Some of the nicest days here at work are those that feature "parking lot picnics," where food and drinks are served and sometimes coworkers even pick up a guitar to serenade the rest of us. Californian readers will know what I'm talking about when I say you can't beat a visit from the In-N-Out truck! It's fun to get together and relax in the sunshine, enjoying some tasty fare from a local restaurant and catching up with friends. It boosts our morale and shows us our employers care about our happiness in the workplace (free food goes a long way in that effort).

A parking lot picnic might have different scenery at the bus yard, but the feeling is the same. Transportation departments typically celebrate their staff around the end of the school year. At Pupil Transportation Cooperative (PTC) in Whittier, Calif., drivers, dispatchers, trainers, mechanics and office staff get together every April for an outdoor barbecue. Director Dan Ibarra sent me these photos from this year's event.



On their Staff Appreciation Day, PTC employees relax in the shade with snacks and drinks.


The school buses provide a colorful backdrop.


The Barbecue Master playfully serves up lunch.


The event is well-attended; nothing like free lunch to draw a crowd!


If your operation hosts fun events to show staff appreciation, let us know about it and send in your photos!

--Claire
claire.atkinson@bobit.com