Creating a positive culture at work isn't just about perks and benefitsā but those things are great too! As Confetti CEO Lee Rubin puts it, "Corporate culture is often reflected in an organizationās mission statement, vision, and core values, but itās far beyond that ā itās the DNA, itās the in-betweens, itās the soul of an organization." It's about fostering an environment where employees feel engaged, valued, and connected.
One of the key drivers behind this is your culture committee.
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What is a Culture Committee?
A culture committee, also known as an employee engagement committee or culture club, is a group of individuals who boost morale and maintain a positive workplace culture. This committee typically contains internal representatives from different departments responsible for organizing activities, events, and initiatives to enhance employee morale, engagement, and overall satisfaction.
The main purpose of a culture committee is to improve company culture and create a supportive, inclusive, and positive work environment where employees feel valued, motivated, and connected to the company's mission and values. They often work closely with HR departments to develop strategies to boost employee engagement, improve the employee experience, promote teamwork, and reinforce the organization's culture.
Some of their duties include:
- Working with the leadership team to define the core values, beliefs, and behaviors that shape the company culture
- Listening to and addressing culture-related employee concerns and advocating for changes to align with the desired culture
- Tracking progress toward cultural goals to evaluate their effectiveness or make adjustments when necessary
- Organizing events, activities, and programs to promote teamwork, diversity and inclusion, employee recognition, and overall well-being.
By focusing on these aspects of the company's culture, the committee helps to strengthen relationships among colleagues, boost employee morale, and contribute to the overall success and productivity of the organization.
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Here are 9 culture committee ideas you can use to engage employees:
1. Virtual coffee roulette
Facilitate informal interactions and networking among remote team members with virtual coffee roulette.
Using a random pairing tool or by manually assigning pairs, match employees up for virtual coffee breaks, typically lasting around 15-30 minutes. Encourage everyone to share a bit about themselves and enjoy some lighthearted personal conversation, or even brainstorm ideas or collaborate on projects if they'd like. This is a great way to encourage employees to enjoy a break and some face-to-face interaction for those who need it.
Organizing virtual coffee breaks not only helps break down silos and foster cross-departmental connections but also creates a sense of camaraderie and belonging within the team.
How to get started š Create a simple signup sheet where employees indicate their scheduling availability and interest in these coffee chats.
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2. Volunteer opportunities
Giving back to the community benefits those in need and strengthens the corporate social responsibility aspect of your company culture.
Whether it's a day of service at a food bank or a fundraiser for a worthy cause, volunteering fosters teamwork, empathy, and a sense of purpose among employees. Charitable team building also encourages employees to take part in meaningful work and gain a deeper understanding of how the community is a stakeholder in their organizationās success.
Here are some group community service ideas that culture committees can organize, or encourage remote employees to participate in through their individual communities:
- Volunteer at a local animal shelter
- Participate in blood donation drives
- Organize beach or park cleaning events
- Prepare and donate backpacks to schools, filled with supplies
- Distribute food and care packages to those experiencing homelessness
How to get started š If you'd like to skip the organizing and plan a team building activity that gives back, visit the Charity Team Building collection, where every event comes with a built-in donation on Confetti's behalf.
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3. Health & wellness activities
Did you know that 83% of Americans are suffering from work-related stress? Health and wellness classes and challenges are a great way to promote healthy habits and stress reduction while fostering team spirit among remote employees. Organize various fitness activities tailored to accommodate different fitness levels and preferences, such as:
- Step challenges
- Yoga sessions
- Online workout classes
For wellness challenges, consider using team fitness tracking apps or platforms to monitor and share achievements, encourage friendly competition, and offer virtual support and encouragement. The team can recognize and celebrate each other's efforts and accomplishments with virtual badges, certificates, or prizes to incentivize participation and reinforce healthy habits.
How to get started š Browse Confetti's Health and Wellness collection for more ideas to plan for your team.
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4. Lunch and Learn sessions
Lunch and Learn sessions are valuable tools for connection building, professional development, and knowledge sharing within remote teams. Coordinate these sessions by inviting guest speakers, subject matter experts, or even colleagues to lead discussions on various topics aligned with your culture goals during a team lunch.
To get started, establish a schedule of upcoming Lunch and Learn sessions on the company calendar and promote them through your internal communication channels. Encourage employees to suggest topics of interest and come prepared to engage by asking questions and sharing their feedback. Don't forget to record the sessions for those unable to attend live and provide resources or follow-up materials for continued learning.
How to get started š Check out these 5 great ideas for your company's next Lunch and Learn!
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5. Employee Recognition Programs
Recognizing and appreciating employees' contributions is essential for boosting morale and fostering a culture of appreciation. Implement employee recognition programs like "Employee of the Month" awards or peer-to-peer recognition channels to celebrate achievements and acknowledge outstanding performance.
When discussing company culture with Authority Magazine, Lee Rubin shared one of Confetti's tips. "One way we reiterate [employee recognition] is through our āgratitude channelā (a place on Slack where colleagues can give recognition to other colleagues) where our team shout-outs are tagged with company values. In challenging situations where empathy, one of our core company values, isnāt evident, we can emphasize its significance within our team," says Rubin.
How to get started š Here are 6 more employee recognition ideas to build a culture of appreciation!
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6. Wellness webinars
Wellness webinars provide employees with resources and strategies for maintaining physical, mental, and emotional well-being and encouraging healthy work-life balance. The Culture Committee can invite wellness experts, psychologists, or certified coaches to lead webinars on topics such as:
Promote active participation by encouraging attendees to ask questions, share experiences, and participate in interactive exercises or discussions. Wellness webinars contribute to a positive and supportive remote work culture by prioritizing employee wellness and providing valuable insights and tools.
How to get started š Use Confetti's Wellness Calendar to align your webinars with wellness-related holidays.
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7. Cultural holiday celebrations
There are countless cultural holidays celebrated around the world, so encourage your culture committee to plan DEI team building activities to celebrate these holidays for a more diverse and inclusive workplace. Here are some activities you can plan around upcoming cultural holidays:
- Potluck lunch: Organize a potluck lunch where employees are encouraged to bring dishes from the culture being celebrated to share with their colleagues. If your team is remote, encourage some digital recipe sharing instead!
- Workshop or presentation: Host educational workshops that explore the stories and traditions surrounding the holiday and culture.Ā
- Arts & crafts activity: Get creative and make traditional arts and crafts and learn about artwork by artists from the culture being represented. This hands-on approach allows employees to express their creativity while learning about cultural symbols and practices.
How to get started š Use Confettiās DEI calendar to start planning cultural celebrations for your team!Ā
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8. Mentorship programs
Research shows that 90% of employees who have a mentor are happier at work. Mentorship is also a helpful way to introduce employees to the company culture and set them up for success after onboarding.
To start your mentorship program, pair up new hires with an experienced team member to become their guide, help integrate into the organization, and give strategic insight and guidance on their career path.
Having your culture committee build a mentorship program as part of your company culture shows you care about nurturing new talent and preparing leaders for tomorrow.
How to get started š Survey your team to garner interest in who would be interested in mentoring new employees.
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9. Virtual Happy Hours
Virtual happy hours give employees a chance to socialize, unwind, and feel a sense of community at the end of the day, despite physical distance. To host a successful virtual happy hour, set a date and time that accommodates everyone's time zones and schedules.
Eventually, your plain BYOB happy hours can get a little redundant. Keep things fresh and encourage participation by choosing a theme or activity to make the event more engaging, such as:
- Making it a costume party for nearby holidays
- Playing fun happy hour games
- Taking a cocktail-making class from a skilled mixologist
How to get started š Book a class from Confetti's Virtual Happy Hour collection and we'll ship the beverages straight to your team's doors!
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Confetti can help your Culture Committee š
A vibrant company culture requires proactive efforts from the culture committee to engage employees, promote well-being, and strengthen team bonds. By planning a variety of activities, events, and initiatives, the culture committee plays a crucial role in creating a positive and inclusive work environment where employees feel valued, connected, and motivated.
With Confetti's wide range of resources and expert guidance, your committee can effectively plan and execute engaging and impactful activities that bring remote teams together and reinforce your organizationās culture goals.Ā
Contact [email protected] to get started!
