spirit week ideas for work during covid

All rights reserved. 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 . Home tours are a fun way for remote teammates to invite each other into personal spaces. If you have to be indoors, consider air flow. 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. Companies with a corporate health plan are more likely to see more engaged employees. Also, they grow more motivated to maintain or improve their good work. Themed dress-up days are popular favorites, but they're really just the start. Give a prize to the two team members who wear the most well-thought . Virtual spirit weeks bolster team resolve and brightens telecommuters moods. For any employee who loves to be fit or is inclined towards adopting a healthier lifestyle, gym passes make for the ultimate way to help them get started. Snacks are a fantastic food item that doesn't require you to get out of your desk when you want to eat something light. The effectiveness of office snacks is that major companies like Google use them as a perk to attract the top employees. However, Slack games offer more flexibility, as teammates can play on their own schedules. Look at yourself in the mirror. Heres some of what people reported. Another good team-building activity is a virtual workshop or workout class. The BIG List of School Spirit Week Ideas (80+ Activities!) The team that plays together bonds better. How to manage COVID-19 risks when organizing meetings and events 3. 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. Teammates could also give a short slideshow presentation of their home cities. I also personally feel that it's boosting my wellbeing and brightening my day. Theres nothing quite like desserts and ice cream to alleviate stress. The Kaiser Family Foundation found . You could either give employees the option of attending short 10-15 minute workouts throughout the day, or hold one or two longer sessions. 1. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Feel free to customize it with your companys logos. Its a way for us to provide food and a gathering without being on-site and in groups. WeAreTeachers Staff on September 20, 2022. Often, in the case of. Why not see which team has the most steps or ran the furthest distance this week? However, you could include a holiday theme in your virtual spirit week during any time of the year. 2022 Tous droits rservs. Ensure time is spent checking in on the teams main priorities - any urgent issues that need to be addressed? You found our list of unique virtual spirit week ideas. It might sound cliche, but small courtesies like a boss saying thank you to the team members can make a huge difference. 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. Humans have an inherent need to get appreciated for their work. 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. For example, Marvel versus DC Comics, the '60s versus the '70s, or Batman and the Joker. Therefore it's a win-win situation. Engage in active family play time. They are tasty, convenient, and great for hunger pangs that strike while working. We, humans, are emotional creatures. 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. Getty Images/PeopleImages. Take off your coat. And of course folks could also just log off if they wanted to, with no pressure to spend the rest of the day working. Reading a book on the sofa is a cozy way to get in the Christmas spirit. Daily Dose of Kindness (sent daily) Weekly Kindness Idea (sent weekly) General Newsletter (for everyone) General Newsletter (for educators) Learn more: 25 Employee Recognition Statistics You Shouldn't Ignore. Teams complete comic-book-themed riddles and puzzles and virtual minute-to-win-it challenges to climb the leaderboard and save the world. The disease is extremely contagious, yet many infected people are asymptomatic, and patterns of transmission are not always clear. See: How Indoor Ventilation Systems Can Help Prevent or Permit the Spread of COVID-19 . With higher motivation comes better engagement, happiness, and ultimately retention. Simply post a different game or prompt on the company social channels every day, and instruct employees to respond using a special hashtag. Cycling is beneficial for your. Book an Airbnb virtual experience. I also hired a local small business to make some custom iced cookies for us. Here's what you might be missing- employee appreciation ideas. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Legal. Offering free meals and caffeine is actually a highly effective and cost-effective means of motivating and controlling young employees. Declaring theme days is one of the easiest spirit week ideas for work 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. It's not only a nice little project to focus on, but gives us something to talk about that's not work or coronavirus. This is a stressful time to say the least. For our workers who have never worked from home, social isolation is deeply felt. 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. 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. 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. Virtual Breakout Rooms are ideal for teams that need to brush up on their collaboration, problem-solving, and creative thinking skills. Coffee or tea tastings work as well: We had a virtual coffee tasting where they sent those who RSVP'd a free AeroPress and. Get Competitive. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. The top reason why the people enjoyed coming to work was because of "feeling appreciated.". An extra day off can mean a whole lot of possibilities to overworked and overstressed employees. If you can get outside to walk, studies have shown that a brisk walk can make you feel . Then, have one attendee lead the class, or screen share a video routine. Promoting health is no longer seen as an initiative that yields 'soft' results. Next, check our our list of ideas to celebrate Pride at work, online fun Friday ideas, and intern orientation activities. When showtime arrives, gather on a Zoom call. Some ideas for your 30-minute morning check-ins include: Establish virtual coffee chats with individual team members. 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. This activity involves solving puzzles and finding clues to "escape" a themed room. This is a time to focus only on the people sitting before you. Companies all over the world are making their operations remote for the first time to combat the spread of the coronavirus. My Boss Loves Planning an Elaborate Holiday Extravaganza. Keeping a workplace safe during the COVID-19 pandemic can be challenging. Food has a way of being a catalyst to bring people together. Simple ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace Why not put a reminder in your diary when you plan to finish working? Simply ask, how are we doing living up to our agreements?. Elaine is a true partner in every sense of the word and would be a huge asset to any company. Experiences, not cash, are the new corporate bonus. Research says that the primary cause of employees leaving their jobs is the lack of appreciation. From open enrollment to building a benefits package, we've got you covered. It doesnt have to be cocktail focused. Many a time, showing some employee appreciation may seem hard. Employee appreciation is the cornerstone of developing a robust and meaningful workplace culture. These activities broaden employees global and cultural horizons while also delighting the teams travel lovers. You may experience anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic if you have to go into work. About how his/her contributions have aided to a projects successful completion. But we must also address the negative impact of isolation loneliness, fatigue or even . Breakout Rooms! 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. The packages were delivered to our doors in the afternoon of our event. Keep employees engaged and excited with some friendly competition. 2. Remote team games like holiday Bingo, trivia, and scavenger hunts get guests moving and invoke the holiday spirit. After face masks, custom hand sanitizers are the next health and safety giveaway idea on our list. Make sure you exchange emails with a volunteer coordinator or call before you . For instance, on sports day, staff can wear jerseys, square off in competitive games, and participate in an online pep rally. Celebrating employee birthdays never gets old. But there is one occasion that should be praised with the same level of spirit and vigor as the restthe work anniversary. Because honestly, everyone expects the managers and leaders to be bossy and unreachable. The week before your work at home spirit week, mail boxes full of goodies to team members. I sort of roll my eyes at these, but they did a pumpkin carving contest earlier in the fall and people got very very VERY into it, and someone offered to lead a how to make the perfect apple pie for Thanksgiving and the voluntary sign-up had over 500 people. Also, remember to turn your phone off. At the end of the week, count up the wins, and have the victors face off against each other for the championship. 2. 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 day-to-day work life might get hectic and tedious for everyone in the office. First, either mail employees tea and fancy snacks, or ask attendees to bring their own refreshments and reimburse them for the expense. Some employees even showcased their talents liveranging from musical performances to cake baking to cat training. We are doing a virtual chocolate tasting with my team. 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. You might feel anxious about: Your own safety and the safety of others. With these 33 employee appreciation ideas, you will see reduced turnover and retain your top talents. 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. That can be too intimidating for your employees. 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. Ask each person to share one word to describe how they are feeling in. It is especially meaningful when the appreciation comes from their bosses. Everything is impacted by COVID-19 in some way, including our work. Then, send invites to the team. Materialistic perks are fine. Photos by Getty Images Plus. Today's employees seek recognition and rewards based on the career advancement that they want. For the main event, meet up on a video call to sip tea, chat, and play games. Spirit week attendees can either make their own backgrounds using Canva or Photoshop, or can download one from online. It definitely is the easiest and quickest Zoom icebreaker out there. Some ideas for your 30-minute morning check-ins include: One-Word Check-ins. These events can help virtual offices grow closer. Ask your remote team members to describe their day so far with an emoji or a string of emojis. And encouraging a cake culture can never be a bad thing. Develop team norms. Here are 10 ideas to consider for your school: 1. There were two main ways we did this: by requiring team members to be vaccinated, and picking a venue that would reduce people's overall exposure. Toilet paper and Netflix memes are very popular right now. 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. Half of the box contained things like hand sanitizer, gloves, masks, and other health-related products to help us stay safe. Some good virtual spirit week ideas include virtual talent shows, Zoom spirit week backgrounds, online award shows, and theme days. Following recommendations from the CDC, we've put together some helpful guide to navigating Christmas during Covid this year. Are your employee motivated to come to work every single day? I hope this article has in some small way helped your and your teams trek through this extraordinary time. We all know that employees are the most valuable asset for a business. Recommended Article: 50 Best Words of Appreciation for Employees. When you actually take the time out to get involved with them personally, employees feel that you genuinely care about them. 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. The Very Worst Kind of Bad Boss Just Wont Go Away. Wellness Resources For example, new employees should receive a buddy to learn the ropes. Employees thrive at work when they know their contributions have meaning. According to Harvard Business Review writer Anthony K. TJan: Company leadership should embrace, promote and value mentoring programs to realize a return on investment. 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. Subjects should be fun and non-work related. 9. You can even turn your staff into the bartending experts: We had a party earlier this year where there was one big Zoom call, and then we broke out into a set of breakout rooms where colleagues had volunteered to teach others how to make their favorite cocktail. Check out our list ofonline escape rooms. Virtual tea parties are calm yet quirky online events to hold with remote teams. The essence of spirit week is enthusiasm, not physical proximity. Yet now is a time when communication actually needs to be ramped up. There's a lot you can do to be helpful from home. Some leaders consistently interact with those they most easily connect with but may not as readily think of others. Everyone had a week to practice and record their talents before we all watched them together during a special All Hands meeting. For three hours per week, staff can sign off anytime during the workday for rest and wellbeing, no questions asked. Virtual spirit week ideas are ways to celebrate the occasion with remote teams. The key is making exercise a daily priority, and the holidays are no different. One-Word Check-ins. All This Talk About Quiet Quitting Is Absurd. To set the mood, encourage participants to put up virtual backgrounds of Victorian parlors or lush gardens. 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! Regardless of your age, some physical activity is better than none. Barasha can be found either searching for interesting HR buzzwords to write about or looking at pictures of cozy Bel Air mansions. Interesting work matter only if you have good food while youre doing it. A UK study finds workers job attitudes can be bolstered by allowing them to personalize their office. $10 at Amazon. These small everyday gestures can come off as a pleasant surprise and make employees feel valued. Children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years need at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity daily. Due to the physical demands and psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, it's been difficult for many of us to stay physically active. Recognizing hard work and achievement in the workplace increase employee morale, encourage healthy competition, and creates a positive atmosphere. -Bob Nelson, In the United States, 20,000 workers were surveyed by the Boston Consulting Group. Coronavirus has put a particular national spotlight on unmet needs of the growing older population in our country, and the tens of millions of overstretched family and professional caregivers they . It is working together that will get us through this time. A great employee appreciation idea that gives day-to-day benefits is providing assigned parking spaces. Gift ideas ranged, but included orchids, stay-at-home picnic baskets, family dinners, bookstore gift cards, and fancy coffee! - Nicole Canulla, Head of Marketing & Communications at DUST Identity, What I've found very engaging and will definitely continue to use even after we're no longer remote is Donut. Or it just might be a beautiful day to sleep in. Talking about making employees feel valued, a great way to do so is by involving them in the decision-making process, wherever possible. Its hard to replicate daily interactions with co-workers, casual encounters by the water cooler, or after-work drinks, but we are encouraging our employees to find time for virtual coffees, lunches, or even happy hours with their colleagues. - William Taylor, Career Development Manager at Velvetjobs, Something that has really helped us keep spirits up is our Slack 'meme' channel where we encourage everyone to post the best memes they find throughout the day. Simmonds was blown away by . Celebrate "Employee Appreciation Day" With Pomp And Show Employee Appreciation Day is a semi-formal holiday in the United States. Their office is infused with fun, including random Razor scooters available to any staff who think better while in motion. Spirit weeks are a time-honored tradition, in elementary, middle, and high schools alike. Ventilation and air circulation are your friends. Thus in this scenario, investing in an effective recognition program becomes a critical part of employee engagement. You can take the first step in promoting the importance of health. While personalizing spaces at work to fit the geographic locale or the personal tastes of employees has become common. Be thoughtful with your messages of appreciation. Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. Things to consider when you and your employees travel 4. While the other appreciation ideas might be feasible for particular projects and day-to-day work, employees will look for something more permanent in the long run. Spirit week shakes up the normal routine and gives dispersed teammates a chance to get together and have fun. Get the latest news from Namely about HR, Payroll, and Benefits. 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. 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. For inspiration, check out our lists of online cooking classes and online art classes. The consulting group McKinsey & Co. surveyed 1,000 employers , and 90 percent reported that the pandemic was affecting the behavioral health of their employees. 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. They are great team members. 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. Want to give someone the gift that keeps on giving? Learn how to set new boundaries, ask for support, and re-strategize with your partner about what you need. Support families to. 1. You can also offer a myriad of health benefits. Thus becoming one of the best employee engagement activities that you can invest in. You may opt-out by. 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. Do it privately-ish. 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. Want to enhance employee morale while improving productivity and boosting creativity? Everything you need to build a better workplace. We All Hate It. Gift cards allow people to purchase whatever they want from their favorite brands. Anxiety. Help make kindness the norm at school, home and work by using the links below! Virtual talent shows double as entertainment and team bonding. So, whether you're paired up or have something in the works, here are 20 ideas to safely celebrate Valentine's Day during coronavirus. You can also make sure you take at least a 30-minute lunch break. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses. 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.. 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. Themed gift boxes are another popular idea: Were sending winter-y stay-at-home gift boxes. 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 . 3. Every company has got one of these employees. We gathered the top employee morale tips, tricks, and ideas from businesses around the world. Teammates can vote using the poll feature in your video meeting platform, and you can send the winner a prize. by HR professionals across the globe! Appreciation from one's peers has more significance than from one's manager. You can even snap a photo and create your own hashtag for when employees achieve something especially commendable. Simply gear each days activities around a particular topic. To host an online award show, first create award categories. You could even hold contests to name and reward the best virtual backgrounds for each meeting. So far, people have hosted presentations on their favorite hobby, sports team, family, the country they come from, favorite food, favorite lockdown activity, etc. To make your company memorable in a sea of forgettable mugs. 4. You can even use it as a way to support local businesses: We were able to do family meals for our employees. Coffee and Chocolate Tastings It doesn't have to be cocktail focused. 1. Gather the kids and create Paper Mice, Halloween skull jewelry, and more. Trivia leaders can create questions and teams can decide on their favorite themes or trivia topics. Believe it or not, such small stuff really sees a positively impacted company culture. Are they excited to be working for you? But to make them feel valued is what employees think is the most important. When the class arrives, learn together, and be sure to snap plenty of screenshots. Bring in a songwriter, band, or comedian to perform at your workplace. Working from home can be challenging. Recommended Article: 23 Awesome Ways To Make Every Employee Work Anniversary Memorable. If the show is a competition, then at the end of the performance have the audience vote for a winner via poll, or send a panel of judges into a breakout room to deliberate. Consider sending your top ten performers off for a day or two at a spa to provide an incentive for continued outstanding performance. And encourage team members to let you know whenever they need any kind of support whether related directly to their work tasks or to any challenges they might be personally facing in the new situation. Also, they give continuous optimal performance. 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. Coming together this way will help bring your employees closer to you and boost the employee-employer relationship. Thus, make it easier for team members to congratulate each other on a job well done. For instance, if you host a murder mystery, then include character cards in the boxes. Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus, This is a BETA experience. Paint Pumpkins. SHRM estimates that it costs $20,000 to $30,000 in recruiting and training expenses to replace a manager making $40,000 a year. Without a doubt, getting a specially curated box of snacks will make employees feel happy and contented. Let the kids pick out a book and read it to them while . Streaming service subscriptions. 6. Outdoor days are one of the best summer spirit week ideas for work. But employees with a few years of experience should be matched with a career mentor to help them grow in their position. Throwing a virtual holiday party is one of the best Christmas spirit week ideas for work. Plus, you could throw virtual parties for any holiday. The Ultimate Guide to Employee Rewards and Recognition. Chances are, your company has one too. It is a good idea to vary the class types and levels so that more team members can participate. Need more tips for how to keep your employees happy during COVID-19? The second event is a winter wreath demo where again supplies are sent to peoples houses and you can follow along with the demo and put a non-denominational winter wreath together. First, give teammates a few options for online courses and ask them to vote for their favorite. Sally can whip up a variety of cold meals, including salads, grain bowls and yogurt.

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