Random Acts of Kindness

We are celebrating Random Acts of Kindness throughout the month of February at Cooper.
  – Saturday, February 17, 2024: Random Acts of Kindness Day®
  – February 11-17, 2024: Random Acts of Kindness Week

Cooper RAK Initiative - Kindness Coins

In service of this initiative, the C.A.R.E. Team is acknowledging Cooper team members engaging in acts of kindness and compassion with a kindness coin! 

For Cooper team members who would like to participate, please email the C.A.R.E. Team with your name and Cooper location. We will send a small bag of coins via inter-office mail to you and your team.  We ask that everyone please be mindful of good hand hygiene and use hand sanitizer before sharing their coins!

The coins are a tangible symbol of acknowledgement and appreciation. The receiver of a coin can either keep it (some coins have holes and team members have clipped them behind their badges) or pass it along to the next individual they encounter engaging in a random act of kindness. The coins are intended to spread kindness by inspiring additional kind acts. The coins say, “Pass it on!” and have phrases like:
    – You made me smile.
    – Thank you for everything. Token of appreciation.
    – Thank you for your kindness. You took the time to show you care.
    – Kind: caring, thoughtful, bright, generous … That’s you!

Please note: The coins do not have any monetary value.

More Ideas for Participating in RAK Month

Right about now, we could all benefit from doing or witnessing acts of kindness to lift our spirits. When we are empathetic and kind, it can improve confidence, happiness, and overall optimism. And when others experience or witness our kindness, it may encourage them to do some good of their own.

Collective acts of kindness lift up both individuals and communities, which is why we are encouraging team members to make a conscious effort to engage in random acts of kindness in the workplace. Ready to get started?

Below are ideas that can be tried both inside and outside the workplace. Whether your team works together in an office or remotely, they can spread kindness through different variations of these activities.

    1. Say Hi and Smile
      Never underestimate the power of a smile, especially in the workplace. When you look people in the eyes and smile, you show them that you see them and acknowledge their presence in the world. It makes people feel welcome and/or breaks down barriers. Next time you walk through the office, smile and say hello to all your colleagues.

An alternative idea for remote workers: Send out random emails to teammates with a subject line that reads, “Here’s Your Smile for Today” with a funny gif and a note to say hi.

    1. Send a Message of Gratitude
      Think of any teammates who have gone above and beyond on a project or helped you out recently. Go ahead and send them an email of gratitude. This works well for both in-house and remote teammates. If you love stationery and prefer a handwritten message, dash off a note thanking someone in your office for what they do. It will help them feel their efforts are appreciated.

An alternative idea for remote workers: Consider praising a teammate via email to management and recognizing them for their hard work. CC them on the message so they see it.

    1. Pass Out Random Kind Notes
      Help a team member start their day off right by placing kind messages on their desk throughout the day. Randomly write encouraging notes and place notes on colleagues’ desks as one of your World Kindness Day activities. Don’t sign your name so it stays a mystery!

An alternative idea for remote workers: Send postcards to your favorite colleagues throughout the week with notes of encouragement. 

    1. Learn Something New About a Coworker
      Consider making a concentrated effort to learn something new about a coworker. The next time you see them, have a mental note to ask them about whatever it is you recently learned about them. It will show you were actively listening and engaged with your previous conversation. It also shows you care about the personal anecdotes, too.

    2. Create a Colleague Kindness Jar
      Decorate a mason jar with the words “Spread Kindness” on it. Next to it, leave a sticky notepad with a sign that says, “Share a kind word about a colleague.” Be sure to name them by name and drop it in the jar. At the next staff meeting, ask individuals to draw a slip of paper (if there are enough) and read aloud the comments. If there are only a few, have a leader read them aloud. This idea can be easily modified to fit families with little ones at home, too.

An alternative idea for remote workers: Throughout the month, ask workers to send stories of random acts of kindness they witnessed in their neighborhood. Sharing collective experiences of altruism may spark an interest in your employees to keep spreading it.

    1. Put Together Birthday Boxes
      Birthdays are a big deal, even if we don’t like to admit it. Have a team put together birthday boxes or bags at the start of the month to hand out to those individuals with birthdays during that month. Include items like a birthday card signed by the team, a gift card to a local coffee shop, an inspiring book, and anything unique that the person collects, likes, etc. Drop off the birthday bags with a balloon to their desk on the morning of their birthday.
    1. Pay for Someone’s Coffee
      One of the easiest ways to “pay it forward” is to do so when a person can’t object to your kindness. Consider paying for someone’s coffee next time you’re at the coffee shop. Ask the cashier to let you know the total behind you in the drive-thru and offer to pay for it. Or, buy a cup for your favorite coworker and bring it into the office.

An alternative idea for remote workers: For employees who are doing a great job, management can send out a coffee shop gift card once a month with a handwritten note thanking them for a job well done. For remote workers who want to give back, consider gifting a fellow remote coworker with a gift card to their favorite coffee place. 

    1. Donate School Supplies to a Local School
      It’s no surprise teachers often bring in extra supplies paid for with money out of their own pocket. Some students also don’t have the means to pay for expensive school supplies, which makes donations to classrooms all the more valuable. Consider calling your area’s local school district to see what types of supplies are needed and picking a donation date to drop some off.
    1. Compliment Someone Sincerely
      Compliments are nice to receive, but they’re also nice to give, too. Whether you see someone on the sidewalk and compliment their outfit or praise a colleague for a job well done, do it with complete sincerity.

An alternative idea for remote workers: The next time a coworker mentions a brilliant idea, aces a presentation, or wraps up a huge project, send them a quick email to let them know how great of a job they’re doing and that it’s not unnoticed.

Try Out Random Acts of Kindness Bingo!