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. Snacks are a fantastic food item that doesn't require you to get out of your desk when you want to eat something light. Are your employee motivated to come to work every single day? 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. Celebrating employee birthdays never gets old. Breakout rooms enable guests to have more intimate conversations, so that no attendee feels like an observer. Who doesnt love free food? You can even use it as a way to support local businesses: We were able to do family meals for our employees. Give your entire team a chance to express their creativity with baby pumpkins, acrylic paints, and free pumpkin stencils. For employees, having access to a mentor can add velocity to the workplace learning curve. Also, they grow more motivated to maintain or improve their good work. How to manage COVID-19 risks when organizing meetings and events 3. Typical activities include theme days, costume contests, and online parties. Here are instructions on changing virtual backgrounds in Zoom, GoogleMeet, and Microsoft Teams. Weve found that this is key to recreating that Friday feeling during lockdown. - Nushy Rose, Managing Editor at Parlia. Elaine is a true partner in every sense of the word and would be a huge asset to any company. Show your employees some love by making sure that the snacks provided are healthy and nutritious. What Readers Want During COVID-19: Content Ideas for Every Niche. 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. Company retreats are great for celebrating employees after successful project completion or after an outstanding financial year. Learn more: 25 Employee Recognition Statistics You Shouldn't Ignore. For three hours per week, staff can sign off anytime during the workday for rest and wellbeing, no questions asked. All This Talk About Quiet Quitting Is Absurd. 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. It is easier than ever to show your appreciation from the monthly Netflix fix to news and magazines. InDirect Report, she spotlights themes from her inbox that help explain the modern workplace and how we could be navigating it better. Try a subscription box. Typical spirit weeks involve decorating contests. Team building content expert. Be sure to grab plenty of screen shots throughout the afternoon or evening. Offering a corporate wellness program within a vibrant culture of thriving well-being can significantly enhance that connection. 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. Gift cards allow people to purchase whatever they want from their favorite brands. Although workplace benefits help keep employees happy, they rarely tend to spark inspiration. 31. People are encouraged to bring family (which is not something we typically can do with these events) and I would have loved this even before the new normal. Im kind of bummed Im going to be missing out on this one actually. 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. You can supplement your on-the-clock remote spirit week activities with fun social media challenges. Or you might feel concerned about the health of others, such as those who you care for or live with. We All Hate It. These activities broaden employees global and cultural horizons while also delighting the teams travel lovers. While employee appreciation may seem a bit heavy on the pockets, the bottom line is that it will lead to several long-term benefits. 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. In uncertain times, one thing is certain with fundraisingthe more you plan, the better off you will be. If you developed team norms to stay on top of (as above), then ensure you check-in on them. Not my cup of tea but a lot of people seemed to like it! Take a bubble bath (bonus: Add a glass of. Priorities. Let the kids pick out a book and read it to them while . Reading a book on the sofa is a cozy way to get in the Christmas spirit. Simmonds was blown away by . 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. These small everyday gestures can come off as a pleasant surprise and make employees feel valued. Everyone had a week to practice and record their talents before we all watched them together during a special All Hands meeting. Regardless of your age, some physical activity is better than none. Their office is infused with fun, including random Razor scooters available to any staff who think better while in motion. 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. Then, send invites to the team. Online Office Games is a friendly competition for remote teammates. This year, theyre sending a food related gift to our homes and giving us the afternoon off. The employee experience is better, and the company's outcome stronger. 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. Perhaps the best gift to give your employees is recognizing your employees publicly for a great job done. Plus, we decided there will be a prize for the tallest sunflower, so it's turning into quite the competition. - Rose Jinks, Digital PR Specialist at Online Mortgage Advisor, As a way to boost morale and encourage teamwork while were apart, my company has been hosting virtual trivia nights every week. Throwing a virtual holiday party is one of the best Christmas spirit week ideas for work. Chances are, your company has one too. 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. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses. Simply gear each days activities around a particular topic. 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. Do it privately-ish. There are many fun online activities that suit an international or travel-themed spirit week or spirit day. This article is written by Barasha Medhi who is a part of the marketing team at Vantage Circle. During the call, participants can chat and play fun games, or co-work while enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. However, you could include a holiday theme in your virtual spirit week during any time of the year. Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus, This is a BETA experience. Discuss and ask specific questions about work related items such as what they are working on, what they have accomplished in x amount of time, whether they have any challenges and if so how you can help. 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. Its a really cool way to connect with your coworkers and find out more about their life outside of work. Teammates could also give a short slideshow presentation of their home cities. Virtual spirit week ideas are ways to celebrate the occasion with remote teams. It is a good idea to vary the class types and levels so that more team members can participate. Companies with a corporate health plan are more likely to see more engaged employees. Following recommendations from the CDC, we've put together some helpful guide to navigating Christmas during Covid this year. Not to mention that birthday parties are an opportunity to appreciate peers. Instead of the usual tables and activities, they had booths set up where treats were handed through the window. From year-end reporting to employee paystubs, check out these payroll tips and tricks. 2022 Todos los derechos reservados. Even a simple gesture like an appreciation message or thoughtful gifts on valentines Day or anniversaries can make a huge difference. We've had a few teams compete in virtual relays, races, or step challenges using free apps to log steps, distance ran/cycled, etc. This will make them feel like a part of your business and not just a mere employee. You could even hold contests to name and reward the best virtual backgrounds for each meeting. All in all, make the day about them, i.e., your employees. Many a time, they'll bring that positivity and enthusiasm back to the workplace. 2020 Namely, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Some ideas include: Characters from a favorite movie For instance, plan a short gentle stretch, a high-intensity cardio routine, and a themed yoga class at different time slots throughout the day. To begin with, publicly recognizing great employees reflects well on your company for customers, investors, and your team. Recommended Article: The Ultimate Guide To Employee Rewards and Recognition. But follow the 33 employee appreciation ideas articulated in this article. -Bob Nelson, In the United States, 20,000 workers were surveyed by the Boston Consulting Group. 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. It offers employees a brief respite from their daily work. 2023 teambuilding.com, all rights reserved | Terms | Privacy, virtual tours of museums, zoos, and parks, list of free virtual team building activities for work, list of the best remote team outing ideas, Post a picture from your first year at the company vs now, Take a screenshot in the unlikeliest Zoom meeting spot, Film a 30-second work from home snack cooking lesson, Dress-up accessories, like sunglasses, boas, and novelty headbands, Create a collaborative world map showing which countries team members have lived in or traveled to, Ask participants to compile top 5 travel bucket lists of the destinations they would most like to visit, and pair up teammates with similar interests for a video chat, Video chat with screen pals in different countries, Compile a photo slideshow of the teams collective travels, Most likely to forget to mute/unmute the mic, Lightning fingers, aka fastest Slack replies, Most likely to binge cat videos during the workday. 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. Here are list of themes to use for online spirit weeks. If done in person, they provide a safer pandemic option because you share the room only with the people in your party. You can arrange for office taxis or subsidized bus fares so that commute becomes a tad bit easier on their pockets. Experiences, not cash, are the new corporate bonus. Or, you can use an app like Donut to match up opponents, and pairs can play games instead of scheduling a video chat. Bring in a songwriter, band, or comedian to perform at your workplace. 4 Ways A Single Word Has The Power To Positively Change Your Perspective, 8 Ways To Create Certainty Amid Current Workplace Uncertainty, Why Accountability Is At The Core Of Stewardship Delegation, 5 Ways To Grow Your Personal Brand As A Content Creator, Why We Need To Make Every Day Employee Appreciation Day, In A Competitive Job Market, Heres How To Win The Interview, 5 Tips To Recession-Proof Your Career And Bullet-Proof Your Security. Not to mention, care packages add a tactile element to your all-online spirit week. Some employees even showcased their talents liveranging from musical performances to cake baking to cat training. 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. Research says that the primary cause of employees leaving their jobs is the lack of appreciation. Illustration by Supriya Kalidas. Working from home can be challenging. Put up fun office anecdotes on the bulletin board. Outdoor days are one of the best summer spirit week ideas for work. After the bartender presentation (which was short) everybody got to chat and enjoy their drinks for some time before saying goodbye. It might sound cliche, but small courtesies like a boss saying thank you to the team members can make a huge difference. Believe it or not, such small stuff really sees a positively impacted company culture. For instance, take their opinion during decisions like on-boarding new technology or a specific project. Make it meaningful for the employee so that they cherish it and put in their extra effort. Photo illustration by Slate. 5k+ Downloads Here are three ways employers can reduce panic and keep employee morale up during the coronavirus outbreak. Vantage Circle. The Very Worst Kind of Bad Boss Just Wont Go Away. Theme Days. Even after COVID-19, hand sanitizers are a welcomed gift, no matter your customer base or your business. 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. 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. See: How Indoor Ventilation Systems Can Help Prevent or Permit the Spread of COVID-19 . Also, busy workdays are where lunches are spent with a sad sandwich while staring at the computer. Coming together this way will help bring your employees closer to you and boost the employee-employer relationship. Ensure time is spent checking in on the teams main priorities - any urgent issues that need to be addressed? Once the votes are in, book the top ranking classes. Spirit week shakes up the normal routine and gives dispersed teammates a chance to get together and have fun. We do a Champagne toast at our holiday party every year, and theres some rumors about mini bottles being shipped out for a Zoom toast, but Im not sure! Heres a way to see people in-person from the safety of your cars: Our company has had a couple of drive-through events set up in the parking lot of the main company campus. The consulting group McKinsey & Co. surveyed 1,000 employers , and 90 percent reported that the pandemic was affecting the behavioral health of their employees. For our workers who have never worked from home, social isolation is deeply felt. To host a virtual talent show, invite teammates to sign up for slots. Keeping a workplace safe during the COVID-19 pandemic can be challenging. Plentiful sunshine. Remote teams can dress up for remote meetings, even if their outfits wont be on display all day. To host these virtual workouts, have participants join a Zoom call. The best thing about birthdays is cake. 2022 Todos os direitos reservados. Interesting work matter only if you have good food while youre doing it. Jamaica 3 Ways Tech Company Sysomos Transformed Employee Experience, 5 Tips to Implement Summer Work Schedules, 6 Design Ideas to Create an Inspiring Work Environment. Guests can dress up too. 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). When you incorporate social media into your online spirit week scheduling, you make it easier for colleagues to find and friend each other. You might feel anxious about: Your own safety and the safety of others. Plus, you could throw virtual parties for any holiday. 7. All online escape rooms inspire teamwork and critical thinking in a fun and exciting way. Have regular check ins with individual team members. 1. Once the awards end, you can email digital certificates and e-gift cards to recipients, or mail trophies and paper awards to their houses. Simple ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace I recently asked Ask a Manager readers to share how their teams are observing the holidays in lieu of in-person parties this year, and it turns out companies have gotten really creative. Dress-up days find a niche at busy offices; employees can show up in costume but still get tons of work done. You. Teammates can select a different background for each meeting or theme day, and can even swap backgrounds multiple times per call. Clear your schedule for at least an hour. "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. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Legal. Throughout the evening or afternoon, read awards off one by one, and give each winner 30 seconds to give a victory speech. Are they excited to be working for you? Here are 15 office ideas for Halloween: 1. 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. First, create a Slack channel for the games. After all, who doesn't like a couple of free snacks? 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. 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. Trivia leaders can create questions and teams can decide on their favorite themes or trivia topics. Instead of taking the stage, performers share their acts during a video call. I cannot wait. Whats Really So Wrong About Secretly Working Two Full-Time Jobs at Once? Thus becoming one of the best employee engagement activities that you can invest in. Recommended Article: Gift Cards Make For The Perfect Employee Rewards. Recommended Article: 25 Employee Engagement Activities To Reinvent Your Workforce. 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. 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. More than a manager, an employee's peers are more likely to know about their good qualities. The events should also not take too long to do. Have office happy hours and hire a bartender to mix them a drink or two. From theme days to care packages to costume contests, here is a list of fun ways to celebrate spirit weeks in remote offices. You could even include dessert decorating packs, tasting assortments, or craft kits. In stock now. Part of the fun of spirit week is pretending, and murder mysteries cast participants in the roles of cunning detectives. Get to know your employees and find out what they like so you can give gift cards that are tailored to their interests. Because honestly, everyone expects the managers and leaders to be bossy and unreachable. Children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years need at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity daily. 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. 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. It can range from conducting regular health check-ups, yoga sessions, dentist appointments, and offering health insurance. Revamp your break room. Do the bragging on behalf of your employees, and show your whole team how fantastic everyone is. The Ultimate Guide to Employee Rewards and Recognition. Mention about their desirable quirks like always being on time or such. For any related queries, contact editor@vantagecircle.com. Consider sending your top ten performers off for a day or two at a spa to provide an incentive for continued outstanding performance. Or, if you hold virtual escape rooms or similar games, then include puzzles. Remote team games like holiday Bingo, trivia, and scavenger hunts get guests moving and invoke the holiday spirit. Harvard Business Review reports that "the most impactful driver of employee engagement is recognition.". Appreciation from one's peers has more significance than from one's manager. Make it more special by hosting a "Make Your Own Taco" competition where the winner gets some form of employee reward. A great employee appreciation idea that gives day-to-day benefits is providing assigned parking spaces. Some good virtual spirit week ideas include virtual talent shows, Zoom spirit week backgrounds, online award shows, and theme days. The charm of subscription boxes is that theres something for everyone! Hosting online costume contests is one of the best spirit week dress up ideas for work. It can be scheduled ahead of time or impromptu, just like you might invite a team member to grab a coffee with you while walking by their desk. Why not recognize these incredible non-work achievements in front of their peers? We also had a really strict limit for spending, like $20. 32. When employees feel that their work is valued, their satisfaction and productivity rise. Online fundraising allows you to make a big impact even if your team is limited in members or budget. This peer-to-peer employee recognition idea is about encouraging everyone from the organization to recognize good work. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. Petit fours, miniature cupcakes, and macarons are the best tea party desserts, and finger sandwiches are another staple. 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. The tours could happen on a single day, or throughout the week. This year, the questions are quite different, and nearly all are some variation of What do we even do for the holidays in a pandemic? Many employers are simply canceling holiday celebrations, since theres no way to safely gather. Theres nothing quite like desserts and ice cream to alleviate stress. Superhero Academy is a perfect fit for a hero or villain themed online spirit day. 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. Everybody got to sign up for whichever they liked best: Online beer tasting (they ship the beer to your house, and then you taste it on Zoom with an expert telling you what youre tasting). Vantage Circle. It could be a magazine subscription (on a topic they would be interested in), treats for pets, snack samples, or anything they would enjoy. These activities also make great spring spirit week ideas for work. Names were swapped, wish lists were made, and gifts from small businesses were delivered to friends and families! Heres some of what people reported. Why not expend the effort necessary to retain the staff that you have already painfully recruited and hired? Unique SWAG ideas have the power to set your company apart. Why not put a reminder in your diary when you plan to finish working? 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. Make it a fun and memorable experience. An escape room Escape room activities are available virtually and in person. To set the mood, encourage participants to put up virtual backgrounds of Victorian parlors or lush gardens. 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. 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. Here are answers to some of the most common questions about virtual spirit weeks. Getting your workplace ready in case COVID-19 arrives in your community. Why not see which team has the most steps or ran the furthest distance this week? Getting your own parking space is a highly coveted idea to really recognize your employees for doing a great job. Clarify expectations, for example, of performance, workflow or performance management. Finally going on a picnic with their loved ones. There is also the threat of a recession. Recommended Article: 23 Awesome Ways To Make Every Employee Work Anniversary Memorable. Working from home can be lonely and mundane. By planning an online retreat for spirit week, you block out employees time and free staff to enjoy the festivities. The thing that giants like Google and Airbnb have understood is that the physical environment of the office matters. $10 at Amazon. But with 29% of Americans reporting that they never drink alcohol, it is time for businesses to think of more inclusive activities. As a leader, having the right mindset, structure and strategies to enhance communication and build team cohesion will help you ensure the latter is true for you and your team. 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 have 30+ experiences to choose from, and thousands of five star reviews. Instead, health promotion ensures that your staff actually want and like to be at work. These morning check-ins, no matter how short are invaluable for maintaining a sense of community, checking in on how team members are doing, and to stay focused on key priorities so that momentum and performance is maintained. Not to fear: There are plenty of Halloween-inspired crafts to go around. While personalizing spaces at work to fit the geographic locale or the personal tastes of employees has become common. These events help boost company pride. Taking care of your employees' health is the most prominent form of appreciation that you can show. The disease is extremely contagious, yet many infected people are asymptomatic, and patterns of transmission are not always clear. One of the simplest and most popular solutions has been virtual happy hours. Click here to find out how. In times of isolation it can be very difficult to stay on top of where everyone is at.