Instead of the usual tables and activities, they had booths set up where treats were handed through the window. Recommended Article: The Ultimate Guide To Employee Rewards and Recognition. Explore them here: On Fridays, our team puts on ridiculous outfits to make each other laugh during virtual meetings. Employee appreciation is meant to make the workplace feel a little bit like home. 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. 3. 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. 29. Virtual workout or meditation classes. 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. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ones. You can also use GeoGessr to play a destination-guessing game, or take virtual tours of museums, zoos, and parks together. Here are list of themes to use for online spirit weeks. Pike13 Spirit Week highlights: As we are a small team, we used to track this daily on a whiteboard in the office, but now we just check in each morning to see what each team member is planning to do that day. - Napala Pratini, Co-Founder at Habitual, We started including crosswords with internal jokes and references in our internal weekly newsletter. Ask each person to share one word to describe how they are feeling in. I am a big believer in team norms which support the team in self managing behaviors, practices and performance. Wishing you and your team health and tranquility. 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. When showtime arrives, gather on a Zoom call. For example, Marvel versus DC Comics, the '60s versus the '70s, or Batman and the Joker. 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. Employees respond to appreciation expressed by recognizing their good work because it confirms that their work is valued by others. Many of us now look forward to Mondays because of these hilarious crosswords! Letting employees decorate their workspaces plays an active role in building relationships within the company. COVID Halloween Ideas | Martha Stewart A lot. Employee Appreciation Day is a semi-formal holiday in the United States. All in all, make the day about them, i.e., your employees. Innovative Holiday and Winter Gatherings in the Time of COVID-19 Spirit week is a week-long event that promotes company pride and employee engagement through fun activities. Get the resources. Get the latest news from Namely about HR, payroll, and benefits. One of the best ideas for spirit care packages is to pack supplementary materials for the weeks activities. Credit: HMH Books for Young Readers. Remote teams often work on staggered schedules, meaning that the whole crew may not be available at game time. But heres the thing. This article is written by Barasha Medhi who is a part of the marketing team at Vantage Circle. My Boss Loves Planning an Elaborate Holiday Extravaganza. Want to enhance employee morale while improving productivity and boosting creativity? Toilet paper and Netflix memes are very popular right now. Coronavirus NC: Virtual spirit weeks unite school communities | Raleigh 7. Harvard Business Review reports that "the most impactful driver of employee engagement is recognition.". We All Hate It. See: How Indoor Ventilation Systems Can Help Prevent or Permit the Spread of COVID-19 . Maintain a positive work/life balance and encourage your team to do the same It's easy to work longer hours and take fewer breaks when working 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. The events should also not take too long to do. 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. List of virtual spirit week ideas. This will make them feel like a part of your business and not just a mere employee. Celebrated on the first Friday in March, it pays homage to each employee's contribution to their company. Hand Sanitizers. Online fundraising allows you to make a big impact even if your team is limited in members or budget. Relaxing activities to do at home during COVID-19 quarantine - CNBC The box also had a few ingredients, fresh produce, and a list of recipes you could make with everything. 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. Next, install game apps like rock paper scissors, tic tac toe, and trivia. 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.. Successful fundraising during a recession is two-pronged: Focus hard on donor engagement and retention, and However, Slack games offer more flexibility, as teammates can play on their own schedules. But providing a good employee experience is the future. Food is a big deal at work. Here's how the pandemic will change - CNN Just to say hi and check how they are doing. The charm of subscription boxes is that theres something for everyone! Or, you can use an app like Donut to match up opponents, and pairs can play games instead of scheduling a video chat. This activity won't cause too much distraction or mess. An escape room Escape room activities are available virtually and in person. You can also make sure you take at least a 30-minute lunch break. 1. 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. Workplace Safety During COVID-19 | Justia Hear clients' stories and learn how they're building a better workplace with Namely. Virtual Theme Weeks Can Bring Students and Faculty Together For instance, take their opinion during decisions like on-boarding new technology or a specific project. Teammates could also give a short slideshow presentation of their home cities. Were all pretty pumped about it. 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. #StayStrongWF Spirit Week April 6-10. When you actually take the time out to get involved with them personally, employees feel that you genuinely care about them. Remote teammates work together to crack clues and conquer brain teasers before time runs out. Decatur, IL (62521) Today. They had a selection that included non-alcoholic mixes too (like a ginger lemonade). Check out our list ofonline escape rooms. 1. 2. On beach day, participants post virtual backgrounds of tropical locations and sip mock mai tais. Whats the Word on The Street? Go for a walk. Remote teams can dress up for remote meetings, even if their outfits wont be on display all day. It might sound cliche, but small courtesies like a boss saying thank you to the team members can make a huge difference. Declaring theme days is one of the easiest spirit week ideas for work from home. Not just practical job skills, but behavioral and cultural skills as well. Working from home can be lonely and mundane. Get Competitive. Thus, make it easier for team members to congratulate each other on a job well done. 2. by HR professionals across the globe! Be thoughtful with your messages of appreciation. Throwing a virtual holiday party is one of the best Christmas spirit week ideas for work. Since healthier employees are more productive, happy, and energetic, the company will benefit from this form of appreciation. 5. But when you thank them for their efforts, it can be a heart-melting moment to inspire respect for you and the business. Virtual talent shows double as entertainment and team bonding. Talk about what you appreciate about that particular employee. 9 Ways to Help Others During the Coronavirus Pandemic 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! It's not only a nice little project to focus on, but gives us something to talk about that's not work or coronavirus. Children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years need at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity daily. During the call, participants can chat and play fun games, or co-work while enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the federal government (OSHA) has provided detailed guidelinesfor workplace safety policies. There's a lot you can do to be helpful from home. What Readers Want During COVID-19: Content Ideas for Every Niche Check out our list of the best online murder mysteries. I also personally feel that it's boosting my wellbeing and brightening my day. Virtual tea parties are calm yet quirky online events to hold with remote teams. They take place using video call software, online communication platforms, and occasionally social media. Virtual talent shows work best when there is a predetermined act order and an emcee to manage the flow. 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. Bring in a songwriter, band, or comedian to perform at your workplace. If you see someone going above and beyond and who commutes through their own vehicles, this will prove to be a wonderful opportunity to make their lives a little bit easier. Teachers' Mental Health Has Suffered in the Pandemic. Here's How 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. Give a prize to the two team members who wear the most well-thought . Company-branded swag can be simple everyday things like t-shirts, mugs, or even pen drives. 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. 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. You could even hold contests to name and reward the best virtual backgrounds for each meeting. 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. Everything is impacted by COVID-19 in some way, including our work. Video game consoles. 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. Daily Dose of Kindness (sent daily) Weekly Kindness Idea (sent weekly) General Newsletter (for everyone) General Newsletter (for educators) 1. 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. Open windows, increase circulation, and keep room density as low as possible with fewer people in one space. Online Office Games is a friendly competition for remote teammates. The Five Keys to a Successful Team Retreat in the Age of COVID Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of 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. It is a good idea to vary the class types and levels so that more team members can participate. But they are the last to leave. Either way, ask participants to record results by posting them to the channel in a @WIN/@LOSS format. Getting your own parking space is a highly coveted idea to really recognize your employees for doing a great job. These activities also make great spring spirit week ideas for work. 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. Adults need 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity activity such as brisk walking for health benefits. And encouraging a cake culture can never be a bad thing.