, Red Dog Media supported our local community by donating to Three Square, Southern Nevada. Donations to Three Square have provided thousands of meals to those in need. With the implementation of the GEM Award in 2022, Red Dog Media was able to diversify our charitable giving and give to causes that our teammates were most passionate about.
The Next Generation of Giving
At Red Dog Media, we pride ourselves on fostering a culture of appreciation, recognition, and empowerment. Our core values are the heart of our organization, and our teammates and culture are at the forefront of everything we do. We believe in celebrating hard work, dedication, and contributions. That’s why in the summer of 2022, what started as the GEM Award, transformed into the Core Value Chip Employee Recognition program that we have today; a cornerstone program that highlights and rewards teammates who exemplify our core values.
The Core Value Chip Program
Our Core Value Chip Program is designed to reinforce our core values and promote a culture of recognition and appreciation. This unique program allows teammates to earn “chips” as tokens of appreciation for demonstrating our core values in their everyday work.
How It Works
Teammates earn chips by exemplifying our core values: Be Curious, Be a Problem Solver, Be a Championship Teammate, and Be Better Than Yesterday.
Each teammate receives 25 poker chips with their initials branded on them.
Throughout the quarter, when someone notices a fellow teammate has done something to exemplify one of our core values, they can put a single chip in a jar with their name and make a written submission using our internal recognition submission tool. All jars are on display in our office on our Core Value celebratory wall.
Recognizing Excellence
While we recognize excellence every day using our internal displays to showcase Core Value Chip submissions, every quarter, we select exceptional teammates who embody our core values, go above and beyond in their roles, and make significant contributions to our company’s success. These individuals demonstrate exceptional dedication, innovation, teamwork, and leadership, and their efforts profoundly impact our organization’s growth and culture. Here is just a sample of the types of submissions our teammates receive:
A Rewarding Experience
As a token of our appreciation, each award winner receives recognition in our quarterly State of the Company Meeting, a personal reward, and a $5000 donation to the charity of their choice. We believe in giving back to our communities and supporting meaningful causes on behalf of our teammates. By allowing our winners to direct these funds to a charity close to their hearts, we empower them to make a positive impact beyond the workplace.
Building a Culture of Recognition
The Core Value Chip Program encourages continuous recognition and appreciation among our teammates. It fosters a positive work environment where individuals feel valued, appreciated, and motivated to excel. By recognizing and rewarding behaviors that align with our core values, we reinforce the behaviors and attitudes that drive our company’s success.
Giving Back More: Our Commitment to Philanthropy
One of our key goals for 2026 as an organization is to “Give back more.” We believe in the importance of corporate social responsibility and making a meaningful difference in the world. Through ongoing donations to local charities like Three Square and initiatives like our Core Value Chip Program, we recognize our teammates’ contributions, support charitable causes, and positively impact in our local community.
At Red Dog Media, we’re committed to celebrating excellence, fostering a culture of recognition, and giving back to our communities. Our Core Value Chip Program and fund raising events like our first annual RDM 5k held earlier this month are just two examples of how we honor our teammates’ hard work, promote our core values, and make a difference in the world. Together, we’re building a brighter future for our team, our company, and the world around us.
Would you be interested in reading more about how our teammate are giving back? Check out these posts!
Check out our other posts:
- Elevating Employee Happiness and Productivity
- Elevating the Employee Experience with Chef-Curated Meals
- Employee Spotlight: Giving a Brighter Future to Las Vegas High School Students
- Answering the Question: Where is Red Dog Media Headed in the Next 3 Years?
- Employee Spotlight: Giving back to Protect Southern Nevada’s Natural Resources