20 Exciting and Unique Employee Engagement Ideas and Activities

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Engaged employees are good for business — and they make the workplace an enjoyable place to be. You can create a company culture that encourages employee engagement. In this article, we identify twenty ideas to get started.

How do you plan events and activities with employee engagement in mind? 

You'll see the best results from your employee engagement activities when you plan them around a goal. Are you trying to encourage more innovation? Do you want your workers to form stronger relationships? Could your team use an energy boost? Are they missing skills you need in the office?

When you know what your goals are, you can pick an employee engagement activity that aligns with them. Ideally, you'll then see an uptick in the positive behavior you seek.

Remember, keeping employees engaged is a long game. One fun activity isn't enough to revamp your work environment. You'll need to encourage employee engagement regularly through other techniques and activities.

4 Employee engagement activities for boosting creativity 🎨

Employers often overlook the value of creativity in the workforce. After all, if everyone's handling their daily responsibilities, what's the problem?

However, highly creative employees are usually innovative problem-solvers. They think out of the box and come up with valuable ideas that benefit your organization. Here are a few ideas to stoke creativity in the office.

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1. Pottery Painting Class

In this activity, employees paint a coffee mug or planter using provided materials. A virtual art instructor guides the class, giving basic painting and design tips.

Why is this a great idea for employee engagement? 

Painting is fun! Everyone has an artistic side, and this class encourages employees to let theirs shine. The course is especially useful for marketing teams that could use an imagination boost.

How to get started 👉 Seize the clay and enroll in a pottery painting class today! 

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2. Tie Dye Workshop

You probably remember tie-dying from your childhood summer camps. In this activity, your team members will turn their old, worn-out tee shirts into a kaleidoscope of color.

Why is this a great idea for employee engagement? 

Tie-dying gets the creative juices flowing! Plus, your team will share many laughs as they twist and scrunch their clothing for the best designs.

Any team can benefit from a tie dye class. If you notice your employees are looking a little too serious these days, tie dying can loosen things up.

How to get started 👉 Bring on the colors with this unique tie dye class! 

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3. Terrarium Workshop

In this class, employees create their terrariums from plants, pebbles, and decor. An enthusiastic instructor guides them through the process.

Why is this a great idea for employee engagement? 

Building a terrarium is an unusual experience that gets the creative wheels spinning. It can inspire employees to use their artistic juices elsewhere — like your next advertising campaign. Afterward, everyone keeps their creations to remember the event.

How to get started 👉 Bloom where you're planted with a terrarium course!

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4. Wood Burning Class

In our wood burning course, employees learn how to burn their designs on wooden coasters. It's a unique experience your employees will remember forever.

Why is this a great idea for employee engagement?  

Wood burning can boost employee engagement, sparking conversation among team members and creating memories that will last. After all, how many employees can say their employers showed them how to burn wood designs? You're sure to receive lots of positive employee feedback.

How to get started 👉 Stoke the creative fires in a wood burning workshop!

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4 employee engagement games for building connection 🕹️

Think games are only for kids? Not at all! Everyone loves a good game, especially if it involves some fun competition or a unique challenge.

Games can strengthen bonds among your team members and highlight your employees' top skills. Use them to get to know your workers on a more personal level.

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5. Plug and Play Mixer

The Plug and Play Mixer helps new hires and established team members get to know one another. A virtual host will guide you through a series of exciting micro-games.

Why is this a great idea for employee engagement?  

By the end of the session, you'll learn lots about your new employees and coworkers. Employers with remote employees will see collaboration skyrocket, especially if you include multiple departments in the session. This is a great option for startups and employers expanding the size of their teams.

How to get started 👉 Encourage employee engagement in this simple mixer!

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6. Escape Quest 

The escape quest poses a unique challenge to your employees: solve a puzzle given just a few clues. Because participants work in teams, employees must collaborate to succeed.

Why is this a great idea for employee engagement?  

Employees whose jobs require working alone may not interact much with their team members. An escape room challenge pushes them to step away from their personal workspace and get to know their team members. Plus, they'll develop their problem-solving skills!

How to get started 👉 Put your heads together with the escape quest!

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7. Coworker Clash

Our take on the classic survey game sparks some fun competition. During each round, teams submit their top answers to our prompts. Expect lots of laughs in this enjoyable game.

Why is this a great idea for employee engagement?

Coworker Clash is a great employee morale booster. Everyone can join in on the camaraderie. Since it's not knowledge-based, all team members get a chance to shine.

How to get started 👉 Level up the amusement with Coworker Clash!

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8. Taboo

Are you looking for a bit of word action from your remote team members? Taboo is an excellent option! Teams collaborate via a game platform to guess the correct word based on a few clues.

Why is this a great idea for employee engagement?  

Taboo is ideal for improving remote employee collaboration. Anyone can join, no matter their location. This game inspires healthy competition that isn't trivia-based.

How to get started 👉 Put word skills to work with a game of Taboo!

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4 employee engagement ideas for rewarding employees

Is employee recognition something you want to improve in your office? Teach your managers (and team members) how to reward others for a job well done with Confetti's helpful tools. After all, making employees feel valued is one of the best ways to improve employee retention.

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9. Lunch Party

Do you have a significant deadline that needs to be met? If so, you might need your team members to stay late or work through their lunch break. Reward their efforts with a delicious meal from their favorite dining establishment!

Why is this a great idea for employee engagement?  

When your employees give up their time to support your company, rewarding them for their help shows you recognize their additional efforts. You'll see far fewer frowns in the office (or among your remote team members) when everyone has a free meal to chow down on.

How to get started 👉 Keep spirits up with a tasty lunch party!

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10. Mini Charcuterie Box

Few people can turn down a lovely charcuterie board, especially when paired with wine or a delicious sparkling fruit beverage! Surprise your employees with a delightful snack delivered on the day of your choice.

Why is this a great idea for employee engagement?

Unexpected catered snacks are a great way to improve employee satisfaction in the office. Your employees will love the idea, especially if they're working on a big project for you. Reward their hard work with a treat they can't turn down!

How to get started 👉 Book a charcuterie box for your deserving team!

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11. Employee Appreciation Gift Box

Your employees work hard; why not reward them for their efforts with some company swag? Choose between pullover jackets, insulated tumblers, canvas tote bags, and throw blankets, all including the logo or design of your choice.

Why is this a great idea for employee engagement?

You want your employees to feel proud of their work and know they're appreciated. Show them they're a valuable asset to your team by rewarding them with items they can use. They'll remember your gift whenever they put on their jacket or carry their tumbler to the gym!

How to get started 👉 Show your appreciation with personalized gifts.

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12. Online Gift Card

Want to honor exceptional employees for their unique contributions? Why not send them an online gift card? Our online gift cards are perfect for your remote employees, no matter where they live.

Why is this a great idea for employee engagement?

Giving employees the present they deserve can be hard in a remote work environment. An online gift card makes it much easier since you won't need to worry about shipping something to them. You'll boost their spirits and their job satisfaction!

How to get started 👉 Get your diligent employees a virtual gift card!

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4 employee engagement ideas for professional development

Could your employees benefit from a focus on professional development skills? If so, consider employee engagement ideas designed to improve such skills! You'll find a wealth of professional development skill-building ideas on our website, including these faves.

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13. Empathy Water Cooler

Sometimes, people get so entrenched in their work that they forget about the feelings of others. Help them to look past themselves and identify with their teams through our empathy water cooler activity. A skilled host leads them through the exercise, encouraging people to learn more about other employees and how they think.

Why is this a great idea for employee engagement?

The empathy water cooler activity is a terrific option for employers with a diverse workforce. Through guided instruction, employees will learn to put themselves in the shoes of others. This can greatly improve team collaboration.

How to get started 👉 Catch the empathy wave!

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14. Stress Management Workshop

Are your employees a little more stressed than usual these days? Consider our stress management workshop, which teaches workers how to improve work-life balance and manage everyday stressors.

Why is this a great idea for employee engagement?

When employees feel burnt out and over-stressed, their work performance will dip. The stress management workshop helps them identify key stressors and overcome them.

How to get started 👉 Get a handle on stress with this workshop!

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15. Vision Board Workshop

If your employees lack initiative these days, perhaps they need help with goal-setting. In our vision board workshop, employees explore how to set and work toward objectives.

Why is this a great idea for employee engagement?

Setting goals (and achieving them) is important both in and out of the office. Your employees will learn how to improve career development through our helpful exercise.

How to get started 👉 Explore your team's vision!

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16. Think Faster

Want to see better collaboration in your office space? Think Faster encourages employees to work together and bounce ideas around.

Why is this a great idea for employee engagement?

Greater collaboration leads to more conversations in the work environment and well-developed team-building skills. Our team engagement activities will train employees to work together as well as think innovatively.

How to get started 👉 Think Faster, not slower.

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4 employee engagement activities to support work-life balance

We all need work-life balance. All work and no play can quickly lead to employee burnout — something you definitely want to avoid! Encourage employees to take charge of their work-life balance with a few of these fun activities.

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17. Workplace Mental Health Workshop

Mental health conditions have long been stigmatized, but you can encourage employees to acknowledge difficulties that harm their well-being. Our workshop helps employees recognize the symptoms of mental health conditions and challenges so they can take action quickly.

Why is this a great idea for employee engagement?

Employees who feel that senior leadership truly cares about their well-being are more likely to feel supported in their work environment. Also, employees who recognize mental health conditions early will seek help quickly. You'll benefit from fewer disengaged employees, fewer sick days, and a healthier workforce.

How to get started 👉 Check out our mental wellness program!

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18. Laughter Yoga

You don't have to be an experienced yogi to participate in laughter yoga. This fun class teaches you to let go of fake laughter and let the genuine ha-ha’s out!

Why is this a great idea for employee engagement?

Do your employees seem a little too serious these days? Bring the fun back into the office when you sign your team up for laughter yoga. Your team will experience better moods and get some of their challenges off their chests.

How to get started 👉 Stretch your funny bone with laughter yoga!

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19. Deskercise Class

Stretching and meditation improve mental clarity and lessen tight muscles caused by sitting for extended periods. In our deskercise class, your team will learn to moderate their breathing and movements directly from their chairs.

Why is this a great idea for employee engagement?

Stress and muscle tightness tend to concentrate in the back, shoulders, neck, and arms. In this relaxing workshop, your team members will learn to loosen tight muscles and clear their minds. You'll see the benefits in the form of happier, more productive team members.

How to get started 👉 Om your way forward with virtual deskercise!

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20. Meditation Class

Meditation teaches people how to achieve greater mental clarity. It can also boost concentration and productivity. Our meditation class teaches your team the basics so that they can start their meditation journey.

Why is this a great idea for employee engagement?

When your employees regularly engage in meditation, they'll improve their focus. Team members who struggle with distractions can greatly benefit from meditation. If you have a major goal you want your employees to achieve, meditation can help them develop the habits they need to be successful.

How to get started 👉 Declutter the mind with our meditation workshop!

Book the Best Employee Engagement Team Building Activities with Confetti

Confetti offers dozens of employee engagement ideas, workshops, and classes that can benefit your workplace. Sign up for one of our suggested activities, or explore more of what we offer on our website!

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For more tips and ideas on employee engagement, check out our Ultimate Employee Engagement Guide. 

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