13 Fun Employee Appreciation Games Boost Morale And Team Spirit

13 Fun Employee Appreciation Games Boost Morale And Team Spirit

Show your team how much you appreciate them with these 13 employee appreciation games. From team-building exercises, there's something for everyone.

Tim Kuo

Tim Kuo

Nov 21st 202412 min read

woman participating in Employee Appreciation Games

Employee appreciation games are a fun and effective way to boost morale, foster team spirit, and show your staff how much you value their hard work. When it comes to cultivating a positive work environment, recognizing your employees for their efforts is crucial. From fun games to team-building activities, here are some creative ways to make your staff feel appreciated. In this blog, we'll delve into interactive and amusing games aimed at increasing employee appreciation and engagement. Read on to discover how these activities can benefit your organization and boost employee morale.

What Is Employee Appreciation And Why Does It Matter?

Employee appreciation games play a pivotal role in cultivating a positive work environment where employees feel valued, motivated, and engaged. Employee appreciation refers to the various ways employers can recognize, acknowledge, and show gratitude towards their employees for their hard work, contributions, and dedication to the organization. When employees feel appreciated, it motivates them to continue working hard and reinforces company values.

When employers show appreciation through games and activities, it improves the employer-employee connection and relationship. Games can help employees bond, collaborate, and engage with each other outside of the usual work environment. This, in turn, enhances work satisfaction and contentment, and increases employee retention rates, making appreciation games a valuable investment for every business.

The Impact of Employee Appreciation Games

team happy while playing Employee Appreciation Games

Statistics show that employee appreciation and recognition in the form of games, activities, experiences, and gifts will always matter. Happy, satisfied employees are, on average, 12% more productive than their less happy and satisfied counterparts. 90% of employees who receive recognition or thanks report higher levels of trust in their employer. Employee appreciation games are not only fun and engaging but have a tangible impact on both employees and the organization as a whole.

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Benefits Of Employee Appreciation Games

a high level plan for Employee Appreciation Games

Boost Morale

When it comes to injecting fun and excitement into the workplace, employee appreciation games are the way to go. These games are designed to lift spirits and boost morale, creating a sense of camaraderie among team members and fostering a more positive attitude towards work. By engaging in enjoyable activities, employees can break away from the monotony of work and share a laugh or two, revitalizing their energy and motivation.

Strengthen Team Bonding

Employee appreciation games provide an opportunity for employees to interact in a relaxed and informal setting, strengthening relationships and fostering a sense of belonging within the team. Team members can bond over shared experiences, build trust, and learn to cooperate better. These games create an environment where employees can be themselves and let down their professional guard, promoting a more cohesive and supportive team atmosphere.

Increase Engagement

Interactive games that capture employees' attention and encourage active participation can significantly increase engagement levels. When employees are actively involved in fun activities, they are more likely to feel motivated and committed to their work. These games enhance employee engagement by creating an enjoyable work environment where team members are eager to participate, contribute, and excel.

Recognition and Appreciation

Employee appreciation games offer a platform to publicly recognize and appreciate individual and team achievements. This acknowledgment reinforces positive behavior and encourages continued efforts toward achieving organizational goals. By shining a spotlight on employees' accomplishments, these games not only boost morale but also inspire employees to strive for excellence.

Reduce Stress

Employee appreciation games provide a welcome break from work-related stress and pressure, allowing employees to relax and unwind. Taking time to enjoy fun activities promotes mental well-being and helps alleviate stress, leading to a more positive and productive work environment. By incorporating these games into the workplace, organizations can create a stress-free zone where employees can recharge and refocus.

Promote Creativity and Innovation

Many employee appreciation games involve problem-solving, creativity, and thinking outside the box. Engaging in these activities stimulates creativity and encourages employees to approach challenges with a fresh perspective, fostering a culture of innovation within the organization. By promoting a creative and innovative mindset through games, organizations can nurture a dynamic and forward-thinking workforce.

Improve Communication Skills

Games that require teamwork and collaboration help improve communication skills among employees. By working together to solve puzzles or complete challenges, team members learn to communicate effectively, share ideas, and listen to one another. These games provide a safe space for employees to practice communication skills, build trust, and learn to work harmoniously towards a common goal.


13 Fun Employee Appreciation Games To Boost Morale And Team Spirit

team enjoying Employee Appreciation Games

1. Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt is a wonderful game for employee appreciation that encourages teamwork and boosts office morale. You can also sneak in a couple of appreciation gifts for your employees. Take some time to develop clues and riddles that will lead your employees to victory. Divide your office workers into teams who will spend a few hours trailing around the office trying to collect specific items, find the next clue, perform activities, and land on their prize at their final destination.

You can include accessories, clothing, electronics, and home and living items sporting your company’s logo in the list of items the teams need to find and collect along the way. Another option is to include some of those company swag items in the final prize!

2. Online Trivia

Develop an online trivia game that employees can play at their desks. The trivia game could be about your company, which would have the added benefit of giving workers a better understanding of the business. One option is to give a large prize at the end to whoever has the most points. Other options are to have rounds and give a prize for the winner of each round, or give a small prize to whoever gets the first correct answer each time.

3. Minute to Win It

Take your cue from the NBC television show Minute to Win It, which features 60-second games that sound easy but really aren’t. Sometimes the show features office games – perfect for your employee appreciation game days. “Office Maximus” involves knocking over three reams of paper by bouncing a rubber band ball from a distance of 16 feet. In “Office Tennis,” two people use clipboards as racquets and volley a crumpled piece of paper toward its final wastebasket destination.

4. Red Carpet

Another fabulous way to celebrate your employees and show your appreciation for them is to roll out the red carpet. Encourage your employees to dress in their favorite outfits, whether that’s a suit and tie, a pretty dress, or their pajamas and slippers. Give them instructions to send you a theme song they would like to strut to. Then welcome each person into the office with a red carpet rolled out from the front door.

Play their theme music, cheer, take photos and videos, and make them feel as important as they are. Employees should be encouraged to strut, dance, pose, and have as much fun as they want. Silly and fun employee appreciation games such as these are an effective way to show your employees you value them on Employee Appreciation Day.

5. Charades

Put a twist on a classic game with an office-inspired charades game. Most of us know how to play charades but do a brief introduction before diving in to ensure everyone understands the rules. These include no speaking, pointing, or writing in the air. This employee appreciation game is exciting, and competitive, and encourages everyone to participate.

As the employer, write down examples of things in the office on small pieces of paper and put them all in a container for employees to grab and act out on their turn. Don’t limit yourself to the simplistic or boring! Get creative and tailor the prompts to past events, and specific problems all employees are familiar with that apply to your industry Each employee gets a turn to pick a piece of paper and act out the word or phrase written on it. If you work in a small office, the rest of the office members can guess together. If you work in a rather large office, you may need to split into groups and have a mini charades competition.

6. Beautiful Baby

While not originally created for the office, baby shower games have adult appeal and some of them transfer well to a workplace environment. To play the game Guess the Baby Picture, employees bring in a photo of themselves at age 12 months or younger and post it on a bulletin board or to a website. Their colleagues then try to guess which photo goes with which fellow staffer. The person with the most correct answers wins.

7. Work Songs

Another popular baby shower game, The Baby Song List Game can be adapted to feature songs about work. Employees are given a time limit to come up with as many song titles with a work theme as they can. These could include songs like “Take This Job And Shove It" by Johnny Paycheck, “Back On The Chain Gang” by the Pretenders, and “She Works Hard For The Money” by Donna Summer. Points are awarded for each song, with bonus points awarded for naming the correct artist.

8. Two Truths and a Lie

In Two Truths and a Lie, each participant takes turns sharing three statements about themselves: two truths and one lie. The rest of the group then tries to guess which statement is the lie. This game is an excellent icebreaker and helps team members get to know each other better in a fun and interactive way. It encourages creativity and humor while fostering a sense of camaraderie among colleagues.

9. Human Bingo

Human Bingo is a variation of the traditional bingo game, but instead of numbers, each square contains a characteristic or experience that someone in the group may possess. Participants mingle and talk to each other to find individuals who match the descriptions on their bingo card. Once they find a match, they write the person's name in the corresponding square. The goal is to complete a row or column, just like in regular bingo. Human Bingo encourages networking, communication, and discovering common interests among team members.

10. The Great Wind Blows

The Great Wind Blows is a high-energy and engaging game that promotes team bonding and collaboration. Participants sit in a circle, and one person stands in the center, acting as the "wind." The wind announces a characteristic or statement about themselves, such as "The great wind blows for everyone who has traveled abroad."

Anyone to whom the statement applies must quickly stand up and find a new seat. Meanwhile, the person in the center tries to grab an empty seat. The last person left standing becomes the new "wind." This game encourages movement, laughter, and connection among team members as they share common experiences and learn more about each other.

11. Pictionary

Pictionary is a game that encourages creativity, collaboration, and communication among employees. Players draw a word or phrase on a piece of paper or whiteboard while their team tries to guess what it is. It's a fun and interactive game that promotes teamwork and creativity. This enhances communication skills, fosters teamwork, and boosts creativity in a relaxed and enjoyable setting.

12. Mystery Appreciation Buddies

Mystery Appreciation Buddies is an activity where employees leave surprises for a secret co-worker to show appreciation. Employees secretly pick a colleague's name and throughout the day, leave thoughtful notes, treats, or surprises for that person without revealing their identity. At the end of the day, there is a reveal session where the team finds out who their Mystery Appreciation Buddy is. This game encourages positive interactions, spreads positivity, strengthens team bonds, and creates a sense of appreciation and recognition among colleagues.

13. Ping Pong

Surprise your employees by sneaking in a ping pong table before everyone arrives for their next shift. Keep it around all day for employees to enjoy when they need a break between tasks or when they need to blow off some steam.

You may find one or two employees struggle to concentrate with the sound of the ball pinging and ponging. So, in addition to the ping pong table, balls, and bats, place a pair of noise-canceling earplugs or earphones on each employee’s desk. These can subtly help throughout the day to avoid frustration and sensory overload. Noise-canceling earplugs or earphones are also fantastic gifts employees can use all year round that show your appreciation for their focus, concentration, and hard work.

Employee Engagement Through Ping Pong

Another option is to incorporate the ping pong table as a way for employees to connect with their employer in a relaxed atmosphere that doesn’t feel too intense or serious. Place the table in your office and invite each employee to play a game with you throughout the day.


5 Key Considerations For Using Games For Employee Appreciation

considerations for Employee Appreciation Games

1. Personalized Employee Appreciation Games

Understanding your employees is crucial in implementing employee appreciation games. By knowing their preferences and interests, you can tailor the games to resonate with them and create a meaningful experience. This increases engagement and enjoyment among employees, making the initiative more successful.

2. Relevance and Engagement

Choose games that are relevant to your team and industry to ensure maximum engagement and enjoyment among employees. This will help employees connect with the activities more easily and find them interesting. This is likely to increase the overall success of the games.

3. Inclusivity and Participation

Encourage inclusivity and participation by selecting games that cater to different skill levels and interests. This allows everyone to join in the fun, ensuring that all employees feel included and can participate at their own comfort level. By doing this, you're likely to foster a positive and engaging environment.

4. Team Building and Collaboration

Incorporate games that promote teamwork, collaboration, and communication. These activities strengthen relationships among employees and foster a positive work environment. Team building games can help improve morale, and if they're fun, they can also help improve productivity.

5. Recognition and Rewards

Offer recognition and rewards for participation and achievements in the games. By showing appreciation for their efforts, you motivate employees to actively engage. This also helps to reinforce a culture of appreciation and recognition in the workplace, increasing job satisfaction among employees.

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Build A Meaningful Employee Recognition Program With Ease With Giftpack

Giftpack offers an innovative solution to the often overlooked and cumbersome process of corporate gifting. Our platform leverages a sophisticated AI algorithm to provide highly personalized and thoughtful swag box options for various recipients, including employees, customers, VIP clients, friends, and family members.

By analyzing basic demographics, preferences, social media activity, and digital footprints, we are able to curate the most fitting gifts from a vast catalog of over 3.5 million products worldwide. This vast selection ensures that each gift is both unique and meaningful, making the recipient feel appreciated and valued.

Global Delivery and User-Friendly Platform

Giftpack makes the process of showing appreciation even easier by offering global delivery services. Whether your employees are scattered across the globe or your clients are located internationally, our platform can handle the logistics and ensure a seamless gifting experience. Our user-friendly platform makes it easy to navigate and select the perfect gifts for each individual. With just a few clicks, you can create a customized swag box that will leave a lasting impression on the recipient.

Meaningful Connections Through Personalized Gifting

At Giftpack, we believe that employee appreciation should not be a one-size-fits-all approach. By carefully considering each recipient's unique characteristics and interests, we are able to deliver a personalized gifting experience that fosters meaningful connections. Our wide range of locally and globally sourced gifts ensures that there is something for everyone, no matter their preferences or tastes. Whether you are looking to show appreciation to your employees, clients, or loved ones, Giftpack can help you create a memorable and impactful gifting experience.

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Tim Kuo

Tim Kuo

Nov 21st 202412 min read

About Giftpack

Giftpack's AI-powered solution simplifies the corporate gifting process and amplifies the impact of personalized gifts. We're crafting memorable touchpoints by sending personalized gifts selected out of a curated pool of 3 million options with just one click. Our AI technology efficiently analyzes each recipient's social media, cultural background, and digital footprint to customize gift options at scale. We take care of generating, ordering, and shipping gifts worldwide. We're transforming the way people build authentic business relationships by sending smarter gifts faster with gifting CRM.

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