spirit week ideas for work during covid

3 Ways Tech Company Sysomos Transformed Employee Experience, 5 Tips to Implement Summer Work Schedules, 6 Design Ideas to Create an Inspiring Work Environment. Without a doubt, getting a specially curated box of snacks will make employees feel happy and contented. This is one of the most underrated employee appreciation ideas out there. Also, it doesnt have to be expensive. You can arrange for office taxis or subsidized bus fares so that commute becomes a tad bit easier on their pockets. Do I really have to go at all? Health & Safety Giveaways: Ideas amid COVID-19 - National Pen Some ideas include: Characters from a favorite movie Hosting online costume contests is one of the best spirit week dress up ideas for work. The care packages were tailored for each individual, and they included self-care items such as cozy socks, chocolate, herbal tea, craft kits, puzzles, books, and board games. The purpose of online spirit weeks is to boost employee engagement and morale. The Very Worst Kind of Bad Boss Just Wont Go Away. Aside from regular appreciation, you can ensure that your employees feel valued on important occasions, such as by sending Thanksgiving messages to employees. 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. The chocolate tasting person is mailing out the tasting kits to all of us and will lead us through the tasting via Zoom. According to Harvard Business Review writer Anthony K. TJan: Company leadership should embrace, promote and value mentoring programs to realize a return on investment. Simply gear each days activities around a particular topic. However, you could include a holiday theme in your virtual spirit week during any time of the year. Its been close to two months since the World Health Organization declared the spread of the novel coronavirus an official pandemic. Relaxing activities to do at home during COVID-19 quarantine - CNBC Interesting work matter only if you have good food while youre doing it. Get 5 morale boosting tips here, learn how to celebrate employee milestones virtually here, and get some more general tricks for managing your remote workforce here. PDF COVID-19 Developing Resilience in the Workplace How to Plan a Wedding Amid COVID: Ideas, Advice & More My Boss Loves Planning an Elaborate Holiday Extravaganza. We are doing a virtual chocolate tasting with my team. Get to know your employees and find out what they like so you can give gift cards that are tailored to their interests. These events help boost company pride. You could either give employees the option of attending short 10-15 minute workouts throughout the day, or hold one or two longer sessions. After the bartender presentation (which was short) everybody got to chat and enjoy their drinks for some time before saying goodbye. Remote team games like holiday Bingo, trivia, and scavenger hunts get guests moving and invoke the holiday spirit. 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. Virtual Theme Weeks Can Bring Students and Faculty Together Check out BoostEducatorsChallenge.com for details. 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. No, not the executive lunchroom. For example, new employees should receive a buddy to learn the ropes. Wool socks, very plushy fleece blankets, playing cards, mugs, etc. 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. One employee's commute could be inexpensive, while for another, it could be prohibitive. From theme days to care packages to costume contests, here is a list of fun ways to celebrate spirit weeks in remote offices. Things to do: 100 indoor activities if you're not feeling social yet That's why it's vital to spread your actions around multiple methods of transports to appeal to the broadest proportion of your workforce. Spirit weeks are a time-honored tradition, in elementary, middle, and high schools alike. Clear your schedule for at least an hour. 1. This time has been invaluable to the team as they had been feeling scattered, stressed, and disconnected. 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. Dessert buffets are fun and positively addicting. Here are instructions on changing virtual backgrounds in Zoom, GoogleMeet, and Microsoft Teams. 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! Spirit week attendees can either make their own backgrounds using Canva or Photoshop, or can download one from online. "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. The cost of commuting is heavily influenced by the location of the workplace relative to where the employee lives. Here are three ways employers can reduce panic and keep employee morale up during the coronavirus outbreak. The Coronavirus Crisis 9 Ways Schools Will Look Different When (And If) They Reopen 1. Get the latest news from Namely about HR, payroll, and benefits. The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation | Random Acts of Kindness Day 2023 Thus in this scenario, investing in an effective recognition program becomes a critical part of employee engagement. Also, its really great to take your mind off the news that we are surrounded with every day. Coronavirus - how to cope with going into work - Mind 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. COVID Halloween Ideas | Martha Stewart E-Learning is the preferred modern way to upskill and learn while having the convenience of choosing the when and where. Check out more more aboutonline retreat ideas. The events should also not take too long to do. Next, install game apps like rock paper scissors, tic tac toe, and trivia. Ensure time is spent checking in on the teams main priorities - any urgent issues that need to be addressed? Recommended Article: Top 102 Employee Recognition Quotes To Celebrate Their Endeavours. When you think about having a great company culture, you think about building trust, honesty, and a great team of workers. Mask up. You could even include dessert decorating packs, tasting assortments, or craft kits. Whats Really So Wrong About Secretly Working Two Full-Time Jobs at Once? One of the best ideas for spirit care packages is to pack supplementary materials for the weeks activities. At checkout the price was zero and you couldnt even enter a tip. Even a small gesture like a "thank you" goes a long way to boost productivity, increase performance and improve morale among the workforce. Because honestly, everyone expects the managers and leaders to be bossy and unreachable. Hosting this year has been no small featand the biggest party season of all is almost here. The best online holiday parties encourage interaction. Teammates could also give a short slideshow presentation of their home cities. Keep Little Hands Busy. 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. Celebrated on the first Friday in March, it pays homage to each employee's contribution to their company. Spirit weeks build ties with community Over the course of this week, schools will ask students and staff to do activities such as share TikTok videos, do workouts and share pictures wearing. What every woman needs to know during COVID-19 - Lean In Everything you need to build a better workplace. We had a Zoom meeting were a bartender showed how to mix each drink using the provided measuring cup, and answered questions about how to make a good martini, what to substitute for white eggs in pisco sour, etc. You may opt-out by. 15 Ideas To Celebrate Halloween in the Workplace | Indeed.com At the end of the week, count up the wins, and have the victors face off against each other for the championship. You can even snap a photo and create your own hashtag for when employees achieve something especially commendable. Better still, if this praise comes in front of their team members, colleagues, and peers. Sally can whip up a variety of cold meals, including salads, grain bowls and yogurt. Covid Christmas plans: How to celebrate safely I Paperless Post First, give teammates a few options for online courses and ask them to vote for their favorite. 20 Valentine's Day Ideas During Coronavirus | ApartmentGuide.com All in all, make the day about them, i.e., your employees. 9. If you work in an industry where teamwork is crucial, sudden orders to . Whats the Word on The Street? Simple ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace Weve had a few teams compete in virtual relays, races, or step challenges using free apps to log steps, distance ran/cycled, etc. Thus becoming one of the best employee engagement activities that you can invest in. Then, send invites to the team. Slack game tournaments are great ideas for virtual spirit weeks. Some good virtual spirit week ideas include virtual talent shows, Zoom spirit week backgrounds, online award shows, and theme days. Outdoor days are one of the best summer spirit week ideas for work. 10 Fun Halloween Activities to Try With Employees Coronavirus Will Change the World Permanently. Here's How - POLITICO However, Slack games offer more flexibility, as teammates can play on their own schedules. WeAreTeachers Staff on September 20, 2022. Meetings and frequent check-ins both with the whole team and individual team members need to sit at the top of your to-do list. So, it's essential to consider this less of an idea and more of a thing that you have to do eventually. Throughout the evening or afternoon, read awards off one by one, and give each winner 30 seconds to give a victory speech. 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. We've had a few teams compete in virtual relays, races, or step challenges using free apps to log steps, distance ran/cycled, etc. 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. Wed all ooooh and ahhh, and laugh. And of course folks could also just log off if they wanted to, with no pressure to spend the rest of the day working. They are tasty, convenient, and great for hunger pangs that strike while working. Getty Images/PeopleImages. 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. Half of the box contained things like hand sanitizer, gloves, masks, and other health-related products to help us stay safe. Elaine is a true partner in every sense of the word and would be a huge asset to any company. The box also had a few ingredients, fresh produce, and a list of recipes you could make with everything. Reading a book on the sofa is a cozy way to get in the Christmas spirit. 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. Finally going on a picnic with their loved ones. How to Engage And Retain Your Employees During Covid - LinkedIn Want to enhance employee morale while improving productivity and boosting creativity? Trivia can be a good way to help teams relax, inspire conversation and build relationships. If theyd just put an extra $100 in my paycheck and said we cant have a party this year so get yourself a nice treat, Id have appreciated that too. Work-Life Challenges and Integration in the Context of COVID - OHSU Shared items such a candy jars, cereal boxes, and containers of nuts should be removed for the safety of all workers. 1. Also, they give continuous optimal performance. Content Expert at teambuilding.com. The BIG List of School Spirit Week Ideas (80+ Activities!) 1. Take off your coat. But some employers have devised celebrations that will keep people safe and actually sound fun (even to this curmudgeon). You can even use it as a way to support local businesses: We were able to do family meals for our employees. Food has a way of being a catalyst to bring people together. 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. A dynamic host facilitates this 90 minute virtual team building event with a trusty virtual sidekick. Companies all over the world are making their operations remote for the first time to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Photo illustration by Slate. You can also make sure you take at least a 30-minute lunch break. Here are a few examples. Plus, you can capture a screenshot of the whole crew dressed up. Some teachers may have to adapt courses from daily 45-minute periods to 90-minute blocks every other day; others will need to figure out how to plan small-group work so that it lines up with. See: How Indoor Ventilation Systems Can Help Prevent or Permit the Spread of COVID-19 . Company retreats are great for celebrating employees after successful project completion or after an outstanding financial year. Metal Pen and Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer. Plus, the posts are a great way to advertise your companys culture to a wider audience. Employees should be free to decide where they want to work and when they want to work whenever possible. A team lunch is a great way through which everyone can bond with each other and with you. Sending care packages to your remote teams builds buzz for the event and lets your employees know you care about them. 9 Date Night Ideas During the Coronavirus Pandemic - AARP The best thing about birthdays is cake. They are the first to arrive. The day-to-day work life might get hectic and tedious for everyone in the office. $10 at Amazon. One-Word Check-ins. Team members can challenge each other voluntarily. Plan out your meals and snacks ahead of time, such as at the beginning of the week or workday. Virtual spirit weeks are weeklong events that consist of a series of fun and interactive online activities. Successful fundraising during a recession is two-pronged: Focus hard on donor engagement and retention, and Whats Working/Whats Not? I am a big believer in team norms which support the team in self managing behaviors, practices and performance. Invite team members to share concerns or issues that need to be addressed, and be sure time is also spent acknowledging what is working well and what team members are proud of. 50 Spirit Week Ideas For Work To Energize Any Size Team - SnackNation Be thoughtful with your messages of appreciation. 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. 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. Not to mention, care packages add a tactile element to your all-online spirit week. You might find that employee appreciation becomes a tad bit easier and a whole lot more fun. The Town of Wake Forest and the Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department want you to stay safe during the current COVID-19 pandemic by honoring Wake County's stay at home order. 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. Online board games or trivia challenges are a great way to bring a team together for something besides work. Food is a big deal at work. Here's how the pandemic will change - CNN The packages were delivered to our doors in the afternoon of our event. Declaring theme days is one of the easiest spirit week ideas for work from home.