20 Fun and Trending Virtual Employee Engagement Activities for 2024

Keeping your team motivated and engaged can be a challenge in a remote environment, but the key to overcome it is choosing the right virtual employee engagement activities. This article will delve into fun and trending online games for employee engagement, providing creative and effective ideas to keep your team connected. Read to discover strategies that can transform your remote work culture.

Why Engaging Remote Employees Matters?

Remote employees often face unique challenges that can hinder their productivity and well-being. Isolation and lack of communication are two of the most common issues, leading to feelings of disconnection from the team and the company.

Without regular face-to-face interactions, remote employees may struggle to build relationships and trust with their colleagues, which can negatively impact team dynamics. However, HR and managers can reduce these negative parts of working remotely by scheduling virtual employee engagement events.

Among the benefits of keeping your remote team engaged through these activities are:

• Increased motivation and morale
• Greater sense of purpose and fulfillment
• Higher levels of personal and professional growth 
• Reduced turnover 
• Stronger loyalty and commitment to the company
• Higher productivity and efficiency
• More positive customer interactions
• Enhanced company reputation and brand loyalty
• Lower stress levels and burnout
• Increased well-being and work-life balance

Virtual Employee Engagement Ideas

Now that the importance of keeping your remote team engaged, it’s time to open the creative box and discover many virtual employee engagement ideas. From cost-effective solutions to trending and interactive ideas, these activities are designed to enhance team dynamics, boost productivity, and improve overall well-being. 

Cost-Effective Activities

1. Virtual Coffee Breaks

• Description: Informal online meetups to relax and chat over coffee or tea. You can choose cold beverages during summer, too.
• Instructions: Schedule a 10-15 minute break where employees can join a video call with their beverages. Make it a voluntary event.
• Tools/Resources Needed: Video conferencing platform (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams.)
• Benefits: Encourages social interaction, increases the sense of community, and helps combat isolation.

2. Virtual Pet Meetups

• Description: Informal online gatherings where employees share their pets on camera.
• Instructions: Use a video conferencing platform for the session. Plan a loose structure, allowing each participant to introduce their pet. Encourage interaction and sharing of pet stories.
• Tools/Resources Needed: Video conferencing platform (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams.)
• Benefits: Enhances team dynamics, promotes well-being, and encourages engagement.

3. Virtual Trivia Afternoon

• Description: A fun quiz competition on various topics. It could even be fun facts about the team itself.
• Instructions: Use online trivia platforms like Kahoot or create custom quizzes. Host a live session where teams compete. Remember if the quiz is about the team, keep questions and answers respectful.
• Tools/Resources Needed: Kahoot, Quizizz, or similar platforms.
• Benefits: Enhances team dynamics and provides entertainment.

4. Virtual Fitness Challenges

• Description: Group challenges focused on health and fitness.
• Instructions: Set weekly fitness goals. Track progress and share updates. Remember to choose activities for all levels of fitness.
• Tools/Resources Needed: Fitness tracking apps, video conferencing for group workouts. You could even create a fitness activity Excel sheet that everyone fills by themselves.
• Benefits: Boosts well-being and promotes a healthy lifestyle.

5. Themed Virtual Meetings

• Description: Meetings with specific themes to add fun.
• Instructions: Choose themes (e.g., '80s day, pajama day). Encourage participants to dress up and decorate their virtual backgrounds. It could be a 15-20 minute gathering to share stories, favorite themed songs, shows, etc.
• Tools/Resources Needed: Video conferencing platform.
• Benefits: Increases engagement and adds excitement to routine meetings.

6. Language exchange sessions

• Description: Online sessions where employees pair up to teach each other new languages or useful words/sentences.
• Instructions: Choose a language per session, provide a basic structure for each session (e.g., vocabulary, conversation practice), encourage participants to share cultural insights and experiences.
• Tools/Resources Needed: Video conferencing platform (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams), basic language learning resources (e.g., vocabulary lists, conversation topics.)
• Benefits: Enhances cultural awareness and breaks the ice.

7. Virtual Talent Show

• Description: Showcase of employees' talents and hobbies.
• Instructions: Organize an event where employees perform or display their talents via video call.
• Tools/Resources Needed: Video conferencing platform.
• Benefits: Celebrates diversity and fosters a sense of community.

8. Two Truths and a Lie Game

• Description: An interactive icebreaker game where employees share three statements about themselves—two true and one false—while others guess the lie.
• Instructions: Each participant prepares three statements (two truths and one lie). Take turns sharing statements and guessing the lie. Reveal the lie and discuss the truths.
• Tools/Resources Needed: Video conferencing platform (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams.) Prepared statements by participants.
• Benefits: Provides a fun and engaging activity, helps team members learn about each other.

Trending Activities

9. Virtual Reality (VR) Team-Building

• Description: Immersive VR experiences for team collaboration.
• Instructions: Use VR platforms to create interactive team-building scenarios.
• Tools/Resources Needed: VR headsets, VR team-building software.
• Benefits: Enhances team dynamics and provides a novel experience.

10. Remote Hackathons

• Description: Collaborative coding events to solve problems.
• Instructions: Set a challenge, form teams, and have participants develop solutions within a timeframe.
• Tools/Resources Needed: Coding platforms, project management tools.
• Benefits: Fosters innovation and teamwork.

11. Virtual Wellness Activities

• Description: Activities focusing on mental health and well-being, like meditating, virtual yoga sessions, breathing exercises, etc.
• Instructions: Choose one of the activities, provide specific instructions for remote environments.
• Tools/Resources Needed: Video conferencing platform and wellness apps like Meditopia, where you can choose meditations, breathing exercises, talks, and programs accessible through web and app.
• Benefits: Enhances well-being and reduces stress.

Fun and Interactive Activities

12. Virtual Cooking Classes

• Description: Online sessions where employees cook together.
• Instructions: Hire a chef or have employees share their favorite recipes and cook along during a video call. It’s extra special if you ask them to share a recipe from their childhood.
• Tools/Resources Needed: Share the ingredients list a week before the meeting, and a video conferencing platform.
• Benefits: Promotes creativity and provides a fun, shared experience.

13. Online Games for Employee Engagement

• Description: Interactive online games to foster engagement.
• Instructions: Organize multiplayer games like Among Us, Pictionary, or virtual board games.
• Tools/Resources Needed: Gaming platforms, video conferencing. It’d be advisable to share instructions on how to play each game before the meeting starts, and offer a short tutorial before starting.
• Benefits: Encourages collaboration and breaks the monotony of work.

14. Virtual Scavenger Hunt

• Description: An online search game with clues and tasks.
• Instructions: Create a list of items or challenges for employees to find or complete within a set time.
• Tools/Resources Needed: Scavenger hunt app or custom list, video conferencing.
• Benefits: Boosts engagement and promotes quick thinking.

Collaborative and Creative Activities

15. Virtual Storytelling Workshop

• Description: An online workshop where employees collaboratively create a story, enhancing creativity and teamwork.
• Instructions: Schedule a virtual meeting and invite participants. Start with a story prompt or theme. Take turns adding a few sentences to the story. Share the final product and enjoy the laughs.
• Tools/Resources Needed: Video conferencing platform (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams), shared document for story writing (e.g., Google Docs.)
• Benefits: Boosts creativity and encourages teamwork.

16. Virtual Improv Sessions

• Description: Interactive improvisational theater exercises conducted online to enhance creativity, spontaneity, and team bonding.
• Instructions: Choose a theme for each session (make sure each theme is respectful for all participants), assign roles to each person, allow them to act freely.
• Tools/Resources Needed: Video conferencing platform (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams), shared document for story writing (e.g., Google Docs.)
• Benefits: Enhances creativity and spontaneity, builds confidence and communication skills, strengthens team dynamics.

17. Remote Art Projects

• Description: Collaborative art activities done online.
• Instructions: Have employees create individual art pieces that are then combined into a larger project.
• Tools/Resources Needed: Art supplies, video conferencing.
• Benefits: Promotes creativity and teamwork.

Recognition and Appreciation Activities

18. Virtual Award Ceremonies

• Description: Online events to recognize and reward employees.
• Instructions: Organize a virtual ceremony to celebrate achievements and give out awards. 
• Tools/Resources Needed: Video conferencing platform, digital certificates.
• Benefits: Boosts morale and motivation.

19. Employee Appreciation Days

• Description: Special days dedicated to showing appreciation for employees.
• Instructions: Plan a day with various activities, shout-outs, and small gifts or perks. You can ask your team which personality traits or achievements they would like to celebrate.
• Tools/Resources Needed: Planning tools, budget for gifts/perks.
• Benefits: Enhances job satisfaction and loyalty.

20. Peer Recognition Programs

• Description: Systems where employees can recognize each other's contributions.
• Instructions: Implement a platform where employees can give virtual 'shout-outs' or awards to their peers.
• Tools/Resources Needed: Peer recognition software or intranet.
• Benefits: Builds a supportive and appreciative work culture.

Key Takeaways

• Engaged employees are more productive, satisfied, and less likely to leave the company.
• Remote work can lead to feelings of isolation and disconnection. Regular engagement activities help maintain a sense of community and belonging among employees.
• Offering a mix of cost-effective and more involved activities allows for flexibility in engagement strategies, accommodating different budgets and resources.
• Regularly rotating and introducing new activities keep employees excited and looking forward to participation, maintaining high levels of engagement over time.

Fun Virtual Employee Engagement: FAQs

How do we measure the success of virtual engagement activities?

The success of virtual employee engagement activities can be measured through employee surveys, participation rates, and productivity metrics. Monitoring changes in employee retention and improvements in team dynamics also provides insight. Feedback from employees can help refine and improve activities.

How can virtual engagement activities support employees' mental health?

Virtual employee engagement activities reduce isolation, provide stress relief, and encourage a healthy work-life balance. Activities like wellness programs and social interactions foster a supportive network. These activities enhance overall well-being by offering mental health resources and community support.

Can virtual engagement activities improve remote work culture?

Yes, remote employee engagement activities build a sense of community, strengthen team dynamics, and boost morale. They promote inclusivity and encourage innovative thinking. Regular engagement activities foster a positive and cohesive remote work culture.

How often should we conduct virtual engagement activities?

Weekly virtual employee engagement activities like coffee breaks and icebreakers are beneficial, while biweekly or monthly structured events like team-building exercises and workshops are effective. Quarterly and annual events should focus on major celebrations and recognition.

What tools are useful for organizing virtual engagement activities?

Useful tools include video conferencing platforms like Zoom, collaboration tools like Miro and Trello, and online game platforms like Kahoot. Wellness apps such as Meditopia, recognition platforms, and social networking tools like Slack are also valuable.