Experiences, not cash, are the new corporate bonus. This will allow team members to truly appreciate each other, leading to better team building. There is also the threat of a recession. But providing a good employee experience is the future. 4. We safeguard your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy. We are doing a virtual chocolate tasting with my team. Everything you need to build a better workplace. Ensure time is spent checking in on the teams main priorities - any urgent issues that need to be addressed? Spirit Week ideas for busy offices should include low-maintenance events that require minimal planning from event organizers and the participants. To set the mood, encourage participants to put up virtual backgrounds of Victorian parlors or lush gardens. 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. People are encouraged to bring family (which is not something we typically can do with these events) and I would have loved this even before the new normal. Im kind of bummed Im going to be missing out on this one actually. Virtual talent shows work best when there is a predetermined act order and an emcee to manage the flow. Team Norms. For more ideas, check out our roundup of team building workouts. Ask each person to share one word to describe how they are feeling in that moment. High 53F. Teammates could also give a short slideshow presentation of their home cities. "We're encouraging employees to stay active by challenging their coworkers. Be Intentional About Communications It's crucial that leaders don't get sucked into the. The key is making exercise a daily priority, and the holidays are no different. So, it's essential to consider this less of an idea and more of a thing that you have to do eventually. I write about how to improve team and leadership performance. There are many fun online activities that suit an international or travel-themed spirit week or spirit day. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the federal government (OSHA) has provided detailed guidelinesfor workplace safety policies. 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. The Coronavirus Crisis 9 Ways Schools Will Look Different When (And If) They Reopen 1. Were all pretty pumped about it. Spirit weeks often involve games. Online retreats are company gatherings that take place online. 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. 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. COVID-19 is expected to last for many months, with a potential resurgence in the fall. Believe it or not, such small stuff really sees a positively impacted company culture. However, you could include a holiday theme in your virtual spirit week during any time of the year. Remote team games like holiday Bingo, trivia, and scavenger hunts get guests moving and invoke the holiday spirit. These activities broaden employees global and cultural horizons while also delighting the teams travel lovers. 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. For employees, having access to a mentor can add velocity to the workplace learning curve. Simmonds was blown away by . Every year there are days we look forward to. The Very Worst Kind of Bad Boss Just Wont Go Away. These events typically occur through a series of video meetings, group chats, and collaborative online activities. Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. Themed gift boxes are another popular idea: Were sending winter-y stay-at-home gift boxes. If you are looking to reward your employees with a little something extra. Typical spirit weeks involve decorating contests. 2. The best online holiday parties encourage interaction. It becomes less of a break and more of a disappointment. Learn more: 25 Employee Recognition Statistics You Shouldn't Ignore. You get the best effort from others, not by lighting a fire beneath them but by building a fire within. 3. 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. 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. Most employees love to learn, and taking a virtual class together is a terrific spirit week idea. 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. Offering extra time off pretty much never goes amiss, especially at this time of year: In lieu of bonuses and parties and all sorts of things, my employer is just closing for the week in between Christmas and New Years and giving everyone the time offits been a hit, because thats usually a huge use of vacation days for folks. Virtual spirit weeks are weeklong events that consist of a series of fun and interactive online activities. It means that they can catch up on the countless movies that they have missed. 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. Then, have one attendee lead the class, or screen share a video routine. If done in person, they provide a safer pandemic option because you share the room only with the people in your party. Spirit week shakes up the normal routine and gives dispersed teammates a chance to get together and have fun. Then, plan festive activities to enjoy together during the call. Promoting health is no longer seen as an initiative that yields 'soft' results. 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. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ones. Here are list of themes to use for online spirit weeks. It is easier than ever to show your appreciation from the monthly Netflix fix to news and magazines. A client of mine, whose team of 15 people are now all working from home, established daily 30-minute morning team check-ins to stay connected and on top of the priorities of the team, which have shifted given COVID-19. Some ideas for your 30-minute morning check-ins include: Establish virtual coffee chats with individual team members. Namely's powerful HR Software is built for mid-sized companies designed to be used by everyone, every day. Get Competitive. 9. 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. Want to submit a guest post? But to make them feel valued is what employees think is the most important. You may experience anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic if you have to go into work. We have 30+ experiences to choose from, and thousands of five star reviews. Next, check our our list of ideas to celebrate Pride at work, online fun Friday ideas, and intern orientation activities. Virtual talent shows double as entertainment and team bonding. Some good virtual spirit week ideas include virtual talent shows, Zoom spirit week backgrounds, online award shows, and theme days. Appreciation from one's peers has more significance than from one's manager. 5. Get the latest news from Namely about HR, Payroll, and Benefits. Explore them here: On Fridays, our team puts on ridiculous outfits to make each other laugh during virtual meetings. Many a time, showing some employee appreciation may seem hard. Check out our list of the best online murder mysteries. How to manage COVID-19 risks when organizing meetings and events 3. What Readers Want During COVID-19: Content Ideas for Every Niche. Employees who want to learn about new tools, techniques, or topics but have less time on their hands will consider it a fabulous opportunity. If you work in an industry where teamwork is crucial, sudden orders to . (Source: Team Vantage Circle's Day Excursion). 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. It is especially meaningful when the appreciation comes from their bosses. Real world elements make virtual exercises more engaging and interactive. How to be a good coworker and leader during this crisis. 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!). Letting employees decorate their workspaces plays an active role in building relationships within the company. Streaming service subscriptions. You can arrange for office taxis or subsidized bus fares so that commute becomes a tad bit easier on their pockets. I cannot wait. You can even use it as a way to support local businesses: We were able to do family meals for our employees. Recommended Article: 50 Best Words of Appreciation for Employees. Read about more virtual talent show ideas. Many a time, they'll bring that positivity and enthusiasm back to the workplace. Some ideas for your 30-minute morning check-ins include: One-Word Check-ins. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your team is to enable them to let off some steam without the pressure to perform. Food has a way of being a catalyst to bring people together. Teammates can select a different background for each meeting or theme day, and can even swap backgrounds multiple times per call. The care packages were tailored for each individual, and they included self-care items such as cozy socks, chocolate, herbal tea, craft kits, puzzles, books, and board games. Mask up. Simply designate a theme for each day or meeting, then choose the best dressed for each category. Recommended Case Study: Indias Largest Telecom Company Boosts their Global Employee Engagement with Vantage Rewards. Consider sending your top ten performers off for a day or two at a spa to provide an incentive for continued outstanding performance. To host a virtual talent show, invite teammates to sign up for slots. Virtual Breakout Rooms are ideal for teams that need to brush up on their collaboration, problem-solving, and creative thinking skills. Yet now is a time when communication actually needs to be ramped up. The games last 90 minutes, giving remote colleagues plenty of time to bond and have fun together. When showtime arrives, gather on a Zoom call. This calculation is based on it costing about six to nine months . There is no discussion in this exercise, it is simply a way for team members to connect with how others are feeling in the moment. 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. Ventilation and air circulation are your friends. Thoughtful ways to build community and pride. 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. Many of us now look forward to Mondays because of these hilarious crosswords! Your employees are amazing people with undisclosed talents. Employees thrive at work when they know their contributions have meaning. Weve had a few teams compete in virtual relays, races, or step challenges using free apps to log steps, distance ran/cycled, etc. Inject Fun and Humor. Virtual Fun Run Cost: $$ Difficulty: 4 Earning Potential: There are few things that employees feel more love for than an extra day of freedom aside from the weekend. Encourage healthy work-life balance by modeling healthy boundaries around time spent working and time off. Also, they grow more motivated to maintain or improve their good work. Then, encourage teammates to square off. 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. Also, remember to turn your phone off. 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. Elaine is a true partner in every sense of the word and would be a huge asset to any company. If you developed team norms to stay on top of (as above), then ensure you check-in on them. And what could be better for this purpose than to offer E-Learning options? 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. Look at yourself in the mirror. Materialistic perks are fine. This is a great way to begin your team meetings. 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. 2. 2022 Todos los derechos reservados. No, not the executive lunchroom. 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. The team that plays together bonds better. 6. And encouraging a cake culture can never be a bad thing. 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. 33 Amazing Employee Appreciation Ideas [2023 Update], The Ultimate Guide To Employee Rewards and Recognition, 50 Best Words of Appreciation for Employees, Gift Cards Make For The Perfect Employee Rewards, Indias Largest Telecom Company Boosts their Global Employee Engagement with Vantage Rewards, 25 Employee Engagement Activities To Reinvent Your Workforce, 25 Employee Recognition Statistics You Shouldn't Ignore, Top 102 Employee Recognition Quotes To Celebrate Their Endeavours, 23 Awesome Ways To Make Every Employee Work Anniversary Memorable, All You Need To Know About Sales Incentive Programs In 2023, 10 Intrinsic Rewards That Your Employees Look Forward To, Empower the Workforce With A Culture of Peer-to-Peer Recognition. 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. Virtual spirit weeks bolster team resolve and brightens telecommuters moods. It definitely is the easiest and quickest Zoom icebreaker out there. Recognizing employees is a great way to boost morale and build excitement during spirit week. 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 . Breakout rooms enable guests to have more intimate conversations, so that no attendee feels like an observer. Learn how to set new boundaries, ask for support, and re-strategize with your partner about what you need. Taking care of your employees' health is the most prominent form of appreciation that you can show. Some are great artists, while some spend their time doing charity work. Virtual tea parties are calm yet quirky online events to hold with remote teams. For instance, plan a short gentle stretch, a high-intensity cardio routine, and a themed yoga class at different time slots throughout the day. 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. It could be a magazine subscription (on a topic they would be interested in), treats for pets, snack samples, or anything they would enjoy. Whether they worked late to get the job done, blew past their sales goal, or volunteering at a local shelter, give employees the credit they deserve. Make it meaningful for the employee so that they cherish it and put in their extra effort. Aside from regular appreciation, you can ensure that your employees feel valued on important occasions, such as by sending Thanksgiving messages to employees. From open enrollment to building a benefits package, we've got you covered. I also hired a local small business to make some custom iced cookies for us. We started this challenge at Booster. But there is one occasion that should be praised with the same level of spirit and vigor as the restthe work anniversary. Here are some ideas that seem newly relevant given the constraints of 2020 and beyond. We All Hate It. 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. Here is our take on enhancing employee motivation with the below 33 exceptional employee appreciation ideas. 1. The tours could happen on a single day, or throughout the week. This will make them feel like a part of your business and not just a mere employee. Take off your coat. We made an example virtual spirit week agenda: Creating a visually appealing spirit week announcement can help your crew be more excited and attentive towards the event. Who doesnt love free food? Not to mention, care packages add a tactile element to your all-online spirit week. You could even include dessert decorating packs, tasting assortments, or craft kits. Coffee and Chocolate Tastings It doesn't have to be cocktail focused. You can also offer a myriad of health benefits. It all started with a group chat. 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. 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 . 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. After all, who doesn't like a couple of free snacks? To host an online award show, first create award categories. A viral photo with suggestions for "Homeschool Spirit Week" has been circling social media. The events should also not take too long to do. Themed dress-up days are popular favorites, but they're really just the start. Next, install game apps like rock paper scissors, tic tac toe, and trivia. Online escape rooms are online versions of thematic puzzle-solving games. Sometimes, the utmost appreciation that an employee seeks is a promotion in his job role. Ask your remote team members to describe their day so far with an emoji or a string of emojis. Also, it doesnt have to be expensive. Working from home can be lonely and mundane. 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. A UK study finds workers job attitudes can be bolstered by allowing them to personalize their office. Spirit weeks are a time-honored tradition, in elementary, middle, and high schools alike. 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. For more ways to excite remote teams, check out our list of free virtual team building activities for work, this list of virtual offsite ideas, and this one with Zoom meeting ideas. Find out how to attract and retain your employees through their entire lifecycle. 2020 Namely, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. 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. 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. Children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years need at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity daily. Mention about their desirable quirks like always being on time or such. 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. Some employees even showcased their talents liveranging from musical performances to cake baking to cat training. For example, build breaks into your work schedule, remind team members to take breaks, and don't do work tasks while off work.7,8,9,10,11,12,13 Model problem solving from a variety of viewpoints. Whats Working/Whats Not? 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. -Bob Nelson, In the United States, 20,000 workers were surveyed by the Boston Consulting Group. However, Slack games offer more flexibility, as teammates can play on their own schedules. These activities also make great spring spirit week ideas for work. 32. During the COVID-19 crisis, you can do a lot more from your couch than you may realize. We, humans, are emotional creatures. Harvard Business Review reports that "the most impactful driver of employee engagement is recognition.". Murder mysteries are games that require participants to play a character while solving a mystery. A recent study published in Healthcare Design Magazine revealed that "an extreme break room makeover" at one health facility reduced staff "stress and fatigue.". Being a boss, every positive word from you will act as a huge morale booster for your employees. Plentiful sunshine. 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. A great employee appreciation idea that gives day-to-day benefits is providing assigned parking spaces. Because honestly, everyone expects the managers and leaders to be bossy and unreachable. The chocolate tasting person is mailing out the tasting kits to all of us and will lead us through the tasting via Zoom. 5k+ Downloads Show your employees some love by making sure that the snacks provided are healthy and nutritious. One idea that keeps popping up on our Principal Life Facebook group is the concept of a virtual theme week. 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. First, create a Slack channel for the games. Add some seriously "tricked out" kitchens on each floor of their facilities. Be thoughtful with your messages of appreciation. 29. I am going to go out on a limb here to say to you something vital. Each act should be around five minutes. 1. 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 . Simply schedule a Zoom meeting and ask attendees to join from an outdoor spot such as backyards, parks, or beaches. 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. Do it privately-ish. 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. 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. WeAreTeachers Staff on September 20, 2022. One employee's commute could be inexpensive, while for another, it could be prohibitive. With these 33 employee appreciation ideas, you will see reduced turnover and retain your top talents. ). Check out BoostEducatorsChallenge.com for details. Throughout the evening or afternoon, read awards off one by one, and give each winner 30 seconds to give a victory speech. The purpose of online spirit weeks is to boost employee engagement and morale. Some ideas include: Characters from a favorite movie Here are a few examples. 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. Celebrated on the first Friday in March, it pays homage to each employee's contribution to their company. 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. But while you're indoors, there's no reason you can't explore your fun and creative side. For instance, take their opinion during decisions like on-boarding new technology or a specific project. We have these events called campfires that take place twice a week. Be sure to grab plenty of screen shots throughout the afternoon or evening. Everyone had a week to practice and record their talents before we all watched them together during a special All Hands meeting. Celebrating employee birthdays never gets old. 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. They take place using video call software, online communication platforms, and occasionally social media. Also, they give continuous optimal performance. 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. Contains 5 ml. My Boss Loves Planning an Elaborate Holiday Extravaganza. You. When employees feel that their work is valued, their satisfaction and productivity rise. Its expensive to recruit a new worker. These small everyday gestures can come off as a pleasant surprise and make employees feel valued. For many of us, sheltering at home and staying healthy to help " flatten the curve " of the coronavirus spread may be the most important way we can help others right now. An escape room Escape room activities are available virtually and in person. For instance, on sports day, staff can wear jerseys, square off in competitive games, and participate in an online pep rally.
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