Numerous factors in an organization drive employee engagement activities. It is much needed for any organization to thrive and develop. Some of the top employee engagement activities are both creative and engaging. The primary idea of employee engagement is to help your staff become more productive. They should feel at home in their work environments and should enjoy contributing value to the organization.
Here, we list some of the top popular and uniquely engaging activities for your employees. You can try them out directly or add your innovative touch to the programs.
Evolution of Employee Engagement Over the Years
Organizations have always admired the role of employee engagement to boost performance and unlock the potential of their staff members. Fostering a positive spirit in workplaces has earned recognition over the years. Though it was always a factor in companies, it was in the 1990s that employee engagement earned the value of being a critical organizational concern.
The term was coined in magazines and publications as part of employee evaluation or productivity modules. It again took some time for organizations to adopt them in their HR policies and operations. At first, it was introduced in defined company structures only. Later, the engagement activities were expanded to work environments outside the organization. Remote workplaces also promote different types of employee engagement in present times.
The biggest factor of employee evolution has happened in terms of participation and responsibility. Employee engagement is no longer an HR-only task. Multiple segments of the organization come together to celebrate the work culture with a feeling of belonging. Surprises are the key to delivering excellent employee engagement activities.
Top 10 Employee Engagement Activities for HRs
HRMS solutions are perfect for managing employee engagement in organizations. Motivation is crucial in all the employee engagement activities listed in this section.
- Team-building Activities
It is the top trending engagement activity that employees can undergo in organizations. Team-building is rewarding on multiple levels. It creates an environment of harmony and togetherness among your employees. It could extend to internal or external events and games or work-related activities.
Big organizations and startups are great beneficiaries of team-building for two different reasons. In large-scale companies, this is the best way for employees to engage with each other beyond work. Colleagues can learn the best about each other and get introduced to new possibilities within the organization. For startups, it is all about growing the mandatory bond between staff members.
The numerous team-building activities that you can follow are games/sports, cultural events, outdoor activities, volunteering work, growth programs, and workshops. The fun part is that you can come up with your custom version of an event using online HR software Saudi, that is both vibrant and productive. - Career Development Schemes
Employee engagement possesses the power to raise the career potential of staff in the organization. A growth-oriented thought process regarding career goals is essential for employees to flourish in the organization. If the company’s HR division can oversee this, it will be fruitful for everyone involved.
The primary support that employees can receive is related to the training and development programs they can undergo. These can be extensively managed from the automated system’s side to create a personalized process. Coaching and mentorship programs are also a feasible option in this scenario.
Performance-oriented career programs are not the only solution here. There is also space for creating schemes that boost the intangible assets of employees. Staff members should have an innate desire to build on their professions with the aid of factors like motivation, reception of criticism, critical thinking, etc. - Rewards & Recognition
If there is one aspect of employee engagement programs that everyone will ceremoniously accept, it’s the rewards and recognition scheme. We all love to be congratulated and cheered. And if it’s for the work done or a hard-earned achievement, then it is a double-sweet thing.
In terms of recognition, both formal and informal support play a huge role. Formal recognition is necessary for employees to feel valued at the workplace and boost their performance quotient. Informal recognition covers the vibrant and cheerful activities among peers. It is usually done outside the workspace, thus enabling everyone to come unglued.
Rewards are one category where the possibilities are endless for your creativity. These could extend from traditional formats to modern-day groundbreaking reward programs. Favorable examples include monetary rewards, intrinsic and extrinsic motivators, wellness-oriented packages, travel benefits, and rewards where company clients participate. - Productive Sessions
This particular category of employee engagement is not just about raising the productivity of your organization but also about building work satisfaction for employees. The main thing here is to allow ideas to be established regarding employee engagement. Collective brainstorming sessions for the human capital resources in the organization is a helpful step.
Feedback is key in conducting productive sessions for boosting employees in the firm. Community-based thinking is essential to manage the above action. Another unique thing you can deliver is the chance for employees to work in profiles away from their regular roles in the short term. It would widen their vision about themselves and the organization.
All productive sessions should be crafted in such a way that they are enjoyable for the employees. They have to volunteer for the designed activities with an unmatched passion. Frequent activities are preferred in this category over one-time events that lose fuel after some time. - Special Programs
Under special events or activities, you can include employee engagement programs that are unique to your business model and work culture. The best benefit of this is that you can maintain the DNA of your company without compromising the organization’s defined framework. Yet, it won’t bother your plans to create employee engagement in a dynamic environment.
The biggest advantage of specialized programs is that all members of the organization can significantly contribute to the purpose. It would pave the way for innovative event tactics that are curiously positive from an HR perspective.
Digitized versions of events can receive the best under exclusive company programs and are open to multiple interpretations when the workplace culture is enhanced. When everyone comes together for an employee engagement program, transparency and quality are guaranteed. - Personalized Care
Personal support can be given to employee engagement programs by involving each employee in the organization. It is feasible only when workers in the organization show a tendency to participate. The authorities should be eager to develop every employee effectively.
Each employee should feel comfortable under the personalized engagement activity. It should be their safe space and me-time. If your staff resources can find something that generates a special feeling like this in the organization, then you have won.
Employing an HRMS solution is the optimum idea to include under this scenario. HR systems can provide hyper-personalization options where preferences, interests, hobbies, activities, and desires are duly considered. It’s an elevating experience for each employee, rewarding their time and efforts for the organization. - Flexibility in Work
If there is a standout employee engagement experience that is promised to deliver, it is the flexible solutions and iterations they can receive regarding their work profiles. Every employee will enjoy a change in their work style, working hours, or mode of profession.
In flexible employee engagement programs, both parties should exercise adaptability and willingness to change. Employee retention rates can be increased sensationally with this activity. Communication and interpersonal skills will have a huge chance to flourish when employees become a part of organizational employee activities.
It can be promoted through multiple channels and includes rewards and recognition that also follow custom patterns. If the employee can choose his/her rewards from a wide range of options, it’s going to sound remarkable from the organization’s perspective. It’s the biggest employee-oriented sentiment that a company can show. - Events for Near and Dear Ones
Including the near and dear ones of an employee in their company engagement activities is a soulful step. We all want to participate in events together with our friends and families. If the arrangement for the same can be done from the end of our workplace benefactor, it’s an incredible experience to receive.
These events would cover fun and entertainment activities for the employees and their related ones. It will work out best for startups and small businesses where everyone can feel like a member of one big family. Another thing of note here is the cultivation of authentic, real-time engagement of employees with family members of their colleagues.
Even large-scale companies can try these either in team-wise or location-wise units. The possibility for innovation strategies is also high in this regard, with an option for potential ideas occurring from all parts of the organization. HR systems can help deliver employee engagement, including families, using the support of software solutions and cloud computing services. It will be beneficial for remote firms. - Contests & Games
When it comes to contests and games, the only question is how much variety you can offer to your employees. This employee engagement activity should be part of constantly conducted HR activities. You can do it as regular weekly, monthly, or quarterly sessions. Annual days should be conducted to celebrate your employees with pomp and glory.
Some contests have global coverage, whereas certain ideas apply to some regions or localities.HR departments will have the final authorization to decide the optimum route to follow and manage. Virtual and remote events are also possible in this format.
HR contests can take care of an employee’s well-being and also promote value to the satisfaction of employees. The side benefits of these events include employee morale, the development of intangible assets, and a progressive viewpoint on the company. - Benefits Beyond the Organization
Go out of the park when dealing with employee engagement in an organizational structure. You can employ useful methods to go above what the rest of the pack offers. Digitized solutions are the best in this regard and work if interaction and competitive spirit are key parameters.
Ensure that sustainable practices are adopted for employee engagement. In 2024 and beyond, your resources are going to expect better perks and an array of incredible work experiences/benefits. A properly crafted and taught HR software system can offer you solutions for employee benefits beyond what the normal conditions provide.
All external activities and community events will come under this segment. If HR personnel can ensure the practicality of each program, the rest can be handled authoritatively by the automated system. External employee engagement activities are part of the holistic development of your human resources.
Merits of Efficient Employee Engagement
If you can pull off strategic employee engagement activities consistently, the benefits to your organization as a whole are numerous.
- Modern businesses require everyone to be proactive. Employee engagement can help your staff members become more aligned with the organizational goals.
- Intangible values like leadership quality, self-motivation, self-esteem, value-based career goals, etc. will improve for employees.
- A human touch will be visible in your business model.
- It will empower your employees and the company itself in the market.
- Employees will learn about more ways to mutually connect, thereby boosting the organization’s profile.
- More opportunities will arise for your human capital resources.
- Every employee will have an individual and collective purpose to perform in their careers and lives.
- Employee engagement will open the HR team and organizations to industry-best practices.
- The level of connectivity between all members of the organization will be better, irrespective of their hierarchy in the project.
- Employee engagement activities will make your employees’ rest more meaningful and captivating.
- It is a strategic route for developing a system where employees want to stay in companies on their own accord.
- It will help them grow in their mind, body, and spirit, helping them make suitable decisions concerning their jobs and life outside the organization.
Artify 360’s Core HR Module to Develop Effective Employee Engagement
If you want to try essential HRMS software to promote one-of-a-kind employee engagement programs in your organization, then look no further than the Artify 360 cloud HR software system. The platform offers the best HR payroll software in Bahrain services and the solution is guaranteed to make waves in your HR operations. With an option to promote personalized engagement activities, the Artify 360 core HR module is all you need to carry out a journey of rewarding experiences for your employees.