Illinois Credit Union System promotes team spirit while giving back during COVID-19

In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Illinois Credit Union System successfully deployed their 115 league and service corporation employees to work from home. Keeping staff safe and healthy was a top concern for ICUS leadership, but they were also concerned for the emotional wellness of their teams.

In looking to the CU Kind motto of "doing good feels good," the Illinois Credit Union System put a plan in place to spread kindness and impact the community while working remotely.

With a little creative thinking, and rebranding of their quarterly office employee recognition program, ICUS came up with a fun and engaging contest aimed to lift staff spirits while benefiting a local animal shelter.

Staff was encouraged to introduce "new team members," otherwise known as their pets, with pictures and funny professional biographies to share throughout the organization.

Each day, a new "team member" was introduced and welcomed to the ICUS family. After 44 daily announcements of more than 75 "new team members," employees were given the chance to vote for their favorite to be named the ICUS Employee of the Quarantine (a play on the existing Employee of the Quarter award). Many perks were granted to the winner, including a donation made on their behalf to a local animal shelter.

"We are operating under a very stressful time, but these announcements were able to help everyone stay engaged and connected, while providing a few smiles along the way," said ICUL President Tom Kane. "This contest also created a give-back opportunity that our staff could participate in without dismissing the social responsibility of sheltering in place. That's what is so great about the credit union movement. We don't allow challenges to prevent us from giving back to the communities we serve, instead they inspire us to do more."

About ICUL®

The Illinois Credit Union League (ICUL) is the primary trade association for more than 260 credit unions doing business in Illinois. It focuses on providing legislative and regulatory advocacy, compliance assistance and information, and a wide range of educational and training services to those credit unions, who in turn serve approximately 3.4 million members. As a nonprofit corporation chartered under the laws of the State of Illinois, membership in the League is open to any Illinois credit union doing business and operating in accordance with the Illinois Credit Union Act or the Federal Credit Union Act.