Distance does not have to put a damper on the fun. Just beware of overdosing on sugar. For any related queries, contact editor@vantagecircle.com. It is a good idea to vary the class types and levels so that more team members can participate. Team building content expert. You can also make sure you take at least a 30-minute lunch break. Want to enhance employee morale while improving productivity and boosting creativity? Honestly, Im really pleased with this decision over trying to make a Zoom party happen. From theme days to care packages to costume contests, here is a list of fun ways to celebrate spirit weeks in remote offices. Throwing a virtual holiday party is one of the best Christmas spirit week ideas for work. Recommended Article: 23 Awesome Ways To Make Every Employee Work Anniversary Memorable. The top reason why the people enjoyed coming to work was because of "feeling appreciated.". With these 33 employee appreciation ideas, you will see reduced turnover and retain your top talents. For example, share with team members how you will be leading, how you will check in with them, what you will be asking about. Getting your own parking space is a highly coveted idea to really recognize your employees for doing a great job. For instance, on sports day, staff can wear jerseys, square off in competitive games, and participate in an online pep rally. Not to mention, care packages add a tactile element to your all-online spirit week. Pandemic office holiday party ideas. - Slate Magazine So, whether you're paired up or have something in the works, here are 20 ideas to safely celebrate Valentine's Day during coronavirus. Simply schedule a Zoom meeting and ask attendees to join from an outdoor spot such as backyards, parks, or beaches. Then, send invites to the team. 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. Teams complete comic-book-themed riddles and puzzles and virtual minute-to-win-it challenges to climb the leaderboard and save the world. Are they excited to be working for you? 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. The chocolate tasting person is mailing out the tasting kits to all of us and will lead us through the tasting via Zoom. Why not see which team has the most steps or ran the furthest distance this week? PopCap, the company behind legendary Facebook games like Bejeweled, offers some fantastic break rooms for its 400 odd employees. Donut is an app in our Slack channel that randomly pairs up coworkers together, encouraging them to set up a coffee meeting (of course, in this case, a virtual coffee meeting) in order to get to know each other better. 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. 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. Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. They are great team members. How to Plan a Wedding Amid COVID: Ideas, Advice & More Perhaps the best gift to give your employees is recognizing your employees publicly for a great job done. Here are answers to some of the most common questions about virtual spirit weeks. Or you might feel concerned about the health of others, such as those who you care for or live with. The best thing about birthdays is cake. Click here to find out how. How to advocate for yourself at work during COVID-19. Everything is impacted by COVID-19 in some way, including our work. Every company has its own perks: fully stocked kitchens, corporate team events, and the latest MacBook Pro. How to Volunteer Remotely During the COVID-19 Crisis - AFAR Moreover, you can drop an appreciation mail to the employees so that it stays with them forever. and retains your top employees. Simmonds was blown away by . It's not only a nice little project to focus on, but gives us something to talk about that's not work or coronavirus. During the call, participants can chat and play fun games, or co-work while enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. A UK study finds workers job attitudes can be bolstered by allowing them to personalize their office. The purpose of online spirit weeks is to boost employee engagement and morale. The packages were delivered to our doors in the afternoon of our event. Recommended Article: 50 Best Words of Appreciation for Employees. Now 48% Off. I wont be able to attend as COVID-19 gave me the chance to move out of state and go full-time remote, but I actually think its a great idea. An extra day off can mean a whole lot of possibilities to overworked and overstressed employees. 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. How to Engage And Retain Your Employees During Covid - LinkedIn Slack game tournaments are great ideas for virtual spirit weeks. Recommended Article: Top 102 Employee Recognition Quotes To Celebrate Their Endeavours. Finally going on a picnic with their loved ones. For example, book-binding, instrument-building, ravioli-making, or makeup lessons with a drag queen. Breakout rooms enable guests to have more intimate conversations, so that no attendee feels like an observer. Virtual Fun Run Cost: $$ Difficulty: 4 Earning Potential: When you incorporate social media into your online spirit week scheduling, you make it easier for colleagues to find and friend each other. Covid Christmas plans: How to celebrate safely I Paperless Post A few more things that made it special: The best part about it was everyone participating posting a small list of likes and dislikeswe all got to know each other better through reading those lists and connect over shared interest. Employee Appreciation Day is a semi-formal holiday in the United States. Credit: HMH Books for Young Readers. Then, plan festive activities to enjoy together during the call. High 53F. The thing that giants like Google and Airbnb have understood is that the physical environment of the office matters. Make the day memorable by organizing outside barbecues or small office parties. Decatur, IL (62521) Today. This helps your employees feel appreciated on an ongoing basis. 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. Were all pretty pumped about it. Hand Sanitizers. Wishing you and your team health and tranquility. The sudden need to adapt to these changes during COVID has given rise to new challenges that range from work-life stress, disparities in employees' ability to work from home effectively, and the increased need for employers to support worker safety, health, and well-being both at work and outside the traditional work environment. Some leaders consistently interact with those they most easily connect with but may not as readily think of others. Here is an example of a graphic you could use for your games. Planning Your Holidays During the COVID-19 Pandemic 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. Staff members find creative ways to celebrate during COVID-19 - Miami Revamp your break room. Celebrating employee birthdays never gets old. Challengers can play the games directly in the channel, or via direct message. Do I really have to go at all? You will see that a few words of appreciation can do wonders for the workplace. Every company has got one of these employees. Or, if you hold virtual escape rooms or similar games, then include puzzles. Hosting online costume contests is one of the best spirit week dress up ideas for work. 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. Barasha can be found either searching for interesting HR buzzwords to write about or looking at pictures of cozy Bel Air mansions. Attempt a self portrait with pencil and paper. No, not the executive lunchroom. This year, theyre sending a food related gift to our homes and giving us the afternoon off. 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. The games last 90 minutes, giving remote colleagues plenty of time to bond and have fun together. Online board games or trivia challenges are a great way to bring a team together for something besides work. 6 Virtual Team Building Activities | LBMC EP You might feel anxious about: Your own safety and the safety of others. Shared items such a candy jars, cereal boxes, and containers of nuts should be removed for the safety of all workers. Think small bags of chips, cookies, and candy, displayed so employees can. The Internet might be intermittent in these spots, so you can also give teammates the option of joining via phone audio instead of mobile video app. Teachers' Mental Health Has Suffered in the Pandemic. Here's How If you work in an industry where teamwork is crucial, sudden orders to . Ive found its a great way to know more about what a persons workday and life outside of work are like, as well as to better understand coworkers even those who work across the country. - Angela Ceresnie, CEO at Climb Credit. Why not expend the effort necessary to retain the staff that you have already painfully recruited and hired? Before the . Successful fundraising during a recession is two-pronged: Focus hard on donor engagement and retention, and 5 Radical Ideas For Schooling During Coronavirus : NPR Find out how to shape a culture that attracts, engages, Recognizing employees is a great way to boost morale and build excitement during spirit week. Their diaries are told in words and. Even a simple gesture like an appreciation message or thoughtful gifts on valentines Day or anniversaries can make a huge difference. Most employees love to learn, and taking a virtual class together is a terrific spirit week idea. Teammates can select a different background for each meeting or theme day, and can even swap backgrounds multiple times per call. 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. Maintain a positive work/life balance and encourage your team to do the same It's easy to work longer hours and take fewer breaks when working from home. Be sure to grab plenty of screen shots throughout the afternoon or evening. Theyve asked us what charities wed recommend. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. To host these virtual workouts, have participants join a Zoom call. Employees who want to learn about new tools, techniques, or topics but have less time on their hands will consider it a fabulous opportunity. 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. 12 Effective Team Building Activities To Try During COVID-19 Even after COVID-19, hand sanitizers are a welcomed gift, no matter your customer base or your business. The employee experience is better, and the company's outcome stronger. Teammates can vote using the poll feature in your video meeting platform, and you can send the winner a prize. But heres the thing. Once the votes are in, book the top ranking classes. Each act should be around five minutes. When showtime arrives, gather on a Zoom call. To truly show your employees that they are doing a great job, bring in some fun office traditions like "Taco Tuesday.". Offering free meals and caffeine is actually a highly effective and cost-effective means of motivating and controlling young employees. This peer-to-peer employee recognition idea is about encouraging everyone from the organization to recognize good work. Host fun team games to play with your team members. 3. But employees with a few years of experience should be matched with a career mentor to help them grow in their position. The cost of commuting is heavily influenced by the location of the workplace relative to where the employee lives. I hope this article has in some small way helped your and your teams trek through this extraordinary time. Now more than ever, we need to lean on each other for support. Unique SWAG ideas have the power to set your company apart. But we must also address the negative impact of isolation loneliness, fatigue or even . The author's views are entirely his or her own (excluding the unlikely event of hypnosis) and may not always reflect the views of Moz. Add some seriously "tricked out" kitchens on each floor of their facilities. One is a gingerbread house session where theyll send you the kit, walk you through assembly, and then you can decorate with the provided candy and icing or your own. Happily, Ive heard lots of versions of this choice as well: My company is taking the money that would be used for the holiday party (usually a sit-down dinner with open bar) and is donating it instead to a local charity. We regularly share the progress our sunflowers are making. The best online holiday parties encourage interaction. For more ideas, check out our roundup of team building workouts. WeAreTeachers Staff on September 20, 2022. Feel free to customize it with your companys logos. You may experience anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic if you have to go into work. Aside from regular appreciation, you can ensure that your employees feel valued on important occasions, such as by sending Thanksgiving messages to employees. Some "lush" couches. This is a time to focus only on the people sitting before you. Get to know your employees and find out what they like so you can give gift cards that are tailored to their interests. #StayStrongWF Spirit Week | Town of Wake Forest, NC Do the bragging on behalf of your employees, and show your whole team how fantastic everyone is. Simply post a different game or prompt on the company social channels every day, and instruct employees to respond using a special hashtag. If you can get outside to walk, studies have shown that a brisk walk can make you feel . Be Intentional About Communications It's crucial that leaders don't get sucked into the. Halloween is the time of year when employees can showcase their creativity and interact with coworkers they may not normally work closely with. 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. Get Competitive. 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 cups were all the same so no one could tell what you were drinking unless you commented on it. SWAG stands for "stuff we all get." Company retreats are great for celebrating employees after successful project completion or after an outstanding financial year. You might find that employee appreciation becomes a tad bit easier and a whole lot more fun. In order to position your company as one where people really want to work, your company SWAG items had better reflect that. 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. Team costumes Whether you're a team of two or twenty, you can dress up in team costumes for Halloween. 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. 20 Valentine's Day Ideas During Coronavirus | ApartmentGuide.com And what could be better for this purpose than to offer E-Learning options? Remote teammates work together to crack clues and conquer brain teasers before time runs out. You can celebrate the spirit of a challenge in your Spirit Week by hosting a Versus Day. These events help boost company pride. More than a manager, an employee's peers are more likely to know about their good qualities. Then, have one attendee lead the class, or screen share a video routine. Heres some of what people reported. These activities broaden employees global and cultural horizons while also delighting the teams travel lovers. Experiences, not cash, are the new corporate bonus. It was a lot of fun! - Stephen J. Kontos, Founder & CEO at PatentXP PLLC, We keep employee morale high by sending out thank you notes to our employees currently working from home. 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. Ask your remote team members to describe their day so far with an emoji or a string of emojis. 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. Hands-on Experiences: 1. About how his/her contributions have aided to a projects successful completion. This is one of the most underrated employee appreciation ideas out there. 9 Ways to Help Others During the Coronavirus Pandemic 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). Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of Top 10 Ways to Grow School Spirit From Afar - PTA 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. Just be sure to offer nonalcoholic options too: We had a celebration that even I (a person averse to holiday parties and Zoom calls) liked. The events should also not take too long to do. -Bob Nelson, In the United States, 20,000 workers were surveyed by the Boston Consulting Group. Declaring theme days is one of the easiest spirit week ideas for work from home. 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. December is the most obvious time to throw a virtual holiday party. 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. Ask each person to share one word to describe how they are feeling in that moment. So far, people have hosted presentations on their favorite hobby, sports team, family, the country they come from, favorite food, favorite lockdown activity, etc. 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. To begin with, publicly recognizing great employees reflects well on your company for customers, investors, and your team. When Kirkman first had the idea, she posted about it in her social club Facebook group and on her Instagram story, in case a few close friends wanted to join. Heres a way to see people in-person from the safety of your cars: Our company has had a couple of drive-through events set up in the parking lot of the main company campus. Here are instructions on changing virtual backgrounds in Zoom, GoogleMeet, and Microsoft Teams. Want to submit a guest post? Many teams are waking up to a new reality of working remotely. Better still, if this praise comes in front of their team members, colleagues, and peers. Check out our list of the best online murder mysteries. This amazing app pairs the blind and visually impaired with volunteers via a video call in order to assist with everyday tasks (think reading a recipe on the back of a box or selecting a . Streaming service subscriptions. Spirit week shakes up the normal routine and gives dispersed teammates a chance to get together and have fun. by HR professionals across the globe! To help your employees stay active and get a break from working inside, suggest that they take conference calls that don't require sitting in front of a screen outdoors. Recommended Article: The Ultimate Guide To Employee Rewards and Recognition. 15 Ideas To Celebrate Halloween in the Workplace | Indeed.com We started this challenge at Booster. Another good team-building activity is a virtual workshop or workout class. But to make them feel valued is what employees think is the most important. Working from home can be lonely and mundane. You can also use GeoGessr to play a destination-guessing game, or take virtual tours of museums, zoos, and parks together. Usually at this time of year, my inbox fills up with questions about company holiday parties: How many drinks are OK to have there? However, you could include a holiday theme in your virtual spirit week during any time of the year. Employees should be free to decide where they want to work and when they want to work whenever possible. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ones. 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. 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!). Make Sure You're COVID Safe. For employees, having access to a mentor can add velocity to the workplace learning curve. Things to consider when you and your employees travel 4. Tips for supporting yourself and your team - Mind First, create a Slack channel for the games. Gather the kids and create Paper Mice, Halloween skull jewelry, and more. Whats Really So Wrong About Secretly Working Two Full-Time Jobs at Once? 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. 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. Spirit week is a week-long event that promotes company pride and employee engagement through fun activities. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. Companies with a corporate health plan are more likely to see more engaged employees. Being a boss, every positive word from you will act as a huge morale booster for your employees. We also have a list of the best remote team outing ideas. Appreciation from one's peers has more significance than from one's manager. Once the awards end, you can email digital certificates and e-gift cards to recipients, or mail trophies and paper awards to their houses. Also, remember to turn your phone off. If your crew would rather perform just for fun, then end the show by giving participants a well-deserved round of virtual applause. 21 Fun Quarantine Christmas Ideas 2020 - Good Housekeeping

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