Wake up, grab a cup of coffee and make the commute to work—that is, from the kitchen to the living room, to the home office or maybe even out to the patio on a nice day. Working from home, on the road or using a hybrid schedule offers conveniences that employees may not experience with daily trips to the office. The concept of flexible work continues to gain ground, with 54% of Canadian companies planning to use a permanent hybrid work model.
However, working from home also means fewer opportunities for sitting near coworkers, in-office socialization and in-person meetings, so it’s important to find ways to keep your employees connected and engaged. We offer fun ways to keep teams connected, including employee giveaway ideas.
Four ideas for keeping employees engaged and connected
- Team-building activities
- Employee recognition celebrations
- Virtual lunches
- Company contests
1. Out-of-the-box team-building activities
Team-building activities are a great way to strengthen the bonds between colleagues, even if they aren’t in the same town or province. Collecting donations for a good cause brings employees together for a common goal they’ll feel good about. Give away themed items to provide reminders throughout the collection period, such as an apple-shaped hot/cold pack for a local food bank or a bus-shaped stress reliever for back-to-school items. Staff can drop off donations to their local chapter of the charity you’re raising funds for or send gift cards to your corporate office that can be used to buy goods on their behalf. Help everyone feel invested when you provide ongoing updates about all the items collected.
Another option is to host regular virtual coffee breaks to give employees time to refresh and chat. They’ll get to know each other better and create a stronger sense of belonging. Encourage participation with matching, branded coffee mugs and stone coasters to create a coffeehouse feel wherever your employees may be.
Host online scavenger hunts, book clubs, game nights and other fun activities to encourage interactions that go beyond everyday projects and meetings. Team members will have a fun time socializing and discussing topics that might not normally come up during the workday.
2. Festive employee recognition celebrations
Give your employees an opportunity to celebrate each other to help the entire team feel more unified. Reserve time once a month for the team to have a virtual celebration for special occasions. Has a team completed a tough project that’s taken months? Call out their hard work and celebrate with lapel pins for everyone who contributed. When an employee earns a certification they’ve worked hard for, a custom paperweight helps commemorate the achievement. They’ll love the recognition for their hard work, and your team will feel proud of their collective accomplishments.
Celebrating birthdays can be part of your virtual employee recognition time too. Let them know they’re a valued member of the team when you also send employee appreciation products like a popcorn tin for their special day. Plus, your staff won’t want to miss a chance to sing and celebrate with their peers. Want to ensure that your employees on the road don’t feel left out? Make it easier for them to participate with virtual get-togethers. They won’t miss a thing with their earbuds and a carrying pouch.
3. Virtual lunches with a twist
Who doesn’t love food? Host virtual lunches to provide an opportunity to connect and get to know each other. For an added twist, choose a fun theme, such as a tropical lunch, to inspire employee giveaway ideas. Send each team member a lei and an inflatable palm tree drink holder in advance to set the tone and invite them to prepare their favourite tropical dish. Or make it a casual lunch that everyone’s sure to dig in to with pizza and drinks. Stir up lively conversation with hilarious topic ideas and a Mood Stir Stick that changes colours right before your eyes. Team members will also love a convenient pizza cutter for the perfect slice.
4. Contests for company competition
And the winner is … some friendly competition to spark engagement. Keep things fun with a competition for crazy hat day, ugliest Christmas sweater, cutest pet or best Halloween costume. Send team members themed invitations to their homes or inboxes ahead of time to give them plenty of notice and see their creativity soar. Or communicate how much you value your employees’ well-being with wellness contests, such as most steps per week or tracking their daily hydration. A Healthy Heart Step Pedometer or Smart Tracker Tritan Bottle make it easy to keep track of progress.
Reward winners with fun prizes they won’t forget, like a Light-Up Mason Jar with Straw or S’mores Kit. They’ll love the uniqueness of each gift, and you’ll love the positive feelings and loyalty they’ll create.
Stay connected no matter the distance with fun employee giveaway ideas
Virtual activities and fun employee giveaway ideas help create valuable social connections and engagement for remote and hybrid employees so you can feel closer as a team from any location.