How to Improve Employee Engagement: 10 Activities To Make a Real Difference

According to a 2026 Gallup report, US employee engagement fell to just 31% at the end of 2025, its lowest point in a decade. Globally, only 20% of employees are engaged, costing the world economy an estimated $10 trillion in lost productivity in a single year. That’s not just sad—it’s expensive. Disengaged employees cost companies billions in lost productivity, higher turnover, and missed opportunities.

But here’s the good news: employee engagement isn’t some mysterious force you can’t control. It’s something you can actively build, measure, and improve. With over 15 years of experience creating, customizing, and executing events for corporate teams across every industry, I’ve watched companies transform their cultures through intentional strategies, genuine connection, and consistent effort. 

In this guide, I’ll explore everything you need to know about employee engagement: what it really means, why it matters more than ever, and 10 proven employee engagement activities for creating a workplace where people actually want to show up.

What is employee engagement?

Employee engagement is the emotional connection an employee feels toward their organization, which influences their behaviors and level of effort in work-related activities. The more engaged an employee is with their company, the more effort they put in.

It’s not the same as employee satisfaction or happiness. A satisfied or happy employee might be content collecting a paycheck while doing the bare minimum. But an engaged employee? They’re invested, and they care about outcomes. They go above and beyond not because they have to, but because they want to.

Engaged employees believe in their company’s mission, feel connected to their colleagues, and see their work as meaningful. They’re the ones who stay late when it matters, volunteer for challenging projects, and become your best brand ambassadors.

Why is team engagement important?

Keeping employees engaged is essential for any business that wants to achieve its goals. Employee engagement is one of the most impactful aspects of a business, and it can separate a struggling business from a booming one.

Here’s why employee engagement and performance are so closely linked:

• Productivity goes up. Highly engaged teams are 23% more productive than their disengaged counterparts, according to Gallup. Disengaged employees, by contrast, tend to do the minimum while waiting for a better opportunity.
• Turnover goes down. Replacing a single employee costs between 0.5 and 2 times their annual salary. People who feel connected to their team and company are far less likely to start scrolling job boards.
• Customer experience improves. Engaged teams deliver measurably better service. Organizations in the top quartile for engagement see 10% higher customer satisfaction scores than those in the bottom quartile.
• Innovation increases. When people feel safe, valued, and invested in their work, they’re more willing to take smart risks and share new ideas. Psychological safety and engagement go hand in hand.
• Absenteeism decreases. Disengaged employees call in sick 37% more often than their engaged counterparts. Engagement keeps people present in every sense of the word.
• Company culture strengthens. Engagement is both a reflection of culture and a driver of it. Strong engagement reinforces the behaviors and values that make your organization worth working for.
• Revenue grows. Gallup research has found that business units with top-quartile engagement see 23% higher profitability than those in the bottom quartile. Engagement isn’t just a people strategy; it’s a business strategy.

Because of this, keeping employees engaged with the right people engagement activities is a critical aspect of running a business. Engaging disengaged employees can help you increase productivity, build a stronger workforce, and gain a competitive edge.

Biggest challenges to employee engagement

Understanding the biggest challenges to keeping employees engaged is the first step to solving them. Here are the most common engagement killers I see:

Lack of recognition

When employees feel invisible, engagement plummets. People need to know their work matters. A simple “thank you” at a team meeting or via email can make a huge difference. Recognition doesn’t have to be expensive—it just has to be genuine and timely.

Poor communication

Communication plays a critical role in keeping teams engaged. When employees don’t understand the “why” behind decisions, or when information flows poorly, trust erodes and engagement follows.

Employee burnout

Employee burnout is one of the fastest ways to kill engagement. Overworked employees eventually disengage as a survival mechanism. They pull back, do the minimum, and look for the exit. Preventing burnout requires realistic workloads, adequate support, and regular breaks.

Limited growth opportunities

Employees want to see a future. When there’s no clear path for development or advancement, engagement stagnates. Personalizing your onboarding experience and creating clear development plans help employees see that future.

Disconnection from purpose

The number one priority of working professionals today is understanding the real purpose behind their work. According to research, 57% of young Americans say their priority is enjoyable and meaningful work. When employees can’t connect their daily tasks to a larger purpose, engagement suffers.

Workplace complacency

Complacency in the workplace isn’t just a productivity killer—it’s a silent epidemic that drains creativity, morale, and innovation. When “good enough” becomes the standard, engagement dies.

Top 10 employee engagement activities

Though it’s clear that employee engagement is essential, finding the right engagement activities can be challenging. What will engage my team? What activities or strategies work best? These can be tough questions to answer. However, we’re going to provide 10 of the best staff engagement activities to help get you started. Just remember to consider your team and their preferences. These are all great ideas in general, but individual teams respond differently to various forms of engagement.

1. Give back as a team

One of my all-time favorite team engagement ideas is giving back together. Charitable events are a great way to encourage bonding, develop relationships, and get team members more engaged with the organization.

Two examples are Team Teddy and Just Roll With It. Team Teddy has teams create and customize teddy bears for kids in need, coupled with exciting challenges. Just Roll With It is a similar event, but it’s timed and involves making skateboards for kids in need.

Both of these events are great employee engagement activities. We also have a suite of other charitable events that are perfect for employee engagement, so give them a look.

2. Prioritize employee health

When it comes to ideas for employee engagement, employee health is often overlooked. An employee’s physical and mental health can play a big role in their ability to stay engaged with their work, and prioritizing their health can make a big difference.

Happy and healthy employees are much more likely to be invested in the business and their coworkers, and work their hardest to help the company achieve its goals.

Our employee wellness program is a great option for those who want to prioritize employee health. This three-stage program includes a variety of wellness activities that help employees with their health, while also creating a healthier and more positive work environment.

3. Try a four-day workweek

Though this may seem like one of the more radical employee engagement ideas, improving work-life balance via a four-day workweek can greatly improve engagement and employee loyalty. It can also help prevent burnout and increase retention.

Since the pandemic, more and more employers are moving away from 9-to-5 office jobs toward more flexible, employee-focused opportunities. As a result, companies across the globe have begun piloting four-day workweeks. Despite working fewer hours, most trials have seen increased productivity. In fact, Microsoft Japan saw a 40% productivity increase with a four-day workweek. Buffer reported increased employee autonomy and overall work happiness, as well as reduced stress levels.

4. Creative compensation

Benefits and compensation are among the many factors that impact engagement, and trying new ideas can help you keep employees’ attention. Get creative with compensation and offer fun activities and perks to your workers.

Consider introducing an arts and culture stipend for local theatre shows, museums, and concerts. You could also give your employees a wellness stipend for a monthly gym membership, sports classes, or equipment. This signals to the employee that you care about them and their personal lives, even when they’re not on the clock. This, in turn, can make them more dedicated and engaged in their work.

5. Effective communication

If you’re looking for simple employee engagement activities you can implement immediately, effective communication is a great option. Clear and open communication is key to business in general, so it’s no surprise that it can help with engagement, too.

Employees are more engaged when they feel like they can ask questions, talk things through, and have open conversations with those around them, including management and leadership.

An open door policy is a great start. That encourages employees to voice their concerns, talk to their bosses, and be more involved in the business as a whole. In turn, that increases employee engagement.

6. Incorporate team building

For more creative ways to engage employees, team building is a good choice. There are many reasons for team building, and employee engagement is one of them. Team building is an effective way to increase engagement while also improving other key skills.

Team Mixology, for example, involves teams creating their own unique and creative cocktails, potentially as part of a friendly contest. Giving your team the chance to let loose a bit can be a very effective way to get them more engaged.

Another option is the Corporate Tonite Show for remote teams. It is a virtual Tonite Show-style game show with a live host and exciting activities, all of which help increase engagement.

 

7. Invest in growth

One of the many reasons employees get disengaged is that they aren’t challenged and don’t see room for growth, promotions, or new skills. Directly investing in your employees’ growth, whether through team building, upskilling, or other training programs, helps them stay more focused and committed to the organization, thereby increasing engagement. LinkedIn’s 2024 Workplace Learning Report found that 94% of employees say they would stay at a company longer if it invested in their learning and development.

Two programs I particularly recommend:

Discover Your Strengths: Based on the Clifton StrengthsFinder, this program helps your team identify what they naturally do best and then learn how to leverage those strengths in real work situations. Participants complete a simple online assessment and, through group activities and guided debrief conversations, build a shared understanding of each other’s talents. The result is a team that communicates better, collaborates more effectively, and shows up with more energy because they’re doing work that actually fits them. Each participant also receives a copy of either StrengthsFinder 2.0 or Now, Discover Your Strengths, so the learning extends well beyond the session.

Effective Communication: This team building workshop gives your people the tools and insights they need to communicate more effectively at work. Whether your team struggles with cross-functional alignment, remote communication, or just getting everyone on the same page, this program meets them where they are. We’ve been facilitating sessions like this for more than 35 years, and the impact is real: better conversations, fewer misunderstandings, and stronger working relationships across the board.

8. Mentorship programs

Tying into the last option, mentorship programs can be another great way to increase engagement. Developing a cross-departmental or senior management mentorship program can encourage collaboration, learning, growth, and engagement.

Employee mentorship programs are especially beneficial because they help engage both mentors and mentees. They can also increase trust, efficiency, and job satisfaction, which provide their own benefits to your business. On top of that, mentorship programs help you develop a stronger, more skilled, and flexible workforce that can help push your business forward.

9. Recognize and reward employees

Employees want to feel valued, which is why employee recognition is one of the best engagement strategies for any company. However, we often focus on results rather than the effort the employees put into their jobs.

A sincere “thank you” at a team meeting or via email will make your employees feel appreciated and respected, increasing engagement. In fact, 87% of employees say feeling appreciated increases their motivation. Taking the time to recognize your employees’ work and efforts will increase employee loyalty and performance.

And don’t be afraid to get creative with recognition, rewards, and incentive ideas. Consider all your options and find rewarding, exciting, and engaging ways to recognize employees. There are plenty of great occasions to recognize your team, such as Administrative Professionals’ Day, Intern Day, and more.

10. Focus on inclusion

Wrapping up our list of employee engagement activities is inclusion. Though this is one of the employee engagement ideas that often gets overlooked, it can have a huge impact on engagement.

Help employees see how their work contributes to the bigger picture. Share customer success stories. Explain how their project impacts the company’s mission. Connect daily tasks to organizational goals. Understanding what employees value most helps you create that meaningful connection.

Seasonal engagement strategies

Aligning engagement efforts with the seasons keeps things fresh and gives you natural hooks for planning. Each season offers unique opportunities:

Winter: Combat seasonal blues with winter team building activities. Holiday parties, winter sports outings, cozy indoor events, and year-end celebrations help teams stay connected during the darkest months.

Spring: Harness the energy of renewal with ideas that bring your team together. Outdoor activities, spring cleaning projects, Earth Day initiatives, and fresh-start team building all work well.

Summer: Take advantage of good weather and summer energy. Jump-start your summer outing plan with beach days, outdoor sports, picnics, and adventure activities that get people outside, energized, and happy.

Fall: Autumn in the workplace marks a transition back to focus. Fall festivals, harvest themes, Halloween events, and year-end goal prep all create opportunities for engagement. This is also a great time to host an office potluck!

Staff engagement activities made easy

Employee engagement is closely tied to efficiency, productivity, retention, and more. Keeping employees engaged and utilizing the right employee engagement activities is essential for any successful business. If you’re struggling to find ways to engage your employees, partner with TeamBonding. We have decades of experience and can make your team building events easy, effective, impactful, and memorable.

So take the first step and engage your workforce with TeamBonding. Check out our events and get in touch with us today to boost your employee engagement.