22 Employee Engagement Activities that Keep Employees Happy

You want employees who are excited to come to work and ready to contribute. Engaged employees are good employees, and they’re the type who make your job easy as a manager.

But it’s on you to create an environment that fosters employee engagement. Without strong leadership, employees will be reluctant to get invested in their company. They look to you for cues. If you focus on employee engagement and motivation, they will too.

There are a host of activities that can boost motivation and encourage ownership among employees. Budget the time and resources to engage in these activities and take the first steps towards an employee-first environment.

In this article, you’ll learn about the importance of employee engagement in the workplace and discover 22 activities that you can implement to boost morale and productivity. From hosting learning lunches and workplace parties to starting wellness programs and team-building activities, these strategies can help foster a positive work environment and make employees feel valued and excited to contribute.

Key takeaways:

• Employee engagement activities like workplace parties, learning lunches, and employee-led clubs can significantly boost team morale and productivity.
• Implementing wellness programs and offering flexible work arrangements can show employees that their health and work-life balance are valued.
• Encouraging career development and regularly seeking employee feedback can improve job satisfaction and engagement.
• Employee recognition programs, such as Employee of the Month or Years of Service awards, can incentivize high performance and dedication.
• By investing time, budget, and resources into employee engagement activities, you can increase motivation, improve employee retention, and enhance workplace efficiency.

Table of contents

• What is employee engagement?
• Why does employee engagement matter?
• Fun employee engagement activities
  • 1. Workplace parties
  • 2. Learning lunches
  • 3. Employee games, tournaments, and competitions
  • 4. Special days
  • 5. Training
  • 6. Recognition programs
  • 7. Sporting events
  • 8. Team-building activities
  • 10. Fundraisers and charity days
  • 11. Barbecues and picnics
  • 12. Wellness programs
  • 13. Employee-led clubs and interest groups
  • 14. Career development programs and opportunities for advancement
  • 15. Employee surveys and feedback sessions
  • 16. Flexible work arrangements and remote work options
  • 17. Employee referral programs
  • 18. Company-wide book clubs or Ted Talk discussions
  • 19. Employee appreciation programs
  • 20. Coffee break initiatives
  • 21. Cultural celebrations
  • 22. Using team communication software
• Employee scheduling and team messaging apps are here to help
• Employee engagement for all
• Employee engagement activity FAQs

Did you know that having an easily accessible staff schedule can also improve employee engagement? Try When I Work free for 14 days and see how much your team loves it.

What is employee engagement?

Employee engagement is the emotional commitment an employee has to the organization and its goals, as stated by Forbes. 

Employee engagement is how much your employees care about their work at your company. Are they invested, responsible, and excited about projects? Can they collaborate and do they respect one another? If so, you probably have healthy employee engagement already. If not, there are many things you can do to boost spirits and get employees more motivated.

Why does employee engagement matter?

If an employee can do their job, does it matter if they’re engaged? Yes! Studies show that engaged employees are happier, more productive, and a lot more likely to stick around.

In fact businesses that had more engaged employees are 21% more profitable and grow three times faster. Those who had the most engaged employees fared even better—they were four times as likely to be successful.

So here are some employee engagement activities to try at your workplace to help boost your productivity and bottom line.

22 fun employee engagement activities

There are many ideas on how to engage employees, but the goal should always be to prioritize activities that put employees at the center.

Here’s our comprehensive list of employee engagement activities:

1. Workplace parties

Most companies throw annual summer and winter parties to celebrate another year of business. Festivities can make people feel as if they are a valued part of the organization. Some workplace party ideas to boost engagement include:

• Halloween parties
• Thanksgiving dinners
• Potluck meals
• Ugly sweater parties 

Two annual parties are enough, but make sure they count. For example, make sure to invite families, significant others, and spouses to these events. To save money, throw a party during the day, or barter with other businesses for their services.

2. Learning lunches

Learning lunches are the perfect way to bring your team together and help them learn. Encourage different departments to share what they’re working on. Recognize  birthdays and tackle a new topic as a team. Bitly hosts lunch and learns once per week because they build community, foster learning, and help boost  transparency. Just make sure they’re short and sweet, not boring. No one wants to have a long lunch meeting. Keep these lunches light and fun!

Start a sign-up sheet for people to volunteer to offer presentations on something that’s important to them. Advertise what the presentation will be about each week. You’ll find that it’s a great way for your team to get to know each other, practice their presentation skills, and feel valued at work.

3. Employee games, tournaments, and competitions

Employees love getting involved in games. Tournaments and competitions build comradery and they don’t have to be fancy. Consider hosting a ping pong or pool tournament, or challenge the office to a bake off. Even creating a fantasy football league can do wonders for the employees at your organization. Some offices hold 5K races and other sporting events as well.

Start small with something that can be done easily, maybe board games or a puzzle in a conference room, and go from there. Or come up with some options and ask your team members what they’d be most interested in.

4. Special days

Special days such as “Bring your Dog to Work Day” change the pace and give employees something to look forward to. Other ideas? Bring your child to work day, pajama day, or even a “no uniform” day can all engage and excite employees.

Have each team pick a theme for a day and try them out to see what gets the most participation. You can even run surveys to see which days lead to the highest engagement and build on those.

5. Training

Training has a reputation for being boring. That’s because…well…they often are! But what if you’re able to bring in a special speaker for a truly interesting and invigorating training session? You’ll engage your employees and teach them something new.

A great idea would be to do some training on employee engagement! Use this opportunity to bring someone in to teach you all how to be more involved and find the ideas that work best for your team.

6. Recognition programs

Recognition programs are a great way to get employees to engage with each other. Zappos is famous for this type of strategy and has four ways that employees can reward each other. They have a “Zollars” program where employees can earn Zappos money to spend as they please. Zappos also has a parking program that lets employees give each other the best spots in the company lot.

The easiest way to get started is with a peer recognition program. Let your staff nominate each other for the small things they do to help each other out throughout the week, and then choose one randomly to offer a gift card. You’ll get more people engaged to call each other out for being awesome, and you’ll see the good deeds rising as well. It’s a win-win.

7. Sporting events

Sporting events are a great time to bring your employees and their families together. Choose a local basketball, baseball, or soccer team, and invite everyone. If you’re tight on cash, consider a college or minor league game. If you have a marathon that goes through your city, host a party along the route with all your employees.

You don’t have to buy a box for everyone, you can start small with some discounted tickets to a minor league game. See if people show up for the event and want this to be something that happens on a more regular basis.

8. Team-building activities

Team-building activities, especially those outside of the office, are something that employees love. Laser tag, go-kart racing, and bowling are all options, as are brewery and winery tours. These types of activities will facilitate bonding outside of the workspace, and give employees common ground.

If you manage a remote team, virtual team building games can be just as effective as being in-person. 

The point is to just get people together to have some fun without the stress of work hanging over them. Don’t overthink it. What sounds fun to you? Try that and see how it goes.

9. Bar nights

Many workplaces hold bar nights per week at a local watering hole to offer employees the opportunity to blow off some steam. Just make sure you have offerings outside of alcohol-related events, as they can be exclusive to those who don’t drink. Bar nights should be a supplement to other employee engagement activities.

A great way to start this is to find a place that’s offering trivia. People can get involved if they want, and all of a sudden you have a two-for-one activity—happy hour and team building game!

10. Fundraisers and charity days

Fundraisers and charity days are a great time to bring employees together for the common good. Give your employees the opportunity to organize events for causes they are passionate about. 

You can collect toys during the holidays, do a canned food drive, sell snacks and donate the proceeds. Brainstorm some ideas and let your employees choose where they want to help out.

11. Barbecues and picnics

After a long winter of being cooped up indoors, hosting a barbecue or picnic when the weather starts to get better is a great way to help employees feel refreshed and appreciated. No one wants to be stuck inside on the first warm day of spring. Take advantage of that feeling by getting your staff outside and offer them a fun meal.

Again, start small to see if it works. Maybe offer to cover the main dish and have a potluck of sides and desserts. This is an easy, stress-free way to thank your employees and give them a break from the day-to-day.

12. Wellness programs

Showing your employees that you value their health and wellness is a great way to increase engagement. Offer yoga classes or a discount to a local gym. Bring in a mindfulness coach to do a workshop and guided meditation. 

13. Employee-led clubs and interest groups

Have a few runners on staff? Start up a running group so they can enjoy some time together doing what they love. Maybe you have a few voracious readers—they would love a book club. Open the door for employees to start the clubs or groups that are important to them. It makes them feel valued and engaged in a way that lets them bring their authentic selves to work.

14. Career development programs and opportunities for advancement

Starting a management training group or a weekly meeting where employees can talk about how they can develop competencies to get promoted is a great way to increase engagement. Not only will you be investing in the future of your company, your staff will know that there is a long-term place for them on your team and they’ll be more likely to stay on.

15. Employee surveys and feedback sessions

Ask your employees how they would like to be engaged. But here’s the catch—be sure you’re listening and ready to act on some suggestions. There’s nothing that will make employees feel disengaged faster than being asked what they think and feeling like no one cares about their answer.

Use an anonymous survey tool to make your employees feel more comfortable opening up to you.

16. Flexible work arrangements and remote work options

If it’s possible, offer up remote work options for your staff. You might find your team is more engaged when they’re not dealing with the stress and hassle of a commute. Remote work not an option? No worries, you can still use flexible scheduling to give your employees a voice in their schedule. They’ll feel more valued and you’ll get better shift coverage.

You put out the shifts that you need filled, and your employees can choose the options that fit best into their personal life.

Tip: There’s software that can save you up to 15 hours per week creating the staff schedule, and makes flexible scheduling easier for everyone involved. Try When I Work for free.

17. Employee referral programs

Workers are more engaged when they like their coworkers. Create an employee referral program to find great workers who already know your current staff and like to be around them. 

Make sure your team is aware of openings in your workplace, and offer up an incentive if their referral gets hired.

18. Company-wide book clubs or TED Talk discussions

Increase motivation and engagement with company-wide discussions of some interesting books that apply to your industry or field. If you don’t think your team would be interested in reading a book, keep it a little lighter by showing a TED Talk and discussing it with your staff to see what you all can use in your day-to-day work life.

19. Employee appreciation programs 

Recognizing your employees for going above and beyond is a great way to increase engagement. Some will find it motivating and work hard to achieve that award. Some won’t, but that doesn’t mean they’re not as important, so make sure you find small ways to recognize them, too. Years of Service awards are a great way to call out your appreciation for someone’s dedication to your business.

20. Coffee break initiatives 

Coffee breaks have always been a simple yet effective way for employees to unwind, connect, and recharge during a hectic workday. For shift-based and hourly workers, these short breaks can be a lifeline to building relationships with their colleagues.

In-person coffee breaks: For teams working on-site, in-person coffee breaks can be incorporated easily. Consider setting up a dedicated coffee corner or lounge in the workspace where employees can gather during their breaks. Rotate schedules slightly to allow different team members the opportunity to mingle over a cup of coffee. This not only promotes bonding but also fosters cross-departmental understanding.

Virtual coffee breaks: For employees who have remote shifts or for teams that are distributed, virtual coffee breaks can be a great alternative. Organize short video calls where team members can join with their favorite beverage, allowing them to maintain connections even from afar. This ensures that everyone, regardless of their work location, gets an opportunity to engage and interact.

Regular coffee breaks, whether virtual or in-person, can play a pivotal role in enhancing employee camaraderie, facilitating organic discussions, and boosting overall morale.

21. Cultural celebrations

Celebrate the diverse cultures represented in your workforce. Host themed days where employees can share their traditions, foods, and stories, fostering a sense of belonging and appreciation for everyone.

Not sure where to start? Ask for employees to volunteer to be a part of a committee where they can choose what holidays and customs are celebrated.

Employee engagement for all

Engaged employees are ideal for managers. These are the employees who make it easy to do your job well. Set aside time, budget, and resources for employee engagement activities. This will increase motivation and boost employee retention, all while making your workplace more efficient and productive.

Have you tried out any activities in this guide? Which are the most important to your organization?

Still not convinced that dedicating resources to employee engagement is worth it? Your customers will disagree with you. Check out our guide on How Employee-first Workplaces Improve Customer Satisfaction.  

22. Using team communication software

Get your team talking to each other and make it easy for them with a team messaging app. When you use scheduling software like When I Work, which includes team messaging, you can keep everything work-related all in one place. So your employees know exactly how to get in touch with you and each other.  They’ll be more likely to engage because there’s no confusion about if they should text, call, or email. 
Check out: 10 Best Team Communication Apps To Stay Connected

Employee scheduling and team messaging apps are here to help

When they have 24/7 access to the schedule, they’ll be engaged with it. 85% of employees and employers engage with When I Work weekly. Use When I Work to give them a voice in their own work lives, so they can make time-off requests, swap and drop shifts to handle those unexpected events, and keep up with their availability to manage their work/life balance. Plus, they’ll be able to communicate more effectively with each other to get the job done.

Here are some of the ways When I Work can improve team engagement:

• Team messaging which keeps everyone connected, without sharing phone numbers or email addresses
• 24/7 access to the most up-to-date version of the schedule
• Shift swaps and drops to let your team be empowered to find their own shift coverage
• And more

Sometimes, the simplest things can increase employee engagement, like making sure everyone is on the same page, and creating more accountability for everyone on your team.

“We’d have days where we were each sending out several hundred text messages. Our thumbs are happy that we’ve moved away from that process and we keep that communication on the platform and have a record of it.”

– Spencer Russel, Event & Media Technologies

Try When I Work free for 14 days and see how much it helps your employee engagement.

Employee engagement for all

Engaged employees are ideal for managers. These are the employees who make it easy to do your job well. Set aside time, budget, and resources for employee engagement activities. This will increase motivation and boost employee retention, all while making your workplace more efficient and productive.You can also boost employee engagement with better systems. Use When I Work for faster employee scheduling, better team messaging, and easier time tracking. Try When I Work free today!

Employee engagement activity FAQs

How can employee surveys and feedback sessions enhance employee engagement?

Employee surveys and feedback sessions allow employees to express their opinions and suggestions, making them feel heard and valued. However, it’s crucial that managers listen and act on some of these suggestions, as ignoring employee feedback can lead to disengagement.

What is the role of employee engagement in customer satisfaction?

Engaged employees often lead to more satisfied customers. When employees are committed to their work, it reflects positively on their interactions with customers. As such, dedicating resources to fostering an employee-first workplace can ultimately improve customer satisfaction.

How often should a company introduce new employee engagement activities?

Regularly updating and introducing new activities keeps engagement strategies fresh and effective. Depending on the company size and resources, introducing new activities quarterly or biannually can be beneficial.

How can a company measure the success of its employee engagement activities?

Success can be measured using employee feedback, participation rates in activities, improvement in employee performance metrics, and retention rates.

Can small businesses with limited resources still have effective employee engagement activities?

Absolutely! Many engagement activities, such as feedback sessions, recognition programs, and team discussions, require minimal to no budget. It’s the thought and genuine effort that often counts the most.

Get started today. Sign up for your free trial of When I Work now!