spirit week ideas for work during covid
Company-branded swag can be simple everyday things like t-shirts, mugs, or even pen drives. Some employees even showcased their talents liveranging from musical performances to cake baking to cat training. Make Sure You're COVID Safe. Without a doubt, getting a specially curated box of snacks will make employees feel happy and contented. Having direct access to a mentor gives junior professionals valuable one-on-one training. Who doesnt love free food? A crisis like this can either break ateamdown and widen any cracks in its foundation, or it canresult in the emergence of true greatness. List of virtual spirit week ideas. Whats the Word on The Street? Keep Little Hands Busy. Want to give someone the gift that keeps on giving? The knowledge that there is a whole day dedicated to employee appreciation should let you know its significance. Check out BoostEducatorsChallenge.com for details. Kicking their feet up on the couch and zoning out in front of the TV could be just what the essential workers in your life need after dealing with the public . This is a great way to begin your team meetings. Record and report COVID-19 infections and deaths: Under mandatory OSHA rules in 29 CFR part 1904, employers are required to record work-related cases of COVID-19 illness on OSHA's Form 300 logs if the following requirements are met: (1) the case is a confirmed case of COVID-19; (2) the case is work-related (as defined by 29 CFR 1904.5); and . Here are some ideas that seem newly relevant given the constraints of 2020 and beyond. and retains your top employees. You can also use GeoGessr to play a destination-guessing game, or take virtual tours of museums, zoos, and parks together. How to be a good coworker and leader during this crisis. The games last 90 minutes, giving remote colleagues plenty of time to bond and have fun together. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Bring in a songwriter, band, or comedian to perform at your workplace. And amid stay-at-home orders. Now 48% Off. to Launch During a Pandemic. PopCap, the company behind legendary Facebook games like Bejeweled, offers some fantastic break rooms for its 400 odd employees. Why not recognize these incredible non-work achievements in front of their peers? You might be worried about keeping yourself safe from coronavirus. 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. This is a time to focus only on the people sitting before you. Also, of the cocktails on offer, there were a few non-alcoholic punch ideas, for people who dont drink or who wanted to share with a kid, etc. Employees who want to learn about new tools, techniques, or topics but have less time on their hands will consider it a fabulous opportunity. One employee's commute could be inexpensive, while for another, it could be prohibitive. For example, share with team members how you will be leading, how you will check in with them, what you will be asking about. Basically, the idea is to boost morale by giving students a collective silly goal. Here are 15 office ideas for Halloween: 1. $10 at Amazon. Hand Sanitizers. 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. Some good virtual spirit week ideas include virtual talent shows, Zoom spirit week backgrounds, online award shows, and theme days. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Legal. Online retreats are company gatherings that take place online. Mask up. Simmonds was blown away by . Once the votes are in, book the top ranking classes. Be sure to grab plenty of screen shots throughout the afternoon or evening. Talk about what you appreciate about that particular employee. The tours could happen on a single day, or throughout the week. You can even display this social media recognition on your offices digital displays to make sure the whole team sees it. Its been close to two months since the World Health Organization declared the spread of the novel coronavirus an official pandemic. It means that they can catch up on the countless movies that they have missed. For instance, if you host a murder mystery, then include character cards in the boxes. Get advice from seasoned professionals about all your compliance questions and concerns. Reading a book on the sofa is a cozy way to get in the Christmas spirit. The box also had a few ingredients, fresh produce, and a list of recipes you could make with everything. But while you're indoors, there's no reason you can't explore your fun and creative side. Some ideas for your 30-minute morning check-ins include: One-Word Check-ins. SWAG stands for "stuff we all get." December is the most obvious time to throw a virtual holiday party. Often, in the case of. For example, theme days, virtual talent shows, and costume contests. 1. Here are three ways employers can reduce panic and keep employee morale up during the coronavirus outbreak. When you actually take the time out to get involved with them personally, employees feel that you genuinely care about them. Usually at this time of year, my inbox fills up with questions about company holiday parties: How many drinks are OK to have there? Shared items such a candy jars, cereal boxes, and containers of nuts should be removed for the safety of all workers. Photo illustration by Slate. Find out how to attract and retain your employees through their entire lifecycle. 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. 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. That's why it's vital to spread your actions around multiple methods of transports to appeal to the broadest proportion of your workforce. "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. Remote teammates can enjoy a show while learning more about coworkers special skills and abilities. Virtual talent shows work best when there is a predetermined act order and an emcee to manage the flow. Team building content expert. Then there will be a contest with prizes for best house, most creative house, house that looks like the before pic on a HGTV show, etc. The top reason why the people enjoyed coming to work was because of "feeling appreciated.". Our division is doing a holiday drive-in movie and renting out a drive-in theater for the evening. Halloween is the time of year when employees can showcase their creativity and interact with coworkers they may not normally work closely with. Have office happy hours and hire a bartender to mix them a drink or two. He expressed that business leaders need to develop a structured and approach to mentoring. I also hired a local small business to make some custom iced cookies for us. 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. Engage in active family play time. 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. To host an online award show, first create award categories. 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. According to Harvard Business Review writer Anthony K. TJan: Company leadership should embrace, promote and value mentoring programs to realize a return on investment. I am going to go out on a limb here to say to you something vital. Promoting health is no longer seen as an initiative that yields 'soft' results. Here is our take on enhancing employee motivation with the below 33 exceptional employee appreciation ideas. We gathered the top employee morale tips, tricks, and ideas from businesses around the world. Just beware of overdosing on sugar. Use virtual coffee breaks to: Limit e-mail, insteaduse real-time, in person communication tools such as Skype, Zoom, etc., or even the old fashioned phone. Its a really cool way to connect with your coworkers and find out more about their life outside of work. The effectiveness of office snacks is that major companies like Google use them as a perk to attract the top employees. 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. It could be a magazine subscription (on a topic they would be interested in), treats for pets, snack samples, or anything they would enjoy. Simply ask, how are we doing living up to our agreements?. Employees respond to appreciation expressed by recognizing their good work because it confirms that their work is valued by others. Getting your workplace ready in case COVID-19 arrives in your community. A viral photo with suggestions for "Homeschool Spirit Week" has been circling social media. 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. But heres the thing. Anxiety. Have regular check ins with individual team members. 1. Employee appreciation is meant to make the workplace feel a little bit like home. The cups were all the same so no one could tell what you were drinking unless you commented on it. Some ideas include: Characters from a favorite movie Trivia can be a good way to help teams relax, inspire conversation and build relationships. Players square off in trivia challenges, lightning scavenger hunts, and a listening/drawing game called Can You Hear Me Now? A charismatic host keeps score while keeping teams energy and spirits high. First, create a Slack channel for the games. Virtual Breakout Rooms are ideal for teams that need to brush up on their collaboration, problem-solving, and creative thinking skills. Employee Appreciation Day is a semi-formal holiday in the United States. A lot. Company retreats are great for celebrating employees after successful project completion or after an outstanding financial year. 1. Ensure time is spent checking in on the teams main priorities - any urgent issues that need to be addressed? Home tours are a fun way for remote teammates to invite each other into personal spaces. Wool socks, very plushy fleece blankets, playing cards, mugs, etc. Team Norms. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the federal government (OSHA) has provided detailed guidelinesfor workplace safety policies. 5k+ Downloads Adults need 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity activity such as brisk walking for health benefits. Spirit weeks often involve games. Recommended Article: Top 102 Employee Recognition Quotes To Celebrate Their Endeavours. Now more than ever, we need to lean on each other for support. Why not see which team has the most steps or ran the furthest distance this week? 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. In this case they will contribute to providing some structure in an unstructured team situation. Beyond bestowing traditional awards like extraordinary performance, team player, or rookie of the year, you can also create fun award categories. Thus in this scenario, investing in an effective recognition program becomes a critical part of employee engagement. 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. Virtual workout or meditation classes. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses. 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. Recognizing hard work and achievement in the workplace increase employee morale, encourage healthy competition, and creates a positive atmosphere. The Ultimate Guide to Employee Rewards and Recognition. You will see that a few words of appreciation can do wonders for the workplace. You might find that employee appreciation becomes a tad bit easier and a whole lot more fun. For inspiration, check out our lists of online cooking classes and online art classes. The disease is extremely contagious, yet many infected people are asymptomatic, and patterns of transmission are not always clear. But there is one occasion that should be praised with the same level of spirit and vigor as the restthe work anniversary. Your objectives for the meeting will be to: Note: This is not a meeting to be rushed. You can arrange for office taxis or subsidized bus fares so that commute becomes a tad bit easier on their pockets. Hear clients' stories and learn how they're building a better workplace with Namely. Encourage team members to do the same. The packages were delivered to our doors in the afternoon of our event. 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. On beach day, participants post virtual backgrounds of tropical locations and sip mock mai tais. Recommended Article: 23 Awesome Ways To Make Every Employee Work Anniversary Memorable. 1. Metal Pen and Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer. This helps your employees feel appreciated on an ongoing basis. So, it's essential to consider this less of an idea and more of a thing that you have to do eventually. 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. This will make them feel like a part of your business and not just a mere employee. Breakout Rooms! 3 Ways Tech Company Sysomos Transformed Employee Experience, 5 Tips to Implement Summer Work Schedules, 6 Design Ideas to Create an Inspiring Work Environment. 2. 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. Keep employees engaged and excited with some friendly competition. Virtual spirit week ideas are ways to celebrate the occasion with remote teams. You signed up for your preferred one beforehand and received a list of ingredients, then once the drinks were made, people came back to the big room and there were a couple of facilitated games and stuff (like trivia). Plus, you could throw virtual parties for any holiday. But with 29% of Americans reporting that they never drink alcohol, it is time for businesses to think of more inclusive activities. Every company has got one of these employees. Wellness Resources Virtual Fun Run Cost: $$ Difficulty: 4 Earning Potential: Cycling is beneficial for your. 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. For many of us, sheltering at home and staying healthy to help " flatten the curve " of the coronavirus spread may be the most important way we can help others right now. Believe it or not, such small stuff really sees a positively impacted company culture. Next, check our our list of ideas to celebrate Pride at work, online fun Friday ideas, and intern orientation activities. Hands-on Experiences: 1. Teammates could also give a short slideshow presentation of their home cities. Be thoughtful with your messages of appreciation. From digital marketing to online delivery services, there are several needs that the pandemic has sparked among consumers. Few people are as knee-deep in our work-related anxieties and sticky office politics as Alison Green, who has been fielding workplace questions for a decade now on her website Ask a Manager. Simple ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace 32. Then, have one attendee lead the class, or screen share a video routine. If your crew would rather perform just for fun, then end the show by giving participants a well-deserved round of virtual applause. Attempt a self portrait with pencil and paper. There is also the threat of a recession. Plus, you can capture a screenshot of the whole crew dressed up. Their office is infused with fun, including random Razor scooters available to any staff who think better while in motion. Get the latest news from Namely about HR, payroll, and benefits. For more tournament ideas, check out our list of Slack games. Instead, health promotion ensures that your staff actually want and like to be at work. 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. 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. Typical spirit weeks involve decorating contests. They had a selection that included non-alcoholic mixes too (like a ginger lemonade). 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. I also personally feel that it's boosting my wellbeing and brightening my day. 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. Get 5 morale boosting tips here, learn how to celebrate employee milestones virtually here, and get some more general tricks for managing your remote workforce here. For instance, on sports day, staff can wear jerseys, square off in competitive games, and participate in an online pep rally. Let the kids pick out a book and read it to them while . Breakout rooms enable guests to have more intimate conversations, so that no attendee feels like an observer. Some leaders consistently interact with those they most easily connect with but may not as readily think of others. Read about more virtual talent show ideas. After your holiday meal, go on a virtual group walk through your respective neighborhoods to work off the food. Theres nothing quite like desserts and ice cream to alleviate stress. This is a stressful time to say the least. by HR professionals across the globe! With these 33 employee appreciation ideas, you will see reduced turnover and retain your top talents. Guests can dress up too. Just to say hi and check how they are doing. For instance, plan a short gentle stretch, a high-intensity cardio routine, and a themed yoga class at different time slots throughout the day. Celebrate "Employee Appreciation Day" With Pomp And Show Employee Appreciation Day is a semi-formal holiday in the United States. 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. Namely's powerful HR Software is built for mid-sized companies designed to be used by everyone, every day. So far, people have hosted presentations on their favorite hobby, sports team, family, the country they come from, favorite food, favorite lockdown activity, etc. Spirit Week ideas for busy offices should include low-maintenance events that require minimal planning from event organizers and the participants. 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. Wed all ooooh and ahhh, and laugh. Check out more more aboutonline retreat ideas. Another good team-building activity is a virtual workshop or workout class. Illustration by Supriya Kalidas. Thus, make it easier for team members to congratulate each other on a job well done. 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. Getty Images/PeopleImages. Ask your remote team members to describe their day so far with an emoji or a string of emojis. Or you might feel concerned about the health of others, such as those who you care for or live with. Why not see which team has the most steps or ran the furthest distance this week? Not just practical job skills, but behavioral and cultural skills as well. Jamaica 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. Or take a field trip to the local entertainment venue. It is especially meaningful when the appreciation comes from their bosses. But employees with a few years of experience should be matched with a career mentor to help them grow in their position. More than a manager, an employee's peers are more likely to know about their good qualities. Find out how to shape a culture that attracts, engages, We started this challenge at Booster. Think small bags of chips, cookies, and candy, displayed so employees can. Perhaps the best gift to give your employees is recognizing your employees publicly for a great job done. Or it just might be a beautiful day to sleep in. Every year there are days we look forward to. Spirit weeks build ties with community Over the course of this week, schools will ask students and staff to do activities such as share TikTok videos, do workouts and share pictures wearing. Make it a fun and memorable experience. The essence of spirit week is enthusiasm, not physical proximity. If you developed team norms to stay on top of (as above), then ensure you check-in on them. 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.. When the class arrives, learn together, and be sure to snap plenty of screenshots. InDirect Report, she spotlights themes from her inbox that help explain the modern workplace and how we could be navigating it better. Sally can whip up a variety of cold meals, including salads, grain bowls and yogurt. First, choose a date and send a video meeting link to your colleagues. If you work in an industry where teamwork is crucial, sudden orders to . You get the best effort from others, not by lighting a fire beneath them but by building a fire within. Want to submit a guest post? She had such a creative way for putting a holiday spin on our corporate branding, and theyre going to be a big hit! Employee appreciation is the cornerstone of developing a robust and meaningful workplace culture. 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. Then, send invites to the team. I am a big believer in team norms which support the team in self managing behaviors, practices and performance. Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus, This is a BETA experience. Simply schedule a Zoom meeting and ask attendees to join from an outdoor spot such as backyards, parks, or beaches. 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. Heightened communication is necessary, not only to keep your remote team productively focused, but because the sudden move from the workplace to a home space can take an emotional toll on people when they no longer have the social contact with work friends and colleagues.
spirit week ideas for work during covid