Who can forget Ryan Howard starting a fire in the sitcom, The Office? It turns his nightmare of being “that guy” in the office into a reality. While not as crazy, almost every workplace gets its lighthearted and anecdotal moments. Sometimes, they turn into inside jokes, bringing teammates together. But you don’t have to wait for one of your employees to start a fire to give out funny names and improve everyone’s mood.
Here are three reasons to schedule a funny employee awards ceremony at work:
They Promote Creativity and Laughter
Funny employee awards are either obvious or subtle; there’s no in-between. They are easy when they are obvious, like Ryan’s “fire guy” title in The Office. Other times, they require brainstorming. Either way, funny employee awards promote creativity and laughter.
They Work as Ice Breakers
When employee awards are given based on anecdotes, they allow new employees and those in other departments to question them. This presents the opportunity for employees to talk to each other and laugh together, promoting communication at the workplace.
They Offer a Chance to Celebrate
A workplace can feel stressful no matter how nice all the employees are. However, time spent not working and relaxing can help employees feel less stressed. Creating funny memories will help shift their perspective of the workplace to a fun and comfortable place, which can significantly improve their efficiency and improve their work output. Celebrating funny stuff at work will also help employees feel better.
Bonus Advice: How to Keep Funny Awards Funny
Ensuring that funny employee awards stay funny is essential. Here are some ways to achieve that:
Keep Them Casual
Funny employee awards are non-serious. This means you don’t have to plan and execute an actual awards night. Make them happen on short notice on a day of light work. Write the event’s title on A4 paper and stick it on a wall with some masking tape.
Similarly, don’t go out of the way to buy award trophies. A printed certificate or a handmade badge is enough. However, don’t forget the food. Soda and finger food, such as sandwiches, fries, sliders, and fresh fruit, will make everyone happy. Get it over with within an hour.
Get Everyone Involved
A funny impromptu employee awards ceremony can only be executed when the whole team works on it. Get onboard whoever is willing to participate and assign them different roles according to their abilities. Some employees can brainstorm creative titles, while others can contribute to the ceremony through an improved comedy session or a song performance.
Don’t Get Personal
The key to keeping funny awards funny is to not disrespect anyone or their boundaries. Award titles based on anyone’s vulnerabilities are never funny. These include physical body, mental health, ethnicity, culture, religious beliefs, social status, gender, sexuality, family, and other similar life aspects. This means they cannot be a part of the funny awards.
Lastly, if you think a title could be offensive, believe that it could be offensive, so avoid it. Remember that these awards are only meant to make everyone laugh. If you don’t believe your office can achieve that, avoiding funny employee awards altogether is best.
