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. Online escape rooms are online versions of thematic puzzle-solving games. Illustration by Supriya Kalidas. Get Chinese food somewhere. A lot. Virtual spirit weeks are weeklong events that consist of a series of fun and interactive online activities. Then, after that, we had the opportunity to go into breakout roomslast year, one room did Schitts Creek trivia (it was a favorite among many staffers), another did Pictionary using the annotate functions of Zoom. Your objectives for the meeting will be to: Note: This is not a meeting to be rushed. It means that they can catch up on the countless movies that they have missed. You could either give employees the option of attending short 10-15 minute workouts throughout the day, or hold one or two longer sessions. It could be a magazine subscription (on a topic they would be interested in), treats for pets, snack samples, or anything they would enjoy. There are many fun online activities that suit an international or travel-themed spirit week or spirit day. 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 . Commemorating a work anniversary is a robust employee engagement, development, and retention tool and a way to recognize and show your appreciation to a valued employee. Communication in remote teams, whether casual chats or work related discussions, cant easily happen as spontaneously as it does when people are sitting next to each other at work. 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!). Learn more about virtual costume contests. Now more than ever, we need to lean on each other for support. See: How Indoor Ventilation Systems Can Help Prevent or Permit the Spread of COVID-19 . Superhero Academy is equal parts fun, intellectual, and competitive. And what could be better for this purpose than to offer E-Learning options? For inspiration, check out our lists of online cooking classes and online art classes. Thus, make it easier for team members to congratulate each other on a job well done. Pike13 Spirit Week highlights: During this time, one team member has 60 minutes to talk about their favorite subject while others listen and ask questions. Do the bragging on behalf of your employees, and show your whole team how fantastic everyone is. Elaine is a true partner in every sense of the word and would be a huge asset to any company. 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. You can even snap a photo and create your own hashtag for when employees achieve something especially commendable. Its a way for us to provide food and a gathering without being on-site and in groups. Recommended Article: 23 Awesome Ways To Make Every Employee Work Anniversary Memorable. Make it meaningful for the employee so that they cherish it and put in their extra effort. "We're encouraging employees to stay active by challenging their coworkers. The chocolate tasting person is mailing out the tasting kits to all of us and will lead us through the tasting via Zoom. Some employees even showcased their talents liveranging from musical performances to cake baking to cat training. The charm of subscription boxes is that theres something for everyone! Companies all over the world are making their operations remote for the first time to combat the spread of the coronavirus. 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. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight We All Hate It. Before the . Everything you need to build a better workplace. To host these virtual workouts, have participants join a Zoom call. Simple ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace 2. Another good team-building activity is a virtual workshop or workout class. 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. 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. By hosting your fundraisers online, you can reach new supporters both near and far from your school without needing to leave your desk. After all, who doesn't like a couple of free snacks? It was a lot of fun! - Stephen J. Kontos, Founder & CEO at PatentXP PLLC, We keep employee morale high by sending out thank you notes to our employees currently working from home. For employees, having access to a mentor can add velocity to the workplace learning curve. 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. Check out BoostEducatorsChallenge.com for details. ). In order to position your company as one where people really want to work, your company SWAG items had better reflect that. But some employers have devised celebrations that will keep people safe and actually sound fun (even to this curmudgeon). One employee's commute could be inexpensive, while for another, it could be prohibitive. This year, theyre sending a food related gift to our homes and giving us the afternoon off. Reward employees with a token or gift of appreciation from your side. Every company has got one of these employees. Recommended Case Study: Indias Largest Telecom Company Boosts their Global Employee Engagement with Vantage Rewards. If you work in an industry where teamwork is crucial, sudden orders to . Have regular check ins with individual team members. Throughout the evening or afternoon, read awards off one by one, and give each winner 30 seconds to give a victory speech. Offering extra time off pretty much never goes amiss, especially at this time of year: In lieu of bonuses and parties and all sorts of things, my employer is just closing for the week in between Christmas and New Years and giving everyone the time offits been a hit, because thats usually a huge use of vacation days for folks. An escape room Escape room activities are available virtually and in person. Adults need 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity activity such as brisk walking for health benefits. Its a really cool way to connect with your coworkers and find out more about their life outside of work. They are great team members. 2022 Alle rechten voorbehouden. Here are list of themes to use for online spirit weeks. The packages were delivered to our doors in the afternoon of our event. Since healthier employees are more productive, happy, and energetic, the company will benefit from this form of appreciation. 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 Launch During a Pandemic. But there is one occasion that should be praised with the same level of spirit and vigor as the restthe work anniversary. 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. Petit fours, miniature cupcakes, and macarons are the best tea party desserts, and finger sandwiches are another staple. But follow the 33 employee appreciation ideas articulated in this article. Be thoughtful with your messages of appreciation. Letting employees decorate their workspaces plays an active role in building relationships within the company. Streaming service subscriptions. When showtime arrives, gather on a Zoom call. Make it more special by hosting a "Make Your Own Taco" competition where the winner gets some form of employee reward. Support families to. Wed all ooooh and ahhh, and laugh. It was a huge hit, and we're already scheduled another! - Ryan Law, Content Strategist at Animalz, We sent care packages to our employees homes to help them adjust to remote work. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Legal. Even a simple gesture like an appreciation message or thoughtful gifts on valentines Day or anniversaries can make a huge difference. The employee experience is better, and the company's outcome stronger. For example, new employees should receive a buddy to learn the ropes. Here's what you might be missing- employee appreciation ideas. COVID-19 is expected to last for many months, with a potential resurgence in the fall. Celebrated on the first Friday in March, it pays homage to each employee's contribution to their company. You can supplement your on-the-clock remote spirit week activities with fun social media challenges. 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 . Consider downloading a fitness app with curated workout playlists. I also hired a local small business to make some custom iced cookies for us. Teammates can vote using the poll feature in your video meeting platform, and you can send the winner a prize. You could even include dessert decorating packs, tasting assortments, or craft kits. Sometimes, the utmost appreciation that an employee seeks is a promotion in his job role. 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. Halloween is the time of year when employees can showcase their creativity and interact with coworkers they may not normally work closely with. Not to mention there's the option of booking an entertainer - choices include singer Jimmy Barnes and comedy duo Hamish and Andy - to spice up a webcam-based party. Elaine has in-depth knowledge of digital, social, and websites both from a strategic and user . Check out our list of the best online murder mysteries. Or it just might be a beautiful day to sleep in. For example, build breaks into your work schedule, remind team members to take breaks, and don't do work tasks while off work.7,8,9,10,11,12,13 Model problem solving from a variety of viewpoints. For this event, ask team members to pick a side of a classic rivalry game and dress to match. This helps your employees feel appreciated on an ongoing basis. 1. The day-to-day work life might get hectic and tedious for everyone in the office. 1. The best way to decorate virtual offices is by using virtual meeting backgrounds. Regardless of your age, some physical activity is better than none. 9. Look at yourself in the mirror. Usually at this time of year, my inbox fills up with questions about company holiday parties: How many drinks are OK to have there? Everyone had a week to practice and record their talents before we all watched them together during a special All Hands meeting. Anxiety. We are doing a virtual chocolate tasting with my team. This amazing app pairs the blind and visually impaired with volunteers via a video call in order to assist with everyday tasks (think reading a recipe on the back of a box or selecting a . Virtual spirit week ideas are ways to celebrate the occasion with remote teams. But employees with a few years of experience should be matched with a career mentor to help them grow in their position. Remote team games like holiday Bingo, trivia, and scavenger hunts get guests moving and invoke the holiday spirit. Share funny videos, do some riddles and brainsteasers, put music on in the background. Once the votes are in, book the top ranking classes. This is a great way to begin your team meetings. 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. Are they excited to be working for you? Companies with a corporate health plan are more likely to see more engaged employees. Snacks are a fantastic food item that doesn't require you to get out of your desk when you want to eat something light. 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. Every year there are days we look forward to. Hand Sanitizers. Make the day memorable by organizing outside barbecues or small office parties. Plan out your meals and snacks ahead of time, such as at the beginning of the week or workday. Then, encourage teammates to square off. I am a big believer in team norms which support the team in self managing behaviors, practices and performance. The box also had a few ingredients, fresh produce, and a list of recipes you could make with everything. 7. California-based Chowbotics, has seen an uptick in demand for its fresh food robot "Sally.". Gather the kids and create Paper Mice, Halloween skull jewelry, and more. Simply designate a theme for each day or meeting, then choose the best dressed for each category. Be sure to grab plenty of screen shots throughout the afternoon or evening. Websites like Elfster or DrawNames will organize the whole process for you, letting you set a gift budget and providing space for participants to share their wish lists: I worked in a fully remote environment last holiday season, and this had been a tradition for several years, though it was entirely opt-in. The team that plays together bonds better. Here is our take on enhancing employee motivation with the below 33 exceptional employee appreciation ideas. 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). Want to give someone the gift that keeps on giving? The other half consisted of beer (or non-alcoholic drinks), snacks, tea, and homemade salsa. December is the most obvious time to throw a virtual holiday party. Donut is an app in our Slack channel that randomly pairs up coworkers together, encouraging them to set up a coffee meeting (of course, in this case, a virtual coffee meeting) in order to get to know each other better. Attempt a self portrait with pencil and paper. Remote teammates can enjoy a show while learning more about coworkers special skills and abilities. Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. One of the best ideas for spirit care packages is to pack supplementary materials for the weeks activities.