Then, have one attendee lead the class, or screen share a video routine. To host these virtual workouts, have participants join a Zoom call. Wellness Resources Whats Really So Wrong About Secretly Working Two Full-Time Jobs at Once? Are your employee motivated to come to work every single day? 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. 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. Dress-up days find a niche at busy offices; employees can show up in costume but still get tons of work done. Show your employees some love by making sure that the snacks provided are healthy and nutritious. I am a big believer in team norms which support the team in self managing behaviors, practices and performance. Many teams are waking up to a new reality of working remotely. Plus, the posts are a great way to advertise your companys culture to a wider audience. I recently asked Ask a Manager readers to share how their teams are observing the holidays in lieu of in-person parties this year, and it turns out companies have gotten really creative. 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. 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. Teammates can select a different background for each meeting or theme day, and can even swap backgrounds multiple times per call. Work-Life Challenges and Integration in the Context of COVID - OHSU 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. 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. Trivia can be a good way to help teams relax, inspire conversation and build relationships. 5. Book an Airbnb virtual experience. It's marketed as "COVID-19 style" since all schools across the state are currently shut down. Typical spirit weeks involve decorating contests. The best online spirit week ideas unite dispersed teammates, encourage interaction, and inspire fun. You can also offer a myriad of health benefits. We gathered the top employee morale tips, tricks, and ideas from businesses around the world. If you are looking to reward your employees with a little something extra. Simply post a different game or prompt on the company social channels every day, and instruct employees to respond using a special hashtag. The games last 90 minutes, giving remote colleagues plenty of time to bond and have fun together. PopCap, the company behind legendary Facebook games like Bejeweled, offers some fantastic break rooms for its 400 odd employees. Some leaders consistently interact with those they most easily connect with but may not as readily think of others. 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). Top Pandemic-Friendly Business Ideas - U.S. Chamber Contains 5 ml. 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. Click here to find out how. Some good virtual spirit week ideas include virtual talent shows, Zoom spirit week backgrounds, online award shows, and theme days. Things to consider when you and your employees travel 4. Celebrated on the first Friday in March, it pays homage to each employee's contribution to their company. Pandemic office holiday party ideas. - Slate Magazine Offering free meals and caffeine is actually a highly effective and cost-effective means of motivating and controlling young employees. And of course folks could also just log off if they wanted to, with no pressure to spend the rest of the day working. For example, share with team members how you will be leading, how you will check in with them, what you will be asking about. Ensure time is spent checking in on the teams main priorities - any urgent issues that need to be addressed? A great employee appreciation idea that gives day-to-day benefits is providing assigned parking spaces. Team Norms. Also, they grow more motivated to maintain or improve their good work. Simply designate a theme for each day or meeting, then choose the best dressed for each category. to Launch During a Pandemic. 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. The week before your work at home spirit week, mail boxes full of goodies to team members. Want to enhance employee morale while improving productivity and boosting creativity? Mention about their desirable quirks like always being on time or such. Illustration by Supriya Kalidas. Your Team Is Now Working Remotely5 Ways To Strengthen - Forbes For instance, on sports day, staff can wear jerseys, square off in competitive games, and participate in an online pep rally. Gather the kids and create Paper Mice, Halloween skull jewelry, and more. Toilet paper and Netflix memes are very popular right now. Then, encourage teammates to square off. I hope this article has in some small way helped your and your teams trek through this extraordinary time. So, whether you're paired up or have something in the works, here are 20 ideas to safely celebrate Valentine's Day during coronavirus. You can even use it as a way to support local businesses: We were able to do family meals for our employees. 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. We have 30+ experiences to choose from, and thousands of five star reviews. If theyd just put an extra $100 in my paycheck and said we cant have a party this year so get yourself a nice treat, Id have appreciated that too. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ones. 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. Make it meaningful for the employee so that they cherish it and put in their extra effort. Celebrate "Employee Appreciation Day" With Pomp And Show Employee Appreciation Day is a semi-formal holiday in the United States. Even a simple gesture like an appreciation message or thoughtful gifts on valentines Day or anniversaries can make a huge difference. We started this challenge at Booster. Theres nothing quite like desserts and ice cream to alleviate stress. Each act should be around five minutes. We are doing a virtual chocolate tasting with my team. 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. Challengers can play the games directly in the channel, or via direct message. Learn more: 25 Employee Recognition Statistics You Shouldn't Ignore. 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. Better still, if this praise comes in front of their team members, colleagues, and peers. Employee appreciation is the cornerstone of developing a robust and meaningful workplace culture. First, either mail employees tea and fancy snacks, or ask attendees to bring their own refreshments and reimburse them for the expense. 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. "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. Consider sending your top ten performers off for a day or two at a spa to provide an incentive for continued outstanding performance. But employees with a few years of experience should be matched with a career mentor to help them grow in their position. These events are the online equivalent of spirit week, and are examples of virtual employee engagement activities and virtual team celebrations, and often take place on virtual event platforms. Getting your workplace ready in case COVID-19 arrives in your community. #StayStrongWF Spirit Week April 6-10. In uncertain times, one thing is certain with fundraisingthe more you plan, the better off you will be. 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. 1. Innovative Holiday and Winter Gatherings in the Time of COVID-19 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. Everyone can be a film critic and talk about how much they love or hate what we're watching. - Jess Guffey, Brand Partnerships at Design Pickle, To stay connected with our colleagues and support local economies at the same time, our company decided to launch Support Santa, a Secret Santa-inspired gift swap. Here are instructions on changing virtual backgrounds in Zoom, GoogleMeet, and Microsoft Teams. So far, people have hosted presentations on their favorite hobby, sports team, family, the country they come from, favorite food, favorite lockdown activity, etc. Or take a field trip to the local entertainment venue. To make your company memorable in a sea of forgettable mugs. Reading a book on the sofa is a cozy way to get in the Christmas spirit. 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. These small everyday gestures can come off as a pleasant surprise and make employees feel valued. 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. 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. So, it's essential to consider this less of an idea and more of a thing that you have to do eventually. 3 Ways To Keep Employee Morale Up During The Coronavirus Outbreak - Forbes 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. Home tours are a fun way for remote teammates to invite each other into personal spaces. How to create effective, engaged workplace teams after the Avoid the cafeteria as it can be very distracting. It is a good idea to vary the class types and levels so that more team members can participate. Then, send invites to the team. Get Competitive. If done in person, they provide a safer pandemic option because you share the room only with the people in your party. 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. 15 gifts to give essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic These events help boost company pride. You can supplement your on-the-clock remote spirit week activities with fun social media challenges. Clarify expectations, for example, of performance, workflow or performance management. It is working together that will get us through this time. Social Media is the biggest influencer of our generation. Humans have an inherent need to get appreciated for their work. To begin with, publicly recognizing great employees reflects well on your company for customers, investors, and your team. Reward employees with a token or gift of appreciation from your side. 1. Content Expert at teambuilding.com. Also, they give continuous optimal performance. Guests can dress up too. This helps your employees feel appreciated on an ongoing basis. For instance, plan a short gentle stretch, a high-intensity cardio routine, and a themed yoga class at different time slots throughout the day. Student creates quarantine spirit week, brings people together A crisis like this can either break ateamdown and widen any cracks in its foundation, or it canresult in the emergence of true greatness. 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. Share funny videos, do some riddles and brainsteasers, put music on in the background. #StayStrongWF Spirit Week | Town of Wake Forest, NC The employee experience is better, and the company's outcome stronger. If your office normally does Secret Santa or Yankee Swap gift exchanges, you can keep it going this year too. Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus, This is a BETA experience. From theme days to care packages to costume contests, here is a list of fun ways to celebrate spirit weeks in remote offices. 2022 Tous droits rservs. Coronavirus - how to cope with going into work - Mind To host a virtual talent show, invite teammates to sign up for slots. Typical activities include theme days, costume contests, and online parties. She had such a creative way for putting a holiday spin on our corporate branding, and theyre going to be a big hit! The Ultimate Guide to Employee Rewards and Recognition. Develop team norms. Workplace Safety During COVID-19 | Justia During the call, participants can chat and play fun games, or co-work while enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. 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. 2. Plus, you can capture a screenshot of the whole crew dressed up. I write about how to improve team and leadership performance. Ways to Boost Employee Morale During COVID-19 - Namely Make Sure You're COVID Safe. Another good team-building activity is a virtual workshop or workout class. 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). Successful fundraising during a recession is two-pronged: Focus hard on donor engagement and retention, and Paint Pumpkins. Also, busy workdays are where lunches are spent with a sad sandwich while staring at the computer. Usually at this time of year, my inbox fills up with questions about company holiday parties: How many drinks are OK to have there? Here are some ideas that seem newly relevant given the constraints of 2020 and beyond. 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! Hand Sanitizers. Ensure that everyone gets that attention. 2022 Alle rechten voorbehouden. Your objectives for the meeting will be to: Note: This is not a meeting to be rushed. Health & Safety Giveaways: Ideas amid COVID-19 - National Pen Sometimes, the utmost appreciation that an employee seeks is a promotion in his job role. Also, it doesnt have to be expensive. What every woman needs to know during COVID-19 - Lean In You get the best effort from others, not by lighting a fire beneath them but by building a fire within. Spirit weeks build ties with community Over the course of this week, schools will ask students and staff to do activities such as share TikTok videos, do workouts and share pictures wearing. Eight Fun Student Engagement Ideas During COVID-19 and Beyond For instance, if you host a murder mystery, then include character cards in the boxes. While personalizing spaces at work to fit the geographic locale or the personal tastes of employees has become common. Children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years need at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity daily. For some, it's Christmas and Valentine's Day; for others, it's a birthday. Feel free to customize it with your companys logos. Just to say hi and check how they are doing. Spirit week shakes up the normal routine and gives dispersed teammates a chance to get together and have fun. Every company has got one of these employees. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the federal government (OSHA) has provided detailed guidelinesfor workplace safety policies. Elaine has in-depth knowledge of digital, social, and websites both from a strategic and user . Online workouts serve the dual purpose of adding exercise and peer-to-peer interaction into remote workers sedentary, solitary workdays. From theme days to care packages to costume contests, here is a list of fun ways to celebrate spirit weeks in remote offices. All online escape rooms inspire teamwork and critical thinking in a fun and exciting way. Harvard Business Review reports that "the most impactful driver of employee engagement is recognition.". Every year there are days we look forward to. Elaine is a true partner in every sense of the word and would be a huge asset to any company. Why not see which team has the most steps or ran the furthest distance this week? Simple ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace 2. When employees feel that their work is valued, their satisfaction and productivity rise. 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. 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. Do it privately-ish. Next, check our our list of ideas to celebrate Pride at work, online fun Friday ideas, and intern orientation activities. 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. 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. 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. 21 Fun Quarantine Christmas Ideas 2020 - Good Housekeeping 1. These activities also make great spring spirit week ideas for work. Many a time, they'll bring that positivity and enthusiasm back to the workplace. This is a time to focus only on the people sitting before you. You may experience anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic if you have to go into work. Virtual workout or meditation classes. To truly show your employees that they are doing a great job, bring in some fun office traditions like "Taco Tuesday.". Its a really cool way to connect with your coworkers and find out more about their life outside of work. It might sound cliche, but small courtesies like a boss saying thank you to the team members can make a huge difference. And encouraging a cake culture can never be a bad thing. Make the day memorable by organizing outside barbecues or small office parties. Cycling is beneficial for your. Credit: HMH Books for Young Readers. by HR professionals across the globe! We, humans, are emotional creatures. Snacks are a fantastic food item that doesn't require you to get out of your desk when you want to eat something light. 2020 Namely, Inc. All rights reserved. 4. Superhero Academy is equal parts fun, intellectual, and competitive. $10 at Amazon. For our workers who have never worked from home, social isolation is deeply felt. Either way, ask participants to record results by posting them to the channel in a @WIN/@LOSS format. Theme Days. 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. To keep our employees motivated, we are encouraging and hosting virtual social time. 10 Fun Halloween Activities to Try With Employees How to Be Physically Active While Social Distancing Since healthier employees are more productive, happy, and energetic, the company will benefit from this form of appreciation. Were working with local restaurants (some minority-owned) to provide cold reheatable family meals that our employees will take home to enjoy with their family. Working from home can be lonely and mundane. Ask your remote team members to describe their day so far with an emoji or a string of emojis. 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. How to Engage And Retain Your Employees During Covid - LinkedIn For more tournament ideas, check out our list of Slack games. Basically, the idea is to boost morale by giving students a collective silly goal. But providing a good employee experience is the future. There's a lot you can do to be helpful from home. Promoting health is no longer seen as an initiative that yields 'soft' results. 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. Put up fun office anecdotes on the bulletin board. Make it more special by hosting a "Make Your Own Taco" competition where the winner gets some form of employee reward. Themed gift boxes are another popular idea: Were sending winter-y stay-at-home gift boxes. Or, if you hold virtual escape rooms or similar games, then include puzzles. Subjects should be fun and non-work related. Some employees even showcased their talents liveranging from musical performances to cake baking to cat training. Have regular check ins with individual team members. Here are a few examples. This is a great way to begin your team meetings. By planning an online retreat for spirit week, you block out employees time and free staff to enjoy the festivities. Plus, you could throw virtual parties for any holiday. Instead, health promotion ensures that your staff actually want and like to be at work. How to Plan a Wedding Amid COVID: Ideas, Advice & More After face masks, custom hand sanitizers are the next health and safety giveaway idea on our list. Following recommendations from the CDC, we've put together some helpful guide to navigating Christmas during Covid this year. Staff members find creative ways to celebrate during COVID-19 - Miami By hosting your fundraisers online, you can reach new supporters both near and far from your school without needing to leave your desk. Lifestyle contests that encourage employees to exercise or try a new activity can also help boost morale. At the end of the week, count up the wins, and have the victors face off against each other for the championship. Participants can either perform alone, or collaborate with colleagues on a group act. Part of the fun of spirit week is pretending, and murder mysteries cast participants in the roles of cunning detectives. Next, install game apps like rock paper scissors, tic tac toe, and trivia. SHRM estimates that it costs $20,000 to $30,000 in recruiting and training expenses to replace a manager making $40,000 a year. Team building content expert. Breakout Rooms! In this case they will contribute to providing some structure in an unstructured team situation. But heres the thing. 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. California-based Chowbotics, has seen an uptick in demand for its fresh food robot "Sally.". The essence of spirit week is enthusiasm, not physical proximity. Everyone had a week to practice and record their talents before we all watched them together during a special All Hands meeting. Companies with a corporate health plan are more likely to see more engaged employees. Most employees love to learn, and taking a virtual class together is a terrific spirit week idea. The tours could happen on a single day, or throughout the week. For example, book-binding, instrument-building, ravioli-making, or makeup lessons with a drag queen. Thus, make it easier for team members to congratulate each other on a job well done. One of the simplest and most popular solutions has been virtual happy hours. You can take the first step in promoting the importance of health. A viral photo with suggestions for "Homeschool Spirit Week" has been circling social media. Here are some suggestions: A team reset meeting will ensure team members take time to identify how to best work together in this new reality so that the team can maintain a sense of community, transition through this change effectively, and maintain (and even improve) team performance during this time while supporting the well-being of team members.