Employee Well-being
On March 24, 2020 and almost every day thereafter we had interactive games and prizes going on throughout the workweek and sometimes daily if I sensed some disconnect. Below are some of the activities. There is one thing to keep in mind as you read this. This is our company culture, just on steroids.
This idea was taken from a book called “YOU are a BADASS”.
"Imagine what our world would be like if everyone loved themselves so much that they weren’t threatened by other people’s opinions or skin colors or sexual preferences or talents or education or possessions or lack of possessions or religious beliefs or customs or their general tendency to just be whomever the hell they are. Imagine how different your reality would be (and the reality of everyone surrounding you) if you woke up every morning certain of your own lovability and your critically important role on this planet. And if you poo pooed shame, guilt, self-doubt, and self-loathing and allowed yourself to be, do and have everything your little heart desired. That is the world I want to live in. In the interest of perpetuating such radical, reality-alerting self-love, here are some of the best ways to win yourself over again: Appreciate How Special You Are; Drown Yourself in Affirmation; Ditch the Self-Depreciating Humor; Let the Love In; Don’t Compare Yourself to Others; Forgive Yourself; and Love Yourself."
“Imagine what our world would be like if everyone loved themselves so much that they weren’t threatened by other people’s opinions or skin colors or sexual preferences or talents or education or possessions or lack of possessions or religious beliefs or customs or their general tendency to just be whomever the hell they are. ”
Why does this matter? Well there is an employee in the office that is high on himself and not afraid to show it. I thought it would be interesting to see how many selfies he had of himself on his cell phone. I put the question out to all the staff and whoever got to the closest number would receive lunch delivered to their home office. We were shocked to find out the number was much smaller than most of the guesses cast.
On March 25, 2020, I stumbled across a website called fairygodboss.com. I guess this may not make sense to you as a reader, so I will catch you up quickly by telling you my employees call me the “Godmother”. Let me stop at this point and let you in on the fact that my professional background is in marketing and I love to find ways to make things relate to what is happening within my sphere of influences and to bring perspective and humor at the same time. I mention this because people ask me how I come up with these ideas on the fly and really it does not take a creative mind, it takes paying attention to things around you and then applying what you know about the observations of people.
So here was the link that I sent to employees; https://fairygodboss.com/articles/wednesday-motivation. This was an opportunity for me to understand the mindset of employees a week into the stay at home order. I took the eight ways article and created a way to get employee intel and here is how I did it.
8 Ways to Beat the Hump Day Blues
1. Change your look for the day.
Applied: Have you gotten out of your pajamas before you read this email? Be honest.
2. Shake up your morning routine.
Applied: Do you miss the coffee at the office? Funny thing is that I have had Starbucks two times since you all went virtual. (I normally don’t drink coffee)
3. Do something meaningful before work.
Applied: Office mid-day break. Are you taking a lunch?
4. Do a 10-minute exercise.
Applied: Did you take a walk outside today?
5. Take a dance break.
Applied: Send a dance video in today for a week of jeans day cards upon your return to the office. Oh, and you have to agree that the video can be shared during the virtual office experience.
6. Start an article club.
Applied: We are our own club.
7. Learn a new language.
Applied: How many languages do you speak and which one(s)?
8. Play an instrument.
Applied: Do you or have you ever played an instrument and which one(s)?
This provided me intel into the employee’s well-being. Hopefully, it also made them realize that their well-being matters and that they need to continue to take care of themselves even if they are trapped at home.
The results were shared with everyone again as it provides insight for them to know we are all in this together and we will get through this.
Only four of you cannot find your way out of your pajamas.
Coffee habits have reduced since last week. I guess the nearly $400.00 a month in coffee you consume in the office is not necessary. Just kidding!
Lunches are happening… “Yes. I force myself to step away for an hour." “I take a lunch and I video call with family and friends back in Illinois at that time.” “Lunch today went on a bike ride for 7 miles.” “At lunch I play a board game with the boys then we go for a walk around the block” “My new co-workers, Ron and Nan (her dogs) and I try to take a lunch time walk, but if the wind is too much we do not because I would come back with a cough and freak out everyone.” “I haven’t been taking a lunch but have been working out during my lunch break.” “Yes. Stretching and goofing around.” “Is that even a question?! Yes! Never skip burrito day.” “Yes, taking a lunch, I need the break.” “Yes.” “Yes I am.” “Of course.” “I take a nap around noon everyday now it’s great.” “I am taking my lunches. I pulled weeds one day for lunch!”
Walk much…? In general, everyone is staying healthy and if not walking experiencing all the free workout videos available.
Wow the push back on the dance videos! Most of you flat refused. Oh, but I have a few I will share them throughout the day. Even Miss I Will Do Anything for Jeans Day put in a video.
I oversee the article club as I am trying every day to keep us engaged. It is lonely here without you all!
English seems to be a foreign language for this group. “English only, but I can count to 10 in Taiwanese.” “I only speak English. However, I am on Level 1 of Duolingo for Spanish and French.” “Kind of.” “Spanish French Chinese. Ask me to say hello.” “English, fluent in typo both reading and writing.” “5- 3 versions of English (Old, Middle and Modern), read Spanish and Latin decently. Oh, and etslay otnay orgetfay igpay atinlay.” “¾ of one. I’m still trying to understand English.” “English, Spanish and Portuguese.” “Just English.” “Sadly, only English.” “English & Spanglish.” “Just English.” “I learned French in H.S., does that count? Bon-jour!” “I speak Spanish some other Latin/Romantic languages like Italian and French that I can understand but I am not fluent.” “English… Spanglish (not very good).”
OMG THE INSTRUMENTS… trombone, piano, guitar, clarinet, recorder in 6th grade, piccolo, flute, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, triangle, drums, trumpet, euphonium and 11 other instruments, I prefer carpool karaoke, does Guitar Hero count, practicing to be a country singer. I see a marching band in our future!
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