Team Building Exercises For Remote Employees
If your workplace has moved to a remote setting in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be on the search for ways to encourage strong team communication and relationship building. Team building has long been an important component of supporting company culture and boosting morale, but many employees and managers agree that this is more challenging when working from home. If you’d like inspiration for fostering camaraderie among your team members, check out the relationship building tips for remote teams we share here.
Trivia Contests
There’s nothing like a little friendly competition to motivate employees to work together as a team. Virtual trivia contests are an excellent way to spark conversations and improve communication among coworkers while having some fun along the way. Platforms like Water Cooler Trivia make it easy to generate weekly trivia quizzes so remote employees can look forward to consistent team bonding and socialization.
Photo Sharing
Looking for creative ways to welcome new members to the team? Break the ice by hosting a photo sharing session via video chat. Unlike a problem-solving challenge or competition, this exercise simply serves to help employees connect and learn more about each other. To execute this team building idea, prompt employees to choose a photo that’s unrelated to work to share with the group. Ask each team member to explain what’s going on in the photo and why they chose it. Although this exercise is simple, you may be surprised to discover the conversation and responses that stem from this activity.
Create Personal User Manuals
Working together efficiently as a team requires each employee to be courteous of others’ preferences. This is difficult or impossible if team members don’t have an understanding of each other’s work style. To encourage team cohesion, ask employees to write up a personal “user manual.” You can download a template for Keynote or PowerPoint here and walk your team through the idea behind the exercise. For example, do your co-workers prefer communicating by email or instant message? What time of day do they have the most energy to perform their best work? By writing up and storing these personal user manuals, your team may have a better chance at boosting communication and gaining deeper insight into how each individual functions best.
Learning Circles
Remote work can be isolating and monotonous if you don’t shake up the routine. To help employees grow and get to know one another better, set aside time for participating in learning circles. For this activity, allow employees to choose a topic of interest related to their industry that they’d like to learn more about. Group individuals into teams with similar interests and have them research the topic, then perform a short presentation on what they’ve learned.
Working remotely may become a mainstay in our culture even after the conclusion of the pandemic. Although this type of environment poses challenges to building camaraderie within the team, it’s possible to create strong relationships between remote employees. The team building tips for remote teams mentioned here may be a great start to help your employees bond and discover more about each other. Team building is just the first step in creating a workplace that functions at a top level. Quality office supplies are also a must, regardless of where your employees work. If you’d like to invest in the supplies that your team needs, please contact us today to learn more about our selection of products and services for your remote or in-person offices.
Tips to Transition to a Greener Workplace in 2021
2020 has brought a host of changes that have shaken up the way modern offices function. If you’re hoping to use this momentum to become a greener workplace in 2021, you may be on the search for ways to create a more sustainable business. When you’re ready to make the transition to a more environmentally-friendly workplace, consider these tips:Read more
Tips For Managing Work-Life Balance While Working From Home
Fostering a healthy work-life balance was challenging enough before many of us started working remotely. Some families have also been managing remote schooling for their kids while trying to maintain a home, personal life, and social network. Effectively working remotely relies on a thriving work-life structure, which can be difficult to master. However, with a few tips, one can implement a routine that creates space for both work and play to exist. Here are some helpful ideas.Read more
Managing Remote Employees: Useful Virtual Tools
The global pandemic has led many companies to transition from a traditional office environment to remote work environments. For businesses with remote teams, communicating with out-of-office staff to encourage engagement and collaboration is crucial. Fortunately, there are plenty of tools available that nurture efficiency and success for telecommuters. Here are some of the best virtual tools to ensure that your company thrives in this new normal.Read more
PPE Considerations For A Post COVID-19 Workplace
In addition to modifying office layouts, scheduling, and operations, many organizations are taking measures to require personal protective equipment usage throughout the workplace. With varying regulations and evolving news reports, employers must ensure that workplace safety protocols are implemented and followed. Here are some considerations and tips for utilizing PPE in the workplace.
Provide Information For Proper PPE Usage
Personal protective equipment is only effective when it’s used properly. If employees are not wearing PPE correctly, the safety aspect of these items may be ineffective in protecting against COVID-19 and other transmittable illnesses. Consider hosting trainings that educate individuals on the proper use of personal protection equipment when employees return to the workplace. Provide in-person mask fittings and supply gear that will effectively protect employees.
Educate individuals on how viruses spread, how to sanitize, and how to mitigate the transmission of germs when working in close quarters. Inform staff on the proper usage of eye protection, face shields, and gloves so that PPE products do their intended job.
Establish Protocols For Cleaning And Disposing PPE
Once used, PPE carries the risk of spreading germs. Create a protocol for disposing single-use protective items, like latex gloves, disposable masks, and protective screens. Encourage employees to learn the disposal protocol and take care of each item carefully.
Create a cleaning space where employees may deposit reusable PPE at the end of each day. Consider hiring an external cleaning company or create a chore list that staff can accomplish together. Providing step-by-step instructions for disposing of or cleaning PPE can ensure that safety items are being utilized correctly throughout their respective life cycles.
Implementing Training Programs For Safe Practices
In addition to providing PPE to staff, consider creating workflows and office protocol that facilitate safe practices; daily operations may need to be adjusted to consider social distancing and no-contact interfacing. Provide training so that managers can walk employees through each new step required. Clear communication and training will help your team understand the importance of contributing to a safe working environment.
Stock Additional PPE
To prevent shortages, stock up on additional PPE when available. Create a catalog of in-stock personal protective equipment and inventory new items as they arrive. Allow employees to request specific PPE that may help them feel safer while at work. Place someone in charge of managing, stocking, and ordering these items. Alternatively, set up an automatic delivery for items that are frequently used.
While the return to life as we knew it seems uncertain at this time, many offices and industries are permitting some employees to return to work. In an effort to keep staff and clients safe, provide PPE and teach your team how to use and dispose of equipment. EON Office provides all types of workplace products, and we offer an easy and efficient ordering system to ensure you never run out of essential items. Contact us today to learn more.
Janitorial Supplies For A COVID-19 Era Workplace
Highly trafficked areas, enclosed spaces, and communal items can be to blame for the transmission of many germs within an office. As staff return to work in the COVID-19 era, it’s crucial to implement a daily cleaning regime and use the highest quality janitorial supplies. Here are some tips for keeping your staff healthy and safe as we reenter the workplace.Read more