E-Learning is the preferred modern way to upskill and learn while having the convenience of choosing the when and where. You can even turn your staff into the bartending experts: We had a party earlier this year where there was one big Zoom call, and then we broke out into a set of breakout rooms where colleagues had volunteered to teach others how to make their favorite cocktail. Also, they grow more motivated to maintain or improve their good work. For instance, take their opinion during decisions like on-boarding new technology or a specific project. of 70-75% ethyl alcohol. Sending care packages to your remote teams builds buzz for the event and lets your employees know you care about them. 1. Ask each person to share one word to describe how they are feeling in. 17 Ways to Boost Employee Morale During COVID-19 That Arent Happy Hours, celebrate employee milestones virtually here, general tricks for managing your remote workforce here. All rights reserved. Perhaps to no ones surprise, drinking seems to be quite popular this year, and some companies have figured out how to incorporate it into remote events. It could be a magazine subscription (on a topic they would be interested in), treats for pets, snack samples, or anything they would enjoy. In the largest ever genetic analysis of grapevine varieties, including samples from previously undocumented specimens in private collections, researchers provide new insights into how, when, and . Get to know your employees and find out what they like so you can give gift cards that are tailored to their interests. Get the latest news from Namely about HR, payroll, and benefits. The essence of spirit week is enthusiasm, not physical proximity. If you see someone going above and beyond and who commutes through their own vehicles, this will prove to be a wonderful opportunity to make their lives a little bit easier. Because honestly, everyone expects the managers and leaders to be bossy and unreachable. Interesting work matter only if you have good food while youre doing it. Spirit Week ideas for busy offices should include low-maintenance events that require minimal planning from event organizers and the participants. By planning an online retreat for spirit week, you block out employees time and free staff to enjoy the festivities. "Everyone meet promptly at 5:30 p.m., and line up your cars by the parking lot next to my house," instructed the texts sent out by Amanda Perez, staff member and University of Miami School of Communication graduate student, and her mother, Wendy Perez. Mask up. Players square off in trivia challenges, lightning scavenger hunts, and a listening/drawing game called Can You Hear Me Now? A charismatic host keeps score while keeping teams energy and spirits high. Some employees even showcased their talents liveranging from musical performances to cake baking to cat training. Offering free meals and caffeine is actually a highly effective and cost-effective means of motivating and controlling young employees. Working from home can be challenging. Subjects should be fun and non-work related. Theyve asked us what charities wed recommend. Celebrate "Employee Appreciation Day" With Pomp And Show Employee Appreciation Day is a semi-formal holiday in the United States. If you are looking to reward your employees with a little something extra. Check out our list of the best online murder mysteries. These events help boost company pride. This is one of the most underrated employee appreciation ideas out there. If done in person, they provide a safer pandemic option because you share the room only with the people in your party. For instance, if you host a murder mystery, then include character cards in the boxes. For more ideas, check out our roundup of team building workouts. In times of isolation it can be very difficult to stay on top of where everyone is at. I didnt even stay until the end and used half the amount of tequila in my margarita because Im not used to drinking, but it was a lot of fun, we all learned something and had a good laugh. Happily, Ive heard lots of versions of this choice as well: My company is taking the money that would be used for the holiday party (usually a sit-down dinner with open bar) and is donating it instead to a local charity. If you developed team norms to stay on top of (as above), then ensure you check-in on them. Or it just might be a beautiful day to sleep in. For example, share with team members how you will be leading, how you will check in with them, what you will be asking about. Recommended Article: The Ultimate Guide To Employee Rewards and Recognition. Between the confetti, balloons, and cake, office birthday parties are always fun to organize. While employee appreciation may seem a bit heavy on the pockets, the bottom line is that it will lead to several long-term benefits. The key is making exercise a daily priority, and the holidays are no different. Half of the box contained things like hand sanitizer, gloves, masks, and other health-related products to help us stay safe. Hosting this year has been no small featand the biggest party season of all is almost here. Make it more special by hosting a "Make Your Own Taco" competition where the winner gets some form of employee reward. Simply schedule a Zoom meeting and ask attendees to join from an outdoor spot such as backyards, parks, or beaches. From theme days to care packages to costume contests, here is a list of fun ways to celebrate spirit weeks in remote offices. It can be scheduled ahead of time or impromptu, just like you might invite a team member to grab a coffee with you while walking by their desk. But employees with a few years of experience should be matched with a career mentor to help them grow in their position. 9. To make your company memorable in a sea of forgettable mugs. Recommended Article: Top 102 Employee Recognition Quotes To Celebrate Their Endeavours. Here is our take on enhancing employee motivation with the below 33 exceptional employee appreciation ideas. It was a lot of fun! - Stephen J. Kontos, Founder & CEO at PatentXP PLLC, We keep employee morale high by sending out thank you notes to our employees currently working from home. Another good team-building activity is a virtual workshop or workout class. You might feel anxious about: Your own safety and the safety of others. How to be a good coworker and leader during this crisis. 5. Its been close to two months since the World Health Organization declared the spread of the novel coronavirus an official pandemic. Learn more about virtual costume contests. And of course folks could also just log off if they wanted to, with no pressure to spend the rest of the day working. Not to fear: There are plenty of Halloween-inspired crafts to go around. Company retreats are fun, help team members bond while also providing the option of getting away from the stress of day-to-day work life. Online Office Games is a friendly competition for remote teammates. Companies all over the world are making their operations remote for the first time to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Working from home can be lonely and mundane. Shared items such a candy jars, cereal boxes, and containers of nuts should be removed for the safety of all workers. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Legal. We also included some essential office supplies to ensure our employees have everything they need to work remotely. - Stuart Cook, Marketing Manager at My Baggage, My company recently delivered a care package to all employees with a mix of fun and useful items. I am going to go out on a limb here to say to you something vital. I also personally feel that it's boosting my wellbeing and brightening my day. This year, theyre sending a food related gift to our homes and giving us the afternoon off. 1. 1. Vantage Circle. Donut is an app in our Slack channel that randomly pairs up coworkers together, encouraging them to set up a coffee meeting (of course, in this case, a virtual coffee meeting) in order to get to know each other better. Thus becoming one of the best employee engagement activities that you can invest in. We also had a gift wrapping contest as part of itwe were a creative bunch with lots of backgrounds in the arts, so some gifts were a person making a donation to a charity in the recipients honor, but making a video that fit their interest to share that with them, or a homemade puzzle, or other similar fun announcements. 1. You could even give teammates a prompt per day, like show us your fridge, or share your favorite spot in the house. This activity helps remote teammates learn more about each other, and may reveal shared interests and common ground. You signed up for your preferred one beforehand and received a list of ingredients, then once the drinks were made, people came back to the big room and there were a couple of facilitated games and stuff (like trivia). Not to mention, Online Office Games is highly customizable, so the activities can revolve around the spirit week theme of the day at your request. 1. Teams complete comic-book-themed riddles and puzzles and virtual minute-to-win-it challenges to climb the leaderboard and save the world. Just be sure to offer nonalcoholic options too: We had a celebration that even I (a person averse to holiday parties and Zoom calls) liked. Honestly, Im really pleased with this decision over trying to make a Zoom party happen. Either way, ask participants to record results by posting them to the channel in a @WIN/@LOSS format. Trivia leaders can create questions and teams can decide on their favorite themes or trivia topics. This activity won't cause too much distraction or mess. The Kaiser Family Foundation found . Plan out your meals and snacks ahead of time, such as at the beginning of the week or workday. Throwing a virtual holiday party is one of the best Christmas spirit week ideas for work. Wed all ooooh and ahhh, and laugh. Usually at this time of year, my inbox fills up with questions about company holiday parties: How many drinks are OK to have there? 2022 Tous droits rservs. Why not see which team has the most steps or ran the furthest distance this week? We also have a list of the best remote team outing ideas. Some are great artists, while some spend their time doing charity work. 2023 teambuilding.com, all rights reserved | Terms | Privacy, virtual tours of museums, zoos, and parks, list of free virtual team building activities for work, list of the best remote team outing ideas, Post a picture from your first year at the company vs now, Take a screenshot in the unlikeliest Zoom meeting spot, Film a 30-second work from home snack cooking lesson, Dress-up accessories, like sunglasses, boas, and novelty headbands, Create a collaborative world map showing which countries team members have lived in or traveled to, Ask participants to compile top 5 travel bucket lists of the destinations they would most like to visit, and pair up teammates with similar interests for a video chat, Video chat with screen pals in different countries, Compile a photo slideshow of the teams collective travels, Most likely to forget to mute/unmute the mic, Lightning fingers, aka fastest Slack replies, Most likely to binge cat videos during the workday. Simply post a different game or prompt on the company social channels every day, and instruct employees to respond using a special hashtag. This is a great way to begin your team meetings. It can range from conducting regular health check-ups, yoga sessions, dentist appointments, and offering health insurance. The week before your work at home spirit week, mail boxes full of goodies to team members. I hope this article has in some small way helped your and your teams trek through this extraordinary time. Then, after that, we had the opportunity to go into breakout roomslast year, one room did Schitts Creek trivia (it was a favorite among many staffers), another did Pictionary using the annotate functions of Zoom. First, choose a date and send a video meeting link to your colleagues. The sudden need to adapt to these changes during COVID has given rise to new challenges that range from work-life stress, disparities in employees' ability to work from home effectively, and the increased need for employers to support worker safety, health, and well-being both at work and outside the traditional work environment. Ensure time is spent checking in on the teams main priorities - any urgent issues that need to be addressed? The Coronavirus Crisis 9 Ways Schools Will Look Different When (And If) They Reopen 1. Moreover, you can drop an appreciation mail to the employees so that it stays with them forever. But providing a good employee experience is the future. COVID-19 is expected to last for many months, with a potential resurgence in the fall. To help your employees stay active and get a break from working inside, suggest that they take conference calls that don't require sitting in front of a screen outdoors. Engage in active family play time. Plus, you could throw virtual parties for any holiday. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ones. Coming together this way will help bring your employees closer to you and boost the employee-employer relationship. Better still, if this praise comes in front of their team members, colleagues, and peers. Hence, "Employee of the month" programs are a great way to show your best employees that you see their hard work and appreciate the efforts they are putting in. InDirect Report, she spotlights themes from her inbox that help explain the modern workplace and how we could be navigating it better. Host fun team games to play with your team members. Now 48% Off. Here come's the most impactful one in our list of employee appreciation ideas. As a leader, having the right mindset, structure and strategies to enhance communication and build team cohesion will help you ensure the latter is true for you and your team. The lobby at Googles Sydney office makes visitors feel like theyre about to embark on a safari expedition rather than drown in a concrete jungle. A UK study finds workers job attitudes can be bolstered by allowing them to personalize their office. Learn how to set new boundaries, ask for support, and re-strategize with your partner about what you need. Online workouts serve the dual purpose of adding exercise and peer-to-peer interaction into remote workers sedentary, solitary workdays. Remote team games like holiday Bingo, trivia, and scavenger hunts get guests moving and invoke the holiday spirit. Record and report COVID-19 infections and deaths: Under mandatory OSHA rules in 29 CFR part 1904, employers are required to record work-related cases of COVID-19 illness on OSHA's Form 300 logs if the following requirements are met: (1) the case is a confirmed case of COVID-19; (2) the case is work-related (as defined by 29 CFR 1904.5); and . Decatur, IL (62521) Today. Its expensive to recruit a new worker. For example, hold a Zoom ugly sweater contest, host a virtual Secret Santa or white elephant gift exchange, and sing Christmas carols. Whats Working/Whats Not? This is a stressful time to say the least. Now more than ever it is essential to dialogue and agree on what team members need and expect from one another and from their leader. There are many fun online activities that suit an international or travel-themed spirit week or spirit day. Vantage Circle. Many a time, they'll bring that positivity and enthusiasm back to the workplace. Credit: HMH Books for Young Readers. I thought this was a great way for the company to show its appreciation for staff, and it provided us with plenty of new recipes to try out just in time for the weekend. - Adam Lumb, EN Site Manager at Cashcow, One of our perks is that we give employees up to an hour each day to do something positive for their physical or mental health, such as going on a walk, reading a book, taking an exercise class, or doing a meditation (no admin or work allowed!). However, you could include a holiday theme in your virtual spirit week during any time of the year. Ensure that everyone gets that attention. Gift cards allow people to purchase whatever they want from their favorite brands. The best way to decorate virtual offices is by using virtual meeting backgrounds. The Very Worst Kind of Bad Boss Just Wont Go Away. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. Throughout the evening or afternoon, read awards off one by one, and give each winner 30 seconds to give a victory speech. Theme Days. We do a Champagne toast at our holiday party every year, and theres some rumors about mini bottles being shipped out for a Zoom toast, but Im not sure! From relaxing countryside walks to exciting challenges, your staff will have the time of their lives. When an employee above and beyond on a project at work or accomplishes a personal goal, give them a shoutout on social media to commend their hard work. Why not put a reminder in your diary when you plan to finish working? Clarify expectations, for example, of performance, workflow or performance management. Yet now is a time when communication actually needs to be ramped up. Every company has got one of these employees. Feel free to customize it with your companys logos. Having direct access to a mentor gives junior professionals valuable one-on-one training. You could either play a facilitated murder mystery where a host guides the game and gives out clues, or follow a script for a self-guided murder mystery. Trivia can be a good way to help teams relax, inspire conversation and build relationships. Or, you could start a gallery on social media or a cloud-based photo album, and invite teammates to vote on their favorite uploads throughout the week. They are tasty, convenient, and great for hunger pangs that strike while working. Coffee or tea tastings work as well: We had a virtual coffee tasting where they sent those who RSVP'd a free AeroPress and. Heres a way to see people in-person from the safety of your cars: Our company has had a couple of drive-through events set up in the parking lot of the main company campus. A great employee appreciation idea that gives day-to-day benefits is providing assigned parking spaces. Harvard Business Review reports that "the most impactful driver of employee engagement is recognition.". Adults need 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity activity such as brisk walking for health benefits. Theres nothing quite like desserts and ice cream to alleviate stress. The disease is extremely contagious, yet many infected people are asymptomatic, and patterns of transmission are not always clear. For this event, ask team members to pick a side of a classic rivalry game and dress to match. Now more than ever, we need to lean on each other for support. There are numerous free crossword creating apps, and all you need to do is share the linkso easy and so fun! - Mira Rakicevic, Co-founder at Comfy Living. In uncertain times, one thing is certain with fundraisingthe more you plan, the better off you will be. As we reflect on two months (or more) of mandated virtual work, HR and people teams around the world are looking back on their most successful morale-boosting activitiesand searching for new ideas to keep their teams happy, healthy, and engaged. Murder mysteries are games that require participants to play a character while solving a mystery. Keep employees engaged and excited with some friendly competition. When employees feel that their work is valued, their satisfaction and productivity rise. If you can get outside to walk, studies have shown that a brisk walk can make you feel . Experiences, not cash, are the new corporate bonus. The purpose of online spirit weeks is to boost employee engagement and morale. Communication in remote teams, whether casual chats or work related discussions, cant easily happen as spontaneously as it does when people are sitting next to each other at work. Cycling is beneficial for your. This peer-to-peer employee recognition idea is about encouraging everyone from the organization to recognize good work. Encourage team members to do the same. Weve found that this is key to recreating that Friday feeling during lockdown. - Nushy Rose, Managing Editor at Parlia. 5k+ Downloads Some ideas for your 30-minute morning check-ins include: One-Word Check-ins. Employees respond to appreciation expressed by recognizing their good work because it confirms that their work is valued by others. Names were swapped, wish lists were made, and gifts from small businesses were delivered to friends and families! We safeguard your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Why not expend the effort necessary to retain the staff that you have already painfully recruited and hired? One such example that predates COVID-19 (if you follow our newsletter, you already know that it's a personal favorite of mine) is the Be My Eyes app. You can supplement your on-the-clock remote spirit week activities with fun social media challenges. Maintain a positive work/life balance and encourage your team to do the same It's easy to work longer hours and take fewer breaks when working from home. Make Sure You're COVID Safe. Make the day memorable by organizing outside barbecues or small office parties. Quarantine spirit week consisted of a unique theme for each day: skater Sunday, monochromatic Monday, tie-dye Tuesday, wig Wednesday, 13 going on Thursday and casual Friday. Sally can whip up a variety of cold meals, including salads, grain bowls and yogurt. If your crew would rather perform just for fun, then end the show by giving participants a well-deserved round of virtual applause. But with 29% of Americans reporting that they never drink alcohol, it is time for businesses to think of more inclusive activities. Recommended Article: 50 Best Words of Appreciation for Employees. Here are 15 office ideas for Halloween: 1. Wishing you and your team health and tranquility. Heres some of what people reported. But heres the thing. The flipside to this is without the proper career advancement at the right time, employees will slowly grow disengaged and might look for new opportunities elsewhere. Its a really cool way to connect with your coworkers and find out more about their life outside of work. This helps us all get out of our heads to have a little fun during the workday. - Sam Williamson, co-owner of CBDiablo, Were encouraging employees to stay active by challenging their coworkers. Add some seriously "tricked out" kitchens on each floor of their facilities. Many a time, showing some employee appreciation may seem hard. Some teams are secretly supervillains who try to sabotage other teams, and players must also identify these sinister alter-egos to ensure evil does not prevail. That's why it's vital to spread your actions around multiple methods of transports to appeal to the broadest proportion of your workforce. And encourage team members to let you know whenever they need any kind of support whether related directly to their work tasks or to any challenges they might be personally facing in the new situation. During the call, participants can chat and play fun games, or co-work while enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. Online fundraising allows you to make a big impact even if your team is limited in members or budget. I think that well continue doing this even after the pandemic is goneits such a cool way to learn more about the people you work with every day. - Dennis Vu, CEO and Co-founder of Ringblaze, We hired a magician to put on a virtual magic show for our staff, clients, and vendors to watch with their families. Recommended Case Study: Indias Largest Telecom Company Boosts their Global Employee Engagement with Vantage Rewards. Namely's powerful HR Software is built for mid-sized companies designed to be used by everyone, every day. It's not only a nice little project to focus on, but gives us something to talk about that's not work or coronavirus. The other half consisted of beer (or non-alcoholic drinks), snacks, tea, and homemade salsa. Here are list of themes to use for online spirit weeks. Social Media is the biggest influencer of our generation. Plus, you can capture a screenshot of the whole crew dressed up. We, humans, are emotional creatures. Teammates can vote using the poll feature in your video meeting platform, and you can send the winner a prize. Check out BoostEducatorsChallenge.com for details. During the COVID-19 crisis, you can do a lot more from your couch than you may realize. If the show is a competition, then at the end of the performance have the audience vote for a winner via poll, or send a panel of judges into a breakout room to deliberate. Beyond bestowing traditional awards like extraordinary performance, team player, or rookie of the year, you can also create fun award categories. Not to mention that birthday parties are an opportunity to appreciate peers. Try a subscription box. When you think about having a great company culture, you think about building trust, honesty, and a great team of workers. High 53F. Simply gear each day's activities around a particular topic. School spirit week is a fun time for everyone to come together and show off their pride. Photo illustration by Slate. Few people are as knee-deep in our work-related anxieties and sticky office politics as Alison Green, who has been fielding workplace questions for a decade now on her website Ask a Manager. So, whether you're paired up or have something in the works, here are 20 ideas to safely celebrate Valentine's Day during coronavirus. While Valentine's Day will most likely look different than years past, you can still have fun with your significant other and make it memorable and safe. I'm really hoping we won't have to consider this in future years, but a lot of planning time went into making sure that we minimized our COVID risk during the trip. Team Norms. While personalizing spaces at work to fit the geographic locale or the personal tastes of employees has become common. The author's views are entirely his or her own (excluding the unlikely event of hypnosis) and may not always reflect the views of Moz. You can even snap a photo and create your own hashtag for when employees achieve something especially commendable. Not to mention, care packages add a tactile element to your all-online spirit week. These events can help virtual offices grow closer. Online escape rooms are online versions of thematic puzzle-solving games. Getting your workplace ready in case COVID-19 arrives in your community. Video game consoles. The benefit of virtual dress up days is that employees can don elaborate costumes without worrying about travel, comfort, or attracting strange stares in Starbucks. Thus in this scenario, investing in an effective recognition program becomes a critical part of employee engagement. After all, who doesn't like a couple of free snacks? Aside from regular appreciation, you can ensure that your employees feel valued on important occasions, such as by sending Thanksgiving messages to employees. Make it a fun and memorable experience. We all know that employees are the most valuable asset for a business. #StayStrongWF Spirit Week April 6-10. Celebrated on the first Friday in March, it pays homage to each employee's contribution to their company. Then there will be a contest with prizes for best house, most creative house, house that looks like the before pic on a HGTV show, etc. A team lunch is a great way through which everyone can bond with each other and with you. To establish team norms, ask: What behaviors and practices are most important right now to our teams effectiveness?. Our division is doing a holiday drive-in movie and renting out a drive-in theater for the evening. Make it meaningful for the employee so that they cherish it and put in their extra effort. It is a good idea to vary the class types and levels so that more team members can participate. You could even include dessert decorating packs, tasting assortments, or craft kits. Check the COVID-19 page on your city or county website to find out if you can sign up to offer your time this way.

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