12 Virtual Gratitude Activities to Appreciate Your Team

Since people often spend more time at work than anywhere else, it’s important for employees to feel valued rather than just another cog in the machine. This can be particularly challenging in remote work environments. Special occasions like Employee Appreciation Day or holidays like Thanksgiving provide the perfect opportunity to show your team they’re appreciated through workplace gratitude activities. 

We’ve compiled a list of virtual gratitude activities to show your team they’re appreciated and create a positive, community-driven work environment.

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How Do You Show Gratitude in the Workplace?

There are different ways to show gratitude to your employees, and these can be broadly categorized under formal and informal frameworks in the workplace. Formal methods include training, skill development, and financial rewards. Informal options, like team building games and activities, are flexible and can easily be customized for both office and remote employees.

If you are looking to celebrate gratitude activities for work or appreciate your team’s milestones, then Hooray Teams is the perfect choice. The virtual team-building platform offers several enjoyable hosted activities with the flexibility to customize them.

12 Virtual Gratitude Activities for Work 

Showing employee appreciation can create a more inclusive and supportive work environment where everyone feels valued and motivated. Here are some virtual gratitude activities to express thanks to your team. 

1. Host a Trivia 

Hooray Teams’ Virtual Trivia is a fun and engaging way to connect with your employees while sparking some healthy competition. You and your teammates will enjoy a fun battle of wits across 4 to 5 rounds of questions across various categories like movies, music, TV shows or pop culture.

The session is led by an expert quizmaster who ensures that spirits remain high throughout the game. This completely hosted event needs nothing more than a meeting link to join – no additional materials are required. If you are looking to customize your trivia questions, Hooray Teams can help you with that as well. 

⭐ Additional Tip: You can join Hooray Teams Thanksgiving Trivia or Christmas Trivia to test your team’s holiday smarts. 

2. Outsmart the Escape Room 

For a more unconventional gratitude virtual activity for Thanksgiving, have a look at Hooray Teams’ virtual escape room games. In this hosted experience, you and your team work together to solve clues and beat the clock to escape. With four different themes available, you can choose the one that best matches your team’s interests.

Dive into a world of magic and intrigue through The Alchemist escape room, where there’s more than meets the eye. If your team is more daring and enjoys a darker, more intense setting, Patient 360 and Dungeon Things escape rooms are ideal choices. Or, you can take a nostalgic trip to the Prohibition Era when La Cosa Nostra reigned supreme with the Mafia 360 escape room. 

⭐ Additional Tip: Divide roles based on strengths, like code-cracker, puzzle master, and clue scout, to speed up solving and escaping.

3. Experiment with a Mixology Session

If you work in an office, it’s easy to unwind at a nearby bar with coworkers and pick up the tab to show your appreciation. However, this can be more challenging in a virtual setting. So, raise a glass to teamwork this Thanksgiving with the Virtual Mixology Class by Hooray Teams. 

Led by an experienced bartender, you and your team will learn to craft delicious cocktails while relaxing and sharing laughs. All participants will receive mixology kits with the essentials needed for the event. If you’d like to include specific cocktails, let them know, and they can customize the session for you.

⭐ Additional Tip: For those who prefer to skip the booze, Hooray Teams can customize the kit with refreshing mocktail options to keep everyone included. 

4. Solve a Murder Mystery 

It is time to treat the super sleuths on your team with an interesting mystery like Murder at the Manor by Hooray Teams. You and your team will play the roles of detectives who are tasked to solve the grisly murder of Lord Aubrey Falconer. A dedicated host will also guide you throughout the game, providing hints when you and your team feel stuck. 

Your list of potential suspects includes the vicar, Aubrey’s wife, the housekeeper, and the town’s professor—each with their own hidden secrets and possible motives. Played by actors, you and your team will get to interrogate these suspects in real-time. 

⭐ Additional Tip: Review the clues like newsletter, will, and a leaflet in advance to solve the mystery together and nab the culprit before time runs out.

5. Do a Gift Trade-Off

When you are looking for virtual team gratitude activities for employees or bosses, consider hosting a gift trade-off. In this activity, the company provides each participant with a set budget to purchase a thoughtful gift for another colleague. The gifts are then delivered directly to each recipient’s doorstep.

Encourage participants to consider the interests, preferences, and personality of their assigned gift recipient when choosing a gift. Teammates can then come together to exchange the gifts virtually through a video conferencing platform. The fun part here is that everyone can unwrap their gifts at the same time and express their gratitude to their gift-givers.

⭐ Additional Tip: Create an anonymous survey to gather participants’ gift preferences in advance so everyone receives a thoughtful gift they’ll genuinely appreciate.

6. Create a Gratitude Wall 

A gratitude wall is a visual representation of appreciation and recognition within a team or organization. It allows teams to publicly share messages of thanks, acknowledge colleagues’ efforts, and celebrate achievements. For remote or hybrid teams, a virtual gratitude wall will be able to bring the same sense of community and recognition to the virtual workspace. 

Once you create a virtual channel, employees can post messages expressing their gratitude, commemorating milestones, and celebrating achievements. To maximize the impact, leaders and managers can regularly create opportunities for ongoing dialogue around gratitude. 

⭐ Additional Tip: To create a virtual gratitude board, we recommend teams to use the platform like Asana, Trello, or Slack. 

7. Get Creative With Cookies and Cupcakes

Sweet treats are a classic way to show appreciation, especially during a Thanksgiving celebration with your team. If you’re looking for an activity that blends creativity with indulgence, consider Hooray Teams’ Virtual Cookie Decorating Class and Cupcake Decorating Class. In this virtual team gratitude activity, an expert baker will guide you and your team to create intricate designs on cookies or cupcakes.

All the supplies you’ll need to create your designs will be delivered to each participant’s doorstep ahead of time. Each kit includes a piping bag, royal icing, sprinkles, and, of course, plain cookies or cupcakes. At the end of the session, everyone will have a personalized box of treats to savor.

⭐ Additional Tip: You can join Hooray Teams Thanksgiving Cookie or Cupcake decorating sessions to celebrate gratitude with your team on a delicious note. 

8. Dive Into a Wellness Session

When you are looking for virtual gratitude activities that make a difference, consider holistic wellness activities for your employees. These activities not only enhance physical health but also improve mental well-being, emotional resilience, and team dynamics. 

One of the standout offerings in holistic wellness is the Online Meditation Class by Hooray Teams. This experience, guided by a skilled meditation instructor, invites your team to learn powerful breathing techniques, grounding practices, and mindfulness exercises. Another option is the fun Chair Yoga Class, which combines the benefits of yoga with the practicality of workplace environments. 

⭐ Additional Tip:  Make wellness a part of your routine by incorporating Hooray Teams’ Synergy Workshops, covering Positive Intelligence, Self-Care, Mindfulness, and more 

9. Host an Awards Ceremony

The best way to show your gratitude to your team is through an awards ceremony to thank them for their dedication and contributions. This event goes beyond the “Employee of the Month” award—it highlights the qualities, accomplishments, and milestones that each team member brings to the table.

To make the event feel even more inclusive and engaging, let employees participate in the nomination process by voting for each award category. This not only encourages team involvement but also empowers them to recognize the efforts of their peers. 

⭐ Additional Tip: You can also generate excitement by sharing the winners’ achievements on the company’s social platforms or sending prizes and recognition awards to their homes.

10. Send Out Gift Cards  

If you are looking for a personalized way to show gratitude to your employees, then consider gift cards. These not only make for great gratitude ideas for work but also give employees the freedom to choose something they truly want or need.

Consider giving out vouchers to Amazon and Target, where most already shop for everything from household essentials to electronics, clothing, and more. Another great option is gifting subscriptions to popular streaming services like Max, Disney, or Netflix for teams to watch movies or shows in their downtime.

⭐ Additional Tip: Personalize the gift cards based on each team member’s interests, whether it’s for their favorite store, hobby, or streaming service, to make the gesture feel thoughtful.

11. Treat Your Teams to a Delicious feast 

Food is a simple yet effective addition to the list of gratitude ideas for work, especially a Thanksgiving feast. You can hand out meal vouchers or gift cards for food delivery apps like Uber Eats, Grubhub, or DoorDash.

For virtual teams, another thoughtful gesture is to send a snack basket to your employees, giving them something they can enjoy with their families. If you’d like to have a virtual lunch together, consider giving everyone a set budget to order their own food. Once everyone has placed their orders, you can come together on a video call to enjoy the meal as a group.

⭐ Additional Tip: After the meal, you can arrange a wine tasting or chocolate tasting session from Hooray Teams for a complete sensory experience. 

12. Arrange DIY Arts and Crafts Workshops

Add a touch of creativity and fun to your gratitude activities with DIY arts and crafts sessions from Hooray Teams. This is a great way for teams to relax and get crafty while expressing themselves. These sessions are typically led by professional artists or craftsmen who have years or knowledge and experience. Before the event, you and your team will receive DIY arts and crafts Kits delivered straight to your doorsteps. Each kit contains essentials like craft materials, decorative elements, specific tools, and instruction cards for a smooth experience. 

Some of the recommended DIY arts and crafts classes include:

• Virtual Pottery Making
• Virtual Candle Making 
• Origami Workshop
• DIY Terrarium Making
• Virtual Wood Burning Class 

⭐ Additional Tip: If you don’t have the patience for intricate crafts, a Paint and Sip class is a fun, relaxing alternative. 

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

What are the best virtual employee appreciation games for the office?

Some virtual employee appreciation games for the office often include activities like Two Truths and a Lie, Escape Room, Virtual Trivia, and Bingo. These games not only enhance workplace relationships but also create a positive and supportive work environment.

What is a gratitude game?

A gratitude game is an activity designed to build appreciation and acknowledgment among team members. It involves sharing what one is grateful for, expressing appreciation for others’ contributions, and engaging in collaborative activities centered around gratitude.

How do you play the thankful game?

The thankful game is one of the best gratitude exercises for groups that can be played during Thanksgiving. In this game, participants take turns expressing something they’re thankful for, whether it’s related to work, personal life, or the team. The aim is to create a positive atmosphere and encourage reflection on the things that bring joy and appreciation.

What are the best times to implement gratitude activities for remote teams?

The best times to implement gratitude exercises for teams are during special occasions like employee appreciation day or Thanksgiving Day at work. You can also celebrate key moments such as the end of a successful project, team milestones, or even annual company anniversaries. These occasions provide a meaningful opportunity to express appreciation and celebrate your team’s hard work. 

What are the best gratitude activities for Thanksgiving celebrations at work?

To celebrate Thanksgiving at work, consider a gratitude team building activity like a Gratitude Wall, where everyone can share what they’re thankful for. A wellness meditation session is also a great pick to help teams relax and reflect. If you’re looking to bring some light-hearted fun, consider a Thanksgiving trivia game or gratitude icebreaker questions.