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This year has been, well, a bit rough.
From the ongoing global pandemic and a slew of natural disasters, to the deeply divisive election, 2020 provided a lot of not-so-kind fodder for the masses.
And that’s why today, World Kindness Day, Friday, Nov. 13, it’s more important than ever to make the conscious choice to be kind.
World Kindness Day was first introduced to the world in 1998, and now more than 28 countries celebrate the unique holiday each year. The day is meant to serve as a reminder that every act of kindness, no matter how small, can have unimaginable ripple effects.
Kindness can benefit the recipient, the doer and even the witnesses of kind acts, increasing everything from happiness and serotonin to lifespan and energy, and helping to decrease pain, depression, stress and anxiety, according to research shared by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.
Working remotely can make random acts of kindness among colleagues seem difficult, but there are a few ways you can spread kindness in a virtual setting:
4 Ways to Spread Kindness Virtually
1.) Share a sincere thanks
Even if the thank you is for something that’s seemingly 
small, those two words can make a big impact on the recipient. Did a peer realize your workload was heavy and reach out to ask if you needed anything? Were you shown compassion after a colleague caught a mistake and let you know directly instead of CC’ing the entire world? If given the chance, consider thanking that someone during a meeting. At Ulliance we have something called U-Praise through Microsoft Teams, where people can give public praise and thank yous to each other. At the end of each month all of the people who gave praise and all the people who received praise are put into drawings for $25 gift cards.
"Studies have shown that if you perform just one random act
of kindness a day they'll not only reduce your stress, anxiety, and depression, but your body is flooded with the same hormones that make you and the person you've helped calmer, healthier, and happier."
Source: randomactsofkindness.org
2.) Reach out virtually
With zero opportunities for a hallway hello or quick catch up on your way to the parking lot, you need to be intentional about reaching out to coworkers, especially those you don’t often work with directly. Take a moment to send a nice text or email to let that person know you’re thinking of them. If a coworker has been particularly helpful or made an impact on your work, consider sharing the kudos on LinkedIn or by CC’ing their supervisor on your email.
Download your happiness infographic below!
3.) Reward
A small token of appreciation can go a long way. Thanks to apps and eGift cards, you can gift your colleagues with a cup of coffee or another small treat, even when you’re not working in the same space.
4.) Start a recognition program
Employees appreciate being recognized for their hard work and an employee recognition program - for everything from innovation and embodying the company’s core values to practicing kindness - is a perfect way to reward and encourage the team. There are even apps available to make the process easy for employees.
Now more than ever, your employees need emotional support and resources. The pandemic has created a whole new set of physical, financial and emotional stressors that have woven their way into the home and workplace.
Hundreds of organizations support their employees through The Ulliance Life Advisor Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Investing in the right EAP to support your employees before, during and after they face adverse events will help them and help you. Visit www.ulliance.com, or call 866-648-8326.
When you partner with Ulliance, our Life Advisor Consultants are always just a phone call away to teach ways to enhance your work/life balance and increase your happiness. The Ulliance Life Advisor Employee Assistance Program can help employees and employers come closer to a state of total well-being.
Combining years of clinical experience and the formation of a meaningful partnership with an organization’s human resources department, Ulliance is among the best EAP providers, and our experts can tailor recommendations for a variety of work\life circumstances.
Investing in the right EAP or Wellness Program to support your employees will help them and help you. Visit www.ulliance.com, or call 866-648-8326.
The Ulliance Employee Assistance Program can address the
following issues:
• Stress about work or job performance
• Crisis in the workplace
• Conflict resolution at work or in one’s personal life
• Marital or relationship problems
• Child or elder care concerns
• Financial worries
• Mental health problems
• Alcohol/substance abuse
• Grief
• Interpersonal conflicts
• AND MORE!