Not to fear: There are plenty of Halloween-inspired crafts to go around. Why not expend the effort necessary to retain the staff that you have already painfully recruited and hired? You can even use it as a way to support local businesses: We were able to do family meals for our employees. To set the mood, you can encourage attendees to dress up and don fancy virtual backgrounds. Here is our take on enhancing employee motivation with the below 33 exceptional employee appreciation ideas. Your objectives for the meeting will be to: Note: This is not a meeting to be rushed. Remote teammates can enjoy a show while learning more about coworkers special skills and abilities. Invite team members to share any perspectives they have about other teams and stakeholders and their needs, concerns issues that the team should be aware of. Whats Working/Whats Not? For instance, plan a short gentle stretch, a high-intensity cardio routine, and a themed yoga class at different time slots throughout the day. Want to submit a guest post? 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. Recommended Article: The Ultimate Guide To Employee Rewards and Recognition. Unique SWAG ideas have the power to set your company apart. And amid stay-at-home orders. InDirect Report, she spotlights themes from her inbox that help explain the modern workplace and how we could be navigating it better. They had a selection that included non-alcoholic mixes too (like a ginger lemonade). But to make them feel valued is what employees think is the most important. Streaming service subscriptions. The cups were all the same so no one could tell what you were drinking unless you commented on it. Usually at this time of year, my inbox fills up with questions about company holiday parties: How many drinks are OK to have there? Ask each person to share one word to describe how they are feeling in that moment. You may experience anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic if you have to go into work. Either way, ask participants to record results by posting them to the channel in a @WIN/@LOSS format. In stock now. 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. About how his/her contributions have aided to a projects successful completion. 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. Spirit weeks are a time-honored tradition, in elementary, middle, and high schools alike. So far, people have hosted presentations on their favorite hobby, sports team, family, the country they come from, favorite food, favorite lockdown activity, etc. Everything you need to build a better workplace. Their diaries are told in words and. Simply designate a theme for each day or meeting, then choose the best dressed for each category. to Launch During a Pandemic. Aside from regular appreciation, you can ensure that your employees feel valued on important occasions, such as by sending Thanksgiving messages to employees. 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!). To establish team norms, ask: What behaviors and practices are most important right now to our teams effectiveness?. After all, who doesn't like a couple of free snacks? Content Expert at teambuilding.com. The charm of subscription boxes is that theres something for everyone! Thoughtful ways to build community and pride. If you can get outside to walk, studies have shown that a brisk walk can make you feel . Make it more special by hosting a "Make Your Own Taco" competition where the winner gets some form of employee reward. Each act should be around five minutes. You could even hold contests to name and reward the best virtual backgrounds for each meeting. Plentiful sunshine. Even after COVID-19, hand sanitizers are a welcomed gift, no matter your customer base or your business. While personalizing spaces at work to fit the geographic locale or the personal tastes of employees has become common. Here are a few examples. Its common knowledge that people love gift cards. Employees should be free to decide where they want to work and when they want to work whenever possible. Metal Pen and Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer. Halloween is the time of year when employees can showcase their creativity and interact with coworkers they may not normally work closely with. Now 48% Off. 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 all started with a group chat. Therefore it's a win-win situation. 3 Ways Tech Company Sysomos Transformed Employee Experience, 5 Tips to Implement Summer Work Schedules, 6 Design Ideas to Create an Inspiring Work Environment. This will allow team members to truly appreciate each other, leading to better team building. Recommended Article: Gift Cards Make For The Perfect Employee Rewards. All in all, make the day about them, i.e., your employees. You might find that employee appreciation becomes a tad bit easier and a whole lot more fun. From relaxing countryside walks to exciting challenges, your staff will have the time of their lives. Book an Airbnb virtual experience. Real world elements make virtual exercises more engaging and interactive. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Legal. 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. Make it a fun and memorable experience. The consulting group McKinsey & Co. surveyed 1,000 employers , and 90 percent reported that the pandemic was affecting the behavioral health of their employees. In advance we were all given a link to a store that sells cocktail making kits. Elaine is a true partner in every sense of the word and would be a huge asset to any company. 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. 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. Online Office Games is a friendly competition for remote teammates. Just beware of overdosing on sugar. But some employers have devised celebrations that will keep people safe and actually sound fun (even to this curmudgeon). SHRM estimates that it costs $20,000 to $30,000 in recruiting and training expenses to replace a manager making $40,000 a year. You could either give employees the option of attending short 10-15 minute workouts throughout the day, or hold one or two longer sessions. One-Word Check-ins. Murder mysteries are games that require participants to play a character while solving a mystery. When showtime arrives, gather on a Zoom call. Team members can challenge each other voluntarily. Also, they grow more motivated to maintain or improve their good work. 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. And encouraging a cake culture can never be a bad thing. 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. Open windows, increase circulation, and keep room density as low as possible with fewer people in one space. 2022 Alle rechten voorbehouden. Not my cup of tea but a lot of people seemed to like it! Read about more virtual talent show ideas. Give your entire team a chance to express their creativity with baby pumpkins, acrylic paints, and free pumpkin stencils. From theme days to care packages to costume contests, here is a list of fun ways to celebrate spirit weeks in remote offices. 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. Virtual Fun Run Cost: $$ Difficulty: 4 Earning Potential: 29. We, humans, are emotional creatures. Want to enhance employee morale while improving productivity and boosting creativity? Celebrated on the first Friday in March, it pays homage to each employee's contribution to their company. 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. It's not only a nice little project to focus on, but gives us something to talk about that's not work or coronavirus. Keeping a workplace safe during the COVID-19 pandemic can be challenging. Ask your remote team members to describe their day so far with an emoji or a string of emojis. Appreciation from one's peers has more significance than from one's manager. For our workers who have never worked from home, social isolation is deeply felt. Who doesnt love free food? Invite team members to share concerns or issues that need to be addressed, and be sure time is also spent acknowledging what is working well and what team members are proud of. 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. The tours could happen on a single day, or throughout the week. It means that they can catch up on the countless movies that they have missed. Decatur, IL (62521) Today. Spirit Week ideas for busy offices should include low-maintenance events that require minimal planning from event organizers and the participants. Wed have the holiday party on Zoom, where folks would open what they had received from their gift giver. Feel free to customize it with your companys logos. Research says that the primary cause of employees leaving their jobs is the lack of appreciation. Or, if you hold virtual escape rooms or similar games, then include puzzles. Be thoughtful with your messages of appreciation. To truly show your employees that they are doing a great job, bring in some fun office traditions like "Taco Tuesday.". Talk about what you appreciate about that particular employee. During the call, participants can chat and play fun games, or co-work while enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. of 70-75% ethyl alcohol. Virtual Breakout Rooms are ideal for teams that need to brush up on their collaboration, problem-solving, and creative thinking skills. You get the best effort from others, not by lighting a fire beneath them but by building a fire within. 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. Today's employees seek recognition and rewards based on the career advancement that they want. Share funny videos, do some riddles and brainsteasers, put music on in the background. Then, have one attendee lead the class, or screen share a video routine. Credit: HMH Books for Young Readers. Also, they give continuous optimal performance. 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. Cycling is beneficial for your. Call in a local food truck specializing in the cuisine and make it mandatory for people to take a break and eat a taco. Believe it or not, such small stuff really sees a positively impacted company culture. If you work in an industry where teamwork is crucial, sudden orders to . Spirit weeks often involve games. 2022 Todos os direitos reservados. 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 . Its a way for us to provide food and a gathering without being on-site and in groups. For any related queries, contact editor@vantagecircle.com. The flipside to this is without the proper career advancement at the right time, employees will slowly grow disengaged and might look for new opportunities elsewhere. For example, share with team members how you will be leading, how you will check in with them, what you will be asking about. Ensure that everyone gets that attention. It is a small token of appreciation, but our employees have expressed that they really appreciate the recognition. - Darryl Smith, Founding Partner at Florida Car Accident Lawyer Team, Because of the coronavirus, Kickstand recently implemented more flexible work schedules, including a few mental health hours per week to encourage employees to step away from their computers and recharge during the workday. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ones. And what could be better for this purpose than to offer E-Learning options? No, not the executive lunchroom. 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. Be sure to grab plenty of screen shots throughout the afternoon or evening. Beyond bestowing traditional awards like extraordinary performance, team player, or rookie of the year, you can also create fun award categories. Put up fun office anecdotes on the bulletin board. Namely's powerful HR Software is built for mid-sized companies designed to be used by everyone, every day. They are great team members. Now more than ever, we need to lean on each other for support. This helps your employees feel appreciated on an ongoing basis. 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. Company retreats are great for celebrating employees after successful project completion or after an outstanding financial year. This is a great way to begin your team meetings. The knowledge that there is a whole day dedicated to employee appreciation should let you know its significance. Typical spirit weeks involve decorating contests. Simply schedule a Zoom meeting and ask attendees to join from an outdoor spot such as backyards, parks, or beaches. When you actually take the time out to get involved with them personally, employees feel that you genuinely care about them. He expressed that business leaders need to develop a structured and approach to mentoring. 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. 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. 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. 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! 7. Virtual workout or meditation classes. Letting employees decorate their workspaces plays an active role in building relationships within the company. Engage in active family play time. Inject Fun and Humor. It is especially meaningful when the appreciation comes from their bosses. These events typically occur through a series of video meetings, group chats, and collaborative online activities. Plus, you can capture a screenshot of the whole crew dressed up. Check out more more aboutonline retreat ideas. Having direct access to a mentor gives junior professionals valuable one-on-one training. When the class arrives, learn together, and be sure to snap plenty of screenshots. 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. 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. Ask each person to share one word to describe how they are feeling in. 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. It is capped at $200 per day, and $2,000 in total, for employees who have a family member affected by COVID-19 or a child staying at home because their school is closed. We also had a really strict limit for spending, like $20. After your holiday meal, go on a virtual group walk through your respective neighborhoods to work off the food. Even a small gesture like a "thank you" goes a long way to boost productivity, increase performance and improve morale among the workforce. 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. These small everyday gestures can come off as a pleasant surprise and make employees feel valued. One idea that keeps popping up on our Principal Life Facebook group is the concept of a virtual theme week. With more than 30 million people filing for unemployment in the past six weeks, the U.S. is predicted to experience a coronavirus-induced recession through 2021. Learn how to set new boundaries, ask for support, and re-strategize with your partner about what you need. There are few things that employees feel more love for than an extra day of freedom aside from the weekend. Materialistic perks are fine. You might feel anxious about: Your own safety and the safety of others. They take place using video call software, online communication platforms, and occasionally social media. The Town of Wake Forest and the Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department want you to stay safe during the current COVID-19 pandemic by honoring Wake County's stay at home order. If theyd just put an extra $100 in my paycheck and said we cant have a party this year so get yourself a nice treat, Id have appreciated that too. Some ideas include: Characters from a favorite movie by HR professionals across the globe! For the main event, meet up on a video call to sip tea, chat, and play games. These events help boost company pride. SWAG stands for "stuff we all get." When you think about having a great company culture, you think about building trust, honesty, and a great team of workers. 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. This is a great way to begin your team meetings. Vantage Circle. Celebrated on the first Friday in March, it pays homage to each employee's contribution to their company. The Very Worst Kind of Bad Boss Just Wont Go Away. Some of these challenges involve participants play-acting and using props during Zoom calls, while simpler versions consist of a series of riddles on Google Forms. Find out how to attract and retain your employees through their entire lifecycle. Before the . Keep Little Hands Busy. Hosting online costume contests is one of the best spirit week dress up ideas for work. Encourage team members to do the same. Perhaps the best gift to give your employees is recognizing your employees publicly for a great job done. Online escape rooms are online versions of thematic puzzle-solving games. Some are great artists, while some spend their time doing charity work. It's marketed as "COVID-19 style" since all schools across the state are currently shut down. Online board games or trivia challenges are a great way to bring a team together for something besides work. Gathering via video call and online communication platforms gives groups a chance to relax, re-energize, and reconnect with teammates. You could even include dessert decorating packs, tasting assortments, or craft kits. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the federal government (OSHA) has provided detailed guidelinesfor workplace safety policies. Then, encourage teammates to square off. There is no discussion in this exercise, it is simply a way for team members to connect with how others are feeling in the moment. 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. I cannot wait. Its expensive to recruit a new worker. 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. Adults need 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity activity such as brisk walking for health benefits. "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. Wellness Resources Ive gotten a lot of reports of teams doing remote crafting sessions togetheroften around seasonal themes, like gingerbread houses: Our office is planning two optional events. And of course folks could also just log off if they wanted to, with no pressure to spend the rest of the day working.