You might have heard the saying, 'happy employees equal happy customers.' In reality, there are many more benefits to having happy employees. It increases their morale, leading to better teamwork, higher retention rates, and enhanced productivity.
Modern businesses are always on the lookout for ways to boost employee morale at no cost. We have done the hard work to offer you just that. Below is a compilation of activities designed to boost employee morale and strengthen team bonding. These activities will lift everyone's spirits and incentivise them to go the extra mile for your business.
While you're here, you can also explore how using continuous feedback can enhance your performance management strategy.
Here are twelve fun-filled office games to boost morale without breaking the bank.
1. Trivia time: Let individual and team strengths take the spotlight
Trivia is a fun and effective way to bring employees together, fostering engagement and energy. By including a diverse range of questions across various subjects, you allow employees from different backgrounds to showcase their strengths and talents. This makes the activity appealing to all personality types, ensuring it’s enjoyable for everyone. Additionally, trivia provides an opportunity for individuals to learn more about each other. To make it more relevant to the workplace, consider incorporating a few questions related to work or company culture, reinforcing company values in a light-hearted way.
2. Revitalise your workforce with an employee sports day
Did you know that exercising can potentially improve mental focus and performance? Most people strive to be more fit and active, but often lack the opportunity and motivation to do it alone, especially when they are stuck behind a desk for hours every day and feel tired at the end of the day.
Consider giving your employees a break from monotony and a quick morale boost by hosting regular sports days. These events will provide something for them to look forward to and help get their endorphins flowing. Sports are a great way to build team bonding, and offering prizes can encourage a little friendly competition. Offer a wide range of activities beyond traditional sports. Make it participable for all and not just targeted towards those who are naturally gifted and fit. You can include games such as darts, bowling, clay pigeon shooting, and even video games.
3. Scavenger hunt: corporate edition
Scavenger hunts are not just a fun pastime for kids. A lot of adults find them enjoyable too. Being sent on a search for random, hard-to-find objects can be an enjoyable challenge for adults as well. It can become a favourite among your employees if executed well. For more engagement, involve your employees in the planning process by asking them to anonymously suggest items to be included, a few weeks prior to the hunt. Create teams of employees from different departments who are otherwise unlikely to interact, compile a list, and observe their teamwork as they strive to locate everything on the list. Not only does this activity foster teamwork, but it also ensures a great deal of fun for all participants.
4. Brighten up office days with fun themes
While upholding a professional atmosphere and formal dress code is essential for office decorum, it's refreshing to occasionally break away from the usual suits and ties. Relax those dress codes for a day and have a fun themed office day, allowing employees to embrace fun and fashion for a day. let their creativity flow through their ensembles. Encourage them to dress up according to exciting themes, such as movie characters, superheroes, or an era from the history, adding a touch of fun and energy to the work environment. Themed office days certainly enlivens the workspace and boosts employee morale, offering them a refreshing experience at the office to look forward to.
5. Host a ‘work and family’ picnic
Considering the substantial time we invest at the workplace, it's common for our colleagues to become akin to a second family. To strengthen the sense of community, think about arranging a company event or outing that incorporates employees' families. Hosting a picnic or barbecue presents a light-hearted and informal opportunity for coworkers and their loved ones to socialise and build connections. Such events can help foster a friendly atmosphere where work and family members can meet and bond. This allows work and family members, who often know each other only by name and stories, to get acquainted, deepening relationships, encouraging new friendships, and enhancing overall morale.
6. Promote wellness and healthy competition with fitness challenges
What company wouldn’t want a healthy workforce? Support your employees’ wellness by introducing fitness challenges that promote healthy habits. Consider hosting a company version of a “Biggest Loser” competition to raise awareness about obesity or organise walking challenges and Zumba sessions. Using technology like Fitbits to track and compare progress, such as step counts, can add a fun, competitive element. These contests not only encourage employees to prioritise fitness but also enhance interaction and engagement among colleagues.
7. Ignite excitement with an escape room experience
Escape rooms have quickly gained popularity worldwide and are now among the most sought-after team-building activities in the corporate world. In these rooms, employees and their colleagues are locked in a space for a set period. To escape and gain freedom, they must find and solve clues. These rooms require employees to work together as a team, dividing tasks and solving complex puzzles, all while a countdown clock adds to the urgency. This activity demands effective teamwork and tests their communication and cooperation skills. Regardless of the outcome, whether they escape in time or not, employees are likely to leave the experience stronger and more united.
8. Boost bonding with a book club
Starting an employee book club can significantly unite your workforce and boost engagement. It’s also a cost-effective and easy-to-organise initiative. By selecting a book title and setting a regular meeting time and place each month, you create an opportunity for your team to come together and discuss shared reading experiences. Beyond fostering connections and team bonding, a book club can motivate those who might not typically read to develop a reading habit. To make the book club even more relevant to your workplace, consider including non-fiction titles focused on personal growth and self-help, genres often associated with successful individuals.
9. Host daily huddles
We often see athletes gather in a pre-match huddle to rally, enthuse, and energise themselves for the upcoming task. A similar approach can be brought to the workplace to prepare employees for the day ahead. Include a short daily huddle with your team, ideally at the beginning of the day. Implementing this routine could serve as a potent morale-boosting activity and a tool for enhancing employee engagement. These meetings offer an avenue to discuss challenges, monitor progress towards company goals, and uplift and motivate your team, demonstrating strong leadership qualities.
10. Team up for volunteering
Engaging in acts of kindness brings a wave of happiness. With this understanding, think about bringing the team together for a charitable volunteering event. This offers a fantastic chance for everyone to make a positive impact, feel good about themselves, and enjoy this enriching experience with peers. It can help foster a sense of unity within the team and strengthen ties to the community.
11. Virtual social meet-ups
Employee morale receives a significant boost from social connections within the workplace. Creating a sense of belonging and fostering close-knit teams are vital for organisational success. Given the rise of hybrid work setups, leveraging video conference social gatherings becomes crucial. These virtual meetups provide employees with an opportunity to unwind and connect at the end of their day or week without any formal agenda. While not work-focused, these sessions greatly contribute to team spirit and cohesion, enhancing the overall bonding experience.
12. Celebrate birthdays
It's the little things that count for employees. Remember to honour employee birthdays, no matter how small the celebration may be. Whether it's a heartfelt note, a card signed by colleagues, or a birthday treat, these tokens matter. Our work holds significant meaning for us, shaping a substantial part of our identity. Recognising employees on their special day boosts morale, affirming their value to the organisation and ensuring their milestones are celebrated.
If you manage a remote team, focusing on morale is crucial. Learn how OneAdvanced’s Performance & Talent software can help you elevate your team’s morale and performance by booking a free demo now.