When it comes to employee engagement, it’s easy to focus on metrics and performance, but real engagement is also about creating real moments of connection, regardless of your team’s size, and one way to do this is with employee engagement activities.
While engagement activities should never replace well-thought-out engagement strategies, they are a critical part of the equation. In fact, according to SHRM, companies that invest in employee engagement activities see up to a 50% increase in morale and a 41% drop in absenteeism, highlighting the role engagement activities play in an employee engagement strategy.
If you’re wondering what activities to introduce or refresh in your workplace, we’ve compiled 25 fun, people-first ideas that can energise your team, whether they’re remote, hybrid, in-office, or somewhere in between. These aren’t your average icebreakers; they’re creative, budget-friendly ways to bring your people together and make work more human.
5 Engagement activities for remote/hybrid teams
Because of the nature of their work, remote and hybrid employees often miss out on occasional office banter and biweekly activities, but this doesn’t mean they can’t connect in meaningful ways. Here are five activities designed to build the connection across time zones and work locations:
1. Virtual Game Hour
Gaming is a stress-free way to bond and spark friendly competition, and platforms like Kahoot or Jackpot make it easy to host trivia, word games, and challenges that everyone can enjoy, no matter the location. Host monthly team game sessions to give your team a chance to unwind, relax, and laugh.
2. Remote karaoke breaktime
Yes, virtual karaoke is chaotic, but that’s the fun of it: loud, unfiltered, and the perfect way to shake off the week. Create a shared playlist, let your team take the mic, and throw in themes like “Throwback Jams” or “Manager vs. Intern” for extra laughs. This is a fun idea to relax every month.
3. Recognition routines via video or email
Create a culture of praise by spotlighting one person monthly in a short email or company chat. Include a short quote from their manager or peer stating that consistency matters more than grandeur.
4. Stand-up calls.
Dedicate the first 10 minutes of your work day for team members to share what they plan to achieve for the day, and at the end of the day, have them showcase what they worked on that day, whether it’s a project, a problem they solved, or a resource. It boosts visibility and shared learning without formal presentations
5. Surprise “Snack Drops”
Send curated snack boxes, local treats, or food vouchers, paired with a short “just because” message to brighten someone’s day and remind them they’re seen and appreciated, especially during busy seasons or after a big project. You can turn it into a recurring monthly ritual, rotating recipients to keep the surprise fresh and the connections flowing.
5 Engagement activities for in-office teams
In-office teams can easily fall into routine and forget to step away from their desks to interact beyond project deadlines and quick catchups, which is where engagement activities come in, not as distractions, but as deliberate moments to recharge, connect, and build a workplace people enjoy coming to. Here are 5 ideas designed to add bursts of energy into the workday while nurturing culture and collaboration across departments and teams:
1. Anonymous suggestion box
Create a box (or a QR code) where team members can drop in ideas, complaints, or questions anonymously, then share highlights and follow up visibly so people know their voice counts.
2. Quarterly idea challenge
Pick a real business challenge each quarter and invite staff to pitch simple, practical ideas. Let the team vote on the best one, and reward the winner with airtime, lunch, or the chance to lead the pilot. It sparks creativity and shows that every voice counts.
3. Play some music
Give your team permission to play music in shared spaces during non-meeting hours. Whether it’s soft Afrobeats, lo-fi chill, gospel, or Fuji Fridays, music sets the mood and makes the office feel more alive and less transactional.
4. Trivia Tuesdays
Add a fun brain boost to your Tuesdays by hosting short sessions during lunch or a morning huddle with questions on industry trends, or random facts. Rotate hosts to keep it fresh, and let small prizes or simple shoutouts spark some healthy banter and midweek connection.
5. Lunch and learn sessions
Bring in internal or external speakers to teach on topics like financial literacy, tech trends, or public speaking. Be sure to serve food, make it interactive, and let learning feel light.
5 Employee engagement activities for small teams
Small teams have the advantage of closeness, but without intentional bonding, routines can start to feel repetitive. These low-lift activities create space for personality, laughter, and deeper connection without needing much time, budget, or structure.
1. Friday Unwind Hour
Wrap up the week, or even just every other Friday, with a chill hour where the team can kick back, play a light game, stream something funny, or just talk about anything but work. It’s a simple way to exhale together and end the week on a high note.
2. One-on-one check-ins
Schedule regular check-ins between team leads and team members, not just for updates, but to ask how things are going, where support is needed, and what growth looks like. In small teams, this simple habit builds trust and keeps engagement personal.
3. Board Games
Choose one day a month for a quick round of Ludo, Monopoly, Scrabble, or even charades. Games create natural breaks, boost mood, and give people a reason to gather that doesn’t involve deadlines.
4. Vision boards
Set up a space with magazines, scissors, markers, or use Canva for a digital version, and let everyone build a personal or professional vision board and share their goals in a relaxed session that encourages reflection and team empathy.
5. Skill swap
Pair team members for one-on-one sessions to teach each other something from Excel shortcuts to Canva tips. It builds respect and expands everyone’s toolkit.
5 employee engagement activities for medium-sized teams
As your team grows, the connection across departments doesn’t always happen naturally, which is why engagement activities should encourage collaboration, creativity, and casual collisions between people who don’t work together every day.
1. Idea bank (with voting)
Create a space (like Trello or even a board on the wall) where employees can drop improvement ideas. Let the whole team vote on which to explore next.
2. Lunch & Netflix
Pick a short documentary, comedy skit, or TED talk to stream over lunch every other week, and use it as a way to spark discussion, decompress, or just share something new that isn’t tied to KPIs or metrics.
3. Internal mentorship program
Pair junior team members with mid-level leaders for 3–6 month informal mentoring. It’s a cost-effective way to support development, improve retention, and pass on institutional knowledge.
4. Cross-team learning session
Create a calendar for departments to teach others something useful, from productivity hacks to customer insights. It breaks silos and builds respect across the org.
5. Mystery Box Challenge
Give each department a box of random items and a challenge to build or present something using everything inside. Presentations can be wild, serious, or just silly, but they always bring out collaboration and laughter.
5 employee engagement activities for large teams
In bigger organisations, it’s easy to feel like just another worker in a sea of employees, and this is why large teams need engagement that brings people together at scale while still making individuals feel seen and valued.
1. Annual company funfair
Host an annual company fair with games, music, food, and department booths. It breaks up the work year, gives people something to look forward to, and turns ordinary workspaces into a festival of connection.
2. Quarterly culture surveys with visible feedback loops
Run short, focused surveys on employee experience like belonging, workload, and recognition, and, more importantly, share the insights and next steps. Engagement happens when people see their voices leading to change.
3. Department game day series
Organise a quarterly showdown where departments face off in trivia, Pictionary, or charades, track scores during the event, and crown a winning department to fuel playful competition and cross-team pride.
4. Manager-led recognition moments
Encourage each department head to begin or end meetings by spotlighting one team member’s recent contribution. No need for forms or ceremony, just consistent, real-time acknowledgment.
5. Employee assistant programs
Support your team beyond the job by offering access to confidential counselling or wellness support. In large organisations, this simple resource can ease stress, build trust, and show your people they truly matter.
Final Thoughts
Engagement doesn’t have to be flashy or expensive; sometimes, it’s the smallest touchpoints that leave the biggest impact. Whether you’re leading a remote team, managing a growing office, or building culture across departments, these activities remind your people that they matter.
Start small, stay consistent, and let your culture evolve through moments that feel human because at the end of the day, people don’t just want to work, they want to belong.
Not sure where to begin? Book a free consultation with us today to help you evaluate what’s working, uncover blind spots, and co-create a people-first engagement strategy tailored to your team.
