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

1. If you have to be indoors, consider air flow. 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. 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. Recommended Article: 23 Awesome Ways To Make Every Employee Work Anniversary Memorable. Here are 10 ideas to consider for your school: 1. Spirit weeks often involve games. Vantage Circle. Celebrated on the first Friday in March, it pays homage to each employee's contribution to their company. 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. Thoughtful ways to build community and pride. SHRM estimates that it costs $20,000 to $30,000 in recruiting and training expenses to replace a manager making $40,000 a year. We also have a list of the best remote team outing ideas. Want to enhance employee morale while improving productivity and boosting creativity? Humans have an inherent need to get appreciated for their work. When you incorporate social media into your online spirit week scheduling, you make it easier for colleagues to find and friend each other. Plus, you can capture a screenshot of the whole crew dressed up. Beyond bestowing traditional awards like extraordinary performance, team player, or rookie of the year, you can also create fun award categories. Ask each person to share one word to describe how they are feeling in that moment. A crisis like this can either break ateamdown and widen any cracks in its foundation, or it canresult in the emergence of true greatness. The Kaiser Family Foundation found . That's why it's vital to spread your actions around multiple methods of transports to appeal to the broadest proportion of your workforce. Ventilation and air circulation are your friends. Letting employees decorate their workspaces plays an active role in building relationships within the company. Sending care packages to your remote teams builds buzz for the event and lets your employees know you care about them. 1. 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. You might find that employee appreciation becomes a tad bit easier and a whole lot more fun. Take off your coat. The Very Worst Kind of Bad Boss Just Wont Go Away. Theres nothing quite like desserts and ice cream to alleviate stress. For instance, if you host a murder mystery, then include character cards in the boxes. A lot. 5. Anxiety. Thus becoming one of the best employee engagement activities that you can invest in. You could even include dessert decorating packs, tasting assortments, or craft kits. Plus, you could throw virtual parties for any holiday. Everyone had a week to practice and record their talents before we all watched them together during a special All Hands meeting. Its common knowledge that people love gift cards. Simply schedule a Zoom meeting and ask attendees to join from an outdoor spot such as backyards, parks, or beaches. On beach day, participants post virtual backgrounds of tropical locations and sip mock mai tais. 1. Your team can decorate their jack-o'-lanterns during break, lunch, or while you hold a team meeting. Simply designate a theme for each day or meeting, then choose the best dressed for each category. 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 . Your objectives for the meeting will be to: Note: This is not a meeting to be rushed. For example, share with team members how you will be leading, how you will check in with them, what you will be asking about. School spirit week is a fun time for everyone to come together and show off their pride. 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). Another good team-building activity is a virtual workshop or workout class. 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! Find out how to shape a culture that attracts, engages, In times of isolation it can be very difficult to stay on top of where everyone is at. It's run by a different division each week to encourage everyone to get involved and has been a fun way to spend a few hoursand a welcome distraction. - Anna Barker, Founder at LogicalDollar, I arranged a remote talent show for our team. Here is our take on enhancing employee motivation with the below 33 exceptional employee appreciation ideas. Ive found its a great way to know more about what a persons workday and life outside of work are like, as well as to better understand coworkers even those who work across the country. - Angela Ceresnie, CEO at Climb Credit. Get Chinese food somewhere. Virtual Fun Run Cost: $$ Difficulty: 4 Earning Potential: Remote team games like holiday Bingo, trivia, and scavenger hunts get guests moving and invoke the holiday spirit. Look at yourself in the mirror. Working from home can be lonely and mundane. Not just practical job skills, but behavioral and cultural skills as well. Why not put a reminder in your diary when you plan to finish working? If done in person, they provide a safer pandemic option because you share the room only with the people in your party. It is working together that will get us through this time. The Coronavirus Crisis 9 Ways Schools Will Look Different When (And If) They Reopen 1. That can be too intimidating for your employees. I hope this article has in some small way helped your and your teams trek through this extraordinary time. The packages were delivered to our doors in the afternoon of our event. Content Expert at teambuilding.com. ). Just beware of overdosing on sugar. We are doing a virtual chocolate tasting with my team. #StayStrongWF Spirit Week April 6-10. Recommended Article: 50 Best Words of Appreciation for Employees. Taking care of your employees' health is the most prominent form of appreciation that you can show. 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. Regardless of your age, some physical activity is better than none. 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. We have these events called campfires that take place twice a week. Coffee or tea tastings work as well: We had a virtual coffee tasting where they sent those who RSVPd a free AeroPress and some coffees and had a coffee expert walk them through the different kinds over Zoom. Weve found that this is key to recreating that Friday feeling during lockdown. - Nushy Rose, Managing Editor at Parlia. 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. Elaine is a true partner in every sense of the word and would be a huge asset to any company. To set the mood, encourage participants to put up virtual backgrounds of Victorian parlors or lush gardens. Ask each person to share one word to describe how they are feeling in. Hosting this year has been no small featand the biggest party season of all is almost here. How to advocate for yourself at work during COVID-19. 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. Employee Appreciation Day is a semi-formal holiday in the United States. Spirit weeks are a time-honored tradition, in elementary, middle, and high schools alike. Encourage team members to do the same. It could be a magazine subscription (on a topic they would be interested in), treats for pets, snack samples, or anything they would enjoy. Consider sending your top ten performers off for a day or two at a spa to provide an incentive for continued outstanding performance. We have 30+ experiences to choose from, and thousands of five star reviews. Barasha can be found either searching for interesting HR buzzwords to write about or looking at pictures of cozy Bel Air mansions. 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. 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. Spirit week attendees can either make their own backgrounds using Canva or Photoshop, or can download one from online. Clear your schedule for at least an hour. 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. Make it a fun and memorable experience. Lifestyle contests that encourage employees to exercise or try a new activity can also help boost morale. 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. 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. You might be worried about keeping yourself safe from coronavirus. Here are answers to some of the most common questions about virtual spirit weeks. Virtual spirit week ideas are ways to celebrate the occasion with remote teams. Avoid the cafeteria as it can be very distracting. The charm of subscription boxes is that theres something for everyone! You can arrange for office taxis or subsidized bus fares so that commute becomes a tad bit easier on their pockets. Employees respond to appreciation expressed by recognizing their good work because it confirms that their work is valued by others. Throwing a virtual holiday party is one of the best Christmas spirit week ideas for work. From digital marketing to online delivery services, there are several needs that the pandemic has sparked among consumers. Once the awards end, you can email digital certificates and e-gift cards to recipients, or mail trophies and paper awards to their houses. Challengers can play the games directly in the channel, or via direct message. 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. 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. Here are three ways employers can reduce panic and keep employee morale up during the coronavirus outbreak. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the federal government (OSHA) has provided detailed guidelinesfor workplace safety policies. Some are great artists, while some spend their time doing charity work. Why not see which team has the most steps or ran the furthest distance this week? Try a subscription box. Remote teammates work together to crack clues and conquer brain teasers before time runs out. For some, it's Christmas and Valentine's Day; for others, it's a birthday. To host a virtual talent show, invite teammates to sign up for slots. You may experience anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic if you have to go into work. The tours could happen on a single day, or throughout the week. Team Norms. The best way to decorate virtual offices is by using virtual meeting backgrounds. However, Slack games offer more flexibility, as teammates can play on their own schedules. In this case they will contribute to providing some structure in an unstructured team situation. When showtime arrives, gather on a Zoom call. But follow the 33 employee appreciation ideas articulated in this article. Teams complete comic-book-themed riddles and puzzles and virtual minute-to-win-it challenges to climb the leaderboard and save the world. For example, Marvel versus DC Comics, the '60s versus the '70s, or Batman and the Joker. The essence of spirit week is enthusiasm, not physical proximity. The consulting group McKinsey & Co. surveyed 1,000 employers , and 90 percent reported that the pandemic was affecting the behavioral health of their employees. by HR professionals across the globe! 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. During the COVID-19 crisis, you can do a lot more from your couch than you may realize. Take a bubble bath (bonus: Add a glass of. 2020 Namely, Inc. All rights reserved. In advance we were all given a link to a store that sells cocktail making kits. 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. Before the . Some ideas for your 30-minute morning check-ins include: Establish virtual coffee chats with individual team members. Here are 15 office ideas for Halloween: 1. 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. Vantage Circle. The team that plays together bonds better. Even after COVID-19, hand sanitizers are a welcomed gift, no matter your customer base or your business. When you think about having a great company culture, you think about building trust, honesty, and a great team of workers. Participants can either perform alone, or collaborate with colleagues on a group act. Here's what you might be missing- employee appreciation ideas. Since healthier employees are more productive, happy, and energetic, the company will benefit from this form of appreciation. Virtual spirit weeks are weeklong events that consist of a series of fun and interactive online activities. 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. She had such a creative way for putting a holiday spin on our corporate branding, and theyre going to be a big hit! Recommended Article: Gift Cards Make For The Perfect Employee Rewards. Some leaders consistently interact with those they most easily connect with but may not as readily think of others. Theyve asked us what charities wed recommend. Keep Little Hands Busy. First, either mail employees tea and fancy snacks, or ask attendees to bring their own refreshments and reimburse them for the expense. Simply gear each days activities around a particular topic. Then, encourage teammates to square off. Perhaps the best gift to give your employees is recognizing your employees publicly for a great job done. Photo illustration by Slate. These morning check-ins, no matter how short are invaluable for maintaining a sense of community, checking in on how team members are doing, and to stay focused on key priorities so that momentum and performance is maintained. Feel free to customize it with your companys logos. Wed have the holiday party on Zoom, where folks would open what they had received from their gift giver. It is easier than ever to show your appreciation from the monthly Netflix fix to news and magazines. Some ideas include: Characters from a favorite movie 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!). The games last 90 minutes, giving remote colleagues plenty of time to bond and have fun together. An escape room Escape room activities are available virtually and in person. Employees thrive at work when they know their contributions have meaning. It's marketed as "COVID-19 style" since all schools across the state are currently shut down. 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. Real world elements make virtual exercises more engaging and interactive. Elaine has in-depth knowledge of digital, social, and websites both from a strategic and user . Virtual spirit weeks bolster team resolve and brightens telecommuters moods. Every company has got one of these employees. If the show is a competition, then at the end of the performance have the audience vote for a winner via poll, or send a panel of judges into a breakout room to deliberate. Spirit week is a week-long event that promotes company pride and employee engagement through fun activities. Typical activities include theme days, costume contests, and online parties. Make sure you exchange emails with a volunteer coordinator or call before you . 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. 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.