Virtual Employee Engagement Ideas for Small and Large Teams

If you have a remote-based team, you may start to run into some challenges keeping employees' spirits high and ensuring that everyone is comfortable and happy with their teammates. Even though we often spend more than eight hours a day working with our team, it can be hard to connect with them on a more personal level when things get busy. Scheduling quarterly or monthly virtual employee engagement events is an effective solution that can show your company values team building and encourages connections among team members.

However, finding virtual employee engagement ideas that work for a remote-based team can be challenging, especially if you have a larger team you need to accommodate.

We’re here to help you find the best virtual experiences for your purpose and give you a few ideas to help you increase engagement and foster connections.

How do I plan the most engaging type of virtual event for different team sizes?

The larger the group, the more challenging it can be to find a solution that fits your needs. What we recommend is looking for solutions based on your goal and then breaking the group into smaller, more manageable groups.

For example, maybe you want to acknowledge a record-high sales month and celebrate your team's accomplishments. You may decide to go with an engagement tactic that is focused on raising spirits, positivity, and celebration.

Maybe you want to welcome a few new hires into a new department. Since not everyone will know each other just yet, you could do something that is a bit more hands-on and encourages socializing in smaller groups.

Regardless of your goal, there is always a reason to celebrate your employee’s successes, company accomplishments, and new connections in the workplace.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at a few of our favorite event types and break them down by goal.

Virtual employee engagement ideas for collaboration and teamwork

Collaboration and teamwork engagement ideas may seem difficult with a large team; however, it is not impossible to accomplish.

What you need is a solution that supports connections and encourages team building. Whether your team is fully remote or in the office, we recommend breaking your large group into breakout groups. Turning your large group into smaller, more manageable groups can help encourage communication among your team members and make it easier for them to get to know everyone they work with on a more personal level.

Here are a few virtual employee engagement ideas that we think are great for collaboration and teamwork.

Around the World Scavenger Hunt

Get ready to take your team on a wild ride around the world with this 60-minute scavenger hunt! What’s great about this scavenger hunt is that it can accommodate teams of 25 to 500. During the experience, your team will divide into breakout sessions and have the opportunity to collaborate with their team members while traveling around the world. We recommend getting your team together for a cross-departmental team-building activity and allowing them to socialize and connect with coworkers they’ve never been able to connect with before.

The Great Zoom Challenge Game

If your team members are a competitive bunch who is always looking for new ways to have fun, we have the virtual experience for you! The Great Zoom Challenge works with you to customize a list of challenges and tasks that match your team’s personalities and company culture. We recommend getting as creative and specific as you want for a fully customized experience that is unique to your group. The best part is this virtual experience can accommodate 10 to 1,000 employees and still encourages team building, connecting, and fun.

Escape the Basement

Looking for an experience that is full of lively fun, interactive puzzles, and collaboration? Look no further! Escape the Basement is sure to challenge your team’s critical thinking skills and get them thinking in a collaborative environment with their teammates. During the game, everyone will be split into groups of seven with one moderator. If you are looking for particular employees to grow a deeper connection or meet each other for the first time, we can assist with pre-assigning teams to fit your needs. No group is too small to test their knowledge. This experience can comfortably accommodate 10 to 600 members of your team.

Wow, Who Knew? Trivia

We love trivia junkies who are always ready to put their knowledge to the test! Get ready for a virtual experience full of fascinating facts that are sure to get your team to say, “Oh wow, I didn’t know that!” This exciting trivia experience is one of our favorite virtual employee engagement ideas that can accommodate anywhere between 25 to 600 individuals and still be tons of team-building fun!

Virtual employee engagement ideas for milestones or celebrations

We treat milestones and celebrations differently when it comes to employee engagement events. Since your overall goal is to celebrate rather than team build, you’ll want to find a solution that encourages your team members to relax and enjoy themselves.

Recognizing their accomplishments and taking the time to celebrate individuals can have a positive impact on how your team members view the company culture. Plus, it’s nice to offer your team members an experience that allows them to join together to celebrate and unwind after a long workday.

To truly celebrate, you’ll need an event that’s designed for your team members to have a good time. Whether your team had a record-breaking month or you’re looking to celebrate a holiday in a virtual team setting, we have a few virtual employee engagement ideas that are sure to spark conversation and provide everyone with a ton of fun.

For these types of engagement experiences, you don’t have to break your group into smaller groups, but it is encouraged if you want them to engage with one another on a closer level.

Here are our top picks for virtual employee engagement ideas that we think are great for milestones or celebrations.

Learn to Twist Authentic Soft Filled Pretzels

If you have a team full of foodies who would love the opportunity to learn how to twist their own pretzels, we have the experience for them! The host begins with a short history lesson on the pretzel and then dives into how to create an authentic pretzel from start to finish. Don’t worry, there’s a ton of opportunities for laughs and fun throughout the entire duration. The best part? Your team will leave with a dozen delicious pretzels and dips they can share with their friends or family.

TOAST Experience & Kit

Get ready for a festive celebration full of charcuterie board fun, sparkling ginger cocktails, double chocolate fondue, rosemary-truffle popcorn, and mulled cider! What more could your team ask for? Each member of your team will receive a kit full of fun to get the party started. To complete the full celebration experience, we recommend sending your team members a bottle of wine or champagne. There’s no better way to get the virtual party started than with a tasty box full of treats and a dedicated time for your team to meet.

Paint & Sip

If you are looking for an experience that is more hands-on and interactive, Paint & Sip is the virtual event for you! Tell your team to get ready for a happy hour experience like no other. The instructor will guide your team through the painting experience, leaving tons of room for their creativity. Each participant will receive everything they need to paint, a bottle of wine, and snacks to munch on. What more could they ask for from a celebration or milestone experience?

Planning and executing quarterly employee engagement events can help increase morale, productivity, and confidence levels among team members. Who knows, with some virtual events, you may even be able to see who has some true leadership skills or uncover hidden talents.

When researching and looking for virtual employee engagement ideas that work for your team, keep in mind that a virtual experience through ReElivate can be a great option that can accommodate almost any size group you have. We have a large array of experiences that were designed to meet your particular requirements and provide your team members with a quality experience.

If you don’t think any of these experiences would be a good fit for your team members, you can explore our full list of virtual experiences and find one that fits your team’s interests.

Originally published at Jul 5 2022, 4:07:36 PM. Updated on May 4 2024.