Thank You Construction Industry!
We know this year didn’t look at all like any of us might have expected back on January 1st, but with your support we were able to continue to do the work we love for the cause we care about.
To every educator that encouraged students to keep working toward their dreams, even in a time of uncertainty – thank you.
To every employer that put the wellbeing of employees first – thank you.
To every crew member that put in overtime to get the job done when you were short-staffed – thank you.
Now that we’ve given our thanks, we invite you to do the same. Chances are, your construction firm could use some positive reinforcement to persevere well into the new year. Yes, everyone is sure to enjoy the brief vacation this week, as most everyone in the industry has Thanksgiving and the Friday after off. But why not use the days leading up to Thanksgiving to give your team the thanks they deserve? Give one of these three ideas a try:
Create a Gratitude Wall
If your team meets in one central location, this is a great place to show your thanks. Give each team member the name or names of one to three fellow employees. Then, have them write down something they are grateful for onto a colorful piece of paper and post up on your gratitude wall of choice. Whether it remains anonymous or not, this is a surefire way to create camaraderie.
Gather Around a Cause
If your construction firm is scattered about in a few locations, you can still unite around one central cause. Ask employees to bring in nonperishable items for the food pantry, clothes for a local clothing drive, or donation for a charitable cause of choice to their main office. Even if you’re totally virtual, you can still give to others together with virtual volunteering programs like UN Volunteers or Career Village. These opportunities will help you and your remote crew connect while helping others.
Throw a Virtual Thanksgiving Party
This virtual party can include sharing a meal or recipes. Simply set up a video call with your entire firm if you have a smaller team or divide into smaller groups for a more intimate setting.
For a remote dinner, provide everyone a food stipend for their meal of choice. Whether it’s a classic Thanksgiving dish or an unexpected alternative, use dinner time to get to know your team better. There’s no better way to connect than at the dinner table, even if it is virtual.
For a recipe swap, set up a hub for all of your recipes to be stored. Before the call, set up a recipe-specific page on any existing online team discussion boards or share a Google Doc for everyone to capture their favorite recipes. From local to traditional, your team will appreciate learning more about their fellow employees and new delicious recipes to add to their recipe book.
In both virtual Thanksgiving parties, use the opportunity to ask thoughtful questions and revive your sense of community before we enter into the winter months.
Thank you, I Build America – Ohio community, and have a safe Thanksgiving holiday!
