All in all, make the day about them, i.e., your employees. Get to know your employees and find out what they like so you can give gift cards that are tailored to their interests. While the other appreciation ideas might be feasible for particular projects and day-to-day work, employees will look for something more permanent in the long run. Why not put a reminder in your diary when you plan to finish working? Vantage Circle. And amid stay-at-home orders. Finally going on a picnic with their loved ones. We, humans, are emotional creatures. If you work in an industry where teamwork is crucial, sudden orders to . Also, they grow more motivated to maintain or improve their good work. The best thing about birthdays is cake. You could either ask team members to pre-record videos, give the tour live during a Zoom meeting, or upload photos to a shared album. School spirit week is a fun time for everyone to come together and show off their pride. Because honestly, everyone expects the managers and leaders to be bossy and unreachable. How to Boost Employee Morale During COVID-19 - Namely Virtual spirit weeks are weeklong events that consist of a series of fun and interactive online activities. But when you thank them for their efforts, it can be a heart-melting moment to inspire respect for you and the business. You could even include dessert decorating packs, tasting assortments, or craft kits. Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of Most employees love to learn, and taking a virtual class together is a terrific spirit week idea. Get 5 morale boosting tips here, learn how to celebrate employee milestones virtually here, and get some more general tricks for managing your remote workforce here. Children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years need at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity daily. Today's employees seek recognition and rewards based on the career advancement that they want. Every company has its own perks: fully stocked kitchens, corporate team events, and the latest MacBook Pro. Thus becoming one of the best employee engagement activities that you can invest in. Find out how to attract and retain your employees through their entire lifecycle. It becomes less of a break and more of a disappointment. The packages were delivered to our doors in the afternoon of our event. These events help boost company pride. During the COVID-19 crisis, you can do a lot more from your couch than you may realize. Everybody got to sign up for whichever they liked best: Online beer tasting (they ship the beer to your house, and then you taste it on Zoom with an expert telling you what youre tasting). We had a Zoom meeting were a bartender showed how to mix each drink using the provided measuring cup, and answered questions about how to make a good martini, what to substitute for white eggs in pisco sour, etc. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. All rights reserved. PDF COVID-19 Developing Resilience in the Workplace She had such a creative way for putting a holiday spin on our corporate branding, and theyre going to be a big hit! First, either mail employees tea and fancy snacks, or ask attendees to bring their own refreshments and reimburse them for the expense. Walking not only counts as physical activity, but also provides some mental health benefits. -Bob Nelson, In the United States, 20,000 workers were surveyed by the Boston Consulting Group. Or take a field trip to the local entertainment venue. Check out our list ofonline escape rooms. I am going to go out on a limb here to say to you something vital. 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. 2022 Todos os direitos reservados. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the federal government (OSHA) has provided detailed guidelinesfor workplace safety policies. Not to fear: There are plenty of Halloween-inspired crafts to go around. Coffee or tea tastings work as well: We had a virtual coffee tasting where they sent those who RSVPd a free AeroPress and some coffees and had a coffee expert walk them through the different kinds over Zoom. A dynamic host facilitates this 90 minute virtual team building event with a trusty virtual sidekick. Trivia can be a good way to help teams relax, inspire conversation and build relationships. There is also the threat of a recession. We also had a really strict limit for spending, like $20. Simply gear each day's activities around a particular topic. Social Media is the biggest influencer of our generation. Instead of taking the stage, performers share their acts during a video call. Consider downloading a fitness app with curated workout playlists. Things to do: 100 indoor activities if you're not feeling social yet 12 Ideas for Writing Through the Pandemic With The New York Times There are few things that employees feel more love for than an extra day of freedom aside from the weekend. For example, new employees should receive a buddy to learn the ropes. Help make kindness the norm at school, home and work by using the links below! Hosting this year has been no small featand the biggest party season of all is almost here. Elaine is a true partner in every sense of the word and would be a huge asset to any company. Simple ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace 1. Or it just might be a beautiful day to sleep in. California-based Chowbotics, has seen an uptick in demand for its fresh food robot "Sally.". Moreover, you can drop an appreciation mail to the employees so that it stays with them forever. Every year there are days we look forward to. Give your entire team a chance to express their creativity with baby pumpkins, acrylic paints, and free pumpkin stencils. 1. Whats Really So Wrong About Secretly Working Two Full-Time Jobs at Once? Some "lush" couches. 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. The tours could happen on a single day, or throughout the week. Not to mention, care packages add a tactile element to your all-online spirit week. It might sound cliche, but small courtesies like a boss saying thank you to the team members can make a huge difference. Have regular check ins with individual team members. 15 gifts to give essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic Invite team members to share concerns or issues that need to be addressed, and be sure time is also spent acknowledging what is working well and what team members are proud of. Real world elements make virtual exercises more engaging and interactive. Get the resources. Gift ideas ranged, but included orchids, stay-at-home picnic baskets, family dinners, bookstore gift cards, and fancy coffee! - Nicole Canulla, Head of Marketing & Communications at DUST Identity, What I've found very engaging and will definitely continue to use even after we're no longer remote is Donut. Remote teammates can enjoy a show while learning more about coworkers special skills and abilities. Ask your remote team members to describe their day so far with an emoji or a string of emojis. Due to the physical demands and psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, it's been difficult for many of us to stay physically active. I am a big believer in team norms which support the team in self managing behaviors, practices and performance. When showtime arrives, gather on a Zoom call. One-Word Check-ins. Plus, you could throw virtual parties for any holiday. 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! Your team can decorate their jack-o'-lanterns during break, lunch, or while you hold a team meeting. Kicking their feet up on the couch and zoning out in front of the TV could be just what the essential workers in your life need after dealing with the public . Companies with a corporate health plan are more likely to see more engaged employees. Food has a way of being a catalyst to bring people together. 29. Employee Appreciation Day is a semi-formal holiday in the United States. Recognizing employees is a great way to boost morale and build excitement during spirit week. Virtual talent shows double as entertainment and team bonding. Then, have one attendee lead the class, or screen share a video routine. If you developed team norms to stay on top of (as above), then ensure you check-in on them. Getting your own parking space is a highly coveted idea to really recognize your employees for doing a great job. Go for a walk. However, Slack games offer more flexibility, as teammates can play on their own schedules. The thing that giants like Google and Airbnb have understood is that the physical environment of the office matters. Murder mysteries are games that require participants to play a character while solving a mystery. Here are some ideas that seem newly relevant given the constraints of 2020 and beyond. Gain practical tools and strategies to lead your remote team to high performance with mycomplimentary webinar and check out my new e-course: Lead High Performing Remote Teams That Thrive Through COVID and Beyond. Aside from regular appreciation, you can ensure that your employees feel valued on important occasions, such as by sending Thanksgiving messages to employees. These light-hearted contests can also easily be tied to raising money for charity. - Joe Wilson, Senior Career Advisor at MintResume, Our company gave us all sunflower seeds to care for and grow as we work from home. For our workers who have never worked from home, social isolation is deeply felt. Learn how to set new boundaries, ask for support, and re-strategize with your partner about what you need. Want to give someone the gift that keeps on giving? After face masks, custom hand sanitizers are the next health and safety giveaway idea on our list. Support families to. They are tasty, convenient, and great for hunger pangs that strike while working. This is a time to focus only on the people sitting before you. Virtual spirit week ideas are ways to celebrate the occasion with remote teams. We gathered the top employee morale tips, tricks, and ideas from businesses around the world. The cups were all the same so no one could tell what you were drinking unless you commented on it. The games last 90 minutes, giving remote colleagues plenty of time to bond and have fun together. Ways to Boost Employee Morale During COVID-19 - Namely But they are the last to leave. My Boss Loves Planning an Elaborate Holiday Extravaganza. Unique SWAG ideas have the power to set your company apart. Your employees are amazing people with undisclosed talents. Whether you're looking for help communicating COVID safety guidelines to your guests, searching for face masks for couples and guests (so you can look stylish while complying with guidelines from the WHO and CDC) or are in need of a cute social distancing sign, we've got you covered (literally! I hope this article has in some small way helped your and your teams trek through this extraordinary time. Remote teams can dress up for remote meetings, even if their outfits wont be on display all day. With these 33 employee appreciation ideas, you will see reduced turnover and retain your top talents. The intensive schedule prevents routine responsibilities from interrupting the fun, and permits employees to focus on recharging and team bonding. Then, send invites to the team. Why not see which team has the most steps or ran the furthest distance this week? But heres the thing. Want to enhance employee morale while improving productivity and boosting creativity? Recommended Article: 50 Best Words of Appreciation for Employees. Things to consider when you and your employees travel 4. Talking about making employees feel valued, a great way to do so is by involving them in the decision-making process, wherever possible. Spirit week shakes up the normal routine and gives dispersed teammates a chance to get together and have fun. Chances are, your company has one too. You may opt-out by. How to create effective, engaged workplace teams after the Some of these challenges involve participants play-acting and using props during Zoom calls, while simpler versions consist of a series of riddles on Google Forms. Harvard Business Review reports that "the most impactful driver of employee engagement is recognition.". First, choose a date and send a video meeting link to your colleagues. With most schools and districts shut down for the foreseeable future, many faculty and teachers are struggling to find ways to connect with their students. 1. Ask each person to share one word to describe how they are feeling in that moment. Celebrate "Employee Appreciation Day" With Pomp And Show Employee Appreciation Day is a semi-formal holiday in the United States. Team members can challenge each other voluntarily. For instance, plan a short gentle stretch, a high-intensity cardio routine, and a themed yoga class at different time slots throughout the day. After your holiday meal, go on a virtual group walk through your respective neighborhoods to work off the food. Be Intentional About Communications It's crucial that leaders don't get sucked into the. But to make them feel valued is what employees think is the most important. Work-Life Challenges and Integration in the Context of COVID - OHSU Its a way for us to provide food and a gathering without being on-site and in groups. The consulting group McKinsey & Co. surveyed 1,000 employers , and 90 percent reported that the pandemic was affecting the behavioral health of their employees. 14 Spirit Week Ideas That Kids Of All Ages Can Get Into - Romper The cost of commuting is heavily influenced by the location of the workplace relative to where the employee lives. 3 Ways Tech Company Sysomos Transformed Employee Experience, 5 Tips to Implement Summer Work Schedules, 6 Design Ideas to Create an Inspiring Work Environment. The essence of spirit week is enthusiasm, not physical proximity. Its expensive to recruit a new worker. Coming together this way will help bring your employees closer to you and boost the employee-employer relationship. In order to position your company as one where people really want to work, your company SWAG items had better reflect that. Offering free meals and caffeine is actually a highly effective and cost-effective means of motivating and controlling young employees. 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. Successful fundraising during a recession is two-pronged: Focus hard on donor engagement and retention, and 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). Gather the kids and create Paper Mice, Halloween skull jewelry, and more. Once the votes are in, book the top ranking classes. Teams complete comic-book-themed riddles and puzzles and virtual minute-to-win-it challenges to climb the leaderboard and save the world. Some teachers may have to adapt courses from daily 45-minute periods to 90-minute blocks every other day; others will need to figure out how to plan small-group work so that it lines up with. 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. Check out more more aboutonline retreat ideas. Mask up. Inject Fun and Humor. See how Namely's flexible solution will help you streamline your HR processes by having your people, payroll, and benefits info all in on place. When you incorporate social media into your online spirit week scheduling, you make it easier for colleagues to find and friend each other. 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. While employee appreciation may seem a bit heavy on the pockets, the bottom line is that it will lead to several long-term benefits. Dress-up days find a niche at busy offices; employees can show up in costume but still get tons of work done. Top 33 Amazing Employee Appreciation Ideas For 2023 - Vantage Circle Superhero Academy is a perfect fit for a hero or villain themed online spirit day. Relaxing activities to do at home during COVID-19 quarantine - CNBC Along with trivia nights and snack boxes, some enterprising folks have floated the idea of virtual cocktail parties, costume contests or craft workshops to spice up virtual holiday celebrations.. COVID-safe holiday office parties don't have to be boring Teammates can vote using the poll feature in your video meeting platform, and you can send the winner a prize. Paint Pumpkins. Coffee and Chocolate Tastings It doesn't have to be cocktail focused. Instead of the usual tables and activities, they had booths set up where treats were handed through the window. Video game consoles. For instance, on sports day, staff can wear jerseys, square off in competitive games, and participate in an online pep rally. Show your employees some love by making sure that the snacks provided are healthy and nutritious. We started this challenge at Booster. Half of the box contained things like hand sanitizer, gloves, masks, and other health-related products to help us stay safe. Home tours are a fun way for remote teammates to invite each other into personal spaces. Often, in the case of. These small everyday gestures can come off as a pleasant surprise and make employees feel valued. We safeguard your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy. We have these events called campfires that take place twice a week. 9 Ways to Help Others During the Coronavirus Pandemic The Coronavirus Crisis 9 Ways Schools Will Look Different When (And If) They Reopen 1. It is easier than ever to show your appreciation from the monthly Netflix fix to news and magazines. You could either give employees the option of attending short 10-15 minute workouts throughout the day, or hold one or two longer sessions. Working from home can be challenging. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Legal. 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. Who doesnt love free food? It's run by a different division each week to encourage everyone to get involved and has been a fun way to spend a few hoursand a welcome distraction. - Anna Barker, Founder at LogicalDollar, I arranged a remote talent show for our team. Take a bubble bath (bonus: Add a glass of. Ensure time is spent checking in on the teams main priorities - any urgent issues that need to be addressed? But some employers have devised celebrations that will keep people safe and actually sound fun (even to this curmudgeon). Its hard to replicate daily interactions with co-workers, casual encounters by the water cooler, or after-work drinks, but we are encouraging our employees to find time for virtual coffees, lunches, or even happy hours with their colleagues. - William Taylor, Career Development Manager at Velvetjobs, Something that has really helped us keep spirits up is our Slack 'meme' channel where we encourage everyone to post the best memes they find throughout the day. 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. Team costumes Whether you're a team of two or twenty, you can dress up in team costumes for Halloween. As the coronavirus continues to spread and confine people largely to their homes, many are filling pages with their experiences of living through a pandemic. 6 Virtual Team Building Activities | LBMC EP Beyond bestowing traditional awards like extraordinary performance, team player, or rookie of the year, you can also create fun award categories. For more tournament ideas, check out our list of Slack games. 1. Team building content expert. Reward employees with a token or gift of appreciation from your side. So, it's essential to consider this less of an idea and more of a thing that you have to do eventually. Snacks are a fantastic food item that doesn't require you to get out of your desk when you want to eat something light. A recent study published in Healthcare Design Magazine revealed that "an extreme break room makeover" at one health facility reduced staff "stress and fatigue.". At the end of the week, count up the wins, and have the victors face off against each other for the championship. The BIG List of School Spirit Week Ideas (80+ Activities!) Get the latest news from Namely about HR, payroll, and benefits. and retains your top employees. One of the simplest and most popular solutions has been virtual happy hours. If time is not available to do this well in one meeting book another one but within the next 24 hours so as not to lose momentum. Then, plan festive activities to enjoy together during the call. You will see that a few words of appreciation can do wonders for the workplace. Regardless of your age, some physical activity is better than none. But while you're indoors, there's no reason you can't explore your fun and creative side. In times of isolation it can be very difficult to stay on top of where everyone is at. This year, the questions are quite different, and nearly all are some variation of What do we even do for the holidays in a pandemic? Many employers are simply canceling holiday celebrations, since theres no way to safely gather. It is capped at $200 per day, and $2,000 in total, for employees who have a family member affected by COVID-19 or a child staying at home because their school is closed. Before the . This will make them feel like a part of your business and not just a mere employee. If your crew would rather perform just for fun, then end the show by giving participants a well-deserved round of virtual applause. Theres nothing quite like desserts and ice cream to alleviate stress. Streaming service subscriptions. Hear clients' stories and learn how they're building a better workplace with Namely. 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. Following recommendations from the CDC, we've put together some helpful guide to navigating Christmas during Covid this year. It definitely is the easiest and quickest Zoom icebreaker out there. Working remotely creates a new set of challenges that arebeing amplified by the added stress of school closures andby the anxiety many are facing during this pandemic. You can even display this social media recognition on your offices digital displays to make sure the whole team sees it. Hosting online costume contests is one of the best spirit week dress up ideas for work. Ask each person to share one word to describe how they are feeling in. 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. I also personally feel that it's boosting my wellbeing and brightening my day. Challengers can play the games directly in the channel, or via direct message. Every company has got one of these employees. When you actually take the time out to get involved with them personally, employees feel that you genuinely care about them. "Homeschool Spirit Week" lets kids have fun while - News 4 Buffalo An extra day off can mean a whole lot of possibilities to overworked and overstressed employees. We regularly share the progress our sunflowers are making. Decatur, IL (62521) Today. Online escape rooms are online versions of thematic puzzle-solving games. Spirit weeks are a time-honored tradition, in elementary, middle, and high schools alike. Take off your coat. 5 Radical Ideas For Schooling During Coronavirus : NPR Coronavirus has put a particular national spotlight on unmet needs of the growing older population in our country, and the tens of millions of overstretched family and professional caregivers they . All online escape rooms inspire teamwork and critical thinking in a fun and exciting way. Illustration by Supriya Kalidas. Virtual spirit weeks bolster team resolve and brightens telecommuters moods. 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. Were hearing from some people that while its not for everyone, having three hours on a Friday afternoon to do something fun together is really appreciated so were providing it for those who like/need it. Employee appreciation is the cornerstone of developing a robust and meaningful workplace culture. But providing a good employee experience is the future. We are doing a virtual chocolate tasting with my team. 12 Effective Team Building Activities To Try During COVID-19 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.