Although workplace benefits help keep employees happy, they rarely tend to spark inspiration. Were working with local restaurants (some minority-owned) to provide cold reheatable family meals that our employees will take home to enjoy with their family. Show your employees some love by making sure that the snacks provided are healthy and nutritious. Ensure that everyone gets that attention. Each act should be around five minutes. Make it more special by hosting a "Make Your Own Taco" competition where the winner gets some form of employee reward. Beyond bestowing traditional awards like extraordinary performance, team player, or rookie of the year, you can also create fun award categories. Want to give someone the gift that keeps on giving? 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. The time can be used all at once or in increments. - Molly George, Partner and CEO of Kickstand Communications, We host Netflix parties where we pick something to watch and an app syncs our screens, letting us instant message each other. It's run by a different division each week to encourage everyone to get involved and has been a fun way to spend a few hoursand a welcome distraction. - Anna Barker, Founder at LogicalDollar, I arranged a remote talent show for our team. As anyone whos tried to organize any office activity knows, its hard, if not impossible, to find something that everyone will like, so some offices are offering a whole buffet of choices to pick from: My company couldnt find an online activity that worked for 40 people, so theyre offering a few different options. Celebrating employee birthdays never gets old. 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 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. First, either mail employees tea and fancy snacks, or ask attendees to bring their own refreshments and reimburse them for the expense. Not every office can shut down for a full week, but even just an afternoon off usually goes over well: Our end-of-year celebration is usually a big lunch and then we get the rest of the afternoon off. Many a time, showing some employee appreciation may seem hard. Then, send invites to the team. Not to mention, Online Office Games is highly customizable, so the activities can revolve around the spirit week theme of the day at your request. Virtual talent shows double as entertainment and team bonding. 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. For example, hold a Zoom ugly sweater contest, host a virtual Secret Santa or white elephant gift exchange, and sing Christmas carols. Some good virtual spirit week ideas include virtual talent shows, Zoom spirit week backgrounds, online award shows, and theme days. An escape room Escape room activities are available virtually and in person. Here are answers to some of the most common questions about virtual spirit weeks. 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. 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. There is also the threat of a recession. Themed gift boxes are another popular idea: Were sending winter-y stay-at-home gift boxes. 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. Names were swapped, wish lists were made, and gifts from small businesses were delivered to friends and families! Remote teams often work on staggered schedules, meaning that the whole crew may not be available at game time. Everything you need to build a better workplace. After your holiday meal, go on a virtual group walk through your respective neighborhoods to work off the food. After face masks, custom hand sanitizers are the next health and safety giveaway idea on our list. However, you could include a holiday theme in your virtual spirit week during any time of the year. Aside from regular appreciation, you can ensure that your employees feel valued on important occasions, such as by sending Thanksgiving messages to employees. Theyve asked us what charities wed recommend. Do the bragging on behalf of your employees, and show your whole team how fantastic everyone is. Or it just might be a beautiful day to sleep in. The knowledge that there is a whole day dedicated to employee appreciation should let you know its significance. However, Slack games offer more flexibility, as teammates can play on their own schedules. If you see someone going above and beyond and who commutes through their own vehicles, this will prove to be a wonderful opportunity to make their lives a little bit easier. Employees should be free to decide where they want to work and when they want to work whenever possible. Plentiful sunshine. Here are some ideas that seem newly relevant given the constraints of 2020 and beyond. At checkout the price was zero and you couldnt even enter a tip. The thing that giants like Google and Airbnb have understood is that the physical environment of the office matters. This helps your employees feel appreciated on an ongoing basis. As the coronavirus continues to spread and confine people largely to their homes, many are filling pages with their experiences of living through a pandemic. Clear your schedule for at least an hour. Vantage Circle. 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. 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. 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. 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. During the call, participants can chat and play fun games, or co-work while enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. 1. Mention about their desirable quirks like always being on time or such. There are few things that employees feel more love for than an extra day of freedom aside from the weekend. Our division is doing a holiday drive-in movie and renting out a drive-in theater for the evening. Also, remember to turn your phone off. SWAG stands for "stuff we all get." On beach day, participants post virtual backgrounds of tropical locations and sip mock mai tais. We've had a few teams compete in virtual relays, races, or step challenges using free apps to log steps, distance ran/cycled, etc. Need more tips for how to keep your employees happy during COVID-19? 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. Go for a walk. Employee appreciation is the cornerstone of developing a robust and meaningful workplace culture. 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. to Launch During a Pandemic. But when you thank them for their efforts, it can be a heart-melting moment to inspire respect for you and the business. Clarify expectations, for example, of performance, workflow or performance management. Without a doubt, getting a specially curated box of snacks will make employees feel happy and contented. 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. 29. and retains your top employees. Contains 5 ml. Bring in a songwriter, band, or comedian to perform at your workplace. Then, encourage teammates to square off. Simply post a different game or prompt on the company social channels every day, and instruct employees to respond using a special hashtag. How to be a good coworker and leader during this crisis. Coffee or tea tastings work as well: We had a virtual coffee tasting where they sent those who RSVPd a free AeroPress and some coffees and had a coffee expert walk them through the different kinds over Zoom. You can arrange for office taxis or subsidized bus fares so that commute becomes a tad bit easier on their pockets. But heres the thing. Its a way for us to provide food and a gathering without being on-site and in groups. Just to say hi and check how they are doing. Having direct access to a mentor gives junior professionals valuable one-on-one training. The cost of commuting is heavily influenced by the location of the workplace relative to where the employee lives. Not my cup of tea but a lot of people seemed to like it! Snacks are a fantastic food item that doesn't require you to get out of your desk when you want to eat something light. From year-end reporting to employee paystubs, check out these payroll tips and tricks. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your team is to enable them to let off some steam without the pressure to perform. Real world elements make virtual exercises more engaging and interactive. Check out our list of the best online murder mysteries. 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. For example, Marvel versus DC Comics, the '60s versus the '70s, or Batman and the Joker. Social Media is the biggest influencer of our generation. Chances are, your company has one too. Recommended Article: 23 Awesome Ways To Make Every Employee Work Anniversary Memorable. Outdoor days are one of the best summer spirit week ideas for work. Ventilation and air circulation are your friends. Yet now is a time when communication actually needs to be ramped up. Declaring theme days is one of the easiest spirit week ideas for work from home. Are your employee motivated to come to work every single day? Here is an example of a graphic you could use for your games. You. Superhero Academy is a perfect fit for a hero or villain themed online spirit day. Learn more about virtual costume contests. Lifestyle contests that encourage employees to exercise or try a new activity can also help boost morale. Click here to find out how. Taking care of your employees' health is the most prominent form of appreciation that you can show. According to Harvard Business Review writer Anthony K. TJan: Company leadership should embrace, promote and value mentoring programs to realize a return on investment. The top reason why the people enjoyed coming to work was because of "feeling appreciated.". The BIG List of School Spirit Week Ideas (80+ Activities!) Instead of taking the stage, performers share their acts during a video call. 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. 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. I am going to go out on a limb here to say to you something vital. Plus, you can capture a screenshot of the whole crew dressed up. Even after COVID-19, hand sanitizers are a welcomed gift, no matter your customer base or your business. To set the mood, you can encourage attendees to dress up and don fancy virtual backgrounds. For more tournament ideas, check out our list of Slack games. But some employers have devised celebrations that will keep people safe and actually sound fun (even to this curmudgeon). Its been close to two months since the World Health Organization declared the spread of the novel coronavirus an official pandemic. Photos by Getty Images Plus. Video game consoles. And encouraging a cake culture can never be a bad thing. Its common knowledge that people love gift cards. $10 at Amazon. The chocolate tasting person is mailing out the tasting kits to all of us and will lead us through the tasting via Zoom. For employees, having access to a mentor can add velocity to the workplace learning curve. Theres nothing quite like desserts and ice cream to alleviate stress. You can even use it as a way to support local businesses: We were able to do family meals for our employees. From theme days to care packages to costume contests, here is a list of fun ways to celebrate spirit weeks in remote offices. Instead, health promotion ensures that your staff actually want and like to be at work. Weve found that this is key to recreating that Friday feeling during lockdown. - Nushy Rose, Managing Editor at Parlia. Harvard Business Review reports that "the most impactful driver of employee engagement is recognition.". This prevents you from working to the point of hunger and then scrambling to decide what to eat. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ones. 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. It is especially meaningful when the appreciation comes from their bosses. These small everyday gestures can come off as a pleasant surprise and make employees feel valued. It doesnt have to be cocktail focused. 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.. 32. Recommended Article: The Ultimate Guide To Employee Rewards and Recognition. You could either play a facilitated murder mystery where a host guides the game and gives out clues, or follow a script for a self-guided murder mystery. 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. Share funny videos, do some riddles and brainsteasers, put music on in the background. But they are the last to leave. They are tasty, convenient, and great for hunger pangs that strike while working. Heres some of what people reported. You can even snap a photo and create your own hashtag for when employees achieve something especially commendable. From relaxing countryside walks to exciting challenges, your staff will have the time of their lives. Put up fun office anecdotes on the bulletin board. You may experience anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic if you have to go into work. Distance does not have to put a damper on the fun. Challengers can play the games directly in the channel, or via direct message. The box also had a few ingredients, fresh produce, and a list of recipes you could make with everything. Offering free meals and caffeine is actually a highly effective and cost-effective means of motivating and controlling young employees. She had such a creative way for putting a holiday spin on our corporate branding, and theyre going to be a big hit! Book an Airbnb virtual experience. Everyone had a week to practice and record their talents before we all watched them together during a special All Hands meeting. I write about how to improve team and leadership performance. Wishing you and your team health and tranquility. So, whether you're paired up or have something in the works, here are 20 ideas to safely celebrate Valentine's Day during coronavirus. 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. Thus, make it easier for team members to congratulate each other on a job well done. This activity won't cause too much distraction or mess. When the class arrives, learn together, and be sure to snap plenty of screenshots. Spirit week shakes up the normal routine and gives dispersed teammates a chance to get together and have fun. Revamp your break room. Hosting this year has been no small featand the biggest party season of all is almost here. After all, who doesn't like a couple of free snacks? Doesnt necessarily have to be alcohol or coffeeyou could do a juice tasting, or maybe a food tasting. You can also make sure you take at least a 30-minute lunch break. Keeping a workplace safe during the COVID-19 pandemic can be challenging. This article is written by Barasha Medhi who is a part of the marketing team at Vantage Circle. What Readers Want During COVID-19: Content Ideas for Every Niche. Company-branded swag can be simple everyday things like t-shirts, mugs, or even pen drives. Wed all ooooh and ahhh, and laugh. So far, people have hosted presentations on their favorite hobby, sports team, family, the country they come from, favorite food, favorite lockdown activity, etc. 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. Between the confetti, balloons, and cake, office birthday parties are always fun to organize. In this case they will contribute to providing some structure in an unstructured team situation. For any related queries, contact editor@vantagecircle.com. It's not only a nice little project to focus on, but gives us something to talk about that's not work or coronavirus. Priorities. Every company has got one of these employees. It means that they can catch up on the countless movies that they have missed. Virtual workout or meditation classes. Credit: HMH Books for Young Readers. 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. If you can get outside to walk, studies have shown that a brisk walk can make you feel . For more ideas, check out our roundup of team building workouts. Usually at this time of year, my inbox fills up with questions about company holiday parties: How many drinks are OK to have there? Research says that the primary cause of employees leaving their jobs is the lack of appreciation. All online escape rooms inspire teamwork and critical thinking in a fun and exciting way. These events are the online equivalent of spirit week, and are examples of virtual employee engagement activities and virtual team celebrations, and often take place on virtual event platforms. 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. 2022 Alle rechten voorbehouden. The games last 90 minutes, giving remote colleagues plenty of time to bond and have fun together. This activity involves solving puzzles and finding clues to "escape" a themed room. You could even include dessert decorating packs, tasting assortments, or craft kits. Some ideas include: Characters from a favorite movie 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 . Feel free to customize it with your companys logos. 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. Remote teams can dress up for remote meetings, even if their outfits wont be on display all day. You could either ask team members to pre-record videos, give the tour live during a Zoom meeting, or upload photos to a shared album. Team Norms. Interesting work matter only if you have good food while youre doing it. 2. Gather the kids and create Paper Mice, Halloween skull jewelry, and more. 1. After the bartender presentation (which was short) everybody got to chat and enjoy their drinks for some time before saying goodbye. I am a big believer in team norms which support the team in self managing behaviors, practices and performance. In times of isolation it can be very difficult to stay on top of where everyone is at. Its expensive to recruit a new worker. Then, plan festive activities to enjoy together during the call. This is a stressful time to say the least. Open windows, increase circulation, and keep room density as low as possible with fewer people in one space. 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. 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. Inject Fun and Humor. 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. The events should also not take too long to do. Getting your own parking space is a highly coveted idea to really recognize your employees for doing a great job. Give a prize to the two team members who wear the most well-thought . Here is our take on enhancing employee motivation with the below 33 exceptional employee appreciation ideas. -Bob Nelson, In the United States, 20,000 workers were surveyed by the Boston Consulting Group. Ask your remote team members to describe their day so far with an emoji or a string of emojis. But we must also address the negative impact of isolation loneliness, fatigue or even . Coffee and Chocolate Tastings It doesn't have to be cocktail focused. Hosting online costume contests is one of the best spirit week dress up ideas for work. 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. Virtual spirit weeks bolster team resolve and brightens telecommuters moods. Why not put a reminder in your diary when you plan to finish working? Sometimes, the utmost appreciation that an employee seeks is a promotion in his job role. 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. Whats the Word on The Street? Letting employees decorate their workspaces plays an active role in building relationships within the company. Wool socks, very plushy fleece blankets, playing cards, mugs, etc. We also included some essential office supplies to ensure our employees have everything they need to work remotely. - Stuart Cook, Marketing Manager at My Baggage, My company recently delivered a care package to all employees with a mix of fun and useful items. So, it's essential to consider this less of an idea and more of a thing that you have to do eventually. We regularly share the progress our sunflowers are making. 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. SHRM estimates that it costs $20,000 to $30,000 in recruiting and training expenses to replace a manager making $40,000 a year. Some ideas for your 30-minute morning check-ins include: Establish virtual coffee chats with individual team members. Many of us now look forward to Mondays because of these hilarious crosswords! Employee Appreciation Day is a semi-formal holiday in the United States. Here are instructions on changing virtual backgrounds in Zoom, GoogleMeet, and Microsoft Teams. Remote team games like holiday Bingo, trivia, and scavenger hunts get guests moving and invoke the holiday spirit. For some, it's Christmas and Valentine's Day; for others, it's a birthday. 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. Here are 15 office ideas for Halloween: 1. Recommended Case Study: Indias Largest Telecom Company Boosts their Global Employee Engagement with Vantage Rewards. ). It becomes less of a break and more of a disappointment. Typical spirit weeks involve decorating contests. 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. Even a simple gesture like an appreciation message or thoughtful gifts on valentines Day or anniversaries can make a huge difference. At the end of the week, count up the wins, and have the victors face off against each other for the championship. Plan out your meals and snacks ahead of time, such as at the beginning of the week or workday. 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. 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. Vantage Circle. Recommended Article: 25 Employee Engagement Activities To Reinvent Your Workforce. But to make them feel valued is what employees think is the most important. 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. For our workers who have never worked from home, social isolation is deeply felt. Your employees are amazing people with undisclosed talents.