Virtual Employee Engagement Ideas for Remote Workers
It’s 2025 now, but the debate about flexible vs office only workplace mode is still on. Remember Spotify’s bold stance on remote work with its iconic message: "Employees are not kids"? At Esteeme, we align with this mindset, inspiring flexibility and autonomy. But with this freedom comes a unique challenge — how do you foster connection among remote workers scattered across the globe? Staying only online is a huge challenge for HR teams to make those teams more connected.
At Esteeme, we believe in the power of company values that work together with behavioral science (that is embedded into our software). We know that with the right tools that strengthen both company values and employee engagement comes great success. So let’s begin with a few ideas how you, as an HR specialist, can start with the question of making remote teams more engaged. In this article, we are happy to present you top 10 employee engagement ideas to inspire from: both free and that require some budget. So get comfortable and choose yours for the next HR strategic plans.
Why is It Important to Prioritize Employee Engagement?
First, let’s get it clear. Employee engagement matters, and it’s not just a nice to have thing that was 10 year ago. It is a powerful HR branch that can make people more or less productive, increase or decrease attrition rate. With right tools, HR strategy influences the overall company performance. When employees feel engaged, they are more productive, satisfied, and loyal to their company.
Engagement ideas go beyond fun — they foster a sense of belonging, strengthen team bonds, and reduce feelings of isolation. Gallup research shows that highly engaged teams see a 21% increase in profitability and a significant reduction in turnover.
By investing in creative engagement initiatives, companies ensure that their remote workforce stays connected to the mission, vision, and values of the organisation, creating a winning culture no matter where employees are located. If you are still thinking about whether this approach is for you, swipe right to see 5 signs that might warn you to get ready with the first employee engagement idea as soon as possible:
10 Virtual Employee Engagement Ideas for Remote Workers
1. Annual employee awards: celebrate every achievement
Turn recognition into a highlight of the year with virtual Employee Awards. Host a fun online event where employees are celebrated for their achievements, contributions, or unique traits, such as "Best Team Player" or "Innovation Rockstar." Use Esteeme's gamified platform to let colleagues nominate and vote for each other, making the awards feel truly democratic and inclusive. Adding categories tied to company values can further align recognition with organisational goals.
2. Online concert showcasing employee talents
Bring your team together by organising a virtual talent show or concert. Whether it's singing, playing an instrument, stand-up comedy, or even a cooking demo, this is a great way to showcase employees’ creative sides. You can create a virtual stage with video conferencing tools and even reward participants with Esteeme coins or badges for their contributions. Highlighting talents builds a deeper sense of connection and appreciation across the team.
3. Share passion, build bonds
Encourage employees to share their hobbies and turn them into engaging challenges. Create themed events such as "Book of the Month" discussions, crafting sessions, or photography contests. Using Esteeme’s platform, participants can share their progress, earn coins, and unlock rewards as they complete each challenge. This approach not only sparks engagement but also helps colleagues find shared interests, strengthening interpersonal relationships.
4. Sports challenges: set a common goal
Organise a virtual fitness challenge where employees collectively aim to run, cycle, or walk a certain distance. Apps like Strava or Fitbit can track their progress, and Esteeme can gamify the experience by awarding badges for milestones reached. Set a common goal—such as "1,000 miles as a team"—and celebrate progress with shout-outs, coins, or special rewards. This initiative promotes wellness while fostering a sense of shared accomplishment.
5. Virtual coffee: random connections across teams
Facilitate spontaneous conversations by matching employees for virtual coffee chats. Use Esteeme’s Event functionality to randomly pair participants each week, encouraging connections between colleagues who might not normally interact. Gamify the experience by creating a leaderboard for the most coffee meetings or awarding coins for participation. These informal moments can spark creativity and strengthen team bonds, even in a remote setting.
6. Virtual escape rooms
Organise a virtual escape room event where employees work together to solve puzzles and "escape" within a time limit. These events encourage teamwork, communication, and problem-solving, all while having fun. Many platforms now offer themed escape rooms for remote teams. Use Esteeme’s recognition system to award coins or badges to teams that complete the challenge or solve it the fastest.
7. Wellbeing workshops
Host online wellbeing sessions that focus on mindfulness, yoga, or stress management. Bring in experts to guide employees through practical exercises or discussions on maintaining work-life balance. Use Esteeme’s Events feature to encourage participation and reward attendees with coins or wellbeing-themed badges, fostering a culture of care and support.
8. Trivia and game nights: lighthearted competition
Create a recurring trivia or game night for employees to unwind and connect. Themes could range from pop culture to company history, encouraging participation from diverse interests. Using Esteeme, you can award badges for participation or track points on a leaderboard, creating a friendly competitive spirit that keeps employees engaged.
9. Virtual volunteering
Coordinate virtual volunteering opportunities where employees can contribute to causes they care about. This could include activities like writing letters to seniors, mentoring students online, or participating in crowdfunding initiatives. Use Esteeme to recognise contributions with special badges or coins that reflect your company’s values, fostering a sense of purpose and community.
10. Virtual lunch and learn: share knowledge and build skills
Host online learning sessions during lunch hours where employees can share their expertise or invite guest speakers on interesting topics. This informal approach to skill-building keeps employees engaged and inspired. Reward attendees and presenters with Esteeme coins or event-themed badges to encourage ongoing participation.
Encouraging Leaders: Why Employee Engagement is Worth the Investment
Employee engagement isn’t just a feel-good initiative — it’s a business strategy that directly impacts productivity, retention, and company culture. Yet, convincing leaders to invest in engagement requires aligning these efforts with measurable business outcomes. Here's how to make the case effectively:
Present the ROI of engagement
Highlight studies showing the direct correlation between engagement and business success. For instance, organisations with highly engaged employees see a 21% increase in profitability and a 41% reduction in absenteeism, according to Gallup. Demonstrating this return on investment (ROI) will resonate with results-driven leaders.
Link engagement to retention
Employee turnover is costly — replacing an employee can cost up to 33% of their annual salary. Engaged employees are far more likely to stay loyal to their company. By investing in initiatives that foster connection and recognition, businesses save on recruitment costs while maintaining institutional knowledge and team cohesion.
Emphasise the role of leadership in engagement
Leaders set the tone for company culture. Engaged leaders inspire their teams, increase productivity, and foster trust. Show how employee engagement initiatives empower leaders with tools to recognise their teams effectively, boost morale, and align efforts with company values.
Demonstrate the competitive advantage
Engagement is a key differentiator in attracting and retaining top talent. Companies that prioritise engagement stand out in the job market, offering a culture where employees feel valued and motivated. Highlight how investing in engagement strengthens the company’s employer brand.
Use real-life success stories
Provide examples of companies that have successfully implemented engagement strategies and the tangible results they achieved. For instance, showcase how Esteeme’s gamified recognition platform helped companies like Room 8 Group triple their engagement metrics and foster a culture of appreciation.
Make it personal for leaders
When it gets to employee engagement, leaders are always first to connect. When employees are engaged, they perform better, which in turn makes leaders’ jobs easier and more rewarding. So it’s important to explain your company leaders why the employee engagement activities matter and why they also should attend them. Imagine an online concert from the first idea, where CEO sings a song or one of the manager makes a theatrical performance. It is a wow effect that will engage other associates that it’s a part of a culture – showing the talent and being supporting.
Start small, prove big
Propose piloting an engagement initiative within one department or team. Measure and share the results — such as increased satisfaction scores, lower attrition rates, or improved team performance — to build confidence in scaling efforts company-wide.
By presenting employee engagement as a strategic investment tied to tangible outcomes, you can inspire leaders to prioritise and champion these initiatives, driving long-term success for employees and the business. One more idea is to show specific steps in implementing your ideas. Below you can explore how we offer to move forward with launching your new employee engagement activity:
Invest in employee engagement together with Esteeme
Employee engagement is no longer a luxury — it’s a necessity for creating thriving, connected teams, especially in remote settings. From celebrating achievements through annual awards to fostering creativity with talent showcases or encouraging fitness with team challenges, there’s a wealth of innovative ideas to keep your workforce motivated and aligned with company values. The key lies in making engagement consistent, meaningful, and tailored to your team’s unique culture and needs.
At Esteeme, we take employee engagement to the next level with our gamified recognition platform. Designed to connect and inspire employees across the globe, Esteeme blends recognition, rewards, and personalised events into one cohesive solution. Ready to transform your team’s engagement strategy? Book a demo today and explore how Esteeme can bring your ideas to life! 🚀
FAQs
- It is best to plan different employee engagement ideas throughout the whole year. You can make quarterly plans with a few smaller events and plan at least one or two bigger initiatives. For example, you may organize the regual yearly Awards Initiative to celebrate top performes. As for the quarterly initiatives, you can look for some thematic ideas. For instance, dedicate a few events for employee recognition in the period that is around Thanksgiving.
- Data talks. Always stick to data, even if it is difficult to get any metrics within your local company tools. Use any numbers that you have and analyze them before and after the employee engagement event. If there is a lack of any numbers (e.g. views, read rate, click rate, eNPS, etc.), then get your own simplest analytic form. Use google forms or any other free instrument to get employee feebdack. Make sure you add the main question to get the success rate for entire event and add a few open questions for the associates to add their ideas.
- It's probably the wrong direction you are leading at. If you see low participation rate, ask the associates. Any kind of a feedback form will work. Maybe, it's the timing that is not good or the overall topic. Ask employees and you'll see how many insights you can get to adjust the strategy.
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