The employee experience is better, and the company's outcome stronger. Real world elements make virtual exercises more engaging and interactive. During the call, participants can chat and play fun games, or co-work while enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. Here are 10 ideas to consider for your school: 1. It is working together that will get us through this time. By hosting your fundraisers online, you can reach new supporters both near and far from your school without needing to leave your desk. 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. After all, who doesn't like a couple of free snacks? Virtual spirit week ideas are ways to celebrate the occasion with remote teams. Moreover, you can drop an appreciation mail to the employees so that it stays with them forever. Everyone can be a film critic and talk about how much they love or hate what we're watching. - Jess Guffey, Brand Partnerships at Design Pickle, To stay connected with our colleagues and support local economies at the same time, our company decided to launch Support Santa, a Secret Santa-inspired gift swap. Dress-up days are one of the main events during spirit days at schools and offices. 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. Wishing you and your team health and tranquility. and retains your top employees. 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. He expressed that business leaders need to develop a structured and approach to mentoring. We've had a few teams compete in virtual relays, races, or step challenges using free apps to log steps, distance ran/cycled, etc. Getty Images/PeopleImages. Get Competitive. #StayStrongWF Spirit Week | Town of Wake Forest, NC 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. This is one of the most underrated employee appreciation ideas out there. And what could be better for this purpose than to offer E-Learning options? I also personally feel that it's boosting my wellbeing and brightening my day. 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. With higher motivation comes better engagement, happiness, and ultimately retention. How and Where to Volunteer During the Coronavirus Pandemic 21 Fun Quarantine Christmas Ideas 2020 - Good Housekeeping For more ways to excite remote teams, check out our list of free virtual team building activities for work, this list of virtual offsite ideas, and this one with Zoom meeting ideas. Finally going on a picnic with their loved ones. Online board games or trivia challenges are a great way to bring a team together for something besides work. Theyve asked us what charities wed recommend. But to make them feel valued is what employees think is the most important. In this case they will contribute to providing some structure in an unstructured team situation. 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). These activities broaden employees global and cultural horizons while also delighting the teams travel lovers. Spirit week attendees can either make their own backgrounds using Canva or Photoshop, or can download one from online. Click here to find out how. Teammates could also give a short slideshow presentation of their home cities. Learn how to set new boundaries, ask for support, and re-strategize with your partner about what you need. Players square off in trivia challenges, lightning scavenger hunts, and a listening/drawing game called Can You Hear Me Now? A charismatic host keeps score while keeping teams energy and spirits high. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Companies all over the world are making their operations remote for the first time to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Breakout Rooms! Do the bragging on behalf of your employees, and show your whole team how fantastic everyone is. I hope this article has in some small way helped your and your teams trek through this extraordinary time. For example, theme days, virtual talent shows, and costume contests. Elaine Pearton - Tarrytown, New York, United States - LinkedIn Gain practical tools and strategies to lead your remote team to high performance with mycomplimentary webinar and check out my new e-course: Lead High Performing Remote Teams That Thrive Through COVID and Beyond. 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. E-Learning is the preferred modern way to upskill and learn while having the convenience of choosing the when and where. I am going to go out on a limb here to say to you something vital. Time Off From Work During COVID-19 | Justia Virtual spirit weeks are weeklong events that consist of a series of fun and interactive online activities. However, you could include a holiday theme in your virtual spirit week during any time of the year. Offering them a handsome salary is one aspect. Coronavirus - how to cope with going into work - Mind You might be worried about keeping yourself safe from coronavirus. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your team is to enable them to let off some steam without the pressure to perform. 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). Teammates can select a different background for each meeting or theme day, and can even swap backgrounds multiple times per call. Priorities. In the largest ever genetic analysis of grapevine varieties, including samples from previously undocumented specimens in private collections, researchers provide new insights into how, when, and . Remote teammates can enjoy a show while learning more about coworkers special skills and abilities. Sally can whip up a variety of cold meals, including salads, grain bowls and yogurt. 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. Simply ask, how are we doing living up to our agreements?. Find out how to shape a culture that attracts, engages, Decatur, IL (62521) Today. Consider downloading a fitness app with curated workout playlists. 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. Offering a corporate wellness program within a vibrant culture of thriving well-being can significantly enhance that connection. 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. Here is our take on enhancing employee motivation with the below 33 exceptional employee appreciation ideas. It all started with a group chat. For instance, plan a short gentle stretch, a high-intensity cardio routine, and a themed yoga class at different time slots throughout the day. Add some seriously "tricked out" kitchens on each floor of their facilities. Its a really cool way to connect with your coworkers and find out more about their life outside of work. 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. This is a great way to begin your team meetings. Staff members find creative ways to celebrate during COVID-19 - Miami Typical activities include theme days, costume contests, and online parties. Food is a big deal at work. Here's how the pandemic will change - CNN Coronavirus NC: Virtual spirit weeks unite school communities | Raleigh Aside from regular appreciation, you can ensure that your employees feel valued on important occasions, such as by sending Thanksgiving messages to employees. The thing that giants like Google and Airbnb have understood is that the physical environment of the office matters. 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. Encourage team members to do the same. For example, book-binding, instrument-building, ravioli-making, or makeup lessons with a drag queen. 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. 12 Ideas for Writing Through the Pandemic With The New York Times You. It doesnt have to be cocktail focused. Try a subscription box. Learn more about virtual costume contests. Virtual talent shows double as entertainment and team bonding. Need more tips for how to keep your employees happy during COVID-19? How to create effective, engaged workplace teams after the Video game consoles. By planning an online retreat for spirit week, you block out employees time and free staff to enjoy the festivities. Celebrated on the first Friday in March, it pays homage to each employee's contribution to their company. 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. Give your entire team a chance to express their creativity with baby pumpkins, acrylic paints, and free pumpkin stencils. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses. You can even use it as a way to support local businesses: We were able to do family meals for our employees. Top 10 Ways to Grow School Spirit From Afar - PTA We safeguard your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Teammates can vote using the poll feature in your video meeting platform, and you can send the winner a prize. Not to mention, care packages add a tactile element to your all-online spirit week. How to Be Physically Active While Social Distancing Regardless of your age, some physical activity is better than none. Photo illustration by Slate.