14 Creative Remote Employee Engagement Ideas

Here is our list of the best remote employee engagement ideas.

Remote employee engagement ideas are fun virtual activities, games, and events that foster team bonding and encourage teammates to improve their work performance. Examples include Virtual Water Cooler Spaces, Virtual Escape Rooms, and Virtual Dinner Parties. These activities help to enhance company culture, increase productivity and build relationships between employees.

These ideas are similar to virtual team building activities and ways to make virtual meetings fun.

This list includes:

• remote employee engagement activities
• remote employee engagement games
• remote employee engagement events

Let’s get started!

List of remote employee engagement ideas

From virtual water cooler spaces to virtual escape rooms to online dinner parties, here are examples of remote employee engagement activities.

1. Words With Friends

Words With Friends is a classic game that helps employees communicate. In this game, employees have to work together to make words with a set of given letters.

To organize this activity:

1. Split the teammates into groups of four to six players.
2. Send each group tiles filled with random letters.
3. Set a timer for ten to 15 minutes.
4. The teammates must create as many words as possible from the given letters within the allotted time.
5. When the time is up, the teams with the highest number of words win the game.

This game improves teammates’ vocabulary and is an exciting activity for remote teams. This exercise also promotes teamwork and teaches teammates to cooperate and collaborate. This activity also builds strong communication between remote employees.

Here is a link to a free Words With Friends game site.

2. Get to Know You Bingo

Get to Know You Bingo is an engaging game that increases teammates’ interaction and engagement. This activity is also a great way to boost team morale and improve communication. In this game, employees will cross off traits that best describe teammates, such as “loves coffee” or “an early riser.” Players will mingle in breakout rooms to find teammates who fit the descriptions on the card. The first player to cross off all the traits wins the game.

Examples of prompts include:

This game is one of the best remote employee engagement activities as it helps teammates engage and interact with each other in a fun way.

3. Virtual Meditation

Virtual Meditation is a therapeutic activity that improves employees’ mental health. Meditation is popular for its mental health benefits and helps reduce anxiety, depression, and stress. This activity also helps to boost employee engagement.

To organize this activity:

1. The teammates will meet on any video conferencing platform like Zoom or Google Meet.
2. Encourage the teammates to settle into a calm and cozy environment during the session.
3. Each of the teammates must set a five-minute timer and cut back on background noise.
4. You can set the mood with a guided meditation video or soothing music, candles, or scented oils
5. During the session, the attendees do not have to speak or leave their cameras and microphones on. The purpose of this event is for everyone to feel a sense of companionship as they relax.
6. To make this activity even more fun and engaging, the teammates can share positive experiences they have had at work during the week in a few short words. For example, a player may use the words “good,” “encouraging” and “exciting” to describe their week.

This activity contributes to the relaxation and mental well-being of employees. Meditation helps teammates be more present in their work and calmer when talking to peers.

4. Virtual Dinner Party

Virtual Dinner Parties are one of the best remote employee engagement events. This activity encourages employees to have fun and socialize and fosters team bonding. It is best if you organize this activity on a particular day agreed on by the entire team.

To host:

1. The teammates will meet on any video conferencing platform like Zoom or Google Meet.
2. Create a fun music playlist and use virtual backgrounds. To make the event even more fun, you can set up a dress code or theme.
3. Provide a per-person budget for takeout or meal delivery.
4. Prepare a list of talking topics or games to do while eating.

This activity helps to improve employee engagement, boosts employee morale, and allows teammates to unwind and have fun.

5. Show and Tell

Show and Tell is an exciting activity that creates good memories for teammates within the work environment. In this activity, teammates will engage in weekly photo contests or share photos of themselves or items that best represent them.

To organize this activity:

1. Encourage employees to share photos of important moments or items in their lives.
2. The teammates can even share short stories or experiences related to the photos or items shared.
3. To make this event more competitive, you can award the teammate the best presentation with a prize.
4. You may also use the winner’s photo or image as the photo of the week.
5. You can make this event even more fun by giving the teammates a theme for the week.

This activity is an interesting way for teammates to learn about experiences or items that they may have in common. In addition, coworkers or colleagues may also use this activity as an opportunity to build relevant work relationships.

6. Wellness Challenge

Wellness Challenge is one of the best remote employee engagement activities because it encourages teammates to participate in several physical activities that promote health and well-being. In this activity, teammates may walk, run, sprint, skip or even jog.

To organize this activity:

1. Encourage each of the teammates to share their fitness goals and what they would like to achieve within a given period. For instance, running, walking, and jogging.
2. Create a shared spreadsheet to track progress.
3. The teammates must also share videos or photos of their fitness activities with the team for accountability.
4. You can make this activity even more fun by setting a milestone or target for activities like walking. For example, you can encourage teammates to hit 1000 steps the entire day and share with the team.

You can encourage teammates to share screenshots of their fitness trackers with the team. You may also reward teammates who meet the target with gifts or prizes.

This activity helps teammates achieve their fitness goals and encourages colleagues to become accountability partners. These activities also increase employee interaction and engagement. This exercise also improves employees’ physical and mental wellness.

7. Virtual Appreciation Day

Virtual Appreciation Day is a great and fun event that makes employees feel recognized and valued. This activity improves employees’ work performance and boosts employee engagement and morale.

To organize this activity:

1. The teammates will agree on a date.
2. Then, the teammates will meet on any video conferencing platform like Zoom or Google Meet.
3. Publicly acknowledge employees’ efforts during the meeting. Be sincere and specific, and ensure that
4. you highlight outstanding achievements.
5. You may also create simple certificates of achievements with teammates’ names on apps like Canva.
6. You can make this a weekly or monthly event to appreciate teammates for their contributions or outstanding achievements within the organization.

To give the event a tangible aspect, you can send honorees rewards like like coffee mugs or gift cards.

This event ensures that employees understand their efforts are valued and appreciated within the organization.

Check out more online employee appreciation ideas.

8. Virtual Happy Hour

Virtual Happy Hours are one of the best remote employee engagement activities because teammates get to have fun, interact and engage with each other.

To organize this activity:

1. Meet up on a video call.
2. Give attendees a stipend or reimbursement towards drinks and snacks.
3. The teammates will choose a happy hour theme and pick a set of fun exciting games like trivia contests, virtual charades, and card games.
4. The teammates may have conversations relating to work or personal life as they enjoy a drink together.

This activity promotes team bonding and encourages teammates to interact and get to know each other better. This activity also increases communication between coworkers and boosts teammates’ morale.

9. Gratitude Wall

Gratitude Wall is an excellent activity that encourages employees to share positive experiences with teammates. This activity also teaches coworkers to provide words of encouragement to each other, which helps build reliant work friendships among remote teams.

To organize this activity, first create a shared space on a digital whiteboard app, slideshow, or Google Doc. Then, encourage teammates to write three things they are grateful for in a blank area of the presentation. Finally, you can meet up on a video call and reflect on the writings.

This activity helps employees enjoy positive comments and thoughts from other teammates and encourages coworkers to share experiences. In addition, the teammates’ work-related experiences may help create closer bonds and friendships among remote teams.

10. Guess the Picture

Guess the Picture is one of the best remote employee engagement ideas that teammates can use to unwind and have fun. This guessing game will test teammates’ wits and encourage players to identify items belonging to other coworkers.

To play:

1. Teammates gather via video conferencing software.
2. Each player will share a picture of a personal item they have used once or twice during online meetings.
3. The teammates will send these images to the host. These items can range from personal items like eyeglasses to face caps or mugs.
4. The host will zoom in on these images or share only a fraction of the images with the meeting attendees.
5. The teammates will take turns guessing each of the images on the screen.
6. The teammates have 60 seconds to guess what the item in the image is and which employee the item belongs to.
7. The players with the highest number of guesses win the game.

This activity tests teammates’ observatory skills and makes teammates get to know each other better.

11. Virtual Escape Room

Virtual Escape Rooms are adventurous games that promote team bonding. These challenges also help to improve employees’ decision-making skills and problem-solving skills, and are some of the best remote employee engagement ideas. In this game, employees must solve riddles and complete puzzles over a given period to ” escape the room.”

To play:

1. Set a timer for 15 to 30 minutes.
2. Split the teammates into small groups of four to six players.
3. Send each group to a breakout room with puzzles or clues to solve.
4. The teammates must solve the puzzles within the allocated time to “escape the room.”
5. The first team to escape the rooms wins the game.

This activity promotes critical thinking skills and boosts communication and teamwork among employees. The teammates will also interact, engage and learn to cooperate to achieve a common goal. Virtual escape rooms are one of the best remote employee engagement games because they are fun, intensive, and require super teamwork.

12. Virtual Cooking Class

Virtual Cooking Classes are a great engaging activity that helps employees develop their culinary skills and try out new meals. Employees can learn to make cookies, simmer homemade soups, or even bake cakes in this activity.

To organize this activity:

1. Set up a time for the classes and send invites to the employees.
2. The teammates will meet on any video conferencing platform like Zoom or Google Meet.
   Invite a chef to guide the event.
3. Depending on the meal plan for the event, you may have attendees use their groceries or send some cooking ingredients.
4. You may also send customized aprons for each of the teammates, which will serve as a souvenir for the event.
5. Each of the teammates will cook following the instructions of the chef.
6. At the end of the event, each of the teammates will display the end product of their efforts, and the most visually appealing meal wins.
7. The teammates may sit and share their meal on camera as they discuss and catch up.

This activity promotes healthy eating and enriches teammates’ cooking skills. This activity will also give teammates a conversation starter, and shared memory will set the foundation for a good work relationship between remote teams.

13. Virtual Water Cooler Space

Virtual Water Cooler Spaces are online rooms where employees can connect and get to know each other. This space is where employees can relax and have conversations that are not work-related. In this room, employees can share memes, talk about their favorite TV shows, and play games together.

There are a few ways to set up a virtual water cooler space. For example, you can set up an always-on Zoom room or schedule a recurring virtual meeting. Or, you can make a dedicated Slack channel or team chat. You could even send a shared Google doc and allow teammates to communicate by editing the file. Discord is another great option for online connection.

Be sure to send invites to each of the teammates and encourage employees to share updates on activities that are not work-related.

This activity helps to encourage personal interaction. This exercise can also improve the company culture, encouraging teammates to engage in activities that make work enjoyable. This activity also allows remote employees to get to know each other beyond the scope of work.

14. Personal Facts Guessing Game

The Personal Facts Guessing Game is an excellent game for remote employees. This game improves employee communication and allows remote coworkers to learn about each other and possibly discover common interests. Thus, the challenge is among the best remote employee engagement ideas.

To play:

1. Choose a moderator to oversee the event.
2. Each employee will write three to five interesting facts about themselves. For example, “I have a twin brother.”
3. The teammates will send these facts to the moderator.
4. The moderator will compile each of these facts into a document and share the file with teammates.
5. The players have 15 to 20 minutes to add their answers to the files and send them back to the moderator.
6. The players must guess correctly which teammate each of the facts belongs to within the allocated time.

This game helps teammates share interests and encourages remote teammates to interact and engage with each other. This activity also promotes communication between coworkers and helps build camaraderie between remote teams.

Conclusion

Remote employee engagement ideas are activities or events that promote productivity, work-life balance, communication, team bonding, and enhance company culture. These activities also improve team performance and make work more meaningful and enjoyable for employees. The goal of these activities is to encourage cooperation and team bonding among coworkers and employees.

Now, check out tips for successful virtual icebreakers.