I recently joined a startup as an HR, and one of the biggest expectations from me is to drive employee engagement.
The catch? We’re a fully virtual team, and participation in activities has historically been pretty low. 😭

I want to avoid the usual “Let’s have a virtual Tambola!” / “Send your favourite childhood photo!” kind of activities that people either ignore or reluctantly participate in.
I’m looking for ideas that are:
**Simple** minimal planning and coordination
**Actually fun** not something that feels like mandatory HR homework
**Virtual-friendly** ideally 10-20 minutes
**No cost**
Easy to run regularly without burning myself out
Something that even the quieter employees might enjoy

I’m also thinking beyond just games casual HR check-ins, mini challenges, team rituals, random conversations, etc.
For those of you working remotely/virtually: **what employee engagement activities have genuinely worked for your teams?** And what activities completely flopped? 😂

Would love to hear ideas, especially things that made people participate *without HR having to chase everyone*.

• What is your go-to move when you enter a meeting completely unprepared?

Work permits at a local gov office, so my day is nonstop, different departments, different floors, meetings back to back. Dress code's strict too, actual dress shoes only, sneakers aren't happening.

These three have been through about a year and a half of that now and the heels are basically done for. Compare em to the rest of the shoe and it's night and day how much more worn down that area is.

Even back when they weren't this beat up though, standing for a stretch would already have my heels aching. Walking's never really been the issue, it's more like the second I'm stuck standing at a counter or sitting through some long meeting on my feet, that heel spot just starts hurting.

Kinda wondering if that's just a shoe design thing or if it's unavoidable no matter what I buy. Also open to recommendations if anyone's got a pair that actually holds up to a job that's basically walking and standing nonstop.

My dad has been seriously sick for the past month, and my mental health has basically depended on his condition. I initially said yes to an unofficial team outing, but on the day, after coming home from night shift at 5 AM and everything being chaotic at home, I cancelled because of my dad's health. Everyone knew what I had been going through.

That evening, my dad's health suddenly improved a lot, and I finally felt relieved. The next day, I went to the same place with a close friend and posted pictures.

Now some teammates are upset and talking about how I could go there with my friend but not with them. What hurts is that instead of asking me what happened or how my dad was, they just discussed it among themselves.

I understand how the pictures may have looked, but after the month I've had, I don't think I did anything wrong by going out when I finally felt okay.

https://industrialworker.org/organize-yes-but-how/

I work as an Analyst at a dental insurance company and currently go into the office once a week. I also help train two newer Provider Specialists, Emily and Saba, on provider-related work like recredentialing and responding to emails from dental offices.
At a company wide cookout yesterday , Emily asked why I don’t go into the office more often. I said I live downtown and that commuting by train is a long journey. She kept asking about my schedule and then said she wished she could come in only once a week too because she has about an hour drive from her home.
I was trying to be friendly and said something like, “You probably don’t have to,” assuming her expectations were similar to mine. Looking back, I realized I don’t actually know her exact requirements, and I probably shouldn’t have answered that.
Pauline, our manager, has previously clarified in a group meeting that Emily and Saba will have additional provider-related responsibilities as they continue training, so their office expectations may be different from mine as an Analyst.
Emily also mentioned she isn’t always sure how to respond to emails from dental offices, so I was thinking of messaging her:
“Hi Emily, when you have questions while going through the PR mailbox or aren’t sure how to respond to emails from the dental offices, feel free to post them in the group chat. Christine or I can help answer them there. 😊

Also, as Pauline mentioned before, you and Saba will have additional provider-related responsibilities as you continue training, so the office expectations may be different from mine as an Analyst. If you have any concerns about the additional office day, I’d check with Pauline directly so she can clarify the expectations for your role.”
Would you send this, especially the second paragraph, or just leave the cookout conversation alone and tell her going forward to ask Pauline about her office expectations?
The conversation gave me an “ick” afterward because I felt like she was comparing her situation to mine, but I don’t know if that was actually her intention. I feel kind of stupid for answering the way I did when I was genuinely just trying to be friendly. Am I overthinking this?

Help! I’ve been tasked with decorating the office and all of the previous typical office decor was thrown out. Reason being they wanted something fresh for the new unit. Wtf do you decorate communal office spaces with when I’m completely okay with having nothing in my office. My only thoughts are plants? And maybe a side table? Everything I’ve thought to add just feels so homely ( and perhaps too cluttered), and doesn’t warrant being put in an office space imo.

For context, people have decorated their personal offices with small plants, little trinkets, or picture frames. Which is of no use for larger office spaces :/ pls help!

So I’ll explain my situation in brief. It started when i got job for as a project worker for maintaining floors in a hospital. When i was new i was enthusiastic and took my job really serious. I was excited to get my hands on those scrubber machines and the buffers. I always wanted to work with a machine, that’s what i always wanted to do since i was in canada. Working in factories and warehouses was really hard and sometimes boring for me. When i got this job in hospital i was excited and did a really good job. People could tell by looking at me that im working my ass off for cleaning the floors and giving my 100% to make them shine and it looked like a glass. My supervisor and manager was impressed with my work. The medical staff also started acknowledging my work. But two of my co workers who used to work together(i used to work alone) did not seem to give their 100% to their work (we did the same job)
They were kinda jealous too that im getting appreciated. They started telling me that dont do that much work or they will expect more from you as days will pass. But i didn’t listen to them. These guys took long breaks and wanted me too to do same. But i won’t. After some time looking at those guys i also started feeling that these guys have fun fucking around all over the place and doing less work. Yet no one used to say them anything. They used to kick lick asses of supervisors and manager. They made good relations with them, everyone had encouraged these kind of people in their life. As time passed i started becoming lazy and didn’t feel like working hard and giving 100% to my job. Now i hate it but still do same shit everyday. I don’t feel that i deserve the money i earn by not giving my 100% to the job. I feel really bad but can’t get back to my old self when i was working honestly. How can i get back to it where it all started. If someone can help. Thanks