"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. Get the latest news from Namely about HR, Payroll, and Benefits. You. Experiences, not cash, are the new corporate bonus. Engage in active family play time. These activities also make great spring spirit week ideas for work. For any employee who loves to be fit or is inclined towards adopting a healthier lifestyle, gym passes make for the ultimate way to help them get started. Perhaps the best gift to give your employees is recognizing your employees publicly for a great job done. And of course folks could also just log off if they wanted to, with no pressure to spend the rest of the day working. Company-branded swag can be simple everyday things like t-shirts, mugs, or even pen drives. So far, people have hosted presentations on their favorite hobby, sports team, family, the country they come from, favorite food, favorite lockdown activity, etc. In the largest ever genetic analysis of grapevine varieties, including samples from previously undocumented specimens in private collections, researchers provide new insights into how, when, and . Encourage healthy work-life balance by modeling healthy boundaries around time spent working and time off. Be Intentional About Communications It's crucial that leaders don't get sucked into the. Many a time, they'll bring that positivity and enthusiasm back to the workplace. 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. Ask each person to share one word to describe how they are feeling in. WeAreTeachers Staff on September 20, 2022. Clear your schedule for at least an hour. For instance, take their opinion during decisions like on-boarding new technology or a specific project. Things to consider when you and your employees travel 4. Thus in this scenario, investing in an effective recognition program becomes a critical part of employee engagement. In turn, healthier employees produce better results for their companies. Sending care packages to your remote teams builds buzz for the event and lets your employees know you care about them. There are many fun online activities that suit an international or travel-themed spirit week or spirit day. 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. Online workouts serve the dual purpose of adding exercise and peer-to-peer interaction into remote workers sedentary, solitary workdays. 2022 Tous droits rservs. As much as we'd like for things to be "business as usual" this holiday, planning for Christmas 2021 requires a little more work to keep guests happy and healthy. The best online holiday parties encourage interaction. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ones. Toilet paper and Netflix memes are very popular right now. 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. Namely's powerful HR Software is built for mid-sized companies designed to be used by everyone, every day. Virtual spirit weeks bolster team resolve and brightens telecommuters moods. Explore them here: On Fridays, our team puts on ridiculous outfits to make each other laugh during virtual meetings. Here are instructions on changing virtual backgrounds in Zoom, GoogleMeet, and Microsoft Teams. Have office happy hours and hire a bartender to mix them a drink or two. But with 29% of Americans reporting that they never drink alcohol, it is time for businesses to think of more inclusive activities. This year, theyre sending a food related gift to our homes and giving us the afternoon off. It definitely is the easiest and quickest Zoom icebreaker out there. 3 Ways Tech Company Sysomos Transformed Employee Experience, 5 Tips to Implement Summer Work Schedules, 6 Design Ideas to Create an Inspiring Work Environment. Simply schedule a Zoom meeting and ask attendees to join from an outdoor spot such as backyards, parks, or beaches. Each act should be around five minutes. Websites like Elfster or DrawNames will organize the whole process for you, letting you set a gift budget and providing space for participants to share their wish lists: I worked in a fully remote environment last holiday season, and this had been a tradition for several years, though it was entirely opt-in. Vantage Circle. By planning an online retreat for spirit week, you block out employees time and free staff to enjoy the festivities. This article is written by Barasha Medhi who is a part of the marketing team at Vantage Circle. Metal Pen and Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer. COVID-19 is expected to last for many months, with a potential resurgence in the fall. But while you're indoors, there's no reason you can't explore your fun and creative side. Anxiety. However, Slack games offer more flexibility, as teammates can play on their own schedules. Considering the health boosts, climbing aboard a two wheeler for exercise is easy on your joints, for one, as your weight rests on your pelvis and not your legs. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. You can even display this social media recognition on your offices digital displays to make sure the whole team sees it. Recommended Article: The Ultimate Guide To Employee Rewards and Recognition. In advance we were all given a link to a store that sells cocktail making kits. Walking not only counts as physical activity, but also provides some mental health benefits. A UK study finds workers job attitudes can be bolstered by allowing them to personalize their office. We are doing a virtual chocolate tasting with my team. You might be worried about keeping yourself safe from coronavirus. With these 33 employee appreciation ideas, you will see reduced turnover and retain your top talents. Find out how to shape a culture that attracts, engages, For inspiration, check out our lists of online cooking classes and online art classes. At the end of the week, count up the wins, and have the victors face off against each other for the championship. 3. Yet now is a time when communication actually needs to be ramped up. Instead of taking the stage, performers share their acts during a video call. Recommended Article: 25 Employee Engagement Activities To Reinvent Your Workforce. There's a lot you can do to be helpful from home. We All Hate It. It might sound cliche, but small courtesies like a boss saying thank you to the team members can make a huge difference. Moreover, you can drop an appreciation mail to the employees so that it stays with them forever. 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. Help make kindness the norm at school, home and work by using the links below! Some ideas include: Characters from a favorite movie We all know that employees are the most valuable asset for a business. This is a time to focus only on the people sitting before you. 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. Getting your workplace ready in case COVID-19 arrives in your community. Research says that the primary cause of employees leaving their jobs is the lack of appreciation. Following recommendations from the CDC, we've put together some helpful guide to navigating Christmas during Covid this year. 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. Thus, make it easier for team members to congratulate each other on a job well done. 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. Sally can whip up a variety of cold meals, including salads, grain bowls and yogurt. 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. Simply gear each day's activities around a particular topic. We also had a really strict limit for spending, like $20. 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 . This prevents you from working to the point of hunger and then scrambling to decide what to eat. You might feel anxious about: Your own safety and the safety of others. 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. Show Your Appreciation. 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. Reading a book on the sofa is a cozy way to get in the Christmas spirit. The charm of subscription boxes is that theres something for everyone! Trivia leaders can create questions and teams can decide on their favorite themes or trivia topics. 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. 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. Online board games or trivia challenges are a great way to bring a team together for something besides work. Unique SWAG ideas have the power to set your company apart. You could either give employees the option of attending short 10-15 minute workouts throughout the day, or hold one or two longer sessions. Barasha can be found either searching for interesting HR buzzwords to write about or looking at pictures of cozy Bel Air mansions. When you think about having a great company culture, you think about building trust, honesty, and a great team of workers. 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. Team costumes Whether you're a team of two or twenty, you can dress up in team costumes for Halloween. A viral photo with suggestions for "Homeschool Spirit Week" has been circling social media. 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. There is also the threat of a recession. Remote teams can dress up for remote meetings, even if their outfits wont be on display all day. Virtual spirit week ideas are ways to celebrate the occasion with remote teams. 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. 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. Here are some ideas that seem newly relevant given the constraints of 2020 and beyond. Feel free to customize it with your companys logos. You may experience anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic if you have to go into work. We safeguard your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Just beware of overdosing on sugar. Declaring theme days is one of the easiest spirit week ideas for work from home. The key is making exercise a daily priority, and the holidays are no different. Plus, you can capture a screenshot of the whole crew dressed up. To set the mood, encourage participants to put up virtual backgrounds of Victorian parlors or lush gardens. Keep Little Hands Busy. Consider downloading a fitness app with curated workout playlists. An extra day off can mean a whole lot of possibilities to overworked and overstressed employees. They are the first to arrive. Plan out your meals and snacks ahead of time, such as at the beginning of the week or workday. Promoting health is no longer seen as an initiative that yields 'soft' results. But we must also address the negative impact of isolation loneliness, fatigue or even . 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. Spirit week is a week-long event that promotes company pride and employee engagement through fun activities. 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. Make sure you exchange emails with a volunteer coordinator or call before you . Teams complete comic-book-themed riddles and puzzles and virtual minute-to-win-it challenges to climb the leaderboard and save the world. About how his/her contributions have aided to a projects successful completion. Make Sure You're COVID Safe. The best way to decorate virtual offices is by using virtual meeting backgrounds. Then, plan festive activities to enjoy together during the call. 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. Cycling is beneficial for your. For employees, having access to a mentor can add velocity to the workplace learning curve. Click here to find out how. 9. This is a great way to begin your team meetings. Have regular check ins with individual team members. Wed have the holiday party on Zoom, where folks would open what they had received from their gift giver. 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. Petit fours, miniature cupcakes, and macarons are the best tea party desserts, and finger sandwiches are another staple. 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.. Virtual tea parties are calm yet quirky online events to hold with remote teams. Halloween is the time of year when employees can showcase their creativity and interact with coworkers they may not normally work closely with. We have 30+ experiences to choose from, and thousands of five star reviews. But when you thank them for their efforts, it can be a heart-melting moment to inspire respect for you and the business. For example, share with team members how you will be leading, how you will check in with them, what you will be asking about. Part of the fun of spirit week is pretending, and murder mysteries cast participants in the roles of cunning detectives. The top reason why the people enjoyed coming to work was because of "feeling appreciated.". Then, have one attendee lead the class, or screen share a video routine. That can be too intimidating for your employees. Before the . It doesnt have to be cocktail focused. 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. This time has been invaluable to the team as they had been feeling scattered, stressed, and disconnected. Talk about what you appreciate about that particular employee. Aside from regular appreciation, you can ensure that your employees feel valued on important occasions, such as by sending Thanksgiving messages to employees. Home tours are a fun way for remote teammates to invite each other into personal spaces. Theme Days. This activity won't cause too much distraction or mess. Spirit weeks often involve games. Get the latest news from Namely about HR, payroll, and benefits. 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. See: How Indoor Ventilation Systems Can Help Prevent or Permit the Spread of COVID-19 . This activity involves solving puzzles and finding clues to "escape" a themed room. Your objectives for the meeting will be to: Note: This is not a meeting to be rushed. We also had a gift wrapping contest as part of itwe were a creative bunch with lots of backgrounds in the arts, so some gifts were a person making a donation to a charity in the recipients honor, but making a video that fit their interest to share that with them, or a homemade puzzle, or other similar fun announcements. and retains your top employees. That's why it's vital to spread your actions around multiple methods of transports to appeal to the broadest proportion of your workforce. ). Its common knowledge that people love gift cards. To host an online award show, first create award categories. Make it meaningful for the employee so that they cherish it and put in their extra effort. Mention about their desirable quirks like always being on time or such. The Very Worst Kind of Bad Boss Just Wont Go Away. Sometimes, the utmost appreciation that an employee seeks is a promotion in his job role. Simple ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace 2. 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. You might find that employee appreciation becomes a tad bit easier and a whole lot more fun. 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. Who doesnt love free food? Their diaries are told in words and. Make it a fun and memorable experience. You can take the first step in promoting the importance of health. During this time, one team member has 60 minutes to talk about their favorite subject while others listen and ask questions. 2022 Todos los derechos reservados. It is especially meaningful when the appreciation comes from their bosses. Basically, the idea is to boost morale by giving students a collective silly goal. In uncertain times, one thing is certain with fundraisingthe more you plan, the better off you will be. You could even include dessert decorating packs, tasting assortments, or craft kits. PopCap, the company behind legendary Facebook games like Bejeweled, offers some fantastic break rooms for its 400 odd employees. The effectiveness of office snacks is that major companies like Google use them as a perk to attract the top employees. 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. I also hired a local small business to make some custom iced cookies for us. 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! Since healthier employees are more productive, happy, and energetic, the company will benefit from this form of appreciation. Employees who want to learn about new tools, techniques, or topics but have less time on their hands will consider it a fabulous opportunity. For more tournament ideas, check out our list of Slack games. These events help boost company pride. Give a prize to the two team members who wear the most well-thought . Materialistic perks are fine. Some ideas for your 30-minute morning check-ins include: Establish virtual coffee chats with individual team members. However, you could include a holiday theme in your virtual spirit week during any time of the year. 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. $10 at Amazon. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight 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. One idea that keeps popping up on our Principal Life Facebook group is the concept of a virtual theme week. During the call, participants can chat and play fun games, or co-work while enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.

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