spirit week ideas for work during covid

All in all, make the day about them, i.e., your employees. Distance does not have to put a damper on the fun. 80+ School Spirit Week Ideas and Activities To Build Community Some are great artists, while some spend their time doing charity work. Virtual talent shows double as entertainment and team bonding. Time Off From Work During COVID-19 | Justia SHRM estimates that it costs $20,000 to $30,000 in recruiting and training expenses to replace a manager making $40,000 a year. Virtual Theme Weeks Can Bring Students and Faculty Together Explore them here: On Fridays, our team puts on ridiculous outfits to make each other laugh during virtual meetings. Here are three ways employers can reduce panic and keep employee morale up during the coronavirus outbreak. One idea that keeps popping up on our Principal Life Facebook group is the concept of a virtual theme week. Some "lush" couches. The charm of subscription boxes is that theres something for everyone! People are encouraged to bring family (which is not something we typically can do with these events) and I would have loved this even before the new normal. Im kind of bummed Im going to be missing out on this one actually. 4. Many of us now look forward to Mondays because of these hilarious crosswords! These events help boost company pride. Next, install game apps like rock paper scissors, tic tac toe, and trivia. 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. 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 . I hope this article has in some small way helped your and your teams trek through this extraordinary time. 7 Summer Spirit Week Ideas for the Office | Lands' End Petit fours, miniature cupcakes, and macarons are the best tea party desserts, and finger sandwiches are another staple. For any related queries, contact editor@vantagecircle.com. Workplace Safety During COVID-19 | Justia Develop team norms. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Doesnt necessarily have to be alcohol or coffeeyou could do a juice tasting, or maybe a food tasting. Virtual spirit week ideas are ways to celebrate the occasion with remote teams. Photos by Getty Images Plus. Wool socks, very plushy fleece blankets, playing cards, mugs, etc. We safeguard your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Employee Appreciation Day is a semi-formal holiday in the United States. We are doing a virtual chocolate tasting with my team. Online escape rooms are online versions of thematic puzzle-solving games. This is one of the most underrated employee appreciation ideas out there. 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. Check the COVID-19 page on your city or county website to find out if you can sign up to offer your time this way. The games last 90 minutes, giving remote colleagues plenty of time to bond and have fun together. 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. Everything is impacted by COVID-19 in some way, including our work. During this time, one team member has 60 minutes to talk about their favorite subject while others listen and ask questions. Recommended Article: Gift Cards Make For The Perfect Employee Rewards. #StayStrongWF Spirit Week April 6-10. Jamaica 29. Learn more: 25 Employee Recognition Statistics You Shouldn't Ignore. We started this challenge at Booster. #StayStrongWF Spirit Week | Town of Wake Forest, NC 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 week before your work at home spirit week, mail boxes full of goodies to team members. 2. Want to submit a guest post? The events should also not take too long to do. 12 Ideas for Writing Through the Pandemic With The New York Times High 53F. We also have a list of the best remote team outing ideas. 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. Not just practical job skills, but behavioral and cultural skills as well. Not to mention there's the option of booking an entertainer - choices include singer Jimmy Barnes and comedy duo Hamish and Andy - to spice up a webcam-based party. Spirit week shakes up the normal routine and gives dispersed teammates a chance to get together and have fun. Simply post a different game or prompt on the company social channels every day, and instruct employees to respond using a special hashtag. Taking care of your employees' health is the most prominent form of appreciation that you can show. It means that they can catch up on the countless movies that they have missed. Do it privately-ish. 1. So, whether you're paired up or have something in the works, here are 20 ideas to safely celebrate Valentine's Day during coronavirus. This time has been invaluable to the team as they had been feeling scattered, stressed, and disconnected. Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of 2020 Namely, Inc. All rights reserved. Companies all over the world are making their operations remote for the first time to combat the spread of the coronavirus. E-Learning is the preferred modern way to upskill and learn while having the convenience of choosing the when and where. Recommended Article: 25 Employee Engagement Activities To Reinvent Your Workforce. Work-Life Challenges and Integration in the Context of COVID - OHSU When you incorporate social media into your online spirit week scheduling, you make it easier for colleagues to find and friend each other. Not to fear: There are plenty of Halloween-inspired crafts to go around. 31. One of the best ideas for spirit care packages is to pack supplementary materials for the weeks activities. While the other appreciation ideas might be feasible for particular projects and day-to-day work, employees will look for something more permanent in the long run. 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. Superhero Academy is equal parts fun, intellectual, and competitive. Get the resources. ). They are tasty, convenient, and great for hunger pangs that strike while working. Also, busy workdays are where lunches are spent with a sad sandwich while staring at the computer. Team members can challenge each other voluntarily. Every company has its own perks: fully stocked kitchens, corporate team events, and the latest MacBook Pro. 5 Radical Ideas For Schooling During Coronavirus : NPR The cups were all the same so no one could tell what you were drinking unless you commented on it. Employees thrive at work when they know their contributions have meaning. Offering them a handsome salary is one aspect. 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. To establish team norms, ask: What behaviors and practices are most important right now to our teams effectiveness?. For more ideas, check out our roundup of team building workouts. You get the best effort from others, not by lighting a fire beneath them but by building a fire within. There is also the threat of a recession. Gather the kids and create Paper Mice, Halloween skull jewelry, and more. This is a stressful time to say the least. Simple ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace Celebrate "Employee Appreciation Day" With Pomp And Show Employee Appreciation Day is a semi-formal holiday in the United States. 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. But to make them feel valued is what employees think is the most important. Either way, ask participants to record results by posting them to the channel in a @WIN/@LOSS format. 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. Check out more more aboutonline retreat ideas. How to Engage And Retain Your Employees During Covid - LinkedIn If you work in an industry where teamwork is crucial, sudden orders to . Also, remember to turn your phone off. You might be worried about keeping yourself safe from coronavirus. Elaine has in-depth knowledge of digital, social, and websites both from a strategic and user . Coronavirus Impacting Your Fundraising? Here's What to Do When showtime arrives, gather on a Zoom call. Staff members find creative ways to celebrate during COVID-19 - Miami However, you could include a holiday theme in your virtual spirit week during any time of the year. How to Be Physically Active While Social Distancing Themed gift boxes are another popular idea: Were sending winter-y stay-at-home gift boxes. Employee appreciation is the cornerstone of developing a robust and meaningful workplace culture. The knowledge that there is a whole day dedicated to employee appreciation should let you know its significance. Hands-on Experiences: 1. 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. Find out how to shape a culture that attracts, engages, Feel free to customize it with your companys logos. When you actually take the time out to get involved with them personally, employees feel that you genuinely care about them. The intensive schedule prevents routine responsibilities from interrupting the fun, and permits employees to focus on recharging and team bonding. With trick-or-treating officially considered a high-risk activity, you may be scrambling to find something for your little goblins to do on the 31st. Interesting work matter only if you have good food while youre doing it. 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. 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. and retains your top employees. 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. Everything you need to build a better workplace. Even a small gesture like a "thank you" goes a long way to boost productivity, increase performance and improve morale among the workforce. The chocolate tasting person is mailing out the tasting kits to all of us and will lead us through the tasting via Zoom. Remote team games like holiday Bingo, trivia, and scavenger hunts get guests moving and invoke the holiday spirit. Earth Day activities that are good for you and the planet during the Its hard to replicate daily interactions with co-workers, casual encounters by the water cooler, or after-work drinks, but we are encouraging our employees to find time for virtual coffees, lunches, or even happy hours with their colleagues. - William Taylor, Career Development Manager at Velvetjobs, Something that has really helped us keep spirits up is our Slack 'meme' channel where we encourage everyone to post the best memes they find throughout the day. Online board games or trivia challenges are a great way to bring a team together for something besides work. Spirit weeks often involve games. Teachers' Mental Health Has Suffered in the Pandemic. Here's How Here is an example of a graphic you could use for your games. Declaring theme days is one of the easiest spirit week ideas for work from home. Simply ask, how are we doing living up to our agreements?. Anxiety. 1. Weve found that this is key to recreating that Friday feeling during lockdown. - Nushy Rose, Managing Editor at Parlia. Then, plan festive activities to enjoy together during the call. And of course folks could also just log off if they wanted to, with no pressure to spend the rest of the day working. Declaring theme days is one of the easiest spirit week ideas for work from home. "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. For instance, plan a short gentle stretch, a high-intensity cardio routine, and a themed yoga class at different time slots throughout the day. 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. But employees with a few years of experience should be matched with a career mentor to help them grow in their position. Simply schedule a Zoom meeting and ask attendees to join from an outdoor spot such as backyards, parks, or beaches. Why not put a reminder in your diary when you plan to finish working? Mask up. Offering free meals and caffeine is actually a highly effective and cost-effective means of motivating and controlling young employees. Between the confetti, balloons, and cake, office birthday parties are always fun to organize. A great employee appreciation idea that gives day-to-day benefits is providing assigned parking spaces. 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. You can even use it as a way to support local businesses: We were able to do family meals for our employees. Plus, we decided there will be a prize for the tallest sunflower, so it's turning into quite the competition. - Rose Jinks, Digital PR Specialist at Online Mortgage Advisor, As a way to boost morale and encourage teamwork while were apart, my company has been hosting virtual trivia nights every week. How the coronavirus pandemic will impact the future of work - CNBC The Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the federal government (OSHA) has provided detailed guidelinesfor workplace safety policies. But we must also address the negative impact of isolation loneliness, fatigue or even . It's not only a nice little project to focus on, but gives us something to talk about that's not work or coronavirus. 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. Health & Safety Giveaways: Ideas amid COVID-19 - National Pen 1. Instead of the usual tables and activities, they had booths set up where treats were handed through the window. Aside from regular appreciation, you can ensure that your employees feel valued on important occasions, such as by sending Thanksgiving messages to employees. Talk about what you appreciate about that particular employee. Its common knowledge that people love gift cards. These events can help virtual offices grow closer. Today's employees seek recognition and rewards based on the career advancement that they want. Typical activities include theme days, costume contests, and online parties. Having direct access to a mentor gives junior professionals valuable one-on-one training. Wellness Resources 17 Ways to Boost Employee Morale During COVID-19 That Arent Happy Hours, celebrate employee milestones virtually here, general tricks for managing your remote workforce here. Heres some of what people reported. 2022 Todos los derechos reservados. Why not recognize these incredible non-work achievements in front of their peers? 1. Ways to Boost Employee Morale During COVID-19 - Namely Look at yourself in the mirror. Go for a walk. With most schools and districts shut down for the foreseeable future, many faculty and teachers are struggling to find ways to connect with their students. Real world elements make virtual exercises more engaging and interactive. Are they excited to be working for you? For this event, ask team members to pick a side of a classic rivalry game and dress to match. From relaxing countryside walks to exciting challenges, your staff will have the time of their lives. By hosting your fundraisers online, you can reach new supporters both near and far from your school without needing to leave your desk. 18 Parent-Teacher Association Fundraising Ideas For During (And After I write about how to improve team and leadership performance. For example, share with team members how you will be leading, how you will check in with them, what you will be asking about. 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. 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. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses. 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. 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. Ive gotten a lot of reports of teams doing remote crafting sessions togetheroften around seasonal themes, like gingerbread houses: Our office is planning two optional events. Vantage Circle. Eight Fun Student Engagement Ideas During COVID-19 and Beyond 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. Commemorating a work anniversary is a robust employee engagement, development, and retention tool and a way to recognize and show your appreciation to a valued employee. Make sure you exchange emails with a volunteer coordinator or call before you . When the class arrives, learn together, and be sure to snap plenty of screenshots. 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. Covid Christmas plans: How to celebrate safely I Paperless Post Before the . Give your entire team a chance to express their creativity with baby pumpkins, acrylic paints, and free pumpkin stencils. You can even display this social media recognition on your offices digital displays to make sure the whole team sees it. Or you might feel concerned about the health of others, such as those who you care for or live with.