Employee Appreciation – 10 Modern Ways to Celebrate!

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Posted on February 23, 2024 by OfficePlus

As we navigate the evolving modern work environments, through hybrid and remote teams, the significance of Employee Appreciation Day takes on a new depth of meaning. In the world, where virtual connections often replace face-to-face interactions and the boundaries between work and home blur, it’s essential for organizations to adapt when celebrating their employees’ contributions.

Here are ten ways to foster a sense of belonging and reinforce a culture of gratitude and recognition!

Virtual Coffee Breaks: Schedule a coffee break or lunch session where teams can connect over video calls. This provides time for social interaction and informal conversations and is a great way to foster a sense of belonging. Consider sending a digital gift card for coffee or food delivery to give the event a little extra special experience.

Personalized Thank you Notes: Send thank you notes to each team member, highlight their contributions and express gratitude for their efforts. This simple activity can boost morale and demonstrates genuine appreciation.

Flexible Work Hours: Offering flexibility in work hours or “flex days” where employees can choose their schedule to accommodate personal commitments or preferences. This is a true sign of trust in your employees’ ability to manage their workloads effectively and promotes that work-life balance.

Professional Development Opportunities: Invest in your employees’ growth and skills by providing opportunities for online courses, workshops, and certifications relevant to their role. Supporting learning demonstrates a commitment to your employees’ long-term success.

In-person/Virtual Team Building: Strengthen bonds and encourage collaboration among team members. Cooking classes and Escape Rooms are fun ways to get everyone working together. Search the web to locate online trivia and virtual escape rooms for those remote employees.

Wellness Resources: Offer resources such as virtual fitness classes, meditation app subscriptions or mental health resources to support employees’ overall well-being. Supporting your team’s health can improve productivity and engagement.

Recognition Platforms: Implement a recognition platform for team members to acknowledge and celebrate each other’s achievements.

Surprise Care Packages: Send a little package filled with goodies like snacks, branded merchandise, or self-care items. This unexpected gesture shows thoughtfulness and makes employees feel valued even from a distance.

Virtual Celebrations: Host a virtual happy hour to commemorate milestones, achievements, or Employee Appreciation Day itself. Add in some fun activities or themes to make the event memorable and fun!

Leadership Check-ins: Schedule one-on-one check-ins between leaders and team members to provide personalized feedback, support, and mentorship. This is an opportunity for employees to voice their concerns, share ideas and receive guidance strengthening the bond between yourself and your team.

In this digital age, let’s uplift and motivate our team regardless of their physical location and reaffirm the importance of acknowledging their efforts!

How do you appreciate your employees? Let us know in the comments.

Looking to enhance your workplace environment further? Explore our Dealer Locator to find a trusted partner near you.

Why Buy Private Label Products?

Posted on February 22, 2024 by OfficePlus

What is a private label product?

A private label product is manufactured by a contract or third-party manufacturer and sold under a retailer’s brand name. The retailer specifies everything about the product – what goes in it, how it’s packaged, what the label looks like, etc.

Reasons to Buy Private Label Brands

According to TIME, most consumers “have gotten clued in to the fact that many generic store-brand foods are actually made by the same companies that produce the higher-priced, name-brand stuff,” which “come out of the same factories with the same ingredients…with the only difference being the label.” The author goes on to say that the result of switching from a name brand to a private label is “an easy way to save 30% or so, without sacrificing quality.”

Lower cost and similar quality to name brands, are two reasons to make the switch to private label branded products.

Private label brands lower costs by outsourcing production and logistics to large national brand manufacturers with excess capacity, or to specialty manufacturers who focus on a limited variety of products, eliminating the need for large capital investment. In addition, marketing costs for a private brands are incremental or nonexistent. This presents a significant cost savings to the retailer, a portion of which is passed along to the consumer in the form of lower prices.

While quality can be defined in many ways, most consumers feel there is little difference in the quality of a private label versus a national brand product. Consumer Reports has conducted blind taste tests between store brand and national brand products to poll consumers about the quality of store brands. They reported that more than 80% of those polled (about 24,000) indicated the private label brand to be the same or better than the national brand. Consumers are always looking for ways to save money, even on necessities. Using private label brands is a good place to start!

Find our quality-smart and price-friendly
Basics® Brand products exclusively at these locations.

Sources:

https://www.shopify.ca/encyclopedia/private-label#:~:text=Retailers%20interested%20in%20filling%20their,over%20product%20ingredients%20and%20quality.

https://www.moneycrashers.com/private-label-store-brands/

Whiteboard vs Glassboard – Which is Right for You?

Posted on January 10, 2022 by OfficePlus

So you want to update your workspace, or you’re looking to add some collaboration tools to your office. A board for writing down ideas or to-do lists is just what you need! With many choices now available for dry-erase boards, it can be hard to determine which one is right for you. Here, we’ve broken down the differences in all the options available and describe the pros and cons of each to help you narrow down the best option for you.

Whiteboards

First we start with the more traditional, Whiteboards. You may be surprised to learn that not every whiteboard is made equal. Here you have 3 different material options:

Porcelain – these durable boards have a smooth porcelain surface and steel-backing to make the board magnetic. The porcelain is non-porous, which prevents ink from penetrating the surface and permanently staining. Porcelain boards are heavier than the other options, which will require a sturdy place to mount the board and multiple people to help with the installation.
Painted Steel – these are your classic-style whiteboards and most commonly found. Made with a steel-backing, then coated with a white base colour and clear coating which gives the board its dry-erase ability. These boards do not last as long as porcelain, but with consistent cleaning the life of the surface can be extended.
Melamine – these are the most cost effective whiteboards and ideal for personal or occasional use. Melamine boards are not magnetic and the surface coating is not as durable as the other whiteboard options.

Glassboards

Glassboards tend to be more expensive than whiteboards but glassboards are generally longer lasting, more durable and have a premium look within an office environment.

Made with tempered glass, these boards are extremely durable and will not scratch or dent. The smooth glass surface will not leave stains or ghosted writing behind.

Although they are the more expensive option, their longevity and high quality make them a good investment.