8 Ideas for Boosting Remote Employee Engagement

Why are virtual employee engagement activities crucial to your remote workers? 🤔

Virtual employee engagement activities are crucial to the success of remote teams for several compelling reasons:

• They foster a sense of connection and camaraderie among team members who are physically distant from each other. By participating in virtual team building events and collaborative projects, employees can build relationships, enhance communication, and develop a sense of belonging within the team.
• They combat feelings of isolation and disengagement that can arise from working remotely. By providing opportunities for team members to interact, share experiences, and collaborate on non-work-related tasks, virtual engagement activities alleviate feelings of loneliness and promote a positive work culture.
• They contribute to the personal and professional development of remote employees. Virtual learning and development sessions, workshops, and skill-sharing events enable team members to acquire new knowledge and enhance their skills, fostering continuous learning and growth.

Overall, virtual employee engagement activities play a pivotal role in creating a cohesive and thriving remote team, leading to enhanced productivity, job satisfaction, and ultimately, the success of the team as a whole.

Read on for some virtual employee engagement ideas and events you can use to build connections in your remote workforce.

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Plan these 4 events to better engage remote employees:

1. Play virtual team building games 🕹️

Playing virtual team building games boosts remote employee engagement in multiple ways. Virtual employee engagement games provide a fun and interactive platform for team members to connect and collaborate, fostering a sense of connection and building stronger relationships among colleagues who may be working from different states or countries:

• Confetti's Escape Quests are a great team building activity to engage and unite your team!
• Confetti's Trivia Games are the perfect experiences to learn something new with your team!
• Confetti's Coworker Feud Games are an interactive way to engage your coworkers with a little friendly competition!

The shared experience of playing together promotes teamwork, communication, and trust, which are vital elements of effective collaboration. Additionally, virtual team-building games inject an element of excitement and novelty into the remote work routine, combating feelings of monotony, burnout, and isolation.

How to get started 👉 Engage employees with friendly competition in Topdog Trivia!

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2. Throw wellness activities 👟

Boost employee engagement for remote teams by organizing virtual wellness activities that prioritize their well-being:

• Offer virtual fitness or yoga classes, where employees can join in from the comfort of their homes. These activities not only promote physical health but also encourage team members to take breaks, recharge, and relieve stress together.
• Host virtual mindfulness or meditation sessions, providing employees with a space to relax, practice self-care, and enhance their mental well-being.
• Employers can arrange virtual wellness challenges or competitions, such as step counting or healthy recipe sharing, to encourage participation and foster a sense of friendly competition within the team. (This spring, our Confetti team participated in a step challenge and had an absolute blast!)
• Organizing virtual workshops on topics like stress management, work-life balance, or healthy cooking can provide valuable information and resources to remote workers, empowering them to prioritize their well-being.

By implementing such virtual wellness activities, employers demonstrate their commitment to the health and happiness of their remote teams, leading to increased engagement and employee well-being.

How to get started 👉 Don't let remote work keep you from staying active. Lace up your sneakers and engage your team with one of Confetti's Fitness Classes!

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3. Host virtual happy hours 🍸

Employers can boost employee engagement for remote teams by hosting virtual happy hours. Virtual happy hour gatherings allow team members to relax, socialize, and connect on a more personal level at the end of their day, or week. Instead of just hopping on a shared call, why not host an interactive mixology class? In Confetti's virtual mixology classes, your team will learn how to make delicious themed cocktails, even tailored to seasons and cultural holidays!

Virtual happy hours not only help alleviate the feelings of isolation and promote a positive work culture, but they also provide a platform for employees to unwind, have fun, and build stronger relationships, ultimately enhancing overall employee engagement and job satisfaction within remote teams.

How to get started 👉 Master the art of cocktail making in a Custom Mixology Class!

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4. Provide learning and development opportunities 💼

Employers can boost employee engagement for remote teams by hosting virtual learning and development workshops. From the convenience of their own homes, employees can host workshops from thought leaders or utilize online training platforms to deliver interactive sessions on relevant topics, such as mindful leadership, workplace mental health, DEI conversations at work, communication skills, conflict resolution, and more.

Additionally, offering opportunities for remote employees to share their expertise or lead lunch and learn sessions on their areas of specialization can foster a sense of pride and autonomy in their work. By investing in virtual learning and development workshops, employers demonstrate their commitment to the growth and development of their remote teams, empowering employees to expand their skill sets and stay motivated in their roles.

How to get started 👉 Invest in your team's soft skills with our Learning and Development Collection!

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Here are 4 more virtual employee engagement ideas to get remote employees engaged:

5. Virtual coworking sessions 🧑‍💻 

Employers can boost employee engagement for remote teams by hosting virtual coworking sessions. These sessions provide an opportunity for team members to work alongside each other virtually, improving productivity and connection.

Departments can set up recurring virtual coworking time where team members can log into a shared call and collaborate, or work individually on projects in real-time. This allows for enhanced communication, knowledge sharing, and the ability to provide immediate feedback and support. At Confetti, we've been enjoying bi-weekly coworking sessions that end with a ten-minute guided meditation to keep our team feeling refreshed and supported!

How to get started 👉 Kick off your virtual coworking session with some interactive icebreakers or trivia questions!

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6. Create ERGs 👥

Employers can boost employee engagement for remote teams by creating Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). ERGs are voluntary, employee-led groups formed around shared characteristics or interests, such as gender, ethnicity, or hobbies. To create virtual ERGs, employers can facilitate the creation of these groups and provide platforms for remote team members to connect and collaborate. This allows employees to network, share experiences, and support one another in a virtual environment. Employers can also encourage ERGs to organize virtual events, webinars, or discussions centered around relevant topics.

By fostering a sense of community and inclusivity, ERGs create a space for remote workers to feel connected, heard, and valued. Additionally, ERGs can offer mentorship programs, learning opportunities, or volunteering initiatives, further boosting employee engagement and personal development.

How to get started 👉 Try these 5 Employee Resource Group Event Ideas!

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7. Virtual Town Hall meetings 🎤

Employers can improve engagement for remote teams by using regular virtual Town Hall meetings. These meetings provide a platform for transparent communication, where employers can share updates, company news, and address employees' questions or concerns. By hosting virtual town hall meetings, employers can create a sense of unity and alignment among remote team members. They can encourage active participation by allowing employees to submit questions in advance or during the meeting, providing an opportunity for open dialogue and feedback.

During these Town Hall meetings, leadership can take time for employee recognition, including outstanding contributions, upcoming birthdays, and other milestones. By fostering a culture of transparency, recognition, and two-way communication, virtual town hall meetings demonstrate that employees' voices are valued, boosting their engagement, trust, and commitment to the organization.

How to get started 👉 Boost remote employee engagement by finding time on the company calendar to add a regularly scheduled team call where major updates can be shared from different departments and leadership.

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8. Create a sense of belonging 🤗

Here are some ways to foster a sense of belonging, boost employee morale, and get remote workers engaged:

• Implement virtual onboarding processes that ensure new remote team members feel welcomed and integrated into the team from the start. This can include hosting get-to-know-you team building activities or assigning a mentor or buddy to provide guidance and support.
• Employers should foster a culture of inclusivity and diversity through experiences like DEI team building activities and trainings.
• Encourage regular team check-ins and virtual meetings to maintain a sense of connection and camaraderie. Additionally, creating virtual spaces for informal conversations, such as dedicated chat channels or social platforms, can facilitate casual interactions and help employees build relationships beyond work tasks. At Confetti, we have dedicated channels to discuss cooking, books, music, movies, and even playfully banter over our hot takes!

How to get started 👉 Download our free eBook to learn more about strengthening and building your company culture in a distributed workforce.

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Host remote employee engagement activities with Confetti 🎉

The best ways to engage remote employees are centered around building connections, enhancing collaboration, and making employees feel seen, heard, and supported. Don't hesitate to invest in events and strategies that will strengthen your distributed team. Visit our Employee Engagement Guide to learn more and get started with Confetti today!

For more remote employee engagement ideas, visit our Virtual Team Building collection!