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! 50 Spirit Week Ideas For Work To Energize Any Size Team - SnackNation Largest-ever genetic analysis of grapevine va | EurekAlert! You might feel anxious about: Your own safety and the safety of others. The week before your work at home spirit week, mail boxes full of goodies to team members. Student creates quarantine spirit week, brings people together 1. For example, hold a Zoom ugly sweater contest, host a virtual Secret Santa or white elephant gift exchange, and sing Christmas carols. Reading a book on the sofa is a cozy way to get in the Christmas spirit. The consulting group McKinsey & Co. surveyed 1,000 employers , and 90 percent reported that the pandemic was affecting the behavioral health of their employees. Find out how to shape a culture that attracts, engages, Sally can whip up a variety of cold meals, including salads, grain bowls and yogurt. The Ultimate Guide to Employee Rewards and Recognition. Develop team norms. Hand Sanitizers. It was a huge hit, and we're already scheduled another! - Ryan Law, Content Strategist at Animalz, We sent care packages to our employees homes to help them adjust to remote work. Cycling is beneficial for your. Do it privately-ish. It doesnt have to be cocktail focused. You can even use it as a way to support local businesses: We were able to do family meals for our employees. Perhaps the best gift to give your employees is recognizing your employees publicly for a great job done. 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. 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. Food has a way of being a catalyst to bring people together. If your crew would rather perform just for fun, then end the show by giving participants a well-deserved round of virtual applause. Names were swapped, wish lists were made, and gifts from small businesses were delivered to friends and families! Most employees love to learn, and taking a virtual class together is a terrific spirit week idea. Pandemic office holiday party ideas. - Slate Magazine Be thoughtful with your messages of appreciation. My Boss Loves Planning an Elaborate Holiday Extravaganza. 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. For instance, on sports day, staff can wear jerseys, square off in competitive games, and participate in an online pep rally. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. 80+ School Spirit Week Ideas and Activities To Build Community Need more tips for how to keep your employees happy during COVID-19? 1. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the federal government (OSHA) has provided detailed guidelinesfor workplace safety policies. 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. Here are instructions on changing virtual backgrounds in Zoom, GoogleMeet, and Microsoft Teams. Spirit weeks often involve games. During this time, one team member has 60 minutes to talk about their favorite subject while others listen and ask questions. Explore the challenges people face in working from home (and they will differ) and ideas for dealing with them or sharing personal practices that work. For instance, if you host a murder mystery, then include character cards in the boxes. First, give teammates a few options for online courses and ask them to vote for their favorite. Not my cup of tea but a lot of people seemed to like it! By hosting your fundraisers online, you can reach new supporters both near and far from your school without needing to leave your desk. The knowledge that there is a whole day dedicated to employee appreciation should let you know its significance. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ones. 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. There are few things that employees feel more love for than an extra day of freedom aside from the weekend. 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. For example, Marvel versus DC Comics, the '60s versus the '70s, or Batman and the Joker. Health & Safety Giveaways: Ideas amid COVID-19 - National Pen But follow the 33 employee appreciation ideas articulated in this article. 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. Team costumes Whether you're a team of two or twenty, you can dress up in team costumes for Halloween. To truly show your employees that they are doing a great job, bring in some fun office traditions like "Taco Tuesday.". Coffee and Chocolate Tastings It doesn't have to be cocktail focused. You may opt-out by. Recommended Case Study: Indias Largest Telecom Company Boosts their Global Employee Engagement with Vantage Rewards. 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. Celebrated on the first Friday in March, it pays homage to each employee's contribution to their company. Offering them a handsome salary is one aspect. Coronavirus Will Change the World Permanently. Here's How - POLITICO Just to say hi and check how they are doing. All online escape rooms inspire teamwork and critical thinking in a fun and exciting way. The day-to-day work life might get hectic and tedious for everyone in the office. Make the day memorable by organizing outside barbecues or small office parties. How the coronavirus pandemic will impact the future of work - CNBC Things to consider when you and your employees travel 4. Recommended Article: 25 Employee Engagement Activities To Reinvent Your Workforce. 1. Online workouts serve the dual purpose of adding exercise and peer-to-peer interaction into remote workers sedentary, solitary workdays. But heres the thing. 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. Working remotely creates a new set of challenges that arebeing amplified by the added stress of school closures andby the anxiety many are facing during this pandemic. Wellness Resources Either way, ask participants to record results by posting them to the channel in a @WIN/@LOSS format. Get the latest news from Namely about HR, payroll, and benefits. 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. You will see that a few words of appreciation can do wonders for the workplace. School encouraging spirit week during COVID-19 | Videos | wandtv.com Look at yourself in the mirror. The other half consisted of beer (or non-alcoholic drinks), snacks, tea, and homemade salsa. Simply designate a theme for each day or meeting, then choose the best dressed for each category. 3 Ways To Keep Employee Morale Up During The Coronavirus Outbreak - Forbes PDF COVID-19 Developing Resilience in the Workplace Superhero Academy is equal parts fun, intellectual, and competitive. of 70-75% ethyl alcohol. 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. You can even snap a photo and create your own hashtag for when employees achieve something especially commendable. Want to give someone the gift that keeps on giving? How to Volunteer Remotely During the COVID-19 Crisis - AFAR 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 . Plus, you can capture a screenshot of the whole crew dressed up. Company-branded swag can be simple everyday things like t-shirts, mugs, or even pen drives. Inject Fun and Humor. Go for a walk. Here come's the most impactful one in our list of employee appreciation ideas. Ensure that everyone gets that attention. That's why it's vital to spread your actions around multiple methods of transports to appeal to the broadest proportion of your workforce. From theme days to care packages to costume contests, here is a list of fun ways to celebrate spirit weeks in remote offices. School spirit week is a fun time for everyone to come together and show off their pride. We started this challenge at Booster. 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. #StayStrongWF Spirit Week | Town of Wake Forest, NC Harvard Business Review reports that "the most impactful driver of employee engagement is recognition.". Basically, the idea is to boost morale by giving students a collective silly goal. They are the first to arrive. What every woman needs to know during COVID-19 - Lean In Book an Airbnb virtual experience. Check out our list of the best online murder mysteries. 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. 7 Summer Spirit Week Ideas for the Office | Lands' End Are they excited to be working for you? Keeping a workplace safe during the COVID-19 pandemic can be challenging. WeAreTeachers Staff on September 20, 2022. Streaming service subscriptions. Thus, make it easier for team members to congratulate each other on a job well done. Now 48% Off. Instead of taking the stage, performers share their acts during a video call. During the call, participants can chat and play fun games, or co-work while enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. These activities also make great spring spirit week ideas for work. 3. Consider downloading a fitness app with curated workout playlists. And what could be better for this purpose than to offer E-Learning options? 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!). These events can help virtual offices grow closer. 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. Online board games or trivia challenges are a great way to bring a team together for something besides work. Getty Images/PeopleImages. But providing a good employee experience is the future. 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. Get the resources. Plan out your meals and snacks ahead of time, such as at the beginning of the week or workday. 2. Whats Working/Whats Not? 15 gifts to give essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic 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. Read about more virtual talent show ideas. Recommended Article: 23 Awesome Ways To Make Every Employee Work Anniversary Memorable. Slack game tournaments are great ideas for virtual spirit weeks. The charm of subscription boxes is that theres something for everyone! While the other appreciation ideas might be feasible for particular projects and day-to-day work, employees will look for something more permanent in the long run. The top reason why the people enjoyed coming to work was because of "feeling appreciated.". Why not see which team has the most steps or ran the furthest distance this week? During the COVID-19 crisis, you can do a lot more from your couch than you may realize. Ask each person to share one word to describe how they are feeling in. Learn how to set new boundaries, ask for support, and re-strategize with your partner about what you need. 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. Classroom Routines Must Change. Here's What Teaching - Education Week Appreciation from one's peers has more significance than from one's manager. That can be too intimidating for your employees. We've had a few teams compete in virtual relays, races, or step challenges using free apps to log steps, distance ran/cycled, etc. Or, you can use an app like Donut to match up opponents, and pairs can play games instead of scheduling a video chat. Vantage Circle. You can also make sure you take at least a 30-minute lunch break. Ensure time is spent checking in on the teams main priorities - any urgent issues that need to be addressed? Here is an example of a graphic you could use for your games. The disease is extremely contagious, yet many infected people are asymptomatic, and patterns of transmission are not always clear. Check out our list ofonline escape rooms. Walking not only counts as physical activity, but also provides some mental health benefits. They are tasty, convenient, and great for hunger pangs that strike while working. 5. 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. 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. Before the . Make it a fun and memorable experience. 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. (Source: Team Vantage Circle's Day Excursion). To host these virtual workouts, have participants join a Zoom call. I also hired a local small business to make some custom iced cookies for us. Elaine is a true partner in every sense of the word and would be a huge asset to any company. Virtual spirit weeks bolster team resolve and brightens telecommuters moods. One-Word Check-ins. Next, install game apps like rock paper scissors, tic tac toe, and trivia. Children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years need at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity daily. 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. For employees, having access to a mentor can add velocity to the workplace learning curve. 4 Ways A Single Word Has The Power To Positively Change Your Perspective, 8 Ways To Create Certainty Amid Current Workplace Uncertainty, Why Accountability Is At The Core Of Stewardship Delegation, 5 Ways To Grow Your Personal Brand As A Content Creator, Why We Need To Make Every Day Employee Appreciation Day, In A Competitive Job Market, Heres How To Win The Interview, 5 Tips To Recession-Proof Your Career And Bullet-Proof Your Security. 20 Valentine's Day Ideas During Coronavirus | ApartmentGuide.com Keep Teamwork Alive Working From Home During Coronavirus | Wirecutter 9 Date Night Ideas During the Coronavirus Pandemic - AARP Mention about their desirable quirks like always being on time or such. Some employees even showcased their talents liveranging from musical performances to cake baking to cat training. It's not only a nice little project to focus on, but gives us something to talk about that's not work or coronavirus. The chocolate tasting person is mailing out the tasting kits to all of us and will lead us through the tasting via Zoom. Paint Pumpkins. Staff members find creative ways to celebrate during COVID-19 - Miami Click here to find out how. Not to fear: There are plenty of Halloween-inspired crafts to go around. Make sure you exchange emails with a volunteer coordinator or call before you . Or, you could start a gallery on social media or a cloud-based photo album, and invite teammates to vote on their favorite uploads throughout the week. Check out BoostEducatorsChallenge.com for details. Plentiful sunshine. But we must also address the negative impact of isolation loneliness, fatigue or even . 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. Subjects should be fun and non-work related. It is working together that will get us through this time. Virtual workout or meditation classes. 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. These small everyday gestures can come off as a pleasant surprise and make employees feel valued. Elaine Pearton - Tarrytown, New York, United States - LinkedIn Many teams are waking up to a new reality of working remotely. The tours could happen on a single day, or throughout the week. SHRM estimates that it costs $20,000 to $30,000 in recruiting and training expenses to replace a manager making $40,000 a year. Explore them here: On Fridays, our team puts on ridiculous outfits to make each other laugh during virtual meetings. You could even include dessert decorating packs, tasting assortments, or craft kits. Then, have one attendee lead the class, or screen share a video routine. Some ideas for your 30-minute morning check-ins include: One-Word Check-ins. Gift cards allow people to purchase whatever they want from their favorite brands. She had such a creative way for putting a holiday spin on our corporate branding, and theyre going to be a big hit! Here are a few examples. 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. This will allow team members to truly appreciate each other, leading to better team building. Shared items such a candy jars, cereal boxes, and containers of nuts should be removed for the safety of all workers. Reward employees with a token or gift of appreciation from your side. Sending care packages to your remote teams builds buzz for the event and lets your employees know you care about them. The employee experience is better, and the company's outcome stronger. Help make kindness the norm at school, home and work by using the links below! How to advocate for yourself at work during COVID-19. Without a doubt, getting a specially curated box of snacks will make employees feel happy and contented.