36 Best Employee Engagement Activities: Fun and Creative Ideas

Published on:
December 30, 2024
Updated on:
December 30, 2024
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Employee engagement is a cornerstone of organizational success, and the equation is simple: engaged employees drive better outcomes. Why? Because when employees feel satisfied with their responsibilities and supported by their organization, they’re motivated to contribute their best efforts.

While employee engagement encompasses a broad range of initiatives, today we’re focusing on one of the most important drivers of employee engagement: building strong rapport through different employee engagement activities. 

From fun employee engagement event ideas that spark joy to creative ideas that build strong relationships, this article is packed with inspiration to bring your team closer together with a bonus video at the end. Let’s dive into HR employee engagement activities!

What are Employee Engagement Activities?

Best employee engagement activities are the ones that focus on strengthening the connection between employees and their organization. These initiatives aim to improve morale, encourage collaboration, and ensure employees feel valued and appreciated for their contributions.

Team-building games, wellness challenges, and creative collaboration sessions are examples of employee engagement activities that help create an ideal work environment.  

Thoughtful recognition and meaningful opportunities to connect create an environment where employees feel motivated and supported, driving engagement and a sense of belonging.

What keeps employees happy | Teamflect

Fun Employee Engagement Activities

Incorporating fun employee engagement activities into your employee engagement strategy energizes employees and strengthens bonds within teams. Such activities bring people together and create opportunities for laughter and connection!

Here are some fun employee engagement activities in office or for remote settings:  

1.Office Olympics

Like in the show “The Office” but more responsible! Plan a day filled with light-hearted games such as desk chair races, paper airplane contests, or trivia challenges. The friendly competitive employee engagement activities in companies encourages teamwork and laughter.

The Office S02E03

2.Trivia Nights

Organize a trivia event based on pop culture, industry knowledge, or team-specific themes. Including small prizes is sure to add an extra layer of excitement!

3.Themed Days

Introduce themed dress-up days, such as “Tropical Tuesday” or “2000s Thursday,” to infuse some playfulness into the workweek.

4.Scavenger Hunts

Set up a scavenger hunt in the office or around the local area to encourage teamwork and creative problem-solving. This fun activity can include quirky challenges like having teams perform a dance in the break room, search for a hidden rubber duck, or snap a group photo striking their best superhero pose. Who knows? 

5.Karaoke Parties

The staple of fun employee engagement ideas! Bring out the karaoke machine for a relaxed and entertaining event that allows employees to let loose and have fun together.

Creative Employee Engagement Activities

Thinking outside the box and getting creative employee engagement ideas in action creates memorable experiences for your team.

As Betty Bendor beautifully puts it in our employee engagement quotes article: “When people go to work, they shouldn’t have to leave their hearts at home.”

6.Cultural Exchange Days

Celebrate diversity by encouraging employees to share elements of their culture, such as food, music, or traditions. In addition to its engagement benefits, this activity is also good for DE&I in the workplace!

7.Artistic Workshops

Get creative! Hands-on sessions like painting, pottery, or photography give employees a fun way to relax, de-stress, and connect with their teammates while igniting new ideas.

As Zhou and Hoever (2014) point out, when managers create a supportive environment for creativity, employees who might not feel naturally creative can still tap into their creative potential.

8.Employee Showcases

Highlight individual or team achievements with a rotating showcase that allows employees to present their work or passions to the organization.

Low-Cost Employee Engagement Activities

Engagement doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. Thoughtful budget-friendly employee engagement projects are just as effective to improve employee turnover rate!

Here are some low-cost employee engagement activities examples to inspire your team and help create a fun and engaging work environment without breaking the budget:

9.Gratitude Boards

Set up a public space for employees to post messages of appreciation and practice peer recognition. The more gratitude shared, the more it spreads, creating a cycle of positivity throughout the workplace!

P.S.: If you are interested in peer recognition ideas check out these 20 peer recognition ideas too!

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10. Exchanging Employee Recognition Regularly

Recognizing success regularly is a fantastic way to keep morale high. It’s not just a one-time event, making employee recognition a habit becomes much easier with a simple, easy-to-use recognition tool built right into your communication channel.

Send recognition to employees in Microsoft Teams.

11.Volunteer Activities

Organize a group volunteer effort to give back to the community while strengthening team bonds. Spending a day at an animal shelter, helping care for animals in need, would be a meaningful experience for everyone involved.

12.Book or Movie Club

Start a book or movie club where employees share and discuss their favorite reads or films. It’s the perfect way to unwind and build connections beyond the office. Sharing opinions and recommendations strengthens team bonds and opens the door to discovering new favorites and seeing things from different perspectives.

Employee Engagement Activities for Each Month

Employee engagement is an ongoing effort, and keeping things fresh throughout the year helps minimize employee disengagement and maintain motivation within your workforce.  Planning fun activities each month is a great way to keep the energy high and bring new enthusiasm employee engagement action plan.

10 ways to keep employees happy | Teamflect

Let’s look at employee engagement ideas for each month!

January Employee Engagement Activity Ideas

13.Kick off the year with a wellness challenge to encourage healthy habits and set the tone for a positive and productive year. For example, organize a step challenge, where employees track their steps throughout the month.

14.Host a goal-setting workshop where employees share their aspirations for the year ahead. One idea could be to have employees set both personal and professional goals, then pair them up to check in on each other’s progress throughout the year. It’s a great way to keep everyone motivated and accountable.

February Employee Engagement Activity Ideas

15.Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a Gratitude Exchange, where employees write and share heartfelt notes of appreciation for their colleagues.  Spread positivity and strengthen connections within the team!

16.Organize a friendly baking contest. Employees can bring in their favorite homemade treats to share, and everyone can vote for the best one. It’s a fun way to enjoy some sweets, celebrate creativity, and bond over delicious treats!

March Employee Engagement Activity Ideas

17.Get the competitive spirit going with a March Madness tournament for sports fans or host a casual games night where everyone can join in on the fun. It’s a good option to include board games, card games, or even video game tournaments to appeal to different interests so that no one feels left out.

18.For something a bit different, consider organizing a physical health challenge, where teams compete in outdoor activities or fitness challenges, like a friendly relay race or a scavenger hunt. Hit two targets with one arrow: Engagement and Wellness!

April Employee Engagement Activity Ideas

19.Do you know that April 22nd is Earth Day? Take that day and turn it into an engagement activity by organizing a sustainability project, like a tree-planting event or a company-wide recycling drive. You can even reward those who go the extra mile with eco-friendly prizes like reusable water bottles or tote bags.

20.Another fun idea to welcome spring and boost engagement is to host a DIY Desk Garden challenge, where employees create small, green spaces for their workstations using plants or succulents. Not only does it brighten up the office, but it also gives everyone a chance to get creative and bring a bit of nature indoors.

May Employee Engagement Activity Ideas

21.As the weather warms up, kick off the season with an outdoor picnic or barbecue. It’s the perfect opportunity to relax and socialize outside of work while enjoying good food.

22.Prepare for summer with a summer bucket list swap. Have each employee create a list of fun activities they want to do during the summer, then swap lists with a colleague. Now that’s a fun way to step out of your comfort zone.  

June Employee Engagement Activity Ideas

23.Summer’s here and what’s better than a refreshing treat? Set up a smoothie bar or an ice-cream booth at the office. Add a variety of toppings and mix-ins so everyone can customize their perfect cold treat.

24.For some outdoor fun, host a team-building event like a group yoga session. It’s a great chance to bond with peers while soaking up the sun and staying active. Plus, a little fresh air always does wonders for team spirit!

Key statistics about employee engagement

July Employee Engagement Activity Ideas

25.Bring some creative fun to the office (or virtually) with a DIY tie-dye t-shirt workshop! Supply employees with a plain white t-shirt and a tie-dye kit and let everyone get creative with vibrant colors and unique patterns.

26.Let everyone get in the summer spirit by creating a collaborative playlist! Have each employee share their favorite summer songs. Once all the songs are added, compile the playlist and host a virtual or in-office listening party to enjoy the summer vibes together!

August Employee Engagement Activity Ideas

27.Take a trip down memory lane with a back-to-school nostalgia day! Bring in childhood snacks like fruit snacks, pop tarts, or juice boxes, and set up a few retro games.

28.Strengthen team connections with a get to know you game that’s summer-themed! Each team member shares something fun about their summer experiences, like their favorite vacation spot, summer hobbies, or what they’d do with an extra day off in the summer. Then, everyone can guess which statement belongs to who.

September Employee Engagement Activity Ideas

29.Host a diversity and inclusion roundtable where employees come together to share their personal experiences, challenges, and ideas for fostering inclusivity in the workplace. Invite a guest speaker to discuss unconscious bias or organize a workshop where team members participate in activities that help identify and break down stereotypes.

30.Launch a "Coffee Chat Sessions" where employees are paired up for a casual coffee break, either virtually or in-person. Before the chat, share a fun question like, "What’s a book or movie that shaped your perspective?" As they enjoy their coffee, employees can discuss their answers and connect over shared stories.

October Employee Engagement Activity Ideas

31.Don’t miss out on Halloween! A simple yet fun idea for October would be a costume contest. To make it even more engaging, host a mini-Halloween party with treats and games, or have a themed photo booth where employees can snap pictures in their costumes.

32.Or set up a photo challenge where employees capture the best autumn scenes they come across. Share the photos in a group to vote for the best one!

November Employee Engagement Activity Ideas

33.Let’s make the workplace a little brighter by celebrating random acts of kindness week in November! Encourage everyone to spread some joy. Small gestures go a long way in building a supportive, feel-good atmosphere at work. See how far kindness ripples through the team!

34.Celebrate the fall weather at work. Encourage employees to wear their favorite cozy sweaters or team jerseys for a relaxed, fun day. The quirkier, the better.

December Employee Engagement Activity Ideas

35.One of the classic employee engagement event ideas for getting into the holiday spirit: Secret Santa!  Set a budget, draw names, and let the gift-giving begin! You can even add a twist, like themed gifts or anonymous clues to make it more exciting.

36.And wrap up the year with a Year-End Awards Ceremony to celebrate both individual and team achievements. This isn’t about competition, it's about recognizing the hard work, creativity, and milestones everyone has achieved together. From "Most Creative Problem Solver" to "Team Spirit Award," come up with fun and inclusive categories that showcase the diverse talents and personalities in your workplace.

How to Create an Effective Employee Engagement Activity

After answering the question, "What are some employee engagement activities?" It's time to explore how to create the perfect one for your team.

First, it's important to know your employees. Take the time to understand what they enjoy, so you can choose activities that match their interests. When employees are excited about the activities, they’re more likely to participate.

Next, make sure the activities are inclusive. This means making sure everyone, regardless of their role or background, can join in. The more people involved, the stronger the sense of connection and team spirit.  

It’s also helpful to measure employee engagement and get feedback with the right employee engagement survey questions periodically. Asking employees what they enjoyed or didn’t enjoy helps you fine-tune future employee engagement events and makes them even more engaging.

Be sure to align the corporate employee engagement activities with your values. Activities that reflect your organization's mission and culture feel more authentic to employees and help strengthen the organization’s overall vibe.

Finally, always celebrate participation and success. Recognize everyone's effort, no matter the size. Showing appreciation keeps employees excited and motivated for the next activity.

That’s a wrap! Employee engagement isn’t limited to just these ideas for employee engagement activities. Let your creativity run wild and come up with even more fun ideas for employee engagement and more impactful ways to keep your team connected! The possibilities are endless so have fun and make it your own!

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