spirit week ideas for work during covid spirit week ideas for work during covid

During the call, participants can chat and play fun games, or co-work while enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. 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. Typical activities include theme days, costume contests, and online parties. Here are a few examples. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Legal. You can also use GeoGessr to play a destination-guessing game, or take virtual tours of museums, zoos, and parks together. 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. Feel free to customize it with your companys logos. Anxiety. You found our list of unique virtual spirit week ideas. I also personally feel that it's boosting my wellbeing and brightening my day. Simply designate a theme for each day or meeting, then choose the best dressed for each category. 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. Now more than ever it is essential to dialogue and agree on what team members need and expect from one another and from their leader. Show your employees some love by making sure that the snacks provided are healthy and nutritious. 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. Then, send invites to the team. They are tasty, convenient, and great for hunger pangs that strike while working. InDirect Report, she spotlights themes from her inbox that help explain the modern workplace and how we could be navigating it better. Unorthodox corporate perks such as trips to hike near a volcano or dive with dolphins are an increasingly powerful way to attract, retain and motivate top talent. 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. Attempt a self portrait with pencil and paper. There are many fun online activities that suit an international or travel-themed spirit week or spirit day. Doesnt necessarily have to be alcohol or coffeeyou could do a juice tasting, or maybe a food tasting. Things to consider when you and your employees travel 4. 1. However, Slack games offer more flexibility, as teammates can play on their own schedules. 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. For our workers who have never worked from home, social isolation is deeply felt. 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. When employees feel that their work is valued, their satisfaction and productivity rise. 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. 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. of 70-75% ethyl alcohol. Also, its really great to take your mind off the news that we are surrounded with every day. I hope this article has in some small way helped your and your teams trek through this extraordinary time. Simmonds was blown away by . 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. The best way to decorate virtual offices is by using virtual meeting backgrounds. To establish team norms, ask: What behaviors and practices are most important right now to our teams effectiveness?. This calculation is based on it costing about six to nine months . 1. Get the latest news from Namely about HR, payroll, and benefits. Then, plan festive activities to enjoy together during the call. Company retreats are great for celebrating employees after successful project completion or after an outstanding financial year. For example, book-binding, instrument-building, ravioli-making, or makeup lessons with a drag queen. You can arrange for office taxis or subsidized bus fares so that commute becomes a tad bit easier on their pockets. We, humans, are emotional creatures. Check out more more aboutonline retreat ideas. The essence of spirit week is enthusiasm, not physical proximity. 2022 Todos los derechos reservados. To host an online award show, first create award categories. This is a time to focus only on the people sitting before you. Here are some ideas that seem newly relevant given the constraints of 2020 and beyond. To make your company memorable in a sea of forgettable mugs. Be sure to grab plenty of screen shots throughout the afternoon or evening. 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 . Make the day memorable by organizing outside barbecues or small office parties. It's not only a nice little project to focus on, but gives us something to talk about that's not work or coronavirus. After the bartender presentation (which was short) everybody got to chat and enjoy their drinks for some time before saying goodbye. It is especially meaningful when the appreciation comes from their bosses. We made an example virtual spirit week agenda: Creating a visually appealing spirit week announcement can help your crew be more excited and attentive towards the event. 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. The events should also not take too long to do. 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. 9. Hence, "Employee of the month" programs are a great way to show your best employees that you see their hard work and appreciate the efforts they are putting in. Social Media is the biggest influencer of our generation. Snacks are a fantastic food item that doesn't require you to get out of your desk when you want to eat something light. This time has been invaluable to the team as they had been feeling scattered, stressed, and disconnected. Do I really have to go at all? Home tours are a fun way for remote teammates to invite each other into personal spaces. 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. This will make them feel like a part of your business and not just a mere employee. Bring in a songwriter, band, or comedian to perform at your workplace. This is a great way to begin your team meetings. Basically, the idea is to boost morale by giving students a collective silly goal. There are few things that employees feel more love for than an extra day of freedom aside from the weekend. They are the first to arrive. Quarantine spirit week consisted of a unique theme for each day: skater Sunday, monochromatic Monday, tie-dye Tuesday, wig Wednesday, 13 going on Thursday and casual Friday. Harvard Business Review reports that "the most impactful driver of employee engagement is recognition.". This article is written by Barasha Medhi who is a part of the marketing team at Vantage Circle. A crisis like this can either break ateamdown and widen any cracks in its foundation, or it canresult in the emergence of true greatness. Sending care packages to your remote teams builds buzz for the event and lets your employees know you care about them. 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. The day-to-day work life might get hectic and tedious for everyone in the office. It can range from conducting regular health check-ups, yoga sessions, dentist appointments, and offering health insurance. We have these events called campfires that take place twice a week. Its been close to two months since the World Health Organization declared the spread of the novel coronavirus an official pandemic. Some leaders consistently interact with those they most easily connect with but may not as readily think of others. 4. While personalizing spaces at work to fit the geographic locale or the personal tastes of employees has become common. 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. Employees respond to appreciation expressed by recognizing their good work because it confirms that their work is valued by others. A viral photo with suggestions for "Homeschool Spirit Week" has been circling social media. 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). Online Office Games is a friendly competition for remote teammates. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Invite team members to share any perspectives they have about other teams and stakeholders and their needs, concerns issues that the team should be aware of. For more tournament ideas, check out our list of Slack games. Some are great artists, while some spend their time doing charity work. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your team is to enable them to let off some steam without the pressure to perform. 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. Before the . Online board games or trivia challenges are a great way to bring a team together for something besides work. 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. It doesnt have to be cocktail focused. It's marketed as "COVID-19 style" since all schools across the state are currently shut down. Everyone had a week to practice and record their talents before we all watched them together during a special All Hands meeting. Pike13 Spirit Week highlights: I write about how to improve team and leadership performance. by HR professionals across the globe! We also had a really strict limit for spending, like $20. See how Namely's flexible solution will help you streamline your HR processes by having your people, payroll, and benefits info all in on place. Make it a fun and memorable experience. Unique SWAG ideas have the power to set your company apart. Online escape rooms are online versions of thematic puzzle-solving games. You can even use it as a way to support local businesses: We were able to do family meals for our employees. We started this challenge at Booster. Or, you could start a gallery on social media or a cloud-based photo album, and invite teammates to vote on their favorite uploads throughout the week. 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. 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. To host a virtual talent show, invite teammates to sign up for slots. 2022 Tous droits rservs. Every company has its own perks: fully stocked kitchens, corporate team events, and the latest MacBook Pro. It means that they can catch up on the countless movies that they have missed. Often, in the case of. Some ideas include: Characters from a favorite movie We safeguard your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Shared items such a candy jars, cereal boxes, and containers of nuts should be removed for the safety of all workers. Heres some of what people reported. Streaming service subscriptions. We all know that employees are the most valuable asset for a business. Vantage Circle. This is one of the most underrated employee appreciation ideas out there. Theres nothing quite like desserts and ice cream to alleviate stress. Check out our list ofonline escape rooms. See: How Indoor Ventilation Systems Can Help Prevent or Permit the Spread of COVID-19 . and retains your top employees. 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. Engage in active family play time. For many of us, sheltering at home and staying healthy to help " flatten the curve " of the coronavirus spread may be the most important way we can help others right now. Clear your schedule for at least an hour. 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. If you work in an industry where teamwork is crucial, sudden orders to . 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. 29. Next, install game apps like rock paper scissors, tic tac toe, and trivia. Need more tips for how to keep your employees happy during COVID-19? Keep employees engaged and excited with some friendly competition. This helps us all get out of our heads to have a little fun during the workday. - Sam Williamson, co-owner of CBDiablo, Were encouraging employees to stay active by challenging their coworkers. 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. So, whether you're paired up or have something in the works, here are 20 ideas to safely celebrate Valentine's Day during coronavirus. But some employers have devised celebrations that will keep people safe and actually sound fun (even to this curmudgeon). If you developed team norms to stay on top of (as above), then ensure you check-in on them. Get Chinese food somewhere. "We're encouraging employees to stay active by challenging their coworkers. Why not see which team has the most steps or ran the furthest distance this week? Have regular check ins with individual team members. Jamaica Theme Days. They had a selection that included non-alcoholic mixes too (like a ginger lemonade). Were working with local restaurants (some minority-owned) to provide cold reheatable family meals that our employees will take home to enjoy with their family. One employee's commute could be inexpensive, while for another, it could be prohibitive. 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. Read about more virtual talent show ideas. Following recommendations from the CDC, we've put together some helpful guide to navigating Christmas during Covid this year. PopCap, the company behind legendary Facebook games like Bejeweled, offers some fantastic break rooms for its 400 odd employees. 3. Use virtual coffee breaks to: Limit e-mail, insteaduse real-time, in person communication tools such as Skype, Zoom, etc., or even the old fashioned phone. 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. 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. You may opt-out by. For some, it's Christmas and Valentine's Day; for others, it's a birthday. 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!). Experiences, not cash, are the new corporate bonus. Without a doubt, getting a specially curated box of snacks will make employees feel happy and contented. On beach day, participants post virtual backgrounds of tropical locations and sip mock mai tais. Remote team games like holiday Bingo, trivia, and scavenger hunts get guests moving and invoke the holiday spirit. 1. For example, theme days, virtual talent shows, and costume contests. You can even display this social media recognition on your offices digital displays to make sure the whole team sees it. COVID-19 is expected to last for many months, with a potential resurgence in the fall. Subjects should be fun and non-work related. Dress-up days find a niche at busy offices; employees can show up in costume but still get tons of work done. Recommended Article: 50 Best Words of Appreciation for Employees. It is working together that will get us through this time. For inspiration, check out our lists of online cooking classes and online art classes. Paint Pumpkins. 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. 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). We All Hate It. 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. In stock now. December is the most obvious time to throw a virtual holiday party. 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. 5. Throughout the evening or afternoon, read awards off one by one, and give each winner 30 seconds to give a victory speech. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the federal government (OSHA) has provided detailed guidelinesfor workplace safety policies. Make it more special by hosting a "Make Your Own Taco" competition where the winner gets some form of employee reward. So, it's essential to consider this less of an idea and more of a thing that you have to do eventually. It could be a magazine subscription (on a topic they would be interested in), treats for pets, snack samples, or anything they would enjoy. Get the latest news from Namely about HR, Payroll, and Benefits. Have office happy hours and hire a bartender to mix them a drink or two. You get the best effort from others, not by lighting a fire beneath them but by building a fire within. Here come's the most impactful one in our list of employee appreciation ideas. 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. 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. Thus becoming one of the best employee engagement activities that you can invest in. 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. Companies with a corporate health plan are more likely to see more engaged employees. The knowledge that there is a whole day dedicated to employee appreciation should let you know its significance. First, create a Slack channel for the games. You might find that employee appreciation becomes a tad bit easier and a whole lot more fun. Find out how to attract and retain your employees through their entire lifecycle. 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. Here are 10 ideas to consider for your school: 1. 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. Explore the challenges people face in working from home (and they will differ) and ideas for dealing with them or sharing personal practices that work. Murder mysteries are games that require participants to play a character while solving a mystery. After all, who doesn't like a couple of free snacks? Keep Little Hands Busy. Simple ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace By planning an online retreat for spirit week, you block out employees time and free staff to enjoy the festivities. Thoughtful ways to build community and pride. The employee experience is better, and the company's outcome stronger. California-based Chowbotics, has seen an uptick in demand for its fresh food robot "Sally.". Coffee and Chocolate Tastings It doesn't have to be cocktail focused. Open windows, increase circulation, and keep room density as low as possible with fewer people in one space. It is easier than ever to show your appreciation from the monthly Netflix fix to news and magazines. Getting your own parking space is a highly coveted idea to really recognize your employees for doing a great job. Or, if you hold virtual escape rooms or similar games, then include puzzles. Vantage Circle. For example, new employees should receive a buddy to learn the ropes. Plus, you can capture a screenshot of the whole crew dressed up. Contains 5 ml. Avoid the cafeteria as it can be very distracting. Metal Pen and Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer. Try a subscription box. One of the simplest and most popular solutions has been virtual happy hours. ). These events typically occur through a series of video meetings, group chats, and collaborative online activities. Why not recognize these incredible non-work achievements in front of their peers? Petit fours, miniature cupcakes, and macarons are the best tea party desserts, and finger sandwiches are another staple. 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. Or it just might be a beautiful day to sleep in. According to Harvard Business Review writer Anthony K. TJan: Company leadership should embrace, promote and value mentoring programs to realize a return on investment. 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. Spirit week is a week-long event that promotes company pride and employee engagement through fun activities. We've had a few teams compete in virtual relays, races, or step challenges using free apps to log steps, distance ran/cycled, etc. 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 . Remote teams can dress up for remote meetings, even if their outfits wont be on display all day. The best online spirit week ideas unite dispersed teammates, encourage interaction, and inspire fun. 33 Amazing Employee Appreciation Ideas [2023 Update], The Ultimate Guide To Employee Rewards and Recognition, 50 Best Words of Appreciation for Employees, Gift Cards Make For The Perfect Employee Rewards, Indias Largest Telecom Company Boosts their Global Employee Engagement with Vantage Rewards, 25 Employee Engagement Activities To Reinvent Your Workforce, 25 Employee Recognition Statistics You Shouldn't Ignore, Top 102 Employee Recognition Quotes To Celebrate Their Endeavours, 23 Awesome Ways To Make Every Employee Work Anniversary Memorable, All You Need To Know About Sales Incentive Programs In 2023, 10 Intrinsic Rewards That Your Employees Look Forward To, Empower the Workforce With A Culture of Peer-to-Peer Recognition. 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. Every company has got one of these employees. And of course folks could also just log off if they wanted to, with no pressure to spend the rest of the day working. 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 . Not to mention that birthday parties are an opportunity to appreciate peers. 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. Consider downloading a fitness app with curated workout playlists. To set the mood, encourage participants to put up virtual backgrounds of Victorian parlors or lush gardens. Therefore it's a win-win situation. Here are list of themes to use for online spirit weeks. First, either mail employees tea and fancy snacks, or ask attendees to bring their own refreshments and reimburse them for the expense. 32. Spirit week attendees can either make their own backgrounds using Canva or Photoshop, or can download one from online. Offering a corporate wellness program within a vibrant culture of thriving well-being can significantly enhance that connection. 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! The Kaiser Family Foundation found . In uncertain times, one thing is certain with fundraisingthe more you plan, the better off you will be. First, give teammates a few options for online courses and ask them to vote for their favorite. Think small bags of chips, cookies, and candy, displayed so employees can. 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. 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. Talk about what you appreciate about that particular employee. Recommended Case Study: Indias Largest Telecom Company Boosts their Global Employee Engagement with Vantage Rewards. Find out how to shape a culture that attracts, engages, Develop team norms. Also, of the cocktails on offer, there were a few non-alcoholic punch ideas, for people who dont drink or who wanted to share with a kid, etc. 2. There is also the threat of a recession. 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. Just be sure to offer nonalcoholic options too: We had a celebration that even I (a person averse to holiday parties and Zoom calls) liked. Simply gear each day's activities around a particular topic. 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. You could either give employees the option of attending short 10-15 minute workouts throughout the day, or hold one or two longer sessions.