COVID-19 has turned many companies upside down in how they approach their work and the engagement of their employees. Here are 8 employee incentive ideas to inspire your work from home staff to work harder than ever, even when the new normal is not so normal.
1. Encourage Self Care
How are you encouraging self-care for employees that are working from home? Run a promotion on Facebook asking your employees to share how they are taking a break. Maybe it is taking a quick walk outside, throwing in a tub of laundry, taking the dog out, putting dinner in the slow cooker, etc. Ask employees to post of a photo of what they are doing to take a break from their new crazy work day, then reward them for their efforts!
2. Zoom for Good
Besides conducting weekly staff meetings through Zoom or other meeting apps, how about designating a weekly karaoke hour or happy hour. Engaging the work from home staff with non-business activities could improve morale among the staff which will help to increase productivity.
3. Institute a Mental Health Day Off
In any crisis the uncertainty and stress levels for any individual is heightened, and relieving some of this pressure by giving a “day off” to decompress and recharge not only increases productivity but also resonates to the employees that you are equally concerned with their health and well-being.
4. Start an Employee Rewards Program.
At the beginning of each week the boss will let you know the goals the staff has to reach in order to qualify for the reward. At the end of the work week qualified employees will receive the reward. The rewards can range from gift cards, vacation days and charitable donations. At the end of each month an email highlighting the employees that reached the goals will be sent to the staff. Ask your staff for employee incentive ideas that they want to see.
5. Dog Day Afternoons
Dogs all over the world are finally having their dreams come true: their owners are staying home with them! Treat your employee and their pets to a surprise dog day afternoon by sending them doggie treats and human snack packs to allow them to have a “Dog Day Afternoon.” Encourage social sharing of pet photos of your Dog Day on social, tagging your company of course.
6. WFH Employee of the Week
How much toilet paper and paper towels are stashed at your office, going unused? How about initiating an “Work From Home Employee of the Week” and dropping off the lucky winner’s big prize right to their door: A much coveted roll or two of office toilet paper, a roll of paper towels, coffee, and a gift card for a restaurant would go a long way to building morale!
7. Birthday Caravans
Take time out to celebrate your employee birthdays (during the work day!) and organize a drive-by of any employee celebrating a birthday. Show your employees some love with signs, car honks, and happy birthday blaring from the lead car stereo. Make sure to document the occasion for posting to social channels! And for extra love be sure to order and send a birthday cake from a national supplier like Harry & David well in advance so it will be delivered at the same time!
8. Upgrade Your Employees’ Home Offices
Provide incentives for people to upgrade their home office. Since the home office needs all the accouterments of the regular office, give your employees the tools they need by sending them printer cartridges, paper, or other essentials to help them get the job done. Another approach would be to offer to kick in some of the money necessary to upgrade that computer, add a printer, or offset the WIFI bill. Every little bit helps, and goes even longer towards employee loyalty.
Have other ideas or seen other employee incentive ideas that worked for you? Tell us about it in the comments.
If you need help running a large scale corporate incentive program, contact us. We can help with drafting terms, the technical work, and the fulfillment of incentives to make your program a success.
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