Company retreats are great for celebrating employees after successful project completion or after an outstanding financial year. One of the simplest and most popular solutions has been virtual happy hours. Walking not only counts as physical activity, but also provides some mental health benefits. First, create a Slack channel for the games. This activity won't cause too much distraction or mess. For our workers who have never worked from home, social isolation is deeply felt. 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. Here are some ideas that seem newly relevant given the constraints of 2020 and beyond. Get to know your employees and find out what they like so you can give gift cards that are tailored to their interests. These activities broaden employees global and cultural horizons while also delighting the teams travel lovers. Simple ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace 2022 Todos os direitos reservados. Encourage team members to do the same. You can also make sure you take at least a 30-minute lunch break. Were hearing from some people that while its not for everyone, having three hours on a Friday afternoon to do something fun together is really appreciated so were providing it for those who like/need it. Wed have the holiday party on Zoom, where folks would open what they had received from their gift giver. Virtual talent shows work best when there is a predetermined act order and an emcee to manage the flow. The thing that giants like Google and Airbnb have understood is that the physical environment of the office matters. Also, remember to turn your phone off. Pike13 Spirit Week highlights: Do it privately-ish. I didnt even stay until the end and used half the amount of tequila in my margarita because Im not used to drinking, but it was a lot of fun, we all learned something and had a good laugh. Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus, This is a BETA experience. The best online holiday parties encourage interaction. Ask each person to share one word to describe how they are feeling in. Video game consoles. Harvard Business Review reports that "the most impactful driver of employee engagement is recognition.". Simple ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace 2. You can also offer a myriad of health benefits. If you work in an industry where teamwork is crucial, sudden orders to . Or you might feel concerned about the health of others, such as those who you care for or live with. Materialistic perks are fine. Thus in this scenario, investing in an effective recognition program becomes a critical part of employee engagement. Spirit week is a week-long event that promotes company pride and employee engagement through fun activities. In this case they will contribute to providing some structure in an unstructured team situation. Your employees are amazing people with undisclosed talents. Mention about their desirable quirks like always being on time or such. When employees feel that their work is valued, their satisfaction and productivity rise. Slack game tournaments are great ideas for virtual spirit weeks. Also, they grow more motivated to maintain or improve their good work. 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. Whether they worked late to get the job done, blew past their sales goal, or volunteering at a local shelter, give employees the credit they deserve. Make sure you exchange emails with a volunteer coordinator or call before you . But they are the last to leave. How to advocate for yourself at work during COVID-19. Explore them here: On Fridays, our team puts on ridiculous outfits to make each other laugh during virtual meetings. Cycling is beneficial for your. As anyone whos tried to organize any office activity knows, its hard, if not impossible, to find something that everyone will like, so some offices are offering a whole buffet of choices to pick from: My company couldnt find an online activity that worked for 40 people, so theyre offering a few different options. Adults need 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity activity such as brisk walking for health benefits. They are the first to arrive. Superhero Academy is equal parts fun, intellectual, and competitive. For this event, ask team members to pick a side of a classic rivalry game and dress to match. Even a small gesture like a "thank you" goes a long way to boost productivity, increase performance and improve morale among the workforce. 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. 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. Read about more virtual talent show ideas. Thus, make it easier for team members to congratulate each other on a job well done. Look at yourself in the mirror. Virtual tea parties are calm yet quirky online events to hold with remote teams. E-Learning is the preferred modern way to upskill and learn while having the convenience of choosing the when and where. -Bob Nelson, In the United States, 20,000 workers were surveyed by the Boston Consulting Group. It is a good idea to vary the class types and levels so that more team members can participate. 31. Halloween is the time of year when employees can showcase their creativity and interact with coworkers they may not normally work closely with. Online escape rooms are online versions of thematic puzzle-solving games. 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. Its expensive to recruit a new worker. Check out BoostEducatorsChallenge.com for details. To play a murder mystery online, first find a game or script, and then invite teammates to a Zoom meeting to play out the scenario. 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. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. When you actually take the time out to get involved with them personally, employees feel that you genuinely care about them. Host fun team games to play with your team members. 7. First, give teammates a few options for online courses and ask them to vote for their favorite. I think that well continue doing this even after the pandemic is goneits such a cool way to learn more about the people you work with every day. - Dennis Vu, CEO and Co-founder of Ringblaze, We hired a magician to put on a virtual magic show for our staff, clients, and vendors to watch with their families. Not my cup of tea but a lot of people seemed to like it! 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. 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. For three hours per week, staff can sign off anytime during the workday for rest and wellbeing, no questions asked. Hear clients' stories and learn how they're building a better workplace with Namely. With these 33 employee appreciation ideas, you will see reduced turnover and retain your top talents. Who doesnt love free food? Home tours are a fun way for remote teammates to invite each other into personal spaces. 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. A crisis like this can either break ateamdown and widen any cracks in its foundation, or it canresult in the emergence of true greatness. 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. First, either mail employees tea and fancy snacks, or ask attendees to bring their own refreshments and reimburse them for the expense. December is the most obvious time to throw a virtual holiday party. Ask each person to share one word to describe how they are feeling in that moment. Teammates could also give a short slideshow presentation of their home cities. Companies with a corporate health plan are more likely to see more engaged employees. Wool socks, very plushy fleece blankets, playing cards, mugs, etc. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Everything is impacted by COVID-19 in some way, including our work. To make your company memorable in a sea of forgettable mugs. Employees should be free to decide where they want to work and when they want to work whenever possible. Online fundraising allows you to make a big impact even if your team is limited in members or budget. Make Sure You're COVID Safe. 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. The best thing about birthdays is cake. Make it meaningful for the employee so that they cherish it and put in their extra effort. Breakout rooms enable guests to have more intimate conversations, so that no attendee feels like an observer. 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!). Typical activities include theme days, costume contests, and online parties. Reward employees with a token or gift of appreciation from your side. of 70-75% ethyl alcohol. It is easier than ever to show your appreciation from the monthly Netflix fix to news and magazines. That can be too intimidating for your employees. Clarify expectations, for example, of performance, workflow or performance management. It offers employees a brief respite from their daily work. Its been close to two months since the World Health Organization declared the spread of the novel coronavirus an official pandemic. Themed gift boxes are another popular idea: Were sending winter-y stay-at-home gift boxes. Some ideas include: Characters from a favorite movie Plan out your meals and snacks ahead of time, such as at the beginning of the week or workday. 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. Whats the Word on The Street? Every year there are days we look forward to. Find out how to attract and retain your employees through their entire lifecycle. 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. Coffee or tea tastings work as well: We had a virtual coffee tasting where they sent those who RSVP'd a free AeroPress and. It's marketed as "COVID-19 style" since all schools across the state are currently shut down. Here are instructions on changing virtual backgrounds in Zoom, GoogleMeet, and Microsoft Teams. 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. Clear your schedule for at least an hour. Or, you can use an app like Donut to match up opponents, and pairs can play games instead of scheduling a video chat. This year, theyre sending a food related gift to our homes and giving us the afternoon off. Credit: HMH Books for Young Readers. Here are 10 ideas to consider for your school: 1. #StayStrongWF Spirit Week April 6-10. Be sure to grab plenty of screen shots throughout the afternoon or evening. This will allow team members to truly appreciate each other, leading to better team building. Murder mysteries are games that require participants to play a character while solving a mystery. Theres nothing quite like desserts and ice cream to alleviate stress. Just beware of overdosing on sugar. All This Talk About Quiet Quitting Is Absurd. 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. And what could be better for this purpose than to offer E-Learning options? 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. Recommended Case Study: Indias Largest Telecom Company Boosts their Global Employee Engagement with Vantage Rewards. Jamaica This prevents you from working to the point of hunger and then scrambling to decide what to eat. To host a virtual talent show, invite teammates to sign up for slots. These small everyday gestures can come off as a pleasant surprise and make employees feel valued. But to make them feel valued is what employees think is the most important. Recommended Article: 25 Employee Engagement Activities To Reinvent Your Workforce. Superhero Academy is a perfect fit for a hero or villain themed online spirit day. It doesnt have to be cocktail focused. Get the latest news from Namely about HR, Payroll, and Benefits. To host an online award show, first create award categories. 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. The events should also not take too long to do. You can arrange for office taxis or subsidized bus fares so that commute becomes a tad bit easier on their pockets. The essence of spirit week is enthusiasm, not physical proximity. 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. Recommended Article: 50 Best Words of Appreciation for Employees. Names were swapped, wish lists were made, and gifts from small businesses were delivered to friends and families! 9. Weve found that this is key to recreating that Friday feeling during lockdown. - Nushy Rose, Managing Editor at Parlia. Now 48% Off. Offering a corporate wellness program within a vibrant culture of thriving well-being can significantly enhance that connection. 2022 Tous droits rservs. 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. But follow the 33 employee appreciation ideas articulated in this article. 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. Your team can decorate their jack-o'-lanterns during break, lunch, or while you hold a team meeting.
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