These activities also make great spring spirit week ideas for work. For more ideas, check out our roundup of team building workouts. Aside from regular appreciation, you can ensure that your employees feel valued on important occasions, such as by sending Thanksgiving messages to employees. There were two main ways we did this: by requiring team members to be vaccinated, and picking a venue that would reduce people's overall exposure. Remote teams can dress up for remote meetings, even if their outfits wont be on display all day. For some, it's Christmas and Valentine's Day; for others, it's a birthday. Are they excited to be working for you? You can celebrate the spirit of a challenge in your Spirit Week by hosting a Versus Day. Add some seriously "tricked out" kitchens on each floor of their facilities. 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. The key is making exercise a daily priority, and the holidays are no different. You can take the first step in promoting the importance of health. This calculation is based on it costing about six to nine months . The Coronavirus Crisis 9 Ways Schools Will Look Different When (And If) They Reopen 1. Real world elements make virtual exercises more engaging and interactive. Or, if you hold virtual escape rooms or similar games, then include puzzles. The best way to decorate virtual offices is by using virtual meeting backgrounds. Unorthodox corporate perks such as trips to hike near a volcano or dive with dolphins are an increasingly powerful way to attract, retain and motivate top talent. As anyone whos tried to organize any office activity knows, its hard, if not impossible, to find something that everyone will like, so some offices are offering a whole buffet of choices to pick from: My company couldnt find an online activity that worked for 40 people, so theyre offering a few different options. Keeping a workplace safe during the COVID-19 pandemic can be challenging. Help make kindness the norm at school, home and work by using the links below! But when you thank them for their efforts, it can be a heart-melting moment to inspire respect for you and the business. They take place using video call software, online communication platforms, and occasionally social media. It becomes less of a break and more of a disappointment. To play a murder mystery online, first find a game or script, and then invite teammates to a Zoom meeting to play out the scenario. When you think about having a great company culture, you think about building trust, honesty, and a great team of workers. It definitely is the easiest and quickest Zoom icebreaker out there. Simple ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace Also, they give continuous optimal performance. Plan out your meals and snacks ahead of time, such as at the beginning of the week or workday. 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!). Hosting online costume contests is one of the best spirit week dress up ideas for work. The BIG List of School Spirit Week Ideas (80+ Activities!) The second event is a winter wreath demo where again supplies are sent to peoples houses and you can follow along with the demo and put a non-denominational winter wreath together. Commemorating a work anniversary is a robust employee engagement, development, and retention tool and a way to recognize and show your appreciation to a valued employee. Make sure you exchange emails with a volunteer coordinator or call before you . Streaming service subscriptions. The team that plays together bonds better. Participate in the Boost Educators Challenge Encourage each student's family to challenge the rest of your school's families to give their teacher (s) a shout out or thank you over the school's social channels. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Be Intentional About Communications It's crucial that leaders don't get sucked into the. I hope the concrete strategies and steps I share below will help you to bring some added calm, focus and renewed energy to your team. Having direct access to a mentor gives junior professionals valuable one-on-one training. To make your company memorable in a sea of forgettable mugs. Why not expend the effort necessary to retain the staff that you have already painfully recruited and hired? 5k+ Downloads If done in person, they provide a safer pandemic option because you share the room only with the people in your party. Although workplace benefits help keep employees happy, they rarely tend to spark inspiration. Support families to. Online board games or trivia challenges are a great way to bring a team together for something besides work. However, Slack games offer more flexibility, as teammates can play on their own schedules. Check out more more aboutonline retreat ideas. Do the bragging on behalf of your employees, and show your whole team how fantastic everyone is. Companies all over the world are making their operations remote for the first time to combat the spread of the coronavirus. I write about how to improve team and leadership performance. It might sound kind of silly, but when the right company SWAG is used- it can have a big impact on building a positive workplace culture. All rights reserved. Experiences, not cash, are the new corporate bonus. A crisis like this can either break ateamdown and widen any cracks in its foundation, or it canresult in the emergence of true greatness. 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. It could be a magazine subscription (on a topic they would be interested in), treats for pets, snack samples, or anything they would enjoy. Here is an example of a graphic you could use for your games. Plus, we decided there will be a prize for the tallest sunflower, so it's turning into quite the competition. - Rose Jinks, Digital PR Specialist at Online Mortgage Advisor, As a way to boost morale and encourage teamwork while were apart, my company has been hosting virtual trivia nights every week. Whats the Word on The Street? 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. The Internet might be intermittent in these spots, so you can also give teammates the option of joining via phone audio instead of mobile video app. But heres the thing. The chocolate tasting person is mailing out the tasting kits to all of us and will lead us through the tasting via Zoom. You can also use GeoGessr to play a destination-guessing game, or take virtual tours of museums, zoos, and parks together. Meetings and frequent check-ins both with the whole team and individual team members need to sit at the top of your to-do list. Then, encourage teammates to square off. Remote teammates work together to crack clues and conquer brain teasers before time runs out. 2. The Town of Wake Forest and the Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department want you to stay safe during the current COVID-19 pandemic by honoring Wake County's stay at home order. 1. Teammates could also give a short slideshow presentation of their home cities. 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. 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. Namely's powerful HR Software is built for mid-sized companies designed to be used by everyone, every day. Participants can either perform alone, or collaborate with colleagues on a group act. Here are answers to some of the most common questions about virtual spirit weeks. We regularly share the progress our sunflowers are making. Interesting work matter only if you have good food while youre doing it. Beyond bestowing traditional awards like extraordinary performance, team player, or rookie of the year, you can also create fun award categories. Consider downloading a fitness app with curated workout playlists. Outdoor days are one of the best summer spirit week ideas for work. Often, in the case of. As we are a small team, we used to track this daily on a whiteboard in the office, but now we just check in each morning to see what each team member is planning to do that day. - Napala Pratini, Co-Founder at Habitual, We started including crosswords with internal jokes and references in our internal weekly newsletter. But some employers have devised celebrations that will keep people safe and actually sound fun (even to this curmudgeon). Here come's the most impactful one in our list of employee appreciation ideas. Here are three ways employers can reduce panic and keep employee morale up during the coronavirus outbreak. A great employee appreciation idea that gives day-to-day benefits is providing assigned parking spaces. 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. The tours could happen on a single day, or throughout the week. Snacks are a fantastic food item that doesn't require you to get out of your desk when you want to eat something light. It is easier than ever to show your appreciation from the monthly Netflix fix to news and magazines. Content Expert at teambuilding.com. It's marketed as "COVID-19 style" since all schools across the state are currently shut down. Trivia leaders can create questions and teams can decide on their favorite themes or trivia topics. Why not see which team has the most steps or ran the furthest distance this week? In turn, healthier employees produce better results for their companies. By planning an online retreat for spirit week, you block out employees time and free staff to enjoy the festivities. I hope this article has in some small way helped your and your teams trek through this extraordinary time. How to manage COVID-19 risks when organizing meetings and events 3. Yet now is a time when communication actually needs to be ramped up. Here are some ideas that seem newly relevant given the constraints of 2020 and beyond. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Legal. InDirect Report, she spotlights themes from her inbox that help explain the modern workplace and how we could be navigating it better. Company-branded swag can be simple everyday things like t-shirts, mugs, or even pen drives. With more than 30 million people filing for unemployment in the past six weeks, the U.S. is predicted to experience a coronavirus-induced recession through 2021. Decatur, IL (62521) Today. Ensure time is spent checking in on the teams main priorities - any urgent issues that need to be addressed? Encourage healthy work-life balance by modeling healthy boundaries around time spent working and time off. This is a great way to begin your team meetings. All This Talk About Quiet Quitting Is Absurd. The Very Worst Kind of Bad Boss Just Wont Go Away. Our division is doing a holiday drive-in movie and renting out a drive-in theater for the evening. Everything you need to build a better workplace. I sort of roll my eyes at these, but they did a pumpkin carving contest earlier in the fall and people got very very VERY into it, and someone offered to lead a how to make the perfect apple pie for Thanksgiving and the voluntary sign-up had over 500 people. It is a small token of appreciation, but our employees have expressed that they really appreciate the recognition. - Darryl Smith, Founding Partner at Florida Car Accident Lawyer Team, Because of the coronavirus, Kickstand recently implemented more flexible work schedules, including a few mental health hours per week to encourage employees to step away from their computers and recharge during the workday. 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 . Employee Appreciation Day is a semi-formal holiday in the United States. Starting a business during COVID-19 may seem impossible, but these 15 types of businesses can help you launch a business and even help others during the pandemic. 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. Check out BoostEducatorsChallenge.com for details. From year-end reporting to employee paystubs, check out these payroll tips and tricks. Saint Lucia has more than a dozen COVID-19 regulations for hotels, and visitors must get a negative COVID-19 test within a week of their arrival on the island. Student Engagement: Spirit Weeks A number of schools and school districts have done weekly challenges where students participate in a themed activity, take a picture or video of it, and then upload and tag it with a specific hashtag so that the community can find, enjoy, and celebrate it with them. First, create a Slack channel for the games. Should I bring a date? "We're encouraging employees to stay active by challenging their coworkers. Feel free to customize it with your companys logos. Pike13 Spirit Week highlights: There are many fun online activities that suit an international or travel-themed spirit week or spirit day. Also, it doesnt have to be expensive. Remote team games like holiday Bingo, trivia, and scavenger hunts get guests moving and invoke the holiday spirit. Elaine is a true partner in every sense of the word and would be a huge asset to any company. Some employees even showcased their talents liveranging from musical performances to cake baking to cat training. To keep our employees motivated, we are encouraging and hosting virtual social time. Hear clients' stories and learn how they're building a better workplace with Namely. One of the simplest and most popular solutions has been virtual happy hours. Without a doubt, getting a specially curated box of snacks will make employees feel happy and contented. Even after COVID-19, hand sanitizers are a welcomed gift, no matter your customer base or your business. Make it meaningful for the employee so that they cherish it and put in their extra effort. Cycling is beneficial for your. We, humans, are emotional creatures. Appreciation from one's peers has more significance than from one's manager. Show your employees some love by making sure that the snacks provided are healthy and nutritious. Once the awards end, you can email digital certificates and e-gift cards to recipients, or mail trophies and paper awards to their houses. But they are the last to leave. These events typically occur through a series of video meetings, group chats, and collaborative online activities. Sally can whip up a variety of cold meals, including salads, grain bowls and yogurt. Either way, ask participants to record results by posting them to the channel in a @WIN/@LOSS format. Unique SWAG ideas have the power to set your company apart. Chances are, your company has one too. 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. No, not the executive lunchroom. Throughout the evening or afternoon, read awards off one by one, and give each winner 30 seconds to give a victory speech. Some ideas for your 30-minute morning check-ins include: One-Word Check-ins. Discuss and ask specific questions about work related items such as what they are working on, what they have accomplished in x amount of time, whether they have any challenges and if so how you can help. Weve had a few teams compete in virtual relays, races, or step challenges using free apps to log steps, distance ran/cycled, etc. Invite team members to share any perspectives they have about other teams and stakeholders and their needs, concerns issues that the team should be aware of. The Kaiser Family Foundation found . It doesnt have to be cocktail focused. Half of the box contained things like hand sanitizer, gloves, masks, and other health-related products to help us stay safe. A dynamic host facilitates this 90 minute virtual team building event with a trusty virtual sidekick. Not to mention that birthday parties are an opportunity to appreciate peers. Your team can decorate their jack-o'-lanterns during break, lunch, or while you hold a team meeting. Before the . Better still, if this praise comes in front of their team members, colleagues, and peers. One is a gingerbread house session where theyll send you the kit, walk you through assembly, and then you can decorate with the provided candy and icing or your own. To begin with, publicly recognizing great employees reflects well on your company for customers, investors, and your team. You might be worried about keeping yourself safe from coronavirus. Do I really have to go at all? Attempt a self portrait with pencil and paper. Just to say hi and check how they are doing. The day-to-day work life might get hectic and tedious for everyone in the office. For example, hold a Zoom ugly sweater contest, host a virtual Secret Santa or white elephant gift exchange, and sing Christmas carols. 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. Recognizing employees is a great way to boost morale and build excitement during spirit week. 3. Plus, you can capture a screenshot of the whole crew dressed up. During these Walk-and-Talk meetings, employees can stroll around their neighborhoods, nearby parks, or even backyards for a change of scenery and some fresh air. One idea that keeps popping up on our Principal Life Facebook group is the concept of a virtual theme week. This is a great way to begin your team meetings. The events should also not take too long to do. In uncertain times, one thing is certain with fundraisingthe more you plan, the better off you will be. Develop team norms. 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. You could either give employees the option of attending short 10-15 minute workouts throughout the day, or hold one or two longer sessions. Learn more: 25 Employee Recognition Statistics You Shouldn't Ignore. Since healthier employees are more productive, happy, and energetic, the company will benefit from this form of appreciation. This helps your employees feel appreciated on an ongoing basis. 2. Walking not only counts as physical activity, but also provides some mental health benefits. Therefore it's a win-win situation. Daily Dose of Kindness (sent daily) Weekly Kindness Idea (sent weekly) General Newsletter (for everyone) General Newsletter (for educators) 2022 Todos los derechos reservados. 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. The amount of pay is capped at $511 per day, and $5,110 in total, for employees who are sick or quarantined or who have symptoms. From theme days to care packages to costume contests, here is a list of fun ways to celebrate spirit weeks in remote offices. I wont be able to attend as COVID-19 gave me the chance to move out of state and go full-time remote, but I actually think its a great idea. For employees, having access to a mentor can add velocity to the workplace learning curve. Heres some of what people reported. I am going to go out on a limb here to say to you something vital. She had such a creative way for putting a holiday spin on our corporate branding, and theyre going to be a big hit! By hosting your fundraisers online, you can reach new supporters both near and far from your school without needing to leave your desk. Team members can challenge each other voluntarily. For example, Marvel versus DC Comics, the '60s versus the '70s, or Batman and the Joker. Simmonds was blown away by . Perhaps the best gift to give your employees is recognizing your employees publicly for a great job done. Have office happy hours and hire a bartender to mix them a drink or two. 32. Recommended Article: 25 Employee Engagement Activities To Reinvent Your Workforce. Many a time, they'll bring that positivity and enthusiasm back to the workplace. Halloween is the time of year when employees can showcase their creativity and interact with coworkers they may not normally work closely with. Wool socks, very plushy fleece blankets, playing cards, mugs, etc. Slack game tournaments are great ideas for virtual spirit weeks. 1. They had a selection that included non-alcoholic mixes too (like a ginger lemonade). Teammates can select a different background for each meeting or theme day, and can even swap backgrounds multiple times per call. Virtual Breakout Rooms are ideal for teams that need to brush up on their collaboration, problem-solving, and creative thinking skills. However, you could include a holiday theme in your virtual spirit week during any time of the year. Employee appreciation is the cornerstone of developing a robust and meaningful workplace culture. The intensive schedule prevents routine responsibilities from interrupting the fun, and permits employees to focus on recharging and team bonding. Online fundraising allows you to make a big impact even if your team is limited in members or budget. 1. Next, install game apps like rock paper scissors, tic tac toe, and trivia. Dress-up days find a niche at busy offices; employees can show up in costume but still get tons of work done. Want to enhance employee morale while improving productivity and boosting creativity? While employee appreciation may seem a bit heavy on the pockets, the bottom line is that it will lead to several long-term benefits. 4. With trick-or-treating officially considered a high-risk activity, you may be scrambling to find something for your little goblins to do on the 31st. Coming together this way will help bring your employees closer to you and boost the employee-employer relationship. Convey these "thank you" either in a heartful card, on social media, with the help of appreciation letters or (better yet) through a friendly handshake. 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). Just beware of overdosing on sugar. These morning check-ins, no matter how short are invaluable for maintaining a sense of community, checking in on how team members are doing, and to stay focused on key priorities so that momentum and performance is maintained. Theme Days. 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. 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. After face masks, custom hand sanitizers are the next health and safety giveaway idea on our list. While personalizing spaces at work to fit the geographic locale or the personal tastes of employees has become common. We all know that employees are the most valuable asset for a business. Make Sure You're COVID Safe. (Source: Team Vantage Circle's Day Excursion). 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. Contains 5 ml. To host a virtual talent show, invite teammates to sign up for slots. When Kirkman first had the idea, she posted about it in her social club Facebook group and on her Instagram story, in case a few close friends wanted to join. Everything is impacted by COVID-19 in some way, including our work. List of virtual spirit week ideas. After all, who doesn't like a couple of free snacks? The time can be used all at once or in increments. - Molly George, Partner and CEO of Kickstand Communications, We host Netflix parties where we pick something to watch and an app syncs our screens, letting us instant message each other. 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. Dessert buffets are fun and positively addicting. 5. 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. Murder mysteries are games that require participants to play a character while solving a mystery. Illustration by Supriya Kalidas. Declaring theme days is one of the easiest spirit week ideas for work from home. To establish team norms, ask: What behaviors and practices are most important right now to our teams effectiveness?. Simply schedule a Zoom meeting and ask attendees to join from an outdoor spot such as backyards, parks, or beaches. Whats Really So Wrong About Secretly Working Two Full-Time Jobs at Once? Not to mention there's the option of booking an entertainer - choices include singer Jimmy Barnes and comedy duo Hamish and Andy - to spice up a webcam-based party. 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 . Wed have the holiday party on Zoom, where folks would open what they had received from their gift giver. Once the votes are in, book the top ranking classes. You may experience anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic if you have to go into work. Now more than ever, we need to lean on each other for support. Simply gear each days activities around a particular topic. I am a big believer in team norms which support the team in self managing behaviors, practices and performance. 2. This year, theyre sending a food related gift to our homes and giving us the afternoon off. But we must also address the negative impact of isolation loneliness, fatigue or even . Why not put a reminder in your diary when you plan to finish working? 1. Not my cup of tea but a lot of people seemed to like it! Credit: HMH Books for Young Readers. For instance, take their opinion during decisions like on-boarding new technology or a specific project. We started this challenge at Booster. 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. Regardless of your age, some physical activity is better than none. School spirit week is a fun time for everyone to come together and show off their pride. Most employees love to learn, and taking a virtual class together is a terrific spirit week idea. Petit fours, miniature cupcakes, and macarons are the best tea party desserts, and finger sandwiches are another staple. See: How Indoor Ventilation Systems Can Help Prevent or Permit the Spread of COVID-19 . 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. We gathered the top employee morale tips, tricks, and ideas from businesses around the world. Theres nothing quite like desserts and ice cream to alleviate stress. Open windows, increase circulation, and keep room density as low as possible with fewer people in one space. Names were swapped, wish lists were made, and gifts from small businesses were delivered to friends and families! More than a manager, an employee's peers are more likely to know about their good qualities. 9. Explore them here: On Fridays, our team puts on ridiculous outfits to make each other laugh during virtual meetings. The thing that giants like Google and Airbnb have understood is that the physical environment of the office matters. Getting your own parking space is a highly coveted idea to really recognize your employees for doing a great job. To set the mood, encourage participants to put up virtual backgrounds of Victorian parlors or lush gardens. With these 33 employee appreciation ideas, you will see reduced turnover and retain your top talents. But employees with a few years of experience should be matched with a career mentor to help them grow in their position. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ones. Find out how to shape a culture that attracts, engages, A few more things that made it special: The best part about it was everyone participating posting a small list of likes and dislikeswe all got to know each other better through reading those lists and connect over shared interest.