November 22 has, for more than two weeks, been marked as a red-letter day for 67 Fusion Outsourcing staff members nominated for 2010’s annual BPO excellence awards.

Structured around clearly defined criteria with nominations formally reviewed and approved, the awards have culminated in teams and individuals recognised for their extraordinary efforts throughout the year. More than 180 individuals were nominated for awards in 24 contact centre categories; 37 individuals and 3 teams made the shortlist and 67 received awards. Twenty-nine staff were recognised for their loyalty to Fusion Outsourcing with long-service awards.

Recognising our people for the extra effort they put in helps to cultivate a positive, values-driven environment that nurtures loyal, dedicated, and results-driven workers. Far more than a nice-to-have, certificates and monetary rewards, along with year-long recognition initiatives, help to strengthen Fusion Outsourcing’s corporate culture and reinforce the behaviours that drive our business strategy and organisational objectives.

So it turned out to be anything but a Blue Monday for annual award winners who arrived at Fusion House to find their call centre workstations decorated with silver and gold balloons, stars, congratulations banners and bespoke chair covers; although they still could not be sure exactly which award they had won.

Between two and four in the afternoon, Fusion Outsourcing’s executive committee walked the floor to personally congratulate the winners and hand over framed certificates, winning letters and cash rewards ranging from R10,000 to R2,500. Posters, company-wide communications and an electronic presentation will be on display in Fusion's call centre building for the remainder of the week.

Sophia Alves, who received the Team Leader of the Year Award (Niche and Outbound call centre accounts) for her adaptability, openness and ability to provide a positive environment in which her team is optimally motivated, said of the award, ‘Look at the smile on my face! It feels like a great achievement.’

Rifqah Laubscher, who won the award for the second consecutive year for most epitomising the Fusion SA value, Just… be customer focused, has said that through the award, ‘I know I am valued.’

Thankslord Mbiko’s desire to shirk the ordinary and be the very best he possibly can be, saw him scooping second runner up for Advisor of the Year (Vodacom). ‘I am a person who believes in winning so this award completes me. Dreams are there to be lived, not to stay in bed. This is the start of me living my dream.’

Fusion Outsourcing recruits and retains only the very best people. It is a bold statement, but it’s one we proudly back up.