On beach day, participants post virtual backgrounds of tropical locations and sip mock mai tais. 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. Here are 10 ideas to consider for your school: 1. Happily, Ive heard lots of versions of this choice as well: My company is taking the money that would be used for the holiday party (usually a sit-down dinner with open bar) and is donating it instead to a local charity. Heres a way to see people in-person from the safety of your cars: Our company has had a couple of drive-through events set up in the parking lot of the main company campus. Gathering via video call and online communication platforms gives groups a chance to relax, re-energize, and reconnect with teammates. 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. Believe it or not, such small stuff really sees a positively impacted company culture. To establish team norms, ask: What behaviors and practices are most important right now to our teams effectiveness?. 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. Every year there are days we look forward to. Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus, This is a BETA experience. This is a great way to begin your team meetings. Find out how to shape a culture that attracts, engages, Participants can either perform alone, or collaborate with colleagues on a group act. Plus, the posts are a great way to advertise your companys culture to a wider audience. Toilet paper and Netflix memes are very popular right now. Vantage Circle. These small everyday gestures can come off as a pleasant surprise and make employees feel valued. Sometimes, the utmost appreciation that an employee seeks is a promotion in his job role. 2022 Tous droits rservs. 1. For example, share with team members how you will be leading, how you will check in with them, what you will be asking about. The top reason why the people enjoyed coming to work was because of "feeling appreciated.". Make the day memorable by organizing outside barbecues or small office parties. When the class arrives, learn together, and be sure to snap plenty of screenshots. We safeguard your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Not to fear: There are plenty of Halloween-inspired crafts to go around. Working from home can be lonely and mundane. 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). 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. Although workplace benefits help keep employees happy, they rarely tend to spark inspiration. The Ultimate Guide to Employee Rewards and Recognition. Names were swapped, wish lists were made, and gifts from small businesses were delivered to friends and families! You will see that a few words of appreciation can do wonders for the workplace. You. Discuss and ask specific questions about work related items such as what they are working on, what they have accomplished in x amount of time, whether they have any challenges and if so how you can help. 2. To host a virtual talent show, invite teammates to sign up for slots. They are tasty, convenient, and great for hunger pangs that strike while working. 1. Spirit week attendees can either make their own backgrounds using Canva or Photoshop, or can download one from online. 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. Jamaica Humans have an inherent need to get appreciated for their work. Recommended Article: The Ultimate Guide To Employee Rewards and Recognition. Here are some suggestions: A team reset meeting will ensure team members take time to identify how to best work together in this new reality so that the team can maintain a sense of community, transition through this change effectively, and maintain (and even improve) team performance during this time while supporting the well-being of team members. For example, theme days, virtual talent shows, and costume contests. Barasha can be found either searching for interesting HR buzzwords to write about or looking at pictures of cozy Bel Air mansions. While employee appreciation may seem a bit heavy on the pockets, the bottom line is that it will lead to several long-term benefits. The best thing about birthdays is cake. For employees, having access to a mentor can add velocity to the workplace learning curve. "We're encouraging employees to stay active by challenging their coworkers. The essence of spirit week is enthusiasm, not physical proximity. Or it just might be a beautiful day to sleep in. 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. For our workers who have never worked from home, social isolation is deeply felt. Getty Images/PeopleImages. About how his/her contributions have aided to a projects successful completion. Remote teams often work on staggered schedules, meaning that the whole crew may not be available at game time. Everyone had a week to practice and record their talents before we all watched them together during a special All Hands meeting. 5. Ask each person to share one word to describe how they are feeling in that moment. Online workouts serve the dual purpose of adding exercise and peer-to-peer interaction into remote workers sedentary, solitary workdays. Online fundraising allows you to make a big impact even if your team is limited in members or budget. Many teams are waking up to a new reality of working remotely. More than a manager, an employee's peers are more likely to know about their good qualities. Or take a field trip to the local entertainment venue. Online board games or trivia challenges are a great way to bring a team together for something besides work. Were all pretty pumped about it. Priorities. These events typically occur through a series of video meetings, group chats, and collaborative online activities. Show Your Appreciation. Why not see which team has the most steps or ran the furthest distance this week? How to manage COVID-19 risks when organizing meetings and events 3. Team Norms. Get to know your employees and find out what they like so you can give gift cards that are tailored to their interests. Also, they give continuous optimal performance. Plan out your meals and snacks ahead of time, such as at the beginning of the week or workday. 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. Also, they grow more motivated to maintain or improve their good work. Keep employees engaged and excited with some friendly competition. Its expensive to recruit a new worker. Were hearing from some people that while its not for everyone, having three hours on a Friday afternoon to do something fun together is really appreciated so were providing it for those who like/need it. The other half consisted of beer (or non-alcoholic drinks), snacks, tea, and homemade salsa. This peer-to-peer employee recognition idea is about encouraging everyone from the organization to recognize good work. Find ways to start each day with positive energy and a sense of community. One of the simplest and most popular solutions has been virtual happy hours. They are great team members. Wishing you and your team health and tranquility. 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. Having direct access to a mentor gives junior professionals valuable one-on-one training. Daily Dose of Kindness (sent daily) Weekly Kindness Idea (sent weekly) General Newsletter (for everyone) General Newsletter (for educators) Employees respond to appreciation expressed by recognizing their good work because it confirms that their work is valued by others. These activities also make great spring spirit week ideas for work. Coffee or tea tastings work as well: We had a virtual coffee tasting where they sent those who RSVP'd a free AeroPress and. 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. This activity involves solving puzzles and finding clues to "escape" a themed room. But there is one occasion that should be praised with the same level of spirit and vigor as the restthe work anniversary. Even a simple gesture like an appreciation message or thoughtful gifts on valentines Day or anniversaries can make a huge difference. Instead of taking the stage, performers share their acts during a video call. Celebrated on the first Friday in March, it pays homage to each employee's contribution to their company. Spirit weeks often involve games. Appreciation from one's peers has more significance than from one's manager. Check out our list ofonline escape rooms. Need more tips for how to keep your employees happy during COVID-19? There are few things that employees feel more love for than an extra day of freedom aside from the weekend. Therefore it's a win-win situation. You can even use it as a way to support local businesses: We were able to do family meals for our employees. Photos by Getty Images Plus. 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. Materialistic perks are fine. WeAreTeachers Staff on September 20, 2022. Their office is infused with fun, including random Razor scooters available to any staff who think better while in motion. Subjects should be fun and non-work related. With these 33 employee appreciation ideas, you will see reduced turnover and retain your top talents. Vantage Circle. I am a big believer in team norms which support the team in self managing behaviors, practices and performance. Beyond bestowing traditional awards like extraordinary performance, team player, or rookie of the year, you can also create fun award categories.