May you have a Happy May! You made it through April Fools Day, gorged on choccies for Easter and had a meaningful Ramadan to those who observed.
Now that we're well and truly stuck into Q2, we have some awesome days lined up for you to practice empathy, celebrate your Mamas and really importantly, commemorate National Reconciliation Week for our Nation's First People.
We'll go into more detail below, and include some email templates to send out to your team to get them in-the-know about what's coming up this May. As always, feel free to use our suggestions and inspiration as much or as little as suits you.
WEEK 1: 3- 7th May
Observe Anti-bullying Day and Mother's Day!
Admin to-do list:
Encourage your team to wear orange on Tuesday, in support of Anti-Bullying Day.
Take a look at your company policies to ensure your company has a strong anti-bullying framework in place. Share this with your team to remind them of the seriousness of bullying in the workplace.
Mothers Day idea: Ask all teammates to submit a picture of their Mum to a delegated team member. That team member will then post the anonymous and unnamed Mum photos to Slack, a notice board, or other communication channel of your choice. Your team can then play a guessing game on who each Mum belongs to! Reveal the answers at a team lunch and use your Woolworths 5% off to supply the office with lovely treats for all hard working Mummy's to enjoy!
We’ve created a poster with suggestions on which perks to use for Mother’s Day gifts. Download it here. Alternatively, you can share this image on Slack or your team's chat.
Important note: Perkbox will be sending all Perkbox users an "opt-out" email shortly before Mother’s Day, which will allow anyone to opt out of receiving email communications regarding Mother's Day, Father's Day, and any emails promoting alcohol..
WEEK 2: 10 - 14th May
The month of Ramadan comes to an end, with Eid celebrations
Admin to-do list:
Team members who have been fasting for the month of Ramadan will be coming to the end of their fast on Tuesday, with Eid on Thursday - the end of Ramadan celebration.
To commemorate this special occasion for your Muslim teammates, host a celebratory potluck lunch at work on Friday.
Use this email template you can copy and paste and send to your team.
Hey everyone,
I wanted to send my well wishes to our team members who have almost reached the end of their Ramadan fast. On behalf of the team, we hope you had a meaningful fast and have a lovely Eid celebration on Thursday.
We will be having a team potluck lunch on Friday, feel free to bring in something delicious for the team to share and enjoy together.
Have a great week!
<sender>
WEEK 3: 17 - 21st May
It's time to talk about GAAD
Admin to-do list:
If your company relies on online communication, we recommend researching and learning about Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). GAAD is all about getting people talking, thinking, and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the more than one billion people with disabilities and impairments that impact the way they use technology.
Run a GAAD inspired Lunch n Learn - invite a team member to give a lunch n learn on Thursday where you discuss GAAD and the implications for your company, or a relevant topic on a tech accessibility subject. Some suggested topics are what tools people with disabilities use to access technology, whether your company website or a program/software you use is disability friendly, and lesser known disabilities that impact technology use.
Review your company policies surrounding accessibility, and how your company works to ensure its products and services are equally accessible to all.
Important: please ensure that you speak with disabled or otherwise impaired employees about GAAD. Ask them about their thoughts on the day, and make sure any and all discussions about GAAD are sensitive towards all of your team mates.
WEEK 4: 24 - 28th May
National Reconciliation Week
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is an important time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.
Please be sure to involve any First Nation staff members in all decisions surrounding this week, and check-in with them across the week.
Admin to-do list:
This week, review your company policies surrounding the appropriate, equal, and respectful treatment of First Nations employees.
Review your hiring process to ensure it is neutral and inclusive, allowing for First Nations candidates to have a fair and equal chance of being hired. Also consider subconscious bias training for hiring managers.
Ensure that your workplace policies are non-biased, and that they support the inclusion of First Nations people in your workforce.
Encourage your team to use their Yarn Perk. Yarn is a unique community marketplace, and exists to support First Nations artists, art centres, community organisations and small businesses. Perboxers get 25% off!
Use this map to find out which Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages exist in your area. Share it with your team to educate them further on First Nation geography, and to give a better understanding of the colonial impact.
Email copy:
Hey team,
Hope you had a wonderful weekend. I want to remind you all that this week it is National Reconciliation Week.
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is an important time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.
Please take the time this week to educate yourselves on the history of the land we are so lucky to live on. Use this map https://native-land.ca/ to discover which Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages exist in our area. Share it with your family and friends to open their eyes to the colonial impact, and the diversity of First Nations culture and languages.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Have a great week,
<admin>
That's it! This month is a wonderful time to slow down, and think about how your company promotes inclusivity and respect for all persons. We know you'll do the right thing, and can't wait to hear what wonderful things you will do this month.