PaperDirect Blog PaperDirect Blog

March 7, 2017

10 Simple Ideas to Celebrate Your Employee’s Birthdays

Filed under: Seasonal & Special Events Ideas — PDWriter @ 11:13 am

10-Simple-Ideas-to-Celebrate-Your-Employee-Birthdays-paper-direct

Bring on the buttercream cupcakes and rainbow of balloons!

There’s a birthday guy or gal in the office this week! So how can you make your employees feel special on their big day beyond sweet treats? Mix up their usual routine a bit and spoil them with surprises and small gifts, that’s how!

1. The Gift-Wrapped Desk

Whether they have a dedicated office or use a co-working space, grab a roll of gift wrap and embellish their desk. Don’t forget to accent the workspace with oversized bows and curly ribbons.

2. The Charity Partner

Plan to give back to the community in honor of the birthday VIP. Pick a charity they love and schedule a special visit (onsite or offsite) complete with a small donation presentation. The co-workers can meet shelter dogs or spend a long lunch hour reading to special needs kids!

3. The Early Out

A week or so before the big day, leave a handwritten note on the employee’s desk offering the option to leave early one day during their birthday week. It’s the perfect way for the birthday person to grab a special weekday dinner or start their Friday evening a little early!

4. The Snack Fix

No birthday is complete without presents. Figure out what the employee loves to grab during the workday — gourmet coffee, herbal tea, cupcakes or fresh juice — and snag a gift card to the local business they frequent for their workday snacks.

5. The Office Potluck

A week ahead, send a memo to everyone in the office (or for larger businesses, the employee’s department) about a celebratory potluck. On the day, invite everyone to the meeting room for some home-cooked treats and recipe swapping.

6. The Public Address

Does your workplace have morning announcements via an intercom system? Amp up the presentation with a birthday shout out, complete with classic off-key singing and wild kazoo choir!

7. The Card Shower

This year, instead of having everyone squeeze their name on one company card, encourage each employee to bring a card, or pick one out of a big box of stationery supplies at the office, and create a personal birthday message for the co-worker.

8. The Balloon Maze

Fill the birthday person’s office with balloons. Helium balloon bouquets on the desk and individual balloons all over the floor help create a festive workspace for the day.

9. The White Elephant

Plan to surprise the birthday person with goofy dollar store gifts. The rule: Each employee can only spend $1. Bring on the funny socks, faux flowers and plastic wine glasses!

10. The Silly Award

A birthday is the perfect time to present the employee with a funny award. Choose a fun mug, plaque or certificate that lets everyone know they’re the Top Dog for the day!

Are you ready to order those birthday cards and snazzy awards? Shop PaperDirect today and your office birthday supplies will be delivered in no time!

March 3, 2017

Certificate Wording for Tech Classes

Filed under: Phrases & Wording — PDWriter @ 10:09 am

certificate-wording-for-tech-classes-paper-direct

High-tech efforts deserve high levels of recognition, and you can provide that to every member of your class with a professional certificate. You have various options for the type of certificates to award, whether they’re for specific tech certifications, completion of training or your course, professional achievement, or for overall excellence. You’re also free to use any combination of certificates you see fit to best honor and reward your successful students.

We’ve outlined five short and simple examples of certificate wording for tech classes, along with standard information that should appear on every certificate.

Certificate Wording for Tech Classes: Basic Information

Details are extremely important in tech classes, and the same holds true for tech class certificates. Each certificate should contain basic information that includes:

  • Purpose of certificate
  • Name of recipient
  • Name of tech class and/or specific certification
  • Name of instructor, department, and/or facility
  • Official signature and date

Certificate Wording for Tech Classes: Examples

Certification

Header: Name of facility, address if desired

This is to acknowledge that (recipient’s name)

is certified in (specific certification)

In recognition the successful completion of

requirements for certification through (name of class, exam, and other requirements)

Training

Header: Certificate of Training

This certifies that (recipient’s name)

has successfully completed the training course of (name of class)

conducted by (name of instructor) at (name of department, facility)

Completion

Header: Name of facility, department, address if desired

This certificate acknowledges that (recipient’s name)

has met all the requirements and criteria for successful completion of

(name of class) conducted by (name of instructor)

at (name of department, facility)

Achievement

Header: Certificate of Achievement

This certificate of achievement is awarded to (recipient’s name)

In recognition of professional achievement

for successfully completing (name of class) conducted by (name of instructor)

at (name of department, facility)

Excellence

Header: Certificate of Excellence

(Name) is receiving this certificate of excellence for

exceptional performance in (class name) conducted by (name of instructor)

at (name of department, facility)

You’re welcome to use any of the certificate wording examples verbatim, or you can edit and adjust them as desired to best mesh with the style and vibe of your class and facility. The most important thing is to provide tech students with the official certification they need and recognition they deserve for successfully completing your tech course.

February 21, 2017

How to Create Hard Copy Professional Reports

Filed under: Designing Your Business Communication — PDWriter @ 10:36 am

Even if your facts and figures are right on the money, you’ll still lose points with your fellow employees and clients if your professional report isn’t executed cleanly and efficiently. You might be surprised how much visual appeal goes into the reports you file over the course of your daily duties.

If you’d like some tips on how to create professional reports, then you’ve come to the right place.

Smart Small, Think About Your Font

In all of the professional world — whether you’re preparing a report for a professor or some shareholders — there are exactly three acceptable fonts you should use: Helvetica, Arial, or Times New Roman. That’s it. Save the Comic Sans or Courier for your rough drafts if you must use them, but never turn in an official report that uses any font other than the approved three.

Think About Your Audience

You’re going to want to tailor your language to meet the needs of your audience. If you’re preparing an interoffice memo, for example, you can use industry jargon and possibly even make a joke or two without much fear of reprisal.

However, if you’re sending your report to a client, you’ll want to avoid industry terms (so as not to confuse or alienate your audience) and maintain a tone of authority about your topics. Don’t make jokes, don’t use slang; write succinctly and clearly.

How to Structure Your Report

It might be tempting to simply open your document, say what you’ve got to say, and then send it out. Instead, it’s likely beneficial for you to jot down a few notes considering what you’d like to say, then organize those notes before writing.

When writing, don’t try to get fancy. Every report you send out should read in the following format:

  • An introduction that hits on each of your major points.
  • Each of your major points separated into clearly defined paragraphs or sections. Be sure to include any charts or numbers as they’re mentioned in the text.
  • A conclusion that sums up your overall point (no need to mention your points once more, just close it out).

You Can Judge a Report By Its Cover

Once you’ve assembled your info and added a striking, professional flare to the whole thing, it’s time to think about your cover. Remember, your cover is the first thing your audience will see, so there’s nothing wrong with impressing them right off the bat with high quality report covers from PaperDirect.

February 17, 2017

Spring Stationery Finds from PaperDirect!

Filed under: Seasonal & Special Events Ideas — PDWriter @ 1:35 pm

Spring is *almost* in the air! We only have one month left of constant, fridged cold and we’re celebrating with spring stationery. For those of you looking for spring border paper, envelopes, or other paper products, we want to highlight some of our favorite designs for spring 2017.

Check them out and brighten up your office and customer’s mailboxes!

Spring Bike Ride Border Paper

Spring Biking Border Paper

 

Buy it.

Perfect for: Bike shops, schools, outdoor industries, home improvement, lawn, and landscaping!

Bumble Bee Border Paper

Bumble Bee Border Paper

 

Buy it.

Perfect for: Everyone, but especially schools.

Lollipop Flowers Paper & Invitations

Lollipop Flowers Border Paper

Buy it.

Perfect for: Florists, country clubs, healthcare, boutiques, schools, and coffee shops.

Fresh Lemonade Postcards

Fresh Lemonade Postcards

Buy it.

Perfect for: Food & drink, menu promos, boutiques, actual lemonade stands.

Happy Days Border Paper

Happy Days Border Paper

Buy it.

Perfect for: Churches, bible camps, schools, childcare.

Whether you’re marketing your business, giving recognition, or providing in-office fun, these papers will have you singing springtime. Most of our products come in bundles of 25 so shop today! To see our entire selection of border paper, visit PaperDirect.

February 14, 2017

How to Market Your Online Course and Get More Signups

Filed under: Business Marketing Ideas — PDWriter @ 2:12 pm

how-to-market-online-courses-to-get-more-signups-paper-direct

 

So you’ve created an awesome online course that can help dozens, hundreds or even thousands of people–if only they’d sign up for it. And the only way they’re likely to sign up for it is if they know the course exists and are intrigued enough to explore it. How do you market an online course to achieve just that? By tackling three distinct strategies, each of which are packed with various methods designed to spread the word and arouse curiosity.

Stir up Intrigue

Giving folks a taste of what’s in store with your course is easy: give them a sneak peek of what to expect. Here you can offer a portion of the course at no cost, a free test drive of the course for a certain number of days, or a few interesting course graphics or takeaways. Podcasts and webinars featuring some of your core course content can also work.

If people have a real feel of what they’ll be learning, and the subject excites them, your sneak peek may be just enough to get them hooked.

Provide Credibility

Bolstering the credibility of the course – and yourself – is another handy strategy that goes on the list of how to market an online course. Strengthening credibility in both departments can be done by:

  • Getting endorsements for your course from satisfied customers.
  • Contacting bloggers and podcasters in your field who can help you spread the word. Pitch your course by sharing some of most useful tips the course offers.
  • Strengthening your brand image. People aren’t likely to enroll in an online course unless they trust the source or your brand. The most trustworthy brands will typically have a quality website, informative blog, strong social media presence, business cards, professional stationery, and consistent message and look across the board.
  • Proving your expertise in the field. Consistently post and share articles that showcase your knowledge, experience, and overall expertise in your field and industry. Become active on LinkedIn and other social channels. Consider joining industry groups to further share your knowledge and expand your audience.

Solve a Problem

While some folks may sign up for an online course to learn for learning’s sake, even more people are likely to enroll if your course offers a specific solution to their problem. You may have various target groups with various problems, all of which can be solved by your online course. Reach out to each group individually, showcasing how your course solves their problem. If your course is about building confidence, for instance, you could market to:

  • People new to the job market or changing careers
  • Mid-career employees seeking promotions
  • People returning to school after a hiatus
  • Would-be public speakers and performers
  • Women or men in the dating scene

Let each group know exactly what they’ll get with your course, both the overall lessons they’ll learn and the benefits they’ll receive.

A detailed overview of your course, which you can post on your website, is another must when developing a plan on how to market an online course. Provide the class title, description, and syllabus so people can clearly see what’s in store. Make sure you offer enough info to pique people’s interest, provide credibility, and make it clear how the course could solve a problem they’re facing in their professional or personal lives.

February 10, 2017

Boosting Confidence of Those Around You: It’s Your Job

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas — PDWriter @ 10:59 am

boosting-confidence-of-those-around-you-paper-direct

Confidence is powerful. Self-respect not only improves mental health but also translates to productivity at the office. Confidence empowers people to face obstacles head-on, see the positive in situations and take smart risks. Any boss would be happy to see these qualities in their employees.

You can easily improve the confidence level of your staff by making a few changes to the way you communicate and present information. Get started with one or two of these tactics this week and watch confidence levels soar at your workplace!

Recognize Strengths and Achievements

A pat on the back does wonders for employees who have a low self-esteem. In a small office, make it a point to recognize something positive with each employee every few days. Congratulate them on reaching a goal or compliment progress on a project. In larger work environments, use the company newsletter, intranet or daily announcements to give positive shout outs.

Promote Positivity Each Day

The negative voices in our heads that make us second guess our choices can squash confidence quickly. Try adding positivity quotes to your email signature, post inspirational memes on the company social media accounts and create a cheerful upbeat environment. Diffusing invigorating citrus essential oils, offering daily meditation breaks and starting the day with a joke over the office intercom is sure to spark a few smiles.

Celebrate Employee Accomplishments

Whether you do it monthly, or annually, set aside time to truly focus on the staff and what they’ve brought to the business over the years. An appreciation dinner or work retreat that highlights long-term achievements, work anniversaries and pivotal ideas that have ensured company success deserve to be celebrated. Reward the staff with certificates of achievement, a little goodie bag of their favorite treats and a small monetary reward or gift card to show gratitude from the company.

Set Realistic, Monitored Goals

Every business creates internal benchmarks for success. Why not make them known to the entire staff, and break them into individual steps to be celebrated? For example, rather than focusing on a year-end financial goal, celebrate each week or month when you’re on track to hit the ultimate goal. This builds confidence gradually and the momentum of success lasts throughout the year.

If you’re ready to make some changes, now is the time to stock up on awards, certificates and small gifts to use as tokens of appreciation from the company. Browse the PaperDirect online store today for ideas!

February 7, 2017

7 St. Patrick’s Day Marketing Ideas for Your Small Biz

Filed under: Business Marketing Ideas — PDWriter @ 3:30 pm

st-patricks-day-marketing-ideas-paper-direct

Everyone knows that St. Patrick’s Day can be loads of fun with friends and family getting together for parades, corned beef, green beer, and traditional Celtic singalongs. So why not take the opportunity to inspire your customers to get into the Irish spirit on Friday, March 17, 2017.

Help your shoppers finding the pot o’ gold at the end of the rainbow with these seven St. Patrick’s Day marketing ideas.

Prepare for the Green Surge

Prepare ahead of time for St. Patrick’s Day by stocking up on anything and everything green and/or related to Irish culture. Rename any services offered with St. Patrick Day’s monikers. When March rolls around, you’ll be ready to share pictures and descriptions of everything St. Patrick’s Day related that your business has available. Displays of green products or merchandise exclusively from Ireland will play extremely well.  

A Trip to Ireland

Of course, you probably can’t afford to send your clients to Ireland, but that doesn’t mean they can’t feel like they’re already there while they are visiting your business. Decorate for St. Patrick’s Day, play Celtic music, and offer seasonal treats to anyone who comes in.  Mail invitations to past customers and potential leads to join you and your staff on a journey to Ireland that doesn’t require a passport.

Save a Pot o’ Gold Promotion

An easy way to promote a sale during the month of March, tie in promotions with St. Patrick’s Day themes. From lucky savings on items marked with four-leaf clovers to major savings at the end of the rainbow – get creative with how you incorporate St. Patrick’s Day into your marketing efforts.

Host a St. Patrick’s Day Happy Hour

It’s always a good time to enjoy a cocktail and some appetizers, especially when it’s St. Patrick’s Day. Invite clients to a St. Patrick’s Day happy hour complete with Irish whiskey, Guinness, green beer and a sampling of Irish delicacies. This event is the perfect opportunity to re-engage former clients and connect with potential new ones.

Wear Green, Save Green

No coupon necessary! Use social channels and email marketing to let shoppers know that they can save a certain percent on their purchases if they come in wearing green for St. Patrick’s Day. Snap pictures of your customers in green to use on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other digital marketing platforms to encourage more people to come in.  You can also promote the discount by sending on St. Patrick’s Day themed mailers.

Create a Social Media Experience

Use Facebook or Instagram as a platform for a contest where users submit photos of their favorite leprechauns (kids and/or pets decked out in their finest green attire). Anyone who submits a photo can receive a small discount on their next purchase. The photo that gets the most likes can win a gift certificate to your business.

Share St. Patrick’s Day Info

In the days leading up to St. Patrick’s Day, use social media to share Irish recipes, trivia, historical facts, funny pictures, and anything else interesting that relates to this holiday. While you might be skeptical because these social media posts don’t directly promote your business, don’t be. This content will engage users and raise awareness for your brand, thus encouraging clickthroughs and purchases.

February 2, 2017

Certificate Wording for Elementary Teachers and Schools

Filed under: Student Recognition Ideas — PDWriter @ 2:08 pm
certificate-wording-elementary-students-paper-direct

See Jane improve. Watch Sam excel. Then feel free to award each of them a certificate for doing their best in your elementary school classroom.

Certificates of appreciation or achievement can be an ideal way to recognize students for a job well done, whether it’s acing the spelling test, making momentous improvements in their math scores, or even showing compassion, kindness, and a positive attitude throughout the year.

As long as they’re not given out willy-nilly for no real reason, certificates can be useful tools that help motivate students, boost self-esteem, and provide recognition in front of their peers. When given for no apparent reason they can start to lose significance or meaning. You want certificates to help your students feel special when they’ve done something special and because they’ve truly earned it.

Check out what we mean with several examples below, complete with the wording you can use for your awards.

Certificate Wording for Elementary School: Basic Info

Before we dive into the examples, it’s essential to note the basic information that should appear on every certificate. This includes:

  • Name of student receiving the honors
  • Name of teacher, department, or school awarding the honors
  • Reason the student is receiving the award
  • Date and signature

Certificate Wording for Elementary School: Examples

Student of the Week

Congratulations to (name)

for earning Student of the Week honors

in/at (classroom/school)

for his/her (reason).

Certificate of Excellence

This Certificate of Excellence goes to

(name) for his/her outstanding efforts in (subject)

in/at (classroom/school).

Certificate of Achievement

You Did It!

(Name) is receiving this

Certificate of Achievement for

successfully completing (task/project/activity)

in/at (classroom/school).

red certificate paper for your school

Certificate of Improvement

Way to Go!

(Name) gets this certificate for

his/her notable improvement in (subject)

in/at (classroom/school).

Graduation Certificate

Great Job!

This certificate is for

(name), who successfully completed

(grade) at (school name).

pre-printed diploma certificate design

Simple wording works best for elementary school students, and you can simplify some of the examples further by putting the teacher’s name, classroom, or school name at the bottom of the certificate instead of in the middle with the rest of the text.

Lastly, choose bright colors, upload a cheery image or two and your certificates can be ready for action the next time one of your students does something genuinely great.

January 27, 2017

Certificate Award Wording for Healthcare Workers

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas — Tags: , , , — PDWriter @ 3:26 pm
Healthcare Certificate Wording

Nurses who consistently go far beyond the call of duty.

Doctors with bedside manners that make patients feel incredibly cared for and safe.

Phlebotomists that take blood with ease and precision, making people totally forget they had a fear of needles when they walked in the door.

The healthcare field abounds with professionals who deserve to be recognized for their amazing dedication, talent, or other characteristics that make them standouts at their jobs. Appreciation certificates can provide recognition for their greatness, and we have with several examples of effective certificate wording for healthcare honors.

Basic Information

Regardless of the specific skill or aspect for which a person is being honored, you want to include a lineup of basic information. This includes:

  • Name of healthcare professional receiving certificate
  • Name of facility, department, practice, or medical office awarding the certificate
  • Reason the person is receiving the certificate
  • Official signature and date

The reason the person is receiving the certificate is where you can vary the wording. We’ve listed five simple, yet effective, examples below.

Certificate Wording for Healthcare Examples

Certificate of Appreciation

This Certificate of Appreciation is awarded to (name)

with gratitude for (his/her) dedication and service to our organization.

certificate of completion award

Certificate of Completion

This is to certify (name)

has successfully completed (facility’s) (course) on this (date).

Certificate of Special Recognition

This Certificate of Special Recognition is awarded to (name)

for (his/her) extraordinary performance.

certificate of excellence award

Certificate of Excellence

This Certificate of Excellence is awarded to (name)

for exceptional dedication to (his/her) position in the healthcare profession.

Certificate of Outstanding Service

This Certificate of Outstanding Service is awarded to (name)

for going above and beyond the call of duty for our organization.

While you’re free to use any of our examples verbatim, keep in mind you can also mix, match, and edit the information as desired to make the certificate extra-special for your extra-special recipient.

January 23, 2017

How to Celebrate Employee Appreciation Day on March 3, 2017

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas — PDWriter @ 9:32 am

Bagels for Employee Appreciation DayMarch 3 is the twelfth annual celebration of Employee Appreciation Day. Even better, in 2017, Employee Appreciation Day falls on a Friday, which opens up so many opportunities for recognizing your hardest working staff members.

So take some time to let your people know you appreciate them because your company couldn’t run without them. What’s more, your team deserves it, don’t they?

If you’re out of ideas on how to celebrate this Employee Appreciation Day, here are some ways to do it right.

Foooood

If you’ve got a little extra cash to spend on Employee Appreciation Day, consider bringing in food. Breakfast, lunch–it doesn’t much matter. If you want to go all out, bring in a breakfast burrito bar/station. Grab tortillas, eggs, potatoes, cheese, and extra toppings. Don’t forget the coffee and creamer!

Get Your Employees Personalized Certificates of Appreciation

There’s no better way to celebrate your employees’ accomplishments than by giving them a little token that they can appreciate for months to come.

Happy Hour

In most states, restaurants hold happy hours from 3-6ish. (if your state doesn’t celebrate happy hours, we are sorry) Take your team out of the office, find a chill pub, and buy everyone’s first round. This gets them talking and puts them in good spirits for the weekend.

Communicate Your Appreciation

Everyone knows you’re busy running the show, so you might not have time to plan some kind of employee appreciation event. If that’s the case, then take some time to express how much you appreciate your employees’ hard work. Be specific.

Catch Some Zzs

If your work can swing it, announce that your team gets an hour to sleep in come Monday morning. Instead of the 8-sharp start, have people report by 9 am.

Send Them to the Movies

Get some movie tickets for a Friday matinee and then send your employees out to have some fun during the middle of the work day.

Tell Them to Get Out

Your team can spend the time together or they can each retire to their own homes, but you have zero chance of anyone complaining about being told to go home a few hours early.

Let Them Pick

Call a meeting in advance, set the budget, and then have your team pick whatever activity you guys will do on Employee Appreciation Day. Whether you hit a bar, do lunch, go bowling, or just stay at home, when the group decides your chances of a popular celebration skyrocket.

Most importantly, your employees want your appreciation to be genuine and specific. Simply letting them know they’re doing a good job doesn’t cut it. Be specific about what parts of the job they perform well and they’ll appreciate your taking the time to notice.

January 18, 2017

Enter to Win PaperDirect’s Recognition Giveaway!

Filed under: Helpful Resources — PDWriter @ 9:46 am

It’s time to recognize your employees with PaperDirect’s Recognition Giveaway! Head over to our Facebook page where you can enter our most recent giveaway and earn $200 in product plus $25 in design services.

It’s finally time to start a recognition program at your place of work. We’re making it easy!

Enter here

Giveaway Details

Recognition Giveaway

Prizes– Two winners will receive one prize of $200 in PaperDirect products and up to $25 in design services from our experienced team.

Dates– Giveaway will run from January 18, 2017 to February 28, 2017. We will choose and contact a winner by mid-March.

Enter here

January 10, 2017

Why Meditation at Work is Beneficial

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas,Office Fun — PDWriter @ 8:25 am

meditation at work

No matter which industry you’re in, every productive office has the same kind of vibe. It’s a group of talented professionals (and part-time oddballs) who are coming together to get a lot of work done in as little time as possible. Any motivated office can be a breeding ground for stress, it’s only natural. However, you don’t need to simply put up with it. There’s one simple tactic you can use to help keep yourself calm and focused without sacrificing any quality.

Just take a few moments to meditate your cares away. It really does work, and it can help make your time in the office much more relaxing.

Why It’s a Good Idea to Simply ‘Be’ in the Workplace

Study after study has been released that indicates meditation “boosts energy, helps with focus, reduces stress and anxiety, increases resilience and possibly, subtly, changes your life and your brain for the better.” How much more proof do you need that meditation could be a great on-the-job ally?

If you can convince yourself and your coworkers that taking a few moments each day to silence the din of work noise and simply focus on being in the moment, then there’s no end to the potential benefits that translate to your job.

Give Meditation Some Time to Take Hold

The first thing you should know if you’re interested in meditating on the job is this: meditation is a learning process. You can’t just close your eyes and skip straight to nirvana.

Whether you realize it or not, you’ve spent years training your mind to multi-task, to think about things beyond your current task. Grasping meditation is about concentrating on your present surroundings. It’ll take some time for the positive benefits of meditation to really take hold.

First, those calm thoughts have to make it past your cynical subconscious.

It’s Not All Sitting Cross-Legged and Chanting

The best way to begin meditation is to take it a little bit at a time. When you drink water at work (which you should absolutely do), take a few seconds to think about the fact that you have pure, clean water to drink. When you’re in the bathroom, take an extra thirty seconds to appreciate the fact that you’re not sitting at your desk.

You don’t need to drastically disrupt your day to enjoy a little mindful meditation, either. There are several techniques you can utilize at a moment’s notice that will help you center yourself and simply enjoy a few moments of letting your brain rest.

These little bits of mindful thinking are the first steps on the road to meditation.

You Can Start a Meditation Program at Work

If you’re in a position to start one, a company-wide meditation program may be perfect for increasing productivity and reducing stress. Don’t make it mandatory, just let those people who participate know their contribution and participation is well appreciated and you shouldn’t have any issues filling out the program.

January 5, 2017

Budgeting for Employee Recognition: Tips & Advice

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas — PDWriter @ 10:13 am

Budgeting for Employee Recognition

You love spoiling your staff. Now, make it fit into your yearly budget! With a few simple steps, HR pros and administrative staff can add a well-planned line item to the expense proposal when budgeting for employee recognition. This will make your employees feel appreciated throughout the new year!

Calculate the Number of Employees

First, you have to know how many people you realistically are going to recognize throughout the coming year. In addition to active staff, don’t forget to factor in potential new hires and temp employees that you will pull in for special projects. You might also include independent contractors who dedicate ample time helping to grow your business!

Estimate a Realistic Budget Per Person

Start by getting a rough idea of how much you spent last year on employee recognition by looking at old receipts or accounts payable files. A simple estimate is a good starting point.

Then, do some research to learn the cost of your most popular recognition gifts, including certificates, plaques, trophies, gift baskets or gift cards. Add an extra 10 percent or so to pad for increases in costs of goods and unexpected expenses. Once you have an estimate, multiply it by the number of people you plan to recognize.

A Per Person Budget Might Look Something Like This

  • 10+ Year Employees – $500 in gifts and recognition X # of employees
  • 5+ Year Employees – $300 in gifts and recognition X # of employees
  • Below 5 Year Employees – $100 in gifts and recognition X # of employees
  • CEO or leadership recognition

Create a Separate All Staff Budget

After budgeting for employee recognition on an individual basis, think of the entire office as a whole. Set aside funds for a few all-company parties, include holiday gatherings, birthdays, celebrating company successes or employee milestones. Decide how many of these gatherings you can afford per year, and put a price cap on each to cover decorations, food, entertainment and party favors.

An office Recognition budget May Look Something Like This

  • Company Wide Parties – $1,000 X 3 Parties
  • Holiday Party or Event – $5,000
  • Company Breakfast $100 X 12 months

Stick to Your Annual Spending Plan

Finally, the only way to make a budget stick is to actually follow it! When prepping for any employee recognition or company party, inform all planning committee members of the budget. To stay in line, you may need to get a little creative and shop around for the best prices, use coupons or shift your plans a bit to stay on track. Potluck, anyone?

As you work on your budget, and price gifts for your employees, stock up on the most popular way to recognize a job well done — a certificate of appreciation! Shop Paper Direct’s online store today so you can have several varieties of these go-to awards on hand.

January 2, 2017

How to Host a Chili or Crock Pot Cook-off at Work

Filed under: Office Fun — Tags: , , , , — PDWriter @ 9:36 am

Hosting a chili or crock pot cookoff is a simple and easy way to get the office to mingle during lunch. Also, food!

Here are some quick tips and an email template that you can use during your office’s next cook-off challenge.

Tips

Email Twice – People forget. Make sure you let your employees know about 10 days in advance and then email them the day before too.

Calendar Invite – Include a calendar invite as well.

Kitchen Signs – Tape festive signs in the kitchen to keep this cook-off top of mind.

Provide Ideas – Providing some inspiration will increase cook-off participation. (example in email template below)

Make it a Contest – At the end of your lunch, have people vote; for the best, the worst, and the most unique. Give the winners a small prize (coffee gift card or treat) to provide more incentive.

Provide Drinks or Fixins’ – As a company, you can make the cook-off better by providing something to compliment the food. Whether they are beverages or fixings (crackers, seasoning, cheese) this is a way to take your lunch to a whole other level.

Bowls! – Don’t forget disposable bowls and flatware for an easy cleanup.

chili pepper stationery for chili cookoffs

Email Template

Feel free to use this email template to send to your team.

The time has come…

To dust off your crock pot and put on your chef’s hat. We’re having a chili cook-off on [DATE]!

How it works:

  1. Sign up to bring your signature chili (any style you want)
  2. Everyone will gather at lunch to taste, enjoy, and vote
  3. Top chili chef wins an awesome prize (plus bragging rights)

Provided by us: Chips, sour cream, cheese, and tortillas 

Please let us know if you’re planning on making a chili for the cookoff by emailing back. If you’ve never made homemade chili before, check out this Pinterest board for inspiration. 

Other Cook-off Ideas

If chili isn’t your office’s jam, there are plenty of other cook-off ideas, including:

  • Soups & Stews (perfect for Fall!)
  • Anything Crockpot
  • Dips
  • Super Bowl Recipes
  • Holiday-themes (St. Patricks Day, 4th of July, etc)
  • Breakfast potluck

Best of luck to your employees; time to get cooking!

December 27, 2016

10 Ways to Combat the Saddest Day of the Year in the Office

Filed under: Office Fun — PDWriter @ 9:09 am

How to Combat the Saddest Day in the Office

After a flurry of winter parties and new year’s toasts, it’s time to get back to work. Feeling bummed? You’re not alone. What happened to the four-day weekends, pumpkin-spice lattes and the plethora of leftover baked goods?

As January gets rolling, it’s not uncommon to notice an emotional withdrawal from all that good cheer. With your waistband feeling tighter, and your wallet lighter, create a battle plan to survive the saddest day of the year in the office.

It’s called Blue Monday. (And we’re not talking about the peppy cover song.) It’s the third Monday of January, which falls on January 16, 2017 this time around. To keep the gloomy Gus syndrome to a minimum at the office, plan to add a few of these happiness-inducing ideas to the workday.

Declare it slippers day

No flats, dress shoes, heels or sneakers are allowed in the office. At the end of the day, give out award certificates to the weirdest, funniest, fluffiest and cutest footwear.

Schedule a potluck lunch

Ask everyone to whip up their favorite recipe from the holiday season and relive it all just one more time. You can never have too much spiced cider, right?

Take a company field trip

If you have a small workforce, rent a big van and head off site for a rejuvenating afternoon of team building. Work in groups to complete a scavenger hunt at a zoo or the mall.

Do a lunch-break show and tell

Remember how cool it was to bring a favorite object from home to show off to your classmates in elementary school? Revive that. Everyone is dying to see your collection of Garbage Pail Kids cards from the 90s.

Set up a margarita bar

In the afternoon, convert the meeting room into a self-serve sip and snack station. Bowls of tortilla chips, salsa, guacamole and several flavors of frosty margaritas are on the menu.

Tell jokes all day

Do you have an office intercom system? Grab a cheesy children’s joke book and every hour tell a wacky knock knock or Q&A joke. Your staff can’t help but laugh — or sigh — but at least they aren’t sad.

Make Monday meetings goofy

Do you spend a lot of time in the boardroom on Mondays? Bring in a collection of comical hats (sombreros, derby hats, or dunce cones) and require all speakers to wear hats. No talking unless you have a hat on!

Dress in mismatched clothes

Let your staff put together the most outrageous clothing combos for the work day. Sure, a striped polo shirt goes with plaid golf pants and hiking boots. Don’t forget to get some office selfies for social media!

Have lunch catered to the office

Is there a new little eatery down the road everyone’s been dying to try? Surprise the staff with takeout from the restaurant — including dessert!

Host a raffle fundraiser

Put together an amazing gift basket filled with office snacks, bottles of adult beverages, concert tickets, and restaurant gift cards. Sell raffle tickets for $5 each, with the proceeds going to a favorite local charity. Draw the winner during the 2pm afternoon slump to liven up the office.

Ready to make Blue Monday the best? Jam to that song and get planning. Paper Direct has a collection of clever certificates you can personalize for your creative contest-winning employees. Shop online today!

December 21, 2016

Old School Rules That Don’t Work in a Modern Office

Filed under: Uncategorized — PDWriter @ 9:27 am

Old School Rules That Don't Work in a Modern Office

Times are a changin’. As your business reviews the employee policies and procedures manual for the new year, it might be time to ease up on some of the old school rules in the workplace. Modern offices are giving their staff some pretty cool perks — and they’re expected by your new recruits!

Set Number of PTO and Vacation Days

Businesses want their employees to get the rest and relaxation they need. Why? It makes them more productive when they are at their desks and have a positive attitude about their employer. A new trend to offer unlimited PTO days (pre-approved by management, of course) and the ability to earn additional vacation time through the year isn’t uncommon. Heck, Adobe employees get two months off each year and HubSpot offers paid sabbaticals after a 5-year tenure.

Punching in from 9-to-5

Hello, flex schedule.

Many offices are allowing employees to create their own work hours to accommodate fitness classes, daycare drop-offs and pick-ups and even to encourage long lunches with friends and family. As long as employees get their required hours per day in, who cares if they work at 5 am or 11 pm?

Spending all Day in a Cubicle

With the accessibility of digital devices, there’s no reason to be tethered to a workstation any longer. Working from home full time, or even a few remote days a week, are commonplace in the modern office. So, take your laptop to the park or snuggle up to the fireplace at the coffee shop and bang out those reports on your laptop!

All-Weather Work Policy

There are so many jokes about coming into work no matter what. If the streets are flooding or your car is covered in 18-inches of snow, you better be at your desk bright and early. This rule needs to go! Again, with laptops, emails, smartphones and wifi, we really can work anywhere. Let your employees stay home on bad weather days and work remotely.

Chair and Desk Workspace

The modern workplace is evolving to meet more health conscious standards. Treadmill desks, standing desks, balance ball chairs, yoga mats and colorful hand weights are commonplace in personal workspaces. GeoEx in San Francisco even offers yoga classes to employees in-office! Is it time to give your office a makeover?

Fish Only Pets Rule

Remember when it was super cool to have a fish tank in the lobby or hallway? Now business culture is embracing the calming nature of pets in the workplace. So, why not allow workers to bring their well-trained dogs to the office? Or encourage people to have an office cat to cuddle on their lap?

Annual Employee Recognition

It’s pretty old school to have an annual employee award presentation at the company Christmas party. Why not celebrate employee achievements all year long? Have a monthly staff potluck and give shout outs for work anniversaries, birthdays, milestones and remarkable achievements. Don’t forget to present colorful certificates to the recipients!

PaperDirect has a variety of office supplies available online, including certificates, that you can order with just a few clicks. What are waiting for? Shop online today!

December 9, 2016

Why January Company Parties are Rising in Popularity (+Planning Tips)

Filed under: Christmas & Holiday Party Tips — PDWriter @ 8:24 am

Holiday Party in January

More and more, companies are shifting their traditional holiday parties into January. For an incredible variety of reasons, a January party is the perfect capper to a bustling holiday season. If you’re not planning a party this year, you absolutely should consider it, and if you are planning a party, consider postponing it a few weeks to start the New Year off right.

If it’s done correctly, a January company party can set a positive tone for the coming year.

Just Have the Party

Any self-aware boss knows that a night of partying can be an awesome opportunity. A rocking January company party will give you an opportunity as a manager to go a step beyond a simple thank you for a job well done. It will also give you an opportunity to interact with people you might not otherwise get a chance to talk to. Finally, a great holiday party is a good excuse for your people to let their hair down, get to know each other, and just have a little bit of fun.

You Should Absolutely Be Having Your Parties in January

It’s probably pretty tempting to schedule your company holiday party smack dab in the middle of the holiday season. Before you do, though, consider the following:

It’s Cheaper: In January, venues will likely be less expensive, which means you can save money, or double down on your food and beverages.

People Can Actually Come: People are far more likely to be able to attend a January party. After all, December tends to get pretty busy.

It’s For Everybody: A January company party is a bit more inclusive for those of your employees who might not celebrate Christmas.

It’s a Party in January: A company party held at the tail end of the holiday festivities can be a nice way to break up the January doldrums, as well. It can be a really nice way to bridge the gap between New Year’s and Valentine’s Day.

Kick Your January Celebration Off Right

Now, there are a lot of directions you can go with a January company party, because you’re not hamstrung by the holidays. That said, don’t go “generic party” as your theme. Do something to commemorate the New Year or the Winter, something that focuses the party a little bit.

Be sure to really do things up right for your employees, too. Book it somewhere outside the office and have it on a Friday afternoon or early evening. A late afternoon party will provide even more incentive for your employees to show up, plus it’ll seem like an extra treat since they’ll get a few hours off from work.

If there’s alcohol at the party, consider letting everyone know that taxi receipts can be sent to you for reimbursement. It’s an extra touch that might cost you a little bit of money, but it’ll still go a long way in terms of morale.

Finally, be sure to include a small gift for your employees. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy (think: gift certificates or movie tickets), but something tangible to take home is never a bad idea.

December 6, 2016

5 Holiday Mocktails for your Company Christmas Party

Filed under: Office Fun — PDWriter @ 9:47 am

Whether your company is having a totally alcohol-free party, or simply wants to offer an alternative to alcohol, holiday mocktails can be a delicious route to take. Holiday mocktails provide the festive flair and zippy taste of your typical holiday cocktail concoctions – just without the alcohol. And believe us, your mocktail options can go far beyond the kiddie cocktail containing plain ole ginger ale and grenadine.

Cranberry-Apple Cider Punch

Cranberry-Apple Cider Punch

Enjoy holiday flavors infused with a bubbly chill when you whip up a batch of cranberry-apple cider punch. It’s easy to whip up massive quantities of the stuff, with straightforward ingredients that include apple cider, ginger ale, orange juice concentrate, and cranberry juice. Garnish with cherries, applies, slices, orange slices, or frozen cranberries, which you can mix right into the giant punch bowl.

Get the recipe at BettyCrocker.com.

Wine-Free Sangria

Sangria Mocktail

No workmates will be whining about an after-party headache if they stick with this wine-free sangria. Featuring all of the fruity fun of traditional sangria, this refreshing tea drink can be presented in big, fat pitchers or a punch bowl perfect for the larger crowds. Ingredients include red grape juice, tea, orange soda, frozen raspberries, and sliced lemon and lime.

See the full recipe at MyRecipes.com.

Pleasing Pear Tree

Pear mocktail

Even without the partridge or 12 drummers drumming, the pear tree is sure to be a holiday mocktail hit. Its splashy success relies on pear juice mingled with lemon-lime juice and garnished with fresh mint leaves or other herbs. Texture. Taste. The absence of a dozen annoying drums. What more could you want for holiday fun?

Pucker up with the recipe at MyRecipes.com.

Grinch Punch

Grinch Punch

Image courtesy of Simplistically Living

The name of this mocktail alone makes it a holiday favorite, especially for work parties where you may have your fair share of Grinches on staff. We’re kidding about the Grinches. But we’re not kidding about this delightful drink serving up quite a punch of taste, thanks to a base of Sprite mixed with lemon-lime Kool-Aid, pineapple juice, and lemonade concentrate. Get extra Grinch points for serving up this bright green drink in a glass trimmed with red sanding sugar.

Check out the recipe at SimplisticallyLiving.com.

Ravishing Raspberry ‘Champagne’

raspberry Champagne

Image courtesy of Poofy Cheeks

This bubbly, fun raspberry mocktail gives you all the fizzy pizzazz of champagne – without the alcohol, shooting corks, or nasty hangover. The bubbly comes from sparkling white grape juice. The fun comes from being served up in flutes. And the raspberry comes from frozen raspberry lemonade concentrate and actual frozen fruit you place in the flutes to add flavor and flair to the experience.

Give it a go with the recipe at PoofyCheeks.com.

Whether your holiday office party serves up only a few or nothing other than alcohol-free holiday mocktails, these recipes will ensure you’re imbibing in the greatest holiday tastes. And we here at PaperDirect hope your holiday party is a supremely tasty one indeed!

November 28, 2016

How to Hold Engaging, Useful Meetings Each & Every Week

Filed under: Helpful Resources — PDWriter @ 10:54 am

Business Meeting

Meetings are a necessary evil. Nobody likes to see them pop up on their calendar, but the results often lead to constructive collaboration and much-needed face time with colleagues. Make your next get together productive and appreciated by following these tips!

Prepare and Distribute an Agenda

At least 24 hours before the meeting, send a copy of the agenda via email to everyone in attendance. This allows them time to browse the topics, and come ready with questions and ideas. If you’re going to be discussing a specific document, attach a PDF of it to the mass email so the information can be reviewed prior to the meeting.

Pick an Offsite Meeting Location

On the agenda, include the meeting location and time frame so everyone can block out space on their schedule. If your business has a lot of drop-in traffic, plan to have the meeting away from the office. A lunch meeting at a local sandwich shop or gathering at a nearby park to soak in the sunshine will make you more productive than being interrupted by phone calls and visitors.

There are a handful of team members here that hold their Monday morning meetings offsite at different coffee shops around town. Suddenly Monday morning isn’t so bad. If your business is flexible like this, a change of scenery might be a productivity booster.

Set a Goal

Before you officially start each meeting, declare what you’d like to accomplish. Example: “From this meeting, I want to set a Q4 budget number and submit it by Dec 1st.” It easier to see whether a meeting was successful when you set clear goals.

Adhere to the Meeting Agenda

Once the meeting gets started, stick to the items on the list. If a new topic comes up, or something seems to be taking more time than expected, table it for another meeting. If you tend to have frequent tangents, block out time at the end of the meeting to address new business briefly.

Make Decisions and Follow-up Steps

During the meeting, as items are discussed, the facilitator should confirm that decisions have been made and what the next steps will be. Point out, by name, who will do what to move projects forward. If it’s a lengthy project, send a follow-up email showing a task list of items to be completed, by whom and due dates.

Keep it Fun and Engaging

Finally, meetings don’t have to be so ho-hum. If you’re gathering at the end of the day or on a Friday afternoon, bring snacks for everyone to enjoy. Or, bring a silly hat that must be passed around and only the person who dons the funny headgear gets to speak. And always offer colorful, unexpected office supplies such as bold highlighters, novelty paper clips, and colored ink pens for use during the meeting.

Need a few extra supplies to make your meetings more fun and productive? Check out Paper Direct online for festive paper, sticky notes and awards!

November 23, 2016

Holiday OOO Email Scripts to Make People Laugh

Filed under: Office Fun,Phrases & Wording — PDWriter @ 8:21 am
Holiday OOO Messages

Holidays are a time for frolic and fun, and you can have tons of fun with your out-of-the-office (OOO) email over the holiday season. Instead of the standard, ho-hum message that simply notes the date of your return, go for an unexpectedly wise, witty, or downright hilarious missive.

In addition to giving someone a good chuckle, your clever holiday OOO email can serve as a subtle reminder that no one in their right mind works over the Christmas season. Feel free to borrow and adapt any of the scripts we came up with below. Consider them our gift to you!

A Christmas Ditty

Santa’s hat is red

His fingers are blue

If you’re working over Christmas –

Bah Humbug on you!

—

Time Off, Kind Of

Merry Christmas!

I’m busy playing Santa, or maybe one of his elves. Or I might be baking cookies, eating cookies, wrapping presents, unwrapping presents, or putting up a tree. Of course, I may also be untangling lights, building a snowman, skating, sledding, skiing, slipping and sliding, or otherwise covered in snow.

I’ll be back in the office to recuperate on mm/dd/yy.

—

Kids Rule the Holidays

Happy Holidays!

My kids would kill me if I worked over Christmas – so I’ll be back in the office mm/dd/yy.

—

Emergency Contact

Season’s Greetings!

I’ll be out of the office until mm/dd/yy.

If you need assistance in the interim, please contact Santa Claus at 1-800-NORTH-POLE.

Since he always seems to magically know what my kids want for Christmas, you might be amazed at what he can do for you, too!

—

Automated Season’s Greetings

My computer is sending your computer an automated message since computers don’t celebrate Christmas. He’s kind of a Grinch that way.

I, on the other hand, require time off for the holidays.

I’ll be returning to work mm/dd/yy.

If my computer continues to send out automated messages after that time, it’s without my knowledge or consent, and I would appreciate if you could alert the authorities.

Merry Christmas!

—

Another Christmas Ditty

Tis the season of Christmas

And to the east and the west

Not a creature is stirring

Not a one at their desk.

Your email has landed

On a big inbox stack

To be viewed after Christmas

When I get back.

I shall return to the office mm/dd/yy.

Happy Holidays!

—

Holiday Wishes

All I wanted for Christmas was some time off from work.

Don’t you love it when your holiday wishes come true?!

I’ll be back in the office mm/dd/yy.

—

Make sure to set up and schedule your automated replies before you head out the door for your holiday break. In fact, you can set up an automated email to yourself that reminds you to do just that. Then you can truly kick back, relax, bake cookies, eat cookies, or do whatever else you love to do over the very merry holiday season.

« Newer Posts — Older Posts »

Powered by WordPress