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30 Fun Employee Engagement Activities to Spark Energy in 2024

Introduce playful elements to work with fun employee engagement activities that increase employee engagement. We tell you why and how to do it.
Written by: Penny Swift
employee engagement activities
Published: January 24, 2024
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In the rapidly evolving global workspace, employee engagement has proved to be an essential ingredient for any company’s success.

Huge volumes of ongoing research show that high employee engagement sustains performance and job satisfaction. But we need to realize that employee engagement is dynamic. Recent research was undertaken by PhD students at Politecnico di Milano, the largest engineering, architecture, and design university in Italy. Published in 2022, the study, The evolution of employee engagement suggests that rather than being a psychological factor, employee engagement is “a social and relational phenomenon” based largely on “social interaction, exchange, and recognition.”

Another research study delves into a concept of what is called “playful work design.” Published in The International Journal of Human Resource Management in 2023, it shows how making work activities more fun and/or more competitive, increases job performance through work engagement. Playful work design, engagement and performance: the moderating roles of boredom and conscientiousness is based on a study involving employees in Israel. The study focuses on having engaged employees who are “full of vigor and dedication,” and who “attain high in-role and extra-role performance.” 

“Our study suggests that one way to achieve this is through encouraging employees to use the costless yet priceless proactive approach of designing fun and competition into their work. This is particularly helpful at times when employees experience boredom with work and for employees low on conscientiousness.”

Playful work design study

Interesting, but how are you going to achieve this?

Stay tuned. We’ve come up with 30 exciting activities that can elevate your employee engagement levels in 2024. These range from icebreakers to wellness activities, competitions, and more. In this article we also explore the concept of playful work design. Additionally, we examine how technology is reshaping the tradition of team building, especially in a world where remote and hybrid work environments are becoming more and more prevalent.

Why Is Employee Engagement Essential in 2024?

The essence of employee engagement continues to evolve, and more than ever before, organizations need to focus on devising meaningful employee engagement activities. It’s the best way to keep up with changing work trends, notably the shift towards flexible work arrangements and remote work options. Employee engagement is no longer an added perk but a fundamental business strategy. 

It’s linked to boosting job satisfaction and reducing employee turnover. Engaged employees feel a connection to their work, leading to increased morale and productivity. Moreover, engagement activities help maintain office culture in the virtual workspace, fostering a sense of belonging and sustaining team bonding. 

Employee engagement is also closely correlated with customer satisfaction. Engaged employees are more likely to deliver high-quality service to clients, directly influencing the company’s bottom line.

Also, employees who participate in engagement activities are more open to feedback sessions. This helps personal and career development as they shape into better professionals.  

“Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion,” says English-American motivational speaker and bestselling author Simon Sinek. Widely known as the unshakable optimist, he points out that “Customers will never love a company until the employees love it first.”

“Under poor leaders we feel like we work for the company. With good leaders we feel like we work for each other.” Simon Sinek   

Research tells us why we should heed his advice. For instance, Gallup’s Q12 survey shows that organizations with highly engaged teams experience 66% better employee wellbeing, and 18% productivity.

benefits of engaged workers

The 2Q23 Gartner survey of 144 chief human resources officers (CHROs) found that managers are responsible for 10 out of 12 actions to engage employees. Yet only 19% CHROs believe their managers know how to act on engagement feedback

Playful Work Design Creates Fun Employee Engagement Activities

Before we move onto our 30 employee engagement ideas, let’s have a quick look at some self-initiated play ideas that engaged employees might focus on.  

The playful work design (PWD) study mentioned above talks about self-initiated play being “a hallmark of human behavior since the dawn of history.” But, while the pursuit of self-initiated play in adult leisure time is displayed by the flourishing gaming and sports industries, there’s been very little research into the topic. There is, though, evidence that PWD has a positive influence on employee engagement. Furthermore, this study shows that creating competition and fun, work becomes more interesting, challenging, and meaningful. This is why employees stay more focused and engaged. It can also decrease stress and burnout. 

Deciding on the best employee engagement activities can be a challenge. So, it helps to understand the motivations for adult play in general.

  • Play is inherently satisfying and rewarding
  • During intensive play, people feel “authentic” and they abandon their self consciousness
  • Play is often cathartic, enabling people to deal with stress, anxiety, and the pressures of life and work
  • At work, play has the potential to provide an escape from job demands
  • Play increases stimulation and amusement, which is particularly useful when work is boring
  • Employees can “reframe work as play,” to make it more enjoyable   

One of the authors of this study, Arnold B. Bakker is co-author of another earlier 2022 Netherlands-based study. Playful work design and employee work engagement: A self-determination perspective reveals how and why PWD relates to employee engagement. It also illustrates that employee engagement activities don’t have to be organized by HR or team leaders — hence the idea of self determination. Ultimately, this study suggests that employees “may proactively satisfy their basic needs and cultivate work engagement by playfully designing work activities.”

Self-Determined Playful Employee Engagement Ideas

There is ample research that shows how environmental conditions and job characteristics can satisfy employee needs. But there’s not a lot that reveals what employees can do themselves to develop their own basic needs. There’s a link here between the importance of bottom-up internal communications versus the traditional top-down internal communications approach. 

The earlier study suggests that by approaching work activities with a playful narrative or introducing an exciting challenge can add a fun, meaningful element to everyday work. Importantly, it emphasizes that “play” isn’t an activity. Rather, it’s an approach to performing an activity. 

Strategies and employee engagement ideas include employees monitoring their own performance, setting personal goals, and reframing work activities as a puzzle. But there is a caveat. While trying to outperform themselves might spark excitement, if an employee tries this every day, the “game” will likely become mundane and ineffective. For this reason PWD should be varied and not part of everyday work life. 

Here are a few ideas:

  • When work activities lack structure, employees can channel their energy and attention by setting a timeframe and aiming to beat the clock. They can do this individually, in pairs or in groups. What’s important is that it is fun. 
  • Retail workers can create personal challenges like closing more sales than the previous day or folding items within a time limit. They control the way they perform, which increases employee engagement. 
  • A security officer in a retail store predicts where customers are going to walk. This improves work engagement and may increase self-esteem, But, while he usually monitors customers, this isn’t a part of his work description — it’s a game.

Role of Leaders in Self-Determined Playful Employee Engagement Ideas

Training programs that are part of a company’s internal communications strategy can help to encourage self-determined playful employee engagement ideas. Thinking out of the box can help to encourage some of the best employee engagement activities that will encourage work engagement and result in motivated engaged employees. It involves two paths:

  1. Designing fun by integrating fantasy and humor. This fosters a sense of belonging and being connected.
  2. Designing competition by introducing rules and goals. This promotes the experience of efficacy and achievement.

While both can be effective, remember that the role of those initiating related internal communications on the topic are there to provide ideas, not to make rules or set goals. For instance, when suggesting employees set a time frame, it’s up to them to determine the time factor. This will promote a sense of self-direction and volition, and shift the focus from repetitive work to something that is intrinsically enjoyable.   

Now let’s move on to our 30 best employee engagement activities. You will see that they are different from the self-determined employee engagement activities you might include in an internal communications strategy. 

Icebreakers and Team-Building Games

Icebreakers and team-building games hold a distinctive spot in the catalog of employee engagement activities and playful internal communications. They are fun and also instrumental in creating a positive work environment, encouraging collaboration, fostering trust, and increasing engagement between team members.

#1 Breaking Down Barriers: Icebreaker Activities

Icebreaker activities are an excellent way to bring employees out of their shells, allowing their authentic selves to emerge at work. In 2024, with the blend of both on-site and remote work, icebreakers like Two Truths and a Lie, virtual coffee breaks, or “getting to know each other quizzes” can go a long way in breaking initial awkwardness and building connections.

These activities not only initiate conversations but also help employees discover shared interests, leading to an enriched employee experience. This is especially valuable in a remote work setting, enabling virtual introductions and helping to build camaraderie.

#2 Fostering Team Unity with Engaging Games

Reinforcing team unity is crucial, as harmonious teams tend to have better cooperation, leading to improved performance. Scavenger hunts, team quizzes, or brainstorming sessions can help break down inter-departmental barriers, enriching work relationships.

Organizations can also arrange ultimate on-site game shows or field days. These provide employees with a chance to interact and compete in a light-hearted environment, thereby fostering team unity. Also, these activities help instill a spirit of healthy competition and good sportsmanship among team members.

#3 Collaborative Puzzle Challenges for Team Bonding

Puzzle challenges are a brilliant way to encourage collaboration and team bonding. Consider arranging a Rubik’s cube contest, crossword competition, or a Sudoku match. These games stimulate the mind and foster a sense of teamwork and camaraderie among employees.

Puzzle challenges also introduce a diversity of thinking styles within a team. Seeing how differently team members approach a problem can be a fascinating learning experience and can foster respect for other employees’ unique problem-solving methods.

#4 Energizing Outdoor Team Games for Active Participation

Outdoor team games like dragon boat racing, tug-of-war, or a simple game of catch can rejuvenate the team. These activities take employees away from the usual workplace setting, adding a dash of freshness and active participation.

Such games demand teamwork, communication, and strategic planning, which is an excellent measure of team building. Plus, outdoor games contribute to employees’ wellness, offering a much-needed break from sitting at desks and screen exposure.

#5 Virtual Escape Room Adventures for Remote Collaboration

With the surge in remote work, virtual engagement activities have gained significant popularity. Virtual escape rooms can provide a thrilling adventure that can prove to be a fantastic team-building exercise. These types of activities require collective decision-making, communication, mutual trust, and smart strategy formulation.

Virtual adventures strengthen the bond between remote teammates and offer an exciting break from work routine. By putting teams in a setting outside their comfort zone, virtual escape rooms trigger creative problem-solving abilities and induce a feeling of team accomplishment upon mission completion.

Free Employee Engagement Survey Template to Boost Productivity

Craft effective surveys to measure employee sentiment and boost engagement
Free Employee Engagement Survey Template to Boost Productivity
  • Develop targeted survey questions
  • Evaluate employee sentiment
  • Analyze drivers of engagement
  • Review retention opportunities

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Wellness and Relaxation Activities

As more businesses worldwide acknowledge the significance of a balanced work-life ratio, incorporating wellness and relaxation programs into the work environment has become more critical than ever. Not only do these programs counteract the stress and burnout associated with work, they also enhance job satisfaction and employee retention rates.

#6 Recharge and Rejuvenate: Wellness Breaks

One of the simplest yet most substantial wellness initiatives includes implementing regular wellness breaks during the workday. These breaks allow employees to rejuvenate, relax, and refocus, increasing both productivity and happiness for the remainder of the day. For example, organizations can encourage employees to take a 10-minute break for every hour of focused work or implement flexible work arrangements with built-in wellness hours. Breaks can include:

  • Taking a short walk
  • Doing some light exercises or stretches
  • Participating in a hobby
  • Listening to calming music

Wellness breaks can effectively recharge employees, reducing stress levels and preventing burnout in the long run.

#7 Stress-Relief Strategies for an Energized Team

Enhancing positivity and reducing stress in the workplace can lead to energized employees. Businesses should look into interactive stress-relief strategies like on-site yoga classes, mental health fairs, or even something unconventional like animal therapy for employees. An employee referral program for these activities can further amplify engagement and excitement.

Organizing employee games as a part of these programs can increase engagement and foster team bonding. Weekly meeting agendas can include short relaxation exercises or feedback sessions to discuss and address stress-related issues. These strategies can substantially improve employee experience and promote mental health.

#8 Mindfulness and Meditation Sessions for Mental Well-being

Hosting mindfulness and meditation sessions is another effective method of promoting mental well-being in the workplace. Guided sessions can help employees clear their minds, reduce stress, and increase their focus, leading to improved productivity and job satisfaction.

Many digital platforms and apps offer guided mindfulness sessions suitable for beginners and/or experienced practitioners. Offering resources and space for these sessions can foster a calm, focused work environment. By maintaining this practice, employees can experience improved mental health and increased engagement, contributing positively to the overall ambiance of the workspace.

#9 Guided Relaxation Exercises for a Calm Work Environment

In addition to mindfulness and meditation, guided relaxation exercises such as progressive muscle relaxation or autogenic training can contribute significantly towards creating a calm work environment. These exercises can help employees manage stress, and anxiety, and enhance focus and productivity.

Routines can also include breathing exercises and techniques for immediate stress relief. Offering workshops or seminars to explain the benefits and the correct methodology for these exercises can encourage participation and consistent practice, ensuring a tranquil and energized workplace.

employee engagement activities: wellness and relaxation

Creativity Boosters

In today’s competitive and dynamic business environment, fostering creativity in the workplace is essential. Creative thinking leads to innovation, problem-solving, and new ways to improve the company’s productivity and efficiency. Harnessing this power involves more than just brainstorming. It necessitates creating an environment that encourages risk-taking and nurtures the creative spirit.

#10 Artistic Outlets: Unleashing Creativity at Work

Work doesn’t always have to be about numbers, data, and deadlines — it can be a place to express creativity as well. Many companies encourage their employees to showcase their creative side through various artistic outlets. Some organizations have spaces dedicated to art, while others offer art-based team-building activities.

Creativity boosters can include activities such as:

  • Pottery sessions
  • Group painting or sketching lessons
  • Jewelry-making workshops
  • Music or dance classes

These artistic employee engagement activities foster a vibrant and innovative workplace culture.

#11 Fun Brainstorming Sessions for Innovation

Brainstorming sessions are a great way to stimulate originality and bring out the most innovative ideas from your team members. However, traditional brainstorming sessions can sometimes be dull and monotonous. Transforming these sessions into fun activities can increase engagement and foster out-of-the-box thinking.

Techniques such as the SCAMPER (Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, Reverse) method, the Six Thinking Hats Technique, or simply building stories around product ideas can make these sessions interesting. Regularly conducting brainstorming sessions can lead to a rush of new, innovative ideas for the business.

You could ask for suggestions and feedback in an internal communications survey. 

#12 DIY Creative Projects to Ignite Imagination

Engaging employees in do-it-yourself (DIY) projects, either individually or in groups, can be a fun way to boost imagination and encourage a creative culture. Projects can range from constructing a desktop stationery holder to more elaborate projects like designing a departmental theme or creating a mural.

Creative projects challenge employees to think creatively and problem-solve. They also lead to a visually enriched work environment. A space filled with employee-made creations can boost collective team pride. It can also establish a sense of shared achievement, contributing positively to employee engagement and satisfaction.

Friendly Competitions and Challenges

Encouraging friendly competitions and challenges within the workplace is a creative part of company culture that consolidates your employee engagement activities. While the main focus remains on the completion of tasks and projects, introducing competitive elements can boost morale, increase engagement, and encourage team building.

#13 Fueling Enthusiasm: Organizing Office Challenges

Weekly or monthly office challenges can infuse high energy and excitement among employees. These challenges can include quizzes and debates with door prizes to encourage attendance. The aim is to spark curiosity and create an atmosphere of friendly competition. 

  • Organize themed challenges such as a healthy eating week where employees share their healthy meals, and voting can decide the winner.
  • Introduce a job rotation program where employees swap their roles for a day, helping them understand the responsibilities and challenges faced by their peers.
  • Design engaging “capture the flag” challenges that can build problem-solving skills and boost employee engagement.

Use these challenges as an innovative employee engagement program to foster team spirit while stimulating curiosity and boosting employee engagement.

#14 Team Building through Friendly Competitions

Friendly competitions are not just about winning or losing. They are about building activities that endorse team collaboration and enhance interpersonal relationships. Here are some examples:

  • Organize a company-wide ultimate game show where employees compete in different games that test their knowledge about the company, services, and products.
  • Start a departmental exchange program where teams compete to develop the best improvement ideas for a department other than their own.

These competitions harness coworkers’ competitive spirit, fostering both workplace engagement and team success. As friendly competition can lead to more motivated employees, it is crucial to provide opportunities for everyone to shine.

#15 Virtual Gaming Tournaments for Remote Teams

With the rise in remote work options, virtual gaming tournaments can be a fun and effective way of engaging remote employees in friendly competitions. Whether it’s an online puzzle, a collaborative video game, or a digital board game, these games serve as a means to foster team members’ relationships regardless of geographical limits.

  • Create fortnightly online game tournaments where remote teams can compete while promoting their strategic and problem-solving abilities.
  • Organize a virtual field day that includes a series of online team games or activities encouraging friendly competition and team building.

Remember to consider the varying gaming preferences and skill levels across your team, ensuring all events are inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.

employee engagement activities: friendly competitions

Social Connection Activities

Building social connections is crucial in fostering a positive workplace environment. They are as important as ever in 2024, especially as flexible work arrangements become increasingly common. Social connection activities can be a cornerstone of your employee engagement activities and should be publicized as part of your internal communications program. So, let’s look at some examples of these activities.

#16 Virtual Coffee Breaks for Informal Chats

Facilitating informal interactions between employees can substantially strengthen employee bonds. Virtual coffee breaks can serve as frequent touchpoints among team members for meaningful engagement activities. It’s an opportunity for people to converse without the stress of work, fostering interpersonal relationships.

  • Schedule weekly virtual coffee breaks for teams to come together, enabling them to share light moments amidst a hectic work schedule.
  • Foster a remote coffee buddy system where different team members pair up for coffee breaks each week.

These small but significant opportunities for interaction can foster a sense of belonging, thereby boosting employee engagement at work, even in an online setting.

#17 Sharing Interesting News and Hobbies Virtually

Allowing space for employees to share their unique interests and hobbies can create a multi-faceted work environment. This practice encourages individual expression. It also contributes to mutual understanding and respect among employees.

  • Invite employees to share their hobbies or interesting news through virtual show and tell sessions.
  • Set up hobby clubs where employees with similar interests can meet regularly to pursue activities like reading, gardening, or music.

By acknowledging and celebrating the diverse interests among your team, you can foster a work environment that values individual uniqueness, promoting a sense of community.

#18 Virtual Water Cooler Talk: Fostering Casual Discussions

Encouraging casual social interaction can be an effective employee engagement idea, enabling open communication and reducing the distance felt in remote work arrangements. Even in a remote work setting, it’s significant to create a space for employees to have spontaneous and casual discussions — much like they’d have around a physical water cooler. 

  • Create a dedicated virtual water cooler room on your company’s communication platform, where employees can drop in and out casually throughout the day.
  • Encourage employees to share anything stimulating they’ve read, watched, or listened to, promoting a culture of continuous learning and sharing.

By integrating social connection activities, such as friendly competitions and challenges, with your existing employee engagement activities, the aim of maintaining a enthusiastic, energetic, hand-in-hand working environment can both be realized and sustained in 2024.

employee engagement activities: social connection

Celebrating Milestones and Achievements

The creation of a positive and vibrant work environment plays a substantial role in promoting employee engagement. Among the most effective ways to boost morale and job satisfaction is celebrating milestones and achievements. It’s an employee engagement activity that shows team members that their hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed.

#19 Recognizing Success: Milestone Celebrations

Milestone celebrations serve as acknowledgment and reward for the efforts and strides made by individuals or teams. Recognizing these achievements, whether they are work anniversaries, project completions, or noticeable performance improvements, can motivate employees and promote customer satisfaction.

One way to make these celebrations meaningful is by taking a personalized approach. Consider the specific accomplishments and the preferences of the individuals involved. Some employees may prefer a quiet lunch with the team, while others would appreciate a public acknowledgment during a weekly meeting, for example. In any case, be sure to recognize success in your internal communications newsletters. 

#20 Employee Appreciation Events for a Positive Atmosphere

Employee appreciation events are another form of recognition, often implemented on a larger scale. Events such as workplace parties, charity days, or departmental exchange programs recognize employee contributions. They also foster team building, mutual respect, and camaraderie.

Here are some tips for hosting a successful appreciation event:

  • Ensure the event resonates with your workforce. Understand what motivates and interests them, and incorporate these elements into the event.
  • Invite input. Consider feedback sessions or employee surveys to help shape the event and ensure it will be enjoyed by all.
  • Communicate the purpose of the event in advance. This helps employees understand the importance of their contributions and the event’s intent to celebrate them.

These events, when done right, can increase engagement, reduce employee turnover, and contribute to a positive employee experience.

#21 Personalized Shout-outs and Acknowledgments

In addition to hosting larger-scale events and celebrations, personalized shout-outs, and acknowledgments in daily communication can also be powerful. These can be as simple as acknowledging an individual’s innovative idea during a team meeting or praising a team member’s effort on a difficult task via social media. 

They could even be part of an employee referral program, acknowledging and rewarding employees who contribute to building the team. This form of immediate, personalized acknowledgment fosters a sense of accomplishment and validation, which can help boost employee engagement even in remote work setups.

Again, acknowledge employees in your organization’s internal communications’ messages.

Learning and Development Activities

Employee engagement goes beyond recognition and celebration. It also includes providing opportunities for learning and development. Such activities can motivate employees, increase job satisfaction and performance, and help them feel valued and invested in the organization.

#22 Fun Training Sessions: A Creative Approach

One way to avoid the monotony of traditional training sessions is by injecting fun and creativity into them. For instance, career development programs can incorporate games, role plays, or interactive activities into the training sessions.

For remote work options, consider an ultimate game show-styled session or short, powerful TED talk type presentations. It makes the content more engaging and promotes flexibility at work and encourages active participation.

#23 Skill-Building Workshops to Energize the Team

Providing opportunities for self-improvement and growth through skill-building workshops can also significantly boost engagement. These could range from technical or specialized workshops related to employees’ roles as well as management or presentation skills.

Skill-building workshops serve a dual purpose. They contribute to the employee’s individual growth while also directly benefiting the organization through enhanced skills and improved performance.

#24 Book Club for Continuous Learning

An in-house book club is an efficient and engaging way of promoting continuous learning and development. This can easily extend to remote teams as well.

Choose books that coincide with the company’s values or ones that help improve leadership, problem-solving, creativity, or other relevant skills. Schedule meetings (virtual or in-person) for employees to discuss what they learned, reflect on applications, and exchange opinions.

This activity contributes to professional development. It also helps to create deeper connections between team members as they share and discuss ideas from their readings. Additionally, it helps promote a culture of learning and continuous development in the workforce.

Free Employee Engagement Survey Template to Boost Productivity

Craft effective surveys to measure employee sentiment and boost engagement
Free Employee Engagement Survey Template to Boost Productivity
  • Develop targeted survey questions
  • Evaluate employee sentiment
  • Analyze drivers of engagement
  • Review retention opportunities

Download Free

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Virtual Events and Gatherings

With the growing trend of flexible work arrangements and remote work options, virtual events and gatherings have become a critical part of engagement strategies. They are efficient and cost-effective and also promote inclusivity, allowing team members located in different geographical areas to participate and interact. Additionally, they can help bridge the gap created due to physical distance and contribute to a strong and cohesive team culture.

#25 Informal Bonding: Socializing Beyond the Desk

The monotony of working from home can often lead to feelings of isolation and disengagement for employees. To counter this, organizations can host informal bonding sessions that allow employees to socialize beyond the desk. These could include virtual parties, game nights, or simply open-ended sessions where team members can chat and exchange stories. This can boost employee morale, foster deeper relationships, and increase engagement.

Some examples of social activities include:

  • Virtual movie nights using streaming platforms that allow synchronized video playback
  • Online trivia contests or quizzes
  • Virtual hobby groups or “led” clubs for things like cooking or fitness

#26 Virtual Happy Hours and Team Mixers

Virtual happy hours and team mixers provide a more relaxed social setting for teams to connect and unwind together. The Riverbed Global Digital Employee Experience (DEX) Survey 2023 reports that 25% of respondents identify weekly office happy hours as the top office perk to keep employees engaged. 

Virtual happy hours can mimic a real-life bar night experience, complete with beverages, party games, music, and plenty of laughter. Team mixers can involve employees from different departments or project teams, helping to foster a sense of unity and collaboration across the organization.

During these events, teams can also engage in team-building activities, such as:

  • Virtual scavenger hunts
  • Online board games
  • Team-based challenges or mini-competitions

#27 Online Team Lunches for Connection

Planning online team lunches is another excellent way to break the monotony of remote working and foster a sense of camaraderie among team members. This can involve employees sharing their mealtime virtually, discussing non-work related topics, and enjoying a casual chat during the lunch hour. It’s a great way for employees to connect on a personal level, which can significantly contribute to better working relationships and increased job satisfaction.

employee engagement activities: virtual gatherings and events

Incorporating Technology for Engagement

In the digital age, leveraging technology is key to driving employee engagement. Innovative tech solutions not only make engagement activities more exciting but also improve their reach and impact, making them more inclusive for remote teams.

#28 Gamification in the Workplace

Gamification uses game-design elements in non-game contexts like marketing to improve user engagement, motivation, and participation. As achievement in a gamification program increases, employees are rewarded with medals, digital badges, and milestone markers, says Peter Schnorbach, senior director of product management at Manhattan Associates supply chain solutions company.

“One of the best ways to engage workers is to harness their innate competitive nature with gamification techniques.”

Peter Schnorbach

In the workplace, gamification can turn mundane tasks into exciting challenges, fostering a competitive spirit and sustaining employee interest. 

#29 Virtual Team Building Activities for Remote Teams

Virtual team-building activities have become a necessity in the new remote work paradigm. These activities are designed to foster team cohesion and unity in virtual workspaces. Examples include virtual escape rooms (mentioned above), online gaming tournaments, and virtual reality (VR) team experiences. 

Adaptability and creativity are crucial when considering virtual team-building activities, as what works in an office setting might not translate directly to a virtual environment.

#30 Augmented Reality Experiences for Team Building

Augmented Reality (AR) provides an innovative way of engaging employees by overlaying digital information in the real world. AR experiences can be employed in team-building activities to promote collaboration and enhance the bonding process. For instance, a virtual scavenger hunt using AR can provide an immersive and fun experience that fosters teamwork and cohesion. Implementing AR in engagement activities can inject a dose of fun and novelty, elevating the engagement experience to another level.

What’s Next?

You’re organizing games and fun employee engagement activities to help spark enthusiasm and energy. But does your internal communications plan enable you to get the message that these are happening across to your employees? 

A well-organized internal communications plan is an essential tool for every aspect of employee engagement. It’s pivotal when it comes to employee engagement activities. The best way to assess its efficacy is to do a strategic internal communications audit. An internal communications audit will enable you to evaluate and review your existing internal communications program and identify what’s missing. It’ll show you how effective your program is and measure its effectiveness. It can also determine levels of employee engagement. 

Cerkl Broadcast has a free employee engagement survey template you can use today.

Free Employee Engagement Survey Template to Boost Productivity

Free Employee Engagement Survey Template to Boost Productivity

Craft effective surveys to measure employee sentiment and boost engagement

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FAQ

What are employee engagement activities?

Employee engagement activities encompass initiatives designed to enhance the emotional connection, commitment, and satisfaction of employees within the workplace, including team-building events, training programs, and recognition efforts.

What are some fun ways to engage employees?

Fun ways to engage employees include organizing team-building games, themed events or parties, implementing flexible work arrangements, and promoting a positive work culture through open communication channels and recognition programs.

How can I engage my employees?

Engage your employees by fostering open communication, providing opportunities for professional development, recognizing and rewarding achievements, creating a positive work environment, and involving them in decision-making processes.
Promote your employee engagement activities using your internal communications program. 

How to improve employee engagement activities?

To improve employee engagement activities, regularly gather feedback from employees to understand their needs and preferences. You can do this using an internal communications survey. Also tailor activities to align with organizational goals and values, and continuously evolve initiatives based on employee input and changing dynamics within the workplace.

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